Sustainability has been important to me for years, but when it came to sustainable travel, I didn’t know where to start. I read a few blogs before we left on our round the world trip and tried my best, learning as we went along. We made some avoidable mistakes and still have plenty to learn, but here are a few steps we’ve taken to reduce our impact when we travel.
Travel slow
The faster the travel, the larger the carbon footprint. If you have the time, take the train, bus, carpool or even walk! If you can’t spare the time and have to fly, take direct flights when possible.
Don’t use plastic and be fantastic
We loved this sign in Sri Lanka at the start of a beautiful sunrise hike in the mountains. There are tons of ways you can reduce your plastic.
- Bring your reusable water bottle wherever you go.
- Use paper bags or bring a reusable silicone bag for snacks or to pack out trash after a hike.
- Travel with reusable grocery bags—we used ours just about every day for groceries, a trip to the beach, a picnic, or to throw an extra layer in when we went for a walk.
- Carry bamboo silverware. The most sustainable thing you can do is to use what you already have, but carrying around heavy metal silverware can be a pain. Instead of buying fancy “zero-waste” products, you can also just reuse plastic utensils from eating out. Zero waste is the goal, but using something that you already have, even if it’s plastic, is still a better option than buying something new.
- Bring your own toiletries in bar form, like these shampoo & conditioner bars. They last forever, work well and create zero waste.
Eat less meat
You might have just cringed when you read that. But the truth is, meat and dairy consumption is hurting the planet. If you’re not ready to give it up completely, just cut back when you can and feel good about all the water and lives you’re saving!
Shop local
This sounds easy, but we tend to visit the places we know, even when traveling abroad. So avoid big chain stores and try the local mom and pop shop down the street. Food in big box stores often comes from further distances, making its environmental impact higher. Shop from fruit and veggie stands or places that get their produce from a nearby farm. The further your food has to travel to get to you, the worse it is for you and the planet.
Leave no trace
If you like to hike, camp or spend time in nature at all, follow the Leave No Trace 7 principles. REI does a great job explaining the principles and how to use them.
- Plan ahead and prepare.
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
- Dispose of waste properly.
- Leave what you find.
- Minimize campfire impacts (be careful with fire).
- Respect wildlife.
- Be considerate of other visitors.
Do your best
Don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t perfect. Small changes from everyone around the world can have a large impact. We know climate change isn’t the sole responsibility of individuals because large corporations are producing the majority of greenhouse gas emissions. We also know that the more people who make choices and purchases based on their values, the more those corporations will make changes to keep us happy.
What are some of the ways you’ve reduced your impact while traveling?
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