Travel is a beautiful thing. It can expand our world, expose us to new ideas and create memories and experiences that will always be cherished. However, there is no denying travel can be hard on the planet. How can something that feels so good be so wrong? It’s a bummer, but there is some good news. There are things you can do to green up your trip and possibly even help you make the most out of your destination. Below are 6 things that can make your travel more earth-friendly.
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- Choose a green hotel. There are lots of them out there in all price ranges. Many hotels are consciously improving their carbon footprint, and the list includes a mixture of boutique and chain hotels. There are hotel programs that now have beehives on the roof and tree planting programs. Be sure to take advantage of the initiative to conserve water and waste by forgoing daily laundering of linens. Those programs are saving a surprising amount of resources! Do your research before booking, and you may be pleasantly surprised.
- Don’t use water bottles. This one is obvious. Don’t be a jerk and use a reusable water bottle. If you are unsure about water safety, there are a variety of pocket-sized water purifiers that you can use to put your mind at ease. If you are in a destination where purchased water is unavoidable, buy the largest bottle possible to cut down on the number of plastic caps. Also look for locally bottled water to cut down of the distance it needs to be shipped.
- Take a non-stop flight. What a great reason to splurge and avoid an annoying layover! A large percentage of a plane’s carbon emission is from taking off and landing.
- Act like a local. Follow the same rules that apply at home…buy local and eat local. The best souvenirs are the ones that are made at your destination and benefit the people who live there. Eating local and in-season is the perfect way to take full advantage of your surroundings.
- Rent the smallest car necessary and when possible take alternative transportation. Plus, it’s much easier to see new geography on foot or bike.
- To ease your conscience, consider donating to a non-profit environmental organization. They do good work, and a contribution to a meaningful cause is always worthwhile. Some to consider: Environmental Defense Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Defense Council, American Rivers, Trust for Public Land, and the Sierra Club.
With a little research and thoughtfulness, there are so many additional things that can be done to improve the trail you leave behind. Many of them are easy to do and allow you to support companies who are also doing the right thing!
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