Eco-Friendly Explorations: How to Travel Sustainably
Travelling provides us with experiences, introduces us to new cultures and opens our minds, it’s a hobby enjoyed by a lot of us. As with everything, it also has its drawbacks – particularly the environmental impact. As we continue our exploration of the world, which can also mean exploitation of our world, travelling has a huge detrimental impact on the environment, which makes it super important that we do what we can to reduce this. Let’s discuss some simple eco-friendly practices that can help us travel sustainably and take care of our environment.
Fly Economy
Beginning with the major environmental impact of travelling is emissions from air travel. There are a few ways to tackle this: for starters, flying economy. Business class plane tickets take up a lot more space and therefore have a wider carbon footprint (a whopping four times larger per mile!) Opt for an economy ticket, you may not be as comfortable or have the best sleep, but you will make less of a negative impact on the environment, so really the real heroes fly economy.
Cancel Unrequired Tickets
Staying on the topic of air travel, some other tips include, cancelling flight tickets that you are not intending to go on. Of course, sometimes things happen, and we cannot make it, but try to be sure to cancel. At the end of the day that flight is likely going to fly anyway and do the same damage to the environment. Cancelling in advance means the seat can be resold and not fly empty. Keep in mind, the more passengers on that flight the more the fuel impact is distributed, ultimately decreasing the CO₂ emissions per flight.
Pack Light!
Another eco-friendly tip is to pack light. You may think that taking one less pair of shoes (that you are probably not going to wear anyway) will not make a significant difference, but it does. If every single person flying opts to bring those shoes or an extra jacket, it is the equivalent of removing a whopping 10,500 cars from the road for a year – in terms of fuel consumption. Do you really need them? Put it this way, it is a lighter luggage and less of a backache for you to carry through the airport.
Take Direct Flights
Another sustainable air travel tip would be to take a direct flight. Although you may save a few pennies from your pocket by buying multiple flights, it is the environment that forks up the cost. The emissions from taking off and landing are huge, and a large part of it. Taking a non-stop flight will not only be quick like a fast withdrawal casino, but it will do the environment and yourself a favour: less waiting and less chance of losing your luggage (not the shoes you left at home, but the rest). It is a win-win situation.
Walk or Cycle
Moving on, your impact does not stop once you get out of the plane. When you arrive at your destination and it is time to explore, consider the best way you can do it. For example, when exploring a city, you could bike or walk instead of taking taxis. This allows you to immerse yourself in the culture while reducing emissions, but also it is fun, and it is exercise, so why not? To make this even better, while you are in the city, check out the local markets, and buy local products whether it be gifts, food or clothes, the local products reduce carbon footprint from shipping while also supporting local economies.
Eco-Friendly Hotels
After a day of cycling, walking, and saving the environment, it is time to rest up. You can do so in a guesthouse or hotel which has a certified eco-label. This means that they focus on water conservation, reducing waste, and using energy-efficient practices. Supporting these establishments helps encourage the not-so-eco-friendly ones to adopt these as well.
Conclusion
As globe-trotting has never been so easy, it is super important to keep in mind our actions. We want to continue to see the beauty of the world, so we must ensure we do not destroy it. It is our responsibility to preserve these destinations and with these simple considerations, we can make a larger impact. Adopt these eco tips and you will not only enjoy the journey but make a positive impact. Now it is down to you, safe travels!
