8 Eco-Friendly Practices of Sustainable Travelers

I've battled with myself on my love for travel long and hard amidst the urgency to protect our climate. Although I believe travel is one of the most valuable learning tools we have, the tourism industry is responsible for up to 10% of global carbon emissions each year. By some estimates, that is equivalent to almost 5 billion metric tons of greenhouse gasses. That is.... upsetting. But hope is not lost. We can be mindful about the impact our travels have on the environment and local communities and we can be intentional about drastically reducing the harm we cause. Better yet, we can strive to make our wanderlust a net positive for the world! We don't have to be perfect travelers to be good tourists, but it does take work. Sustainable travel isn't a fad, it's a critical evolution - a revolution that requires our support, attention, and active participation. Adopting some fundamental eco-friendly practices on your personal adventures doesn't have to be hard. Once you get started, it begins to feel like second nature and you'll start to hone your instinct for making responsible decisions when you travel. And you know what else? It feels good! Gone are the days where you try to convince yourself "this is bad, but I deserve it, right?" When you're being a mindful traveler, you can have your proverbial cake and eat it too - with way, way less guilt.

To get you started, here are some tips you can use as you travel plan that will help you reduce your carbon footprint and meaningfully support the communities you visit.

1. Avoid traveling by air, and when you do - fly direct

   Reducing your air travel is the single most powerful thing you can do to greenify your travel. Choosing road trips or traveling by train instead of plane are great ways to accomplish this. For those times when you have to travel by air, you can still be mindful by reducing the number of layovers in your itinerary. This is because carbon emissions are highest at takeoff and landing.

   
   

2. Choose locally-owned, eco-friendly accommodations

   This is the second most impactful choice you can make to protect the planet after minimizing air travel. Look for locally owned hotels or resorts that use renewable energy, leverage sustainable building design, avoid single-use plastic, and/or have green initiatives and partnerships in place. The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance offers a handy tool to better understand the specific commitments to sustainability made by both small hotels and large chains around the world.

   
   

3. Pack light

   By packing only the essentials, you can reduce the weight of your luggage and decrease carbon emissions from transportation. Opt for versatile clothing that can be mixed and matched for different outfits. If this is not your forte, I also offer packing consults to help you figure out what you need!

   
   

4. Use public transportation

   Instead of renting a car or taking taxis/rideshares everywhere - take a bus, subway, train, trolley, or even bike to explore your destination. These options have the bonus benefit of giving you a more intimate local experience, too!

   
   

5. Minimize plastic waste

   Bring along reusables like a water bottle (I love collapsible options like this one), shampoo squeeze bottles (like these), shopping bags, and even utensils to avoid single-use plastics during your trip.

   
   

6. Support local businesses

   You might feel like you hear this all the time, but it's for a good reason! Eat at locally-owned restaurants, shop at markets selling handmade goods, and book tours with local guides to support the economy of the community you're visiting.

   
   

7. Respect wildlife and nature

   Opt for experiences that bring you to the wildlife, not the wildlife to you. Avoid activities that exploit animals or harm the environment, such as riding elephants or feeding monkeys. Try to leave nature exactly as you found it. Don't be tempted to capture a bottle of sand or a handful of seashells to take home as this significantly impacts local ecosystems. (Really?) Yes, really.

   
   

8. Offset your carbon footprint

   Carbon offsetting can be a valuable choice to make, but it is not a preventive action. Don't be misled by airlines or other companies saying your flight or experience has 0 carbon footprint due to offsets. While it's wonderful and necessary to support renewable energy and reforestation, this does nothing to reduce greenhouse emissions. That's not to say you shouldn't choose to offset your carbon emissions when possible, rather make sure you are doing this in addition to everything else already listed above. Then you're golden! ...Or should I say green?

Certainly this is not a comprehensive list, but it's a great start! Use these tips to plan your next sustainable vacay - one that benefits the environment, the communities you visit, and of course you! Traveling is exponentially more rewarding when it is both an act of self love and also an exercise in humility. We can satisfy our desire for adventure while also creating positive change now and for future generations.

Sources: 1. United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), 2. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 3. Sustainable Travel (Tuppen, 2021)