At Explorica, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to see the world. Travel can open our eyes, build bridges, and change lives… but it can also come with a big carbon footprint. Thankfully, there are steps we can take — ranging from the big choices to tiny details — that can minimize the environmental impact of our travel.
Making informed decisions every day — whether at home or abroad — is the key to having a positive impact on the environment. You won’t always be able to make the ‘green’ choice in every situation — but having ideas in the back of your mind creates options. Then, when opportunity strikes, it is easier to make the environmentally friendly choice. Research is your friend. And we’re here to help!
We asked one of our environmentally-conscious staff members to share their eco-friendly travel tips to honor Earth Day. Judith Finn, our graphic designer, is always striving to be low-waste and a positive steward for the environment, so she was happy to help!
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Without further ado, here are
25 of her environmentally-friendly travel tips:
- Pack light! Every ounce counts. Bringing a small carry-on suitcase instead of two full size suitcases helps keep the plane light (and your fees down!). Plus, you’ll be grateful you don’t have to lug a huge bag down cobblestone streets. There are many location-specific guides for packing light — here are two of our favorites.
- Unplug. Take a walk around your home and unplug anything that won’t need to be used while you’re gone. Certain electronics can ‘leech’ power even while they’re turned off.
- When possible, book non-stop flights. Take offs and landings are the biggest contributors to an airplane trip’s total carbon emissions.
- Consider one of the 30+ IATA member airlines that offer carbon offset programs. This is a great way to neutralize your trip’s carbon footprint.
- Buy local! A staple of sustainable shopping while at home, buying local is also a smart choice while abroad. Not only will you be minimizing the distance goods and products have to travel, you’ll be supporting the communities you’re visiting. Buying from local artisans will turn souvenirs into stories, support locals who may be keeping their culture and family craft alive, and put tourism dollars directly into the pockets of the people who live there.
- Don’t buy anything made from endangered plants/ animals or unsustainable hardwoods. And don’t support animal tourism without doing your research to ensure the animals are being treated ethically. The word ‘sanctuary’ isn’t necessarily a green light.
- Respect the location, and the people. Clean up after yourself and be respectful of public and private spaces. Just like the boy scouts say, it never hurts to leave a place cleaner than you found it.
- Bring a reusable shopping bag, the kind that folds up into a convenient flat square so it doesn’t take up any room in your day bag. This will make a huge difference — plastic bags can take up to 500 years to degrade.
- Why not bring reusable silverware? If you’re going to be eating on the go or at casual restaurants bringing your own silverware can be a great way to cut down on your consumption of one-use plastics.
- An old standard — bring a reusable water bottle. This is the number one way to cut down on plastic consumption. Without it you’ll be buying bottle after bottle! Getting access to clean water can be a challenge in certain areas, but if you hunt around chances are you’ll be able to refill wherever water is safe to drink.
- If you’re going to be abroad for a while, a reusable food container could come in handy. You could shop for local groceries and pack a snack for the day, which would save you money on eating out. Or, you can pack your leftovers and cut down on food waste. A win-win!
- When shopping for groceries, again, buy local! Walking through a pop-up market is one of the best ways to get a feel for a new location. Just like with artisans, supporting local farmers, and restaurants that source locally, is an easy way to experience the culture and day-to-day life of the people who call that area home.
- The rental car. If you decide to drive while travelling, consider a hybrid, electrical, or compact car. There’s no need to sport a gas guzzler to get from point A to point B, and depending on where you are, it’ll be easier to navigate those pesky narrow roads.
- Better yet, use public transportation.
- Get your steps in (or bike!). Chances are, you’ll be walking a lot no matter what your travel plans are. But on top of the city walks and museum strolls — every time you can walk for an outing instead of drive, give it a shot.
- Ask if your hotel has a recycling program and if you can separate your trash accordingly. If they don’t, fill out a comment card at check out suggesting one. It can’t hurt.
- Hang towels as directed by hotel and/or use the Do Not Disturb sign when you can to cut down on chemical cleansing agents and the energy used to wash bed linens and vacuum the room.
- Don’t forget the free shampoo! If you use the complimentary toiletries in the hotel room, take them with you when you leave. That way you can use every last little bit (they’ll be thrown away and wasted otherwise), and use the container for future travel.
- Hotels usually wash each room’s laundry separately when you submit clothes for wash, so do not use unless absolutely necessary. Wash clothes in the shower or sink and hang to dry overnight.
- In addition to turning off all your hotel lights and heat/AC, close your curtains or blinds to keep the room as cool as possible (in the summer).
- Unless you’re an avid scrapbooker or want the memento, return brochures and flyers to the hotel/tourist kiosk so they can be re-used by future travellers!
- Whenever hiking: stick to the trail! Sticking to the path helps avoid unintended harm to native flora. There are very specific exceptions to this rule: if that’s the case you will be informed by a ranger or signage!
- And, it needs to be said… don’t litter. Take only photos, leave only footprints.
- Extra credit: If going for a hike or nature stroll, bring a small bag to collect trash. Cleaning up an environment is a great way to give back to nature. You could even make a game out if it by competing with your fellow travellers!
And finally… -
Spread the word! Encourage a travel pal to be mindful of their choices while travelling, and you’ll have doubled your impact. 🙂
Sustainability is not just about eco-friendly practices. It is also about immersing yourself in a culture to get a better understanding of a place and its people. Wherever you travel, and however you travel, be an active participant to get the most out of the experience. Give us a call today to start planning the educational trip of a lifetime: 1.888.310.7121