An A to Z guide to not killing the planet when you travel
Being a responsible traveler sounds simple in theory: Just go green. Take care of the environment. But when it comes time to actually taking action, it can get a bit overwhelming. Where to start? And what to pack?
There are 26 actually doable steps to be an eco-friendly traveler. Some, like ditching single-use plastics, will have an effect on the environment, while others, like bringing a journal, will help hold you accountable and contribute to a culture of awareness. Others will require you to spend more, but many cost nothing at all. Even a few small changes to your travel lifestyle will lead to a better trip for you and the environment, wherever you are heading to.
A is for avoiding the buffet
Put down that spoonful of soggy eggs in the hotel buffet line and order à la carte instead. Though there have been improvements in recent years, buffets are still incredibly wasteful. Only 10 to 15 percent of that food can be donated or repurposed because of food safety regulations. It comes down to this: Hotels are worried about seeming like they don't have enough food, so they overcompensate—and waste. By avoiding the buffet, you're casting your vote—one bite at a time.
B is for bringing your own amenities
All those little toiletries tubes? Yep, they're terrible for the environment because they generally aren't biodegradable, which is why you'll see more and more hotels adopting containers secured to the wall instead of ones that are largely useless after one wash. Bring your own shampoo, conditioner, and lotion in reusable bottles.
C is for choosing a green destination
Supporting places that are working to combat climate change and preserve their local ecosystems is a big step in protecting the planet. Just a few of these destinations? Slovenia, Portugal, Lake Tahoe, and Sani Isla, Ecuador, all of whom were singled out at the 2018 Sustainable Top 100 Destination Awards for their focus on going green, whether it be showing innovation in sustainable tourism (Portugal) or protecting their natural habitats (Sani Isla).
D is for dropping pounds
Packing efficiently for a flight not only helps you narrow down what you truly need, it also reduces an aircraft's carbon emissions. To lighten your load, cut out clothes that aren't multipurpose and get rid of paper weight by downloading books on an iPad or e-reader. The next time you feel that familiar urge to complain about baggage rules and fees, remember that the lighter the aircraft, the less fuel it burns. The airline matters, too.
E is for employing e-tickets
Scan your smartphone, save a tree (not really, but almost).
F is for flicking off the lights
Sure, some bulbs are more affected by the number of times they're switched on and off than by the length of time they're left on, but a good rule of thumb is to turn off the lights you don't need. Reducing energy use = decreasing power plant emissions = protecting the air = preventing climate change.
G is for getting by without a car
Using Uber Pool and Lyft Line to share a ride may make you feel a little better, but the reality is that cars in general are still not ideal: they pollute the environment, lead to congestion, and compete with public transportation for the affection of travellers. Public transportation is good; walking is even better.
H is for hitting up hotels
"Aside from air travel, properties have some of the greatest impact in terms of energy use, food, and being LEED-certified," says Jim Sano, the World Wildlife Fund's vice president focused on tourism and conservation. Check a hotel's website for a "Responsible Travel," "Environment," or "Good Stewards" section—if they've spent time, energy, and money to be low-impact, says Sano, they'll likely have this information displayed.
I is for Instagramming
Resist the urge to pick up your phone and geotag everywhere you go. Social science shows that travelling for the ‘gram is on the up and up, and that it's changing how we "discover." Consider Wyoming: Last year, the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board asked travellers to stop geotagging, saying the flood of visitors to little-known places meant that trails were being eroded. It also just means less engagement in the ways that actually count. "We want people to have a real connection to nature, not just a page with a pin on it,"
J is for journaling
We're not perfect, and it's easy for travellers to want to splurge, to indulge, or to still visit Santorini, even as it struggles under the weight of overtourism. We get that. Bring a journal on your trip, both because it helps you remember things better, and because it helps hold you accountable to ways in which you could be more eco-friendly.
K is for keeping it local
Part of being responsible when you travel is making sure you're not perpetuating any negative cycles. Eat in locally owned restaurants, and stay in locally owned lodges, hotels, and B&Bs. Buy locally made handicrafts and products that double as practical, everyday items, so you're not stuck with a dust-inducing souvenir you never use. Never buy crafts or gifts made from protected or endangered animals.
L is for leaving no trace
Take a cue from leave-no-trace camping, where the goal is to have as little effect as possible on the destination: anything you carry into camp, you should carry out. Carry your own reusable bags, straws, utensils, and takeaway containers whenever you can, and you'll be making a small but mighty change. "Although we all like to treat ourselves to bits and pieces before we travel, be aware that in many places recycling, or waste disposal full stop, is tricky. So leave packaging at home," says Justin Francis, CEO of U.K.-based travel agency Responsible Travel.
