You compost, you buy local, you ride a bicycle. Then you fly across the world, stay in a hotel where your towels are replaced every day, the air conditioning is pumping, and dining out reigns.
It’s easy to minimize your impact at home, but how do we be eco-conscious while on vacation? Here are a few simple tips to get your green on and travel with the environment in mind.
1. Be choosey about your destination.
It’s lovely to go to some remote tropical destination, but take into consideration your carbon footprint, who your tourist dollars will be supporting, and how long it will take for you to get there. Choose a destination and activities where you will be contributing positively to the local community.
2. Take the greenest form of transport possible.
This may not always mean the cheapest, but before you hop in the car with just two people, figure out if there’s a way to use a train or other form of shared transit to get to your destination. Once at your destination, use public transit or (better yet) walk! You’ll get a better feel for the city and some great exercise. Getting your blood flowing will not only help you with any travel fatigue, it’ll also help you avoid those holidaying pounds.
3. Find an eco-friendly place to stay.
Many hotels are now getting LEED certifications and participating in sustainability efforts, beyond just letting you reuse your hotel towels, like building green roofs, using solar energy, and having low-flush toilets. You can even use alternative accommodation options like AirBnB or search through directories of green hotels.
4. “Dine in” when possible and bring your own take away containers.
Even if it’s just a reusable coffee mug, if you’re traveling for long periods of time, think of the impact it can make to cut down on one take away coffee cup every day. Take out from a restaurant creates mounds of containers (think styrafoam and plastic), so opt for dining in and only order as much as you can eat. Pick light foods, aim for healthy options and fresh, local produce when you can, and skip the leftovers.
5. Participate in eco-volunteering.
Not all tours are created equal. Some companies donate proceeds to the conservation of the animals you’re getting to feed, swim, or see in their natural habitat. You can also spend your time planting trees, teaching English to local kids, or helping at an animal shelter. Try to learn more about the place you’re visiting and see what needs are there in the local community or design your holiday around some volunteer work.
6. Do a little bit of research.
Is the company owned and run by locals? Do they contribute money back to a local charity or are integral to the local economy? Putting in a little bit of time to research smaller, locally owned companies will ensure that your tourist dollars goes to benefit the species and people you’ll learn about and have come to admire. For example, there are companies that offer swim with dolphin experiences that helps preserve and protect the dolphins in their natural habitat. Neat little companies like GOOD Travel are cropping up to help you research organizations you can feel good about supporting.
However you decide to spend your holidays, remember to enjoy each moment and give yourself time to shut off.
Post by Barbara Lee.
Barbara is a world traveler who is passionate about sustainable food systems, responsible consumerism, and holistic living. Her professional background and interests include writing, cooking, non-profit work, and eco-conservation.
