5 Tips for Eco-friendly Travel
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Are you dreaming of jetting off and seeing the world? Do you already have plans to spend some time backpacking abroad? If 2020 is set to be your most adventurous yet, then you have a lot to plan and organise before you even get on the plane. However, despite travelling being at the top of many bucket lists, we can’t escape the fact that international travel just isn’t as eco-friendly as we’d like.
So, how can you ensure that you follow your travel dreams yet remain conscious of your environmental impact? Read on for 5 tips for eco-friendly travel.
Flying tips
Whether you’re planning on jetting across to mainland Europe – Do you need to get a visa to visit France? Click the link to find out – or you’re heading to the other side of the world, flying is one of the biggest polluters out there. If you can, avoid flying and consider other means of transport to get to your destination.
While it’s true that long haul flights create more emissions, don’t be fooled into thinking that a quick, short-haul flight isn’t as harmful as jetting off across the globe. With empty seats and more energy burned whilst landing and taking off as opposed to cruising during long haul flights, short-haul is also bad news for the environment. Where possible, take another mode of transport!
Try to offset your carbon emissions
If you do fly, then there are ways you can give back to the environment. Offsetting your carbon emissions is where you pay into a scheme and make up for your carbon footprint.
So, as part of the price of your ticket a contribution goes towards an environmental project such as renewable energy projects or even forestry projects where existing trees are saved from being cut down or new ones are planted.
Go economy
Believe it or not, when it comes to flying, flying economy is actually the lesser of two evils. When you consider how much room is used in Business class, as well as the additional water and power usage and the amount of waste produced the carbon footprint produced is significantly larger than that of economy. When you fly economy, there are more people which makes it much more efficient.
Cut down on your meat
According to scientific research, the meat industry is one of the world’s biggest polluters. Which means we should all reduce our meat intake in order to reduce the impact this pollutive industry is having on the planet.
So, when you’re travelling opt for meals without meat. Of course, you want to enjoy yourself but take it as an opportunity to try something new! It’s also a principle you can apply when you return home.
Bring eco-friendly items!
Saying no to plastic is becoming easier and easier. Even if you are on the road! For example, before leaving, think about packing a bamboo toothbrush and a reusable bamboo coffee cup.
Making little changes and planning ahead means that you can avoid all the plastic extras such as shampoos and lotions in hotels, purchasing bottled water at your destination and even using plastic cutlery whilst out and about.
