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📍-Anywhere in the world

After becoming a full-time traveler, I soon became horrified thinking about the growing size of my environmental imprint. As a trained ecologist, my husband lovingly refers to me as a professional tree-hugger, but I struggled with figuring out how the nature loving side of my personality was going to cohabitate with the blossoming traveler side. Enter in the world of sustainable travel, a subject which has gotten a lot of attention in recent years.

There are a lot of resources on the internet and beyond about how you can improve the sustainability of your travel, so much so that it can actually be a bit intimidating. Where should you start? What sources should you trust? I’ve dedicated many years of my life to studying the balance of nature, and have used this knowledge to satisfy both of these questions for you. If you’re starting out on your sustainable traveling journey, start right here with these top eco-friendly tips to help you as you become a more sustainable traveler (written by a full-time traveling ecologist).

What is sustainable travel?

Sustainable travel means traveling in such a way that minimizes any negative impact to the planet and to the people who live in and around the places which we are visiting. As more people visit popular tourist destinations around the world, we emit more greenhouse gas emissions into our atmosphere and we can actually change landscapes due to increased vehicle and foot traffic. Effects such as these not only lead to widespread environmental degradation but could also have negative downstream effects for nearby communities of people who regard the land as culturally significant, or who may rely on it for food production and other environmental services. The effort to negate these negative effects of tourism, and to possibly reverse some that have already taken effect, is what sustainable travel is all about.

Why should you travel sustainably?

“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Travelers travel because of an inherent love for the earth, its creatures, and the people who reside in it. Regardless of whether you consider yourself an animal lover, we do not own this planet, but rather share it with a wide multitude of creatures who are either directly or indirectly impacted by alterations we make to the environment. We have a moral responsibility to consider them when making our traveling choices. In addition, the right to enjoy the beauty of nature and its gradient of cultures is both universal and something that should be preserved for our children, grandchildren, and generations to come. 

13 Tips to Traveling Sustainably

1. Don’t worry about being perfect

Before we get too far, it must be said that the fear of not being perfect should not be something that stops you from trying to travel in a more eco-conscious way. The world needs many people who are practicing sustainability imperfectly and not a few people who are practicing sustainability perfectly. It is this lesson that keeps me eager to learn more about sustainability, and also allows me the grace to be gentle on myself and others when we are inevitably flawed.

2. Reconsider long distance travel options

Flying is one of the most popular ways to get around for long distance travel. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most unsustainable ways to get around, with a cross country flight emitting an estimated 4 times the amount of CO2 when compared to driving, according to the EPA. Transportation via passenger train is even more environmentally friendly than private passenger cars and has the added benefit of averaging a quicker transportation time.

If you are taking a trip where flying is the only feasible option, you should try to purchase direct flights where available, and opt for coach instead of business class, as business class seats require roughly 3 times as much CO2!

3. Reconsider short distance travel options

Once you’ve gotten to your destination, consider transportation options other than a private vehicle to explore the area. Walking and biking are two great options that don’t release any greenhouse gasses into our atmosphere. Researching and utilizing public transportation in the area is another option which significantly reduces the emissions emitted by mile traveled. 

If you find navigating public transport in an unknown area intimidating, especially if you don’t speak the language, we recommend requesting eco-friendly vehicles when opting for services such as Uber and Lyft. Uber, for example, allows you to choose between the available vehicles in your area before committing to a ride. By selecting their Uber Green feature, you can selectively search for cars that run on hybrid or electric engines such as Tesla, the Ford Mach-E, or the Hyundai Ioniq.

4. Pack light

Packing light has been a long standing golden rule of mine for many reasons, even mentioned in our previous Lesser Known Travel Tips blog, but you may not know that packing light also has sustainable benefits as well. There is a reason why some airlines have weight limits on your bags, and that’s because the more weight that is in a plane during flight, the more fuel it has to use to propel the plane forward. The same rule applies to every other mode of transportation you may take during your trip. Packing only the essentials will not only leave you unencumbered to experience lots of adventure during your travels, but you can also feel extra proud of your packing choices knowing that you’re helping to save the planet in the process.

5. Shop local (and buy less)

Many people enjoy buying souvenirs for themselves and family members to help commemorate a meaningful trip. While chains and discount outlet stores may bring you variety and great prices, we recommend you look for smaller, local shops instead. Retail chains are able to provide such great prices by sourcing labor and materials from other parts of the globe. The distribution of these products to their various retail centers requires a great deal more resources than what is required when purchasing souvenirs from locally owned gift shops. Opting for this alternative also supports the local economy in your destination more directly, and can often lead to purchases which are more authentic to the native culture. 

Of course, anything you buy has an environmental footprint which is why we also discourage the act of buying something just for the sake of buying it. Any souvenir, if it will sit in your junk drawer, is not worth the money and resources it took to create it.

