How to Become a More Sustainable Traveller

​Exploring the world is a dream many of us hold. We have the whole world practically at our fingertips, and we’re longing to reach the extended hand of adventure and welcome its embrace. But traveling can take a hefty toll on the environment.

From plane rides to single-use plastics, tourism can be littered with environmental damage. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. While we will still be taking planes to reach our desired destination, there are various habits and behaviours we can adopt to mitigate the dangerous impact traveling can have.

​Caption: While traveling is a life force for most of us, the negative effects of certain actions harm the very environment we seek to immerse ourselves.
Credit: Niklas Weiss, Unsplash

But first… What are sustainable travel and ecotourism? Sustainable travel can be simply defined as making simple choices to lessen your environmental impact. It’s finding ways where travel and tourism can be maintained without harming natural and cultural environments.Ecotourism is the encouragement of environmental preservation, where wanders and travel-related businesses and services aim to minimize the negative impacts of tourism and instead adopt healthier standards of sustainability within the tourism trade.

Modes of transport and their carbon emissionsUnfortunately, traveling requires various modes of transport – and transportation contributes to one-fifth of the global carbon emission. While the world will continue to rely on transportation, and until we glean significant sustainable evolution in the field, we all need to do our best to travel mindfully.

​Caption: Planes are among the worst forms of transportation in terms of carbon offset.
Credit: Ken Yam, UnsplashBelow are the different carbon offsets produced by each mode of transport:

• Car: Driving a motor vehicle produces around 411 grams of CO2 every one and a half kilometers.
• Plane: One return plane on average produces over 24 kilograms of carbon dioxide per one and a half kilometers. In other words, taking a return overseas flight generates as much carbon dioxide as some people do in an entire year.
• Train: Taking the train generally produces 6 grams of carbon dioxide per one-and-a-half kilometers.
• Bus: A public bus emits around 1.3 kilograms of carbon dioxide per kilometer.

Source: eea.europa.eu

How to lessen your carbon emissions when traveling.

When it comes to your personal carbon offset in terms of transportation, there are a few steps you can take to reduce your emissions.

Below is a list of 5 actions you can implement when traveling that will help decrease your carbon offset:

1. Before booking your flight, check for companies that have lower emissions than their counterparts. You may find that certain airlines generate a significantly lower amount of carbon dioxide.
2. You can purchase carbon offset through certain airlines. You will have to pay extra, but the money goes towards carbon offset programs. If you’re not comfortable with this concept, you can personally donate to environmental projects of your choice to reduce your carbon emissions. It won’t undo the carbon emitted from your flight, but it can help in lessening the total carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
3. Book non-stop flights if you can. Most CO2 emitted from plane flights occurs during the take-off and landing stages.
4. When you’ve reached your destination, avoid renting out a car or taking taxis. Biking, public transport, trains, and walking are the best modes of transport – and they help you view the country in a completely different way (especially when walking or biking). In fact, opting to take a train instead of a plane can reduce your carbon emissions by a whopping 85 percent!
5. Book into eco-hotels and accommodations which have the planet’s health and well-being in mind.

 

Caption: Riding a bike is one of the most eco-friendly modes of transport, and it helps you better witness, immerse, and understand the new destination.
Credit: Netbike, Unsplash

What is eco-accommodation?

24% of all carbon dioxide generated from tourism comes from accommodation. This transpires through the overuse of water, electricity, and plastic. Eco accommodation refers to a place holding a strong commitment to mitigate harmful practices on the environment. It’s an Airbnb that runs off solar power, a bed and breakfast that uses homegrown, organic produce, and a hotel that encourages recycling.

Caption: Eco accommodation is defined as a space that’s dedicated to maintaining the health of the environment.
Credit: Jared Rice, Unsplash

Here are a few ways you can check if your chosen accommodation is an eco-friendly option:

• Employs local staff and boosts the local economy.
• Uses alternative, sustainable energy.
• Encourages the conservation of resources such as water and electricity.
• Offers and provides homegrown or locally produced organic produce.
• A recycling facility or capacity.
• Provides alternative modes of transportation, such as bicycles.
• Uses environmentally friendly cleaning products.

An estimated 40% of all carbon emissions by 2050 will be caused by tourism. While traveling is almost essential to many of us, it’s important to remain mindful of your actions and shift your focus on maintaining a sustainable lifestyle even while abroad.
12 tips for environmentally friendly travel

1. Purchase eco-friendly products, such as a non-toxic shampoo bar, biodegradable bin bags, and environmentally-friendly deodorant paste.
2. Avoid purchasing products that involve single-use plastic, such as sweets, utensils, and bottles.
3. Don’t take part in animal tourism such as tiger petting and elephant riding.
4. Support local businesses. Not only is this better for the environment, local economy, and tourism, but it’s one of the best ways to gain significant knowledge about the culture of the country.
5. Bring your reusable coffee cup or water bottle along to avoid single-use items.
6. Don’t litter, especially when you’re on a hike or in a natural environment. Take a bag with you, preferably a biodegradable bag, when you go for a walk and pick up trash you find as you go along. That way, you’re making a positive impact all-round.
7. Seek out eco-friendly activities, such as riding a bike through the rice fields or embarking on a cultural walk through the streets.
8. Shower instead of taking a bath, and keep your showers short!
9. Pack as lightly as you can as the heavier your bag weighs, the more carbon dioxide is emitted when you’re traveling.
10. Remember to turn off hotel or room lights when you’re not in use them.
11. Take any leftover soap or shampoo you’ve used, as the used products are automatically thrown away when a guest leaves.
12. Take the more wild route and camp where you can! It’s cost-effective, amazing for the environment, and an incredible way to fully immerse yourself in your surroundings.

 

Caption: Camping is by far one of the best and most thrilling ways to experience a new destination. It’s also the most affordable and healthiest form of accommodation for the environment.
Credit: Pars Sahin, Unsplash

Reference List:
https://ourworldindata.org/travel-carbon-footprint
https://www.ontheluce.com/carbon-offsetting-flights/#:~:text=Carbon%20offsetting%20with%20your%20airline,but%20how%20they%20work%20varies.
https://charlieontravel.com/what-is-sustainable-travel/#:~:text=Sustainable%20travel%20means%20finding%20a,in%20which%20it%20takes%20place.
https://littlelosttravel.com/importance-of-ecotourism/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes&utm_term=1074699506_51232846_452490
https://www.ecotravelist.com/blog/tips/eco-hotel-can-tell-legit
https://greenglobaltravel.com/green-travel-tips-ultimate-guide-sustainable-travel/