Here’s how I started this post in February…
Climate change is a hot topic these days and traveling can be a big contributor. There’s been a lot of argument about the ease of travel and the impacts its’s had on the world, but I’m still a big advocate for both travel and sustainability.
And now…
The conversations around ease of travel and climate change have changed a lot since I first started drafting this blog post in February. With no travel for leisure happening right now, it’s been fascinating to see the effects on cities and emissions. Waters are clearer, wildlife is returning, and pollution is going down; you can read more on that here. While I love to travel, this time has made me want to be more aware of my travel and carbon footprint by finding ways to travel less and more mindfully. I hope during our time in Europe things will return back to a sense of normalcy, as it will allow me to see a lot by train or car, significantly reducing my footprint than if I had flown to Europe for each trip I hope to make.
While we are unsure of when we can travel again, I have hope that day will come and we will rise stronger than ever. Earth Day seems like the perfect time to share my list of ten quick tips to be a more sustainable traveler.
Reusable toiletry bottles. One of the oldest tricks in the book, I still think people veer towards buying the mini sizes at the store rather than getting a refillable bottle. These actually provide many benefits, as you can bring your favorite products with you while traveling and ensure they are are always in TSA approved bottles, which is great if you only bring a carry on.
Bring a water bottle with you. If you are traveling somewhere where the water is safe to drink, this is a great way to reduce your spend on buying a $7 water in the airport, waste less plastic from single use bottles, and always have your own bottle ready to fill for free.
Go digital. Gone are the days of printing out every boarding pass and reservation confirmation; in a digital age, use e-tickets and travel organization apps whenever possible to reduce unecessary paper waste.
Take only pictures, leave only footprints. A great reminder to not only avoid leaving trash behind, but also to buy less when traveling. How many times have you bought a key chain to commemorate a trip and ended up tossing it a year later? Traveling allows us to gain so many memories much more significant than buying things.
Reuse bathroom towels. A rather simple one, but you probably don’t change your towel every day at home, so why do it while traveling? Most hotels ask you to hang your towel if you want to reuse it and leave out if it really needs to be replaced.
Buy local. While it may be easier to stop in the big grocery chains while traveling, try to find smaller mom and pop shops to buy food and other items from while traveling. Embrace the local coffee shops instead of getting your usual order from Starbucks. Traveling allows us to experience other cultures and communities, and by buying local, you help to support them.
Bring your own bag. Many places have a plastic bag ban now anyways, but bringing a small, reusable tote with you while traveling is a simple way to reduce waste, and the bags usually don’t take up much room in your luggage.
Keep your travels close to home. Taking a train or even a car is much more sustainable than a flight. Instead of jetting off to far away places, check out what’s around you first that you may have yet to explore. I think that this will become especially relevant in coming months.
Purchase carbon offsets for your flight. Carbon offsets are a way of measuring the emissions your flight has, and purchasing “offsets,” which reduce carbon emissions somewhere else on the planet through activities like planting trees, providing clean cooking stoves in impoverished countries, or installing solar panels and wind turbines. Several airlines already build this into their pricing or allow you to add it in when purchasing.
Go on a trip that gives back. Mission trips, WWOOFing, Workaway, and ecotourism allow you to travel and give back, often with perks like meals and free accommodation.
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