6. Obey the signs

I get it, rules just aren’t very fun, especially the ones that tell you not to touch something that you suddenly REALLY want to touch, or the ones that tell you to keep out of an area where you just know you could capture a perfect snapshot for the gram. We’ve all seen those signs posted along our hikes or standing intrusively next to iconic landmarks, but as annoying as they may seem to you, they are always there for a reason. Signs asking you to stay on a designated path are almost always protecting an environmentally vulnerable landscape beyond the boundary while those no touching signs are meant to prevent the slow but inevitable degradation of objects that can be caused by frequent human contact. If tourists frequently ignore these signs, we risk damaging parts of the planet that we cherish the most, and we even risk famous landmarks from around the globe being closed to visitors for good. Preserve these experiences for generations to come by obeying the signs, no matter how annoying you may think they are.

7. Avoid luxury resorts

This one hurts, it really, really hurts, but if you can avoid it, do not stay at luxury resorts. Luxury resorts and hotels use an incredible amount of energy and resources in order to keep up with their opulent appearance. Just think about how much water must be wasted by having to wash the linens of every guest every single day of their stay. Alternative accommodations such as Airbnb and RV travel significantly lighten the environmental pressure from traveling by eliminating some of these wasteful practices. 

If you do find yourself at one of these luxury accommodations for one reason or another, please consider asking for no single use plastics such as straws in your drinks, opting to skip on the daily room service, and ordering mindful portion sizes to reduce food waste.

8. Eat locally grown and in season foods

Another tip that applies to travel and beyond is to eat what is locally grown and in season. It may seem perfectly normal to go to our local grocery store and find an ample supply of avocados at every time of the year, but it is anything but natural. In order to provide us with out of season fruits and vegetables, the food industry either ships them to us from their natural environments, or they invest the energy needed to create a simulated environment that allows them to grow. Either way, eating foods that naturally grow where you are visiting can substantially decrease the environmental footprint of each of your meals. Just as in tip #5, you get bonus points if you buy from small and local vendors!

9. Travel slower

No matter how conscious you are about opting for eco-friendly modes of transport, travel inevitably results in CO2 emissions, and this consequence increases with every destination you add onto your travel itinerary. To try and decrease this impact, we recommend slower travel where you stay in each place for longer periods of time. Aside from decreasing our traveling carbon footprint, this practice also allows you to become more immersed in each of your destinations and allows you to better understand the culture there.

10. Consider carbon offsetting your travel

Carbon offsetting is the practice of compensating for the negative carbon impact by investing in projects that have a comparable positive carbon impact. Many of these projects focus on subjects such as forestry and renewable energy. The steps to carbon offsetting your travel are rather simple. First, calculate your carbon emissions of travel by using a carbon calculator, such as the one from climatecare.org. This website will walk you through the process of easily estimating your carbon footprint, then provides you with a list of reputable projects that you can invest in to help offset your carbon emissions. This process is a lot more affordable than you may think. For example, as full-time RV travelers, the cost to offset the driving we did as we traveled from Maine to Florida is about $15.

11. Be respectful of other cultures

As more and more travelers explore different parts of the country, we risk the slow degradation of cultures at some of the world’s most visited places. I believe that the preservation of these cultures is just as important as the preservation of the planet, which is why it is so important to be respectful of the cultural practices in the places that we visit. Some easy ways that we can accomplish this is to research the local etiquette before arriving, and being sure to practice this etiquette and to wear appropriate clothing so as not to offend any of the locals. Additionally, while you may find it fun to haggle with local vendors, do so sparingly and respectfully so you don’t undervalue the work of culturally significant pieces and practices.

12. Use sustainable travel insurance

Unfortunately, many of the most popular travel insurance companies actively invest in the coal industry, an industry which contributes roughly 8% of US methane missions. We still believe that travel insurance, as well as working with a reputable travel agent, is a worthy investment for any upcoming travel trip which is why we recommend travel insurance companies who have taken meaningful actions to sever their relationships with the coal industry. Specific travel insurance agencies such as AXA, Allianz, Aviva, Munich Re, and Swiss Re are some of the top travel agencies which have divested from coal companies throughout their investment portfolios. 

We have the choice as consumers to vote with our dollar every time we make a purchase. Let’s vote for the companies who are investing in a greener future!

13. Do research ahead of time

The growing concern from travelers about our planet has led many businesses to try and capitalize on this movement, creating a phenomenon commonly known as “Green Washing.” Green Washing is the practice of companies where they make their products and services strategically appear more sustainable than they actually are by using buzzwords like “eco-friendly”, “green”, or “all natural” in their marketing. Because this type of language isn’t regulated, companies are free to use it regardless of their actual level of investment towards sustainability. 

Unfortunately, this type of marketing is effective, and even our fiercest tree-hugging travelers are known to fall for it. For this reason, it is important to do a bit of research on sustainable companies that you would like to support before arriving at your destination. You can dig deeper into any company's sustainable claims by looking for certifications such as the Fair Trade Certification, the Rainforest Alliance Certification, or the Green Seal. When in doubt, get on the phone and ask a representative about their claims about supporting a greener future. If they can’t give you specific details, a lack of transparency is usually an indication that they’re not as sustainable as they claim to be.

Thank you so much for reading this blog on ways to become a more sustainable traveler. Do you have any sustainable travel tips that weren’t mentioned in this post? Let me know by leaving a comment below! And don’t forget to subscribe to the Discovery Detour Newsletter so you are notified every time we release a new post about mindful travel tips and nomadic living inspirations.

Thank you for joining us at Discovery Detour, where the destination is always unknown.