When you take a holiday, it is a time to refresh, recharge and have a break. If you try to live eco-friendly in your normal day to day life, there is no reason why you can't keep that happening on your holidays, and still feel like you are getting the relaxing break you deserve.
Being eco-friendly while in travel mode doesn't have to be difficult. Each time you make a choice, you can choose options that are better for our planet. You don't have to be perfect to be green, but each choice you make can be made with a bit more of the planet in mind.
Here are 5 easy tips to stay green while you travel.
1. Start before you leave
Plan your holiday to be an eco-friendly one.
- Try a Staycation – a holiday at home. Rest, relax and explore where you're from with the eyes of a tourist.
- Volunteer Travel – want to spend a bit more time in a place? Look into volun-tourism . Do the research, know what you're getting into, and whether it's really a benefit to the local community.
- Lighter Transport – Are you up for an adventure? Try a hiking trip, biking trip, or even sailing. All of these produce less carbon emissions and make for great photos and stories when you're back home.
- Flying? Make sure you offset your emissions. Not all carbon offsets are the same – look for companies that do local bio-diverse tree planting, to really make a difference.
2. Take the trusty 4 with you:
- A reusable water bottle, a reusable bag, coffee cup and cutlery.
- Using your own bag when you shop does two things. One, it stops new single use plastic bags from being used, which can take up to 1000 years to break down. Two, it spreads a message, that there are alternatives to plastic bags and people want to use them.
- A water bottle is a must! Staying hydrated while you travel is key, but buying copious water bottles is costly to your wallet and the planet. Fill your bottle at places that you trust like in restaurants and from filtered water coolers. If you're uncertain about the water quality, two things can help – A Steripen that uses ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and viruses and makes drinking water safe. The other is a water bottle with an inbuilt filter.
If you need to buy bottled water and there is no way around it, buy a large bulk bottle and refill your small water bottle with it to avoid the extra plastic.
- Coffee Cup – This one is optional. Since you're on vacation, why bother getting it To-go? Sit in, and enjoy soaking up the café culture of wherever you are. However, they are good to bring along for those moments of needed caffeine on the go!
- Cutlery and straw set – Carrying a bamboo set of cutlery and reusable straw means that you get to enjoy local food carts and drinks without the disposable plastic stuff that just ends up in landfill or worst case, in our oceans.
3. Buy Local
Whether it's the food you eat, the gifts you buy or the hotel you stay at – choosing local gives you a real taste of the place you've traveled to, and it's better for our planet. Shipping things around the world, and having everything we want at our finger tips has a huge impact on our planet. When shopping, seek out locally made items and buy them from makers themselves. A locally made souvenir will mean much more than something made in China that can be picked up anywhere.
4. Seek Out Green
If you're looking for a tour operator, hotel, or restaurant look for ones that have green credentials. If you use a local guide book like The Lonely Planet places are marked with eco-credentials. Even at tourist information centres, ask if there is an eco-choice available.
When you use an eco-tour operator or eco-hotel or restaurant make sure you ask questions and speak up if you think there is something that could be done better. Also make sure you show your appreciation for the good things their doing. As consumers we have the power to choose and give more to those that care about their impact on our planet.
5. Leave only light footprints
Whether you're on a camping holiday or you're at a 5-star resort there are lots of ways we can be more conscious and leave only light footprints behind.
- Find out about local environmental issues, and then be sure to do what you can when you're there. If they have water issues then keep your showers short and only leave towels out to be washed by housekeeping when the really need it.
- Know what to do with your waste. Do they have recycling? Does it need to be sorted? Ask questions.
- Everyone loves to grab a stack of brochures when you go someplace new. Can they be reused by putting them back? Or if not recycled?
- If you're into hiking or snorkeling or anything around nature don't damage it. Stay on trails, don't collect shells and avoid feeding wildlife. Take beautiful photos and leave the place so your grandkids will also get to enjoy it one day.
- Pack eco-cosmetics and natural bod products. Anything we put on our skin needs to be good for us, first and foremost. Sunscreens, lotions and bug repellants can also pollute the ocean and local waterways – so keep them natural and know what's in them.
There is a lot we can do to keep our travels green. Most of all don't feel like it is all or nothing. Every little bit counts. Keep these tips in mind on your next holidays.
- Jamie Van Jones
Jamie Van Jones has a passion for our planet and for living an amazing life on it. She is an eco-entrepreneur and works with businesses to reduce their environmental impact. She believes that we can each live lighter on the planet and still enjoy life to the fullest. For more easy and inspired ways to live lighter check out www.jamievanjones.com
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