M is for making sure you follow local recycling rules
Just because you're away from home doesn't mean you can—or should—skip on separating your plastics from your papers. Staying at a hotel? Ask about their recycling program. See what local rules or best practices you need to follow.
N is for navigating responsibly
Remember those selfie-taking tourists who were wandering off of wooden walkways in Croatia's Plitvice National Park and causing damage to the park's waterfalls and forests? Or the woman who ignored signs to stay on trails and headed off to take a selfie with a crocodile in Thailand's Khao Yai National Park? If there's a lesson here, it's that selfies are so 2018, sure, but also that venturing off designated paths is dangerous for both you and the environment. There's a reason trails exist where they do, after all.
O is for offsetting your impact
To find out how much carbon you "produce" on a trip, crunch the numbers and donate the monetary value to any number of organisations including Carbonfund.org and TerraPass. Some airlines even have a carbon offset option when booking your flight—any money donated will go toward reducing the emissions you're adding somewhere else.
P is for putting up a fuss
Got a favourite airline? Are you a status member with that airline? Even better. Research their policies and be vocal about changes you'd like to see, whether it's ditching plastic on their flights or partnering with companies to offset their carbon. Same goes for hotels and tours of choice: by communicating with them that this is a priority for you, you're helping hold them accountable to more environmentally friendly options. In your correspondence, don't forget to mention other airlines or brands that are doing good things—nothing gets things moving like a little competition, after all.
Q is for quitting single-use plastics
Globally, almost 300 million tons of plastic are produced annually—half of which is single-use—and more than 8 million tons of that plastic are dumped into the ocean, according to the Plastic Oceans Foundation. Read up on countries and travel companies that have phased out single-use plastics, and think about how you can do so when you travel, by declining plastic straws, plastic coffee stirrers, plastic bags, and plastic cutlery.
R is for raising responsible travellers
Find opportunities to get younger members of your traveling pack involved where you can—perhaps it's helping you sort recycling, or picking clothes they want to donate. Raising responsible travellers only helps the next generation, and the next—especially since they'll have to live on this planet long after you're gone.
S is for slapping on safe sunscreen
In July 2018, Hawaii became the first U.S. state to ban the sale of sunscreens containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, which have been found to increase coral bleaching. Make sure you're slathered up with the good stuff, no matter where you're traveling.
T is for touring smartly
Choose companies that utilise the best environmental practices—even if it takes work, or added expense. "You're paying for people who live and breathe this space and have thought about how they're going to do it in a way that has the least amount of impact”. Doing so can also strengthen local communities: "Many of the tour operators make an effort to leave a fair chunk of the money that travellers pay in-country" Utilise a trusted travel specialist to help you sort the details.
U is for using that same towel again (and again)
We know, we know—this is a hot topic (so hot we've debated it). But when it comes to what's better for the environment, there's no question that using the same hotel towel throughout your stay is the right choice: Laundry generally accounts for 16 percent of a hotel's water bill.
V is for vowing to protect the destination
In 2017, Palau made history when it began requiring tourists to sign a stamped pledge at immigration that reads, "I take this pledge as your guest, to protect and preserve your beautiful island home. I vow to tread lightly, act kindly and explore mindfully." Iceland, too, has an unofficial "oath" for tourists, as does New Zealand.
W is for welcoming the right kind of water bottles
We've already established that single-use plastics are terrible for the environment. To help you stay hydrated while traveling, used from silicone glass-covered ones to insulated stainless steel tumblers.
X is for x-factoring
Francis of Responsible Travel says that the best thing you can do for a destination depends on, well, that destination. Research where you're going, and see what part of your trip you can change to help—we'll call this the X-factor. An example? "Using water sparingly in areas that experience droughts, or if you are going to see wildlife, then make sure this is done responsibly where the wildlife is put first, not the tourist," he says.
Y is for yielding with a fuel-efficient car
Say you have to have a car. Try and reserve one of these fuel-efficient options.
Z is for zooming out
"One of the biggest misconceptions is that travelling responsibly somehow puts a damper on your trip or is difficult. I would argue that the opposite is true. Travelling responsibly doesn't mean giving something up. It means appreciating the place you are visiting and acting in a way that ensures it is taken care of for the community that lives there and future generations."
Courtesy, Katherine Lagrave, CNT