We’re approaching the time of year when we start to book holidays, and I wanted to create a checklist of things we can all do to travel more consciously!
Why travel sustainably?
Being conscious about our impacts when we travel allows us to enjoy the world’s beauty while ensuring that future generations can do the same. Tourism accounts for 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, with every aspect of our holidays potentially harming the earth, from flying to sun protection, from eating to showering. We cannot take travel for granted; to ensure these destinations exist in the future, we must look after their surroundings.
Check-list
Accommodation: look out for accommodations which engage in sustainable actions, this could be only serving local food, prioritising energy efficiency, or minimise disturbance to local habitats.
Transport: often, when we go abroad, we will fly because it’s the most convenient, however, the aviation industry is the most polluting travel industry. Where possible, look for alternative methods of travel, like boat or train. The Eurostar has made getting to France from the UK even quicker than flying, and from France, you can reach anywhere in Europe by train.
Luggage: I see too many people buying new luggage each time they go away, which suggests they are cheap and low-quality items. Even though suitcases can be expensive, you will get more for your money if you invest in a good quality case over buying multiple cheap ones, which are more likely to break and be flimsy.
Packing: going on holiday is not an excuse to buy all your usual cosmetics in their mini forms, use what you have, whether this be taking your usual products as they are or decanting them into smaller containers to align with travel restrictions. This not only reduces the number of single-use plastics you consume, but it also saves money! Another step to take is to be conscious about what clothes you buy specifically for the trip; make sure they’re high quality, not contributing to fast fashion, and you are likely to wear them at home.
Carbon offsetting: if the only sensible way to travel is by flight, consider offsetting your emissions to reduce your negative impact on the planet. However, this should not be the go-to option as it avoids taking real action to mitigate emissions and can be seen as green-washing.
Avoid single-use: it can be difficult when travelling not to buy single-use plastics as it’s impossible to take your entire house with you, however, reducing the number of times you need to buy such plastics is the key to being conscious. This may simply involve packing cutlery for on-the-go or making sure you take your reusable water bottle.
Respect local environments: holidays are often viewed as a time to indulge, but this does not mean taking advantage and doing whatever you want. Actions still have consequences, be kind to the environment you are in as it is still many people’s homes.
Treat accommodation like your own: it can be easy to leave lights, air conditioning, or heating on in a space which is not yours, as you’ve paid a set price, so you may as well get your money’s worth, right? Well, this is actually one of the most significant energy-consuming things you can do, so whilst you’re not paying the price, someone is and it’s not in the form of a bill.
Eat local: enjoying local food is a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture whilst supporting local businesses.
Share: share your conscious travel tips with the people around you, and encourage them to take sustainable action, too! We are the answer to this climate crisis, we have the power to save the planet, so let’s encourage people to realise their potential.
Not My Monkey 