Travelling is a therapeutic experience that widens our perspectives, nurtures the soul, and helps us grow as individuals. Whether it’s a local staycation or travelling internationally to a land we’ve yet to see, it can be easy for our lifestyles and daily routines to get shifted. While this can be a lovely and necessary break from our typical day-to-day patterns, travelling doesn’t mean that we have to sacrifice our values and our efforts to live a life that better impacts the world. Check out the tips below for options on eco-conscious travel.
Fly with a sustainable airline
As flying becomes a more affordable option, airline pollution continues to rise. That being said, more and more airlines are making attempts to become more sustainable each year. As you begin to plan your next trip, consider booking your flights with an eco-conscious airline. For example, Delta Air Lines is typically at the top of the list of the most eco-conscious flyers. They openly report on fuel consumption in addition to water and hazardous waste. The airline also runs a recycling program and invests heavily in carbon offsets.
Other airlines use sustainable and eco-friendly practices as well. Regardless of which airline you choose, look into their practices before booking to see how they are impacting our environment from the sky. From fuel efficiency to removing single-use items, make it a priority to book your flights with an eco-conscious airline to reduce your carbon footprint and better impact our environment.
Shop for travel attire at secondhand stores
Not only can it be time-consuming to shop for travel attire, it can also put a dent in our wallets and add to textile waste. However, this doesn’t mean that we have to sacrifice wearing our favourite brands. If you give yourself enough time to plan ahead, you can get brands like Old Navy clothing for less by shopping at secondhand stores online. Not only will you get more clothing at a lower price, but you’ll also feel good knowing that you’re doing your part to reduce textile waste.
Visit less popular destinations
While a popular tourist destination like Barcelona may be at the top of your bucket list, visiting areas suffering from overtourism can actually be harmful. Not only can it drive up real estate prices, overtourism can also create unpleasant experiences for locals. Frequent travel to popular destinations can negatively impact the surrounding environment as well.
If you’re fortunate enough to be able to travel often, consider going to a less popular destination. It’s a great way to spread the wealth and have a positive impact on an economy. You may even find that you’ll have more fun in a less touristy area. Before you start planning your trip, think about why you want to go to a particular destination and consider locations that are not as heavily visited.
Support local businesses rather than chains
Tourism can be a major factor in keeping an economy afloat. This is why it’s important to give back to the places you visit by supporting local businesses rather than chains. Whether you eat dinner at a family-run restaurant or grab a coffee from a local shop, choosing to support the area that you’re visiting not only gives back to the local community, it also gives you a true taste for the local culture and creates a much richer experience while travelling. Travelling is all about experiencing new things, so take advantage of the opportunity and stay away from chains that you can find at home
. Finding a locally-run business to support while you’re away will help you feel more connected to the area, and it will also give you the perfect excuse to come back the next time you’re ready for another vacation!
Use reusable bottles
Rather than spending money on plastic water bottles, which can be harmful to the environment and our oceans, consider investing in a reusable water bottle for your travels. There are even Lifestraw reusable bottles that you can use in areas where you can’t trust the tap water to avoid waterborne bacteria and parasites. Going reusable will lessen your clutter at home and will save you that extra trip to the bottle return at the end of the month. Do yourself and our planet a favour by investing in a more sustainable method of hydration.
