15 Ways to Be a Sustainable Traveler
After reflecting on travel during the pandemic, we believe there is room for improvement when we start to seek out new places and cultures again. Due to climate change and the impacts of human behavior, some of our most beautiful and unique places around the world are under threat. Which is why it’s never been more important to be a mindful traveler. From the flight you book to the toiletries you pack, every travel decision you make impacts the environment. It's imperative we educate ourselves and incorporate sustainable travel solutions that will help preserve the beauty of this world for future generations.
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, the travel industry accounts for 10.3% of the world’s jobs. Unfortunately, there are many negative impacts from traveling that harm the environment, like airline fossil fuels, overtourism, lack of tourism dollars going back into the local economies, and travelers leaving waste behind.
Fortunately, there are many eco-friendly travel options for us to consider–from planning our itinerary to exploring a new destination.
Below are some helpful tips on how to make eco-conscious decisions when we travel.
15 Ways to Be a Sustainable Traveler
As our desire to travel and explore the world continues to grow, it’s important to think about how to reduce our carbon footprint while abroad and make small changes in our habits that will leave a positive impact during our stay.
1. Put your house in sleep mode when you travel
When leaving for a trip, consider using this checklist to make a big dent in your energy savings and the environment.
Adjust the thermostat. The U.S. Department of Energy suggests raising the temperature to 85°F in summer and lowering it to 50°F in winter to avoid heating or cooling an empty house.
Unplug all electronics and appliances.
Use your water heater’s “vacation” setting. Keeping the tank hot can account for up to 25% of your home’s energy.
Close the curtains.
2. Fly Direct
Whenever possible, try to book direct flights. This is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint and also relieve your stress of making it to a connecting flight. Of course, not all destinations have direct flights and often these types of flights are more expensive. However, if you are able to find and afford direct flights, opt to book them instead.
3. Consider airlines that use renewable biofuels
Airlines acknowledge the need to be more eco-friendly and have started implementing sustainable initiatives. These initiatives don’t just stop at a plastic-free policy. They extend into renewable biofuels (produced from biomass such as plant oils, wood chips, agricultural waste) to reduce the carbon footprint when flying. NASA determined that by using 50% aviation biofuel mixtures, it would be able to cut air pollution from air traffic by 50-70%.
When booking your next flight, here are some airlines that use renewable biofuels you may want to consider.
Domestic (U.S):
Jetblue
American Airlines
Southwest
International:
Lufthansa
British Airways
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Australia
Azul Airlines
KLM
Etihad Airways
Qantas
4. Stay at eco-friendly properties
Eco-friendly doesn’t stop at just sheets and towels anymore. Opt to stay at hotels that give back to the environment and support the local community. One green accommodation platform is Kind Traveler. They help you find eco-friendly and socially responsible hotels for your trip. The company encourages travelers to positively impact the destinations they visit. As an incentive, users get access to special rates—typically 10% to 15% off the hotel’s best available rate—where they give $10 to a local charity.
5. Opt for sustainable activities that support local economies
The World Tourism Organization states, “of each $100 spent during a trip, only $5 benefits the destination.” This is an unfortunate missed opportunity because these dollars could be going back to support local economies. If you’re looking to book a guided tour while you’re at your destination, make sure they are local tour operators. Research how they give back to the local community and what measures they have in place to protect the environment.
Some companies that work to give back to the local economies include Intrepid Travel and Airbnb. Intrepid Travel is a brand that offers over 1,000 trips led by 1,000 local leaders and works to ensure tourism dollars go directly to communities. Airbnb Experiences is another example. Take for instance booking a bike tour from a local. This is a win-win situation as the environmental impact of a bike is basically zero and your dollars are going to a local guide.
6. Consider clothing rental companies to reduce luggage
If you’re about to buy outfits for your trip, you might want to consider renting your clothes instead of buying. The fashion industry is notorious for the negative impact it has on the environment. Trvl Porter helps to reduce your environmental impact both in fashion and travel. Renting clothing reduces fashion consumption while saving you the time it takes to pack and gives you access to many items over actual ownership. Additionally, the reduced weight you bring onto a plane (aka the clothing in your suitcases) also reduces the amount of fuel required to keep it aloft, which in turn reduces CO2 in the atmosphere.
7. Carry-on always
All you really need are the bare essentials. Not only will it be much easier to get around during your trip, but it will save you any unwanted baggage fees. For the items you need, but don’t want to tote around, rent from Trvl Porter.
8. Buy local souvenirs
With the extra space in your bag, you’ll have more room to collect handmade souvenirs along your journey. Buying locally is much better than buying from fast fashion stores as you can be sure the money will go back to support the local artisans. This will help to sustain their livelihoods and communities.
9. Use greener ground transport
Instead of booking private cars, opt to use public transportation if it’s safe to do so. If you need to rent a car, ask the agency for a fuel-efficient or an electric model. You can also hop on a bike or opt to tour on foot during your adventures to further reduce your carbon footprint.
10. Offset your carbon footprint
Buying offsets to counteract your travel-related carbon emissions may curb some green guilt. An offset is an investment in an action that pulls the same amount of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere that you’re putting into it. Calculate your flight emissions and then offset the impact by making a donation to plant more trees.
11. Watch out for destinations with overtourism
As the world is becoming more accessible than ever, overtourism has become a major problem in many cities. A way to be more mindful of this situation is to book your trip during the off-season months. This is more beneficial than battling selfie sticks at every monument and tourist attraction you want to explore. Supporting the local community–whether it’s restaurants, hotels, shops and tours can leave a positive impact on the people, environment and economy of a destination.
12. Incorporate eco-friendly habits daily
After you check-in, vow to keep your environmental commitment alive once you arrive. Such eco-friendly habits may include turning off the lights when you leave your hotel or Airbnb, re-using linens for multi-night stays, supporting local restaurants, and carrying a reusable water bottle when seeing the sights.
13. Leave no trace
Make sure the only impact you make is a positive one. At the coast use reef-safe sunscreen as some chemicals in SPFs can cause coral bleaching. Pick up your trash, especially plastics. Every year millions of tons of plastic bags, straws, bottles, fishing lines wind up in the ocean and can be detrimental to marine life. In a national park stay on the trail. You’ll avoid causing unintentional damage to the vegetation and be less likely to endanger the local wildlife.
14. Be conscious of water consumption
Just like how you’re constantly told to switch off the lights when you leave a room, keep this in mind for saving water as well. Try to take short showers and don’t leave the water running when you brush your teeth. Just because you’re not paying the bills doesn’t mean you need to be wasteful of our natural resources.
15. Share your sustainable travel tips with others
In order to spread awareness, it’s important to share your sustainable travel tips with your friends and family as they plan their future trips. Social media has become such a powerful tool in raising awareness and you can easily share your trip and eco-conscious choices for other travelers to consider when booking.
Sustainable Travel is Here to Stay
As travelers, we’re hooked on discovering the unknown beauty the world has to offer. Our decisions–small and large–impact the amazing planet that we live in and get to explore. Becoming a more sustainable traveler starts with education. Know what you can do to help protect the environment and start making small changes to your habits. When you get the opportunity to explore the world in all its beauty, know that you’ll be leaving a lighter footprint behind.
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