12 Ways To Be A More Eco-Friendly Traveller4 October 2022 | Admin It can be difficult to find the balance between travelling the world and also protecting the planet at the same time. Travelling will increase your carbon footprint but there’s still plenty that you can do to be as eco-friendly as possible whilst enjoying your holidays. Here are some great tips on how to be a more eco-friendly traveller. 1. Choose to holiday in the UK During the Covid pandemic, many people decided to do staycations rather than travelling abroad as it was a much simpler option at the time. However, this also showed us just how great UK holidays can be. There’s so much to explore in the UK alone that you could opt to stay in the country and visit some lovely destinations that are closer to home. If you need some inspiration check out this 12 Best Places To Visit In The UK guide. 2. Go camping Camping is a great eco-friendly holiday option. It feels amazing to be at one with nature and sleeping under the stars. If you want to plan a camping trip but don’t know where to start then have a read of our Eco-Friendly Camping Essentials blog post. 3. Consider alternatives to flying Travelling by boat or train are more sustainable options than flying. However, cruise ships produce more carbon per passenger than planes, so consider if you can travel via ferry or sailboat to certain destinations. Alternatively, fly with airlines that use renewable biofuels. Alternative Airlines is a great website for finding flights from operators using biofuels.
4. Offset your air miles If you really can’t avoid flying then look at offsetting your carbon footprint via a reputable offsetting organisation. Offsetting means contributing financially to green projects as a way to compensate for the carbon created when flying. There are a lot of offsetting schemes out there so always look for a Gold Standard organisation, such as Climate Action Reserve or Verra.
5. Go paperless Avoid printing off boarding passes, tickets, and hotel confirmation unless it is absolutely necessary. These days most countries have gone digital and you can store everything on your phone. 6. Visit a ‘green’ destination Iceland, Costa Rica, and Norway score highly when it comes to sustainable tourism. These countries actively protect areas of natural beauty, habitats, and wildlife as well as supporting local culture and businesses. Visiting these sorts of destinations means that you’ll be supporting countries that are working hard to protect our planet and putting money into these local economies.
7. Find sustainable accommodation Some hotel booking websites show if a hotel is eco-friendly or sustainable, such as Booking.com, or you can use sites such as Ecobnb to find eco accommodation options. 8. Be an eco-friendly hotel guest There are steps that you can take when staying at a hotel to be as eco-friendly as possible. Firstly, hang your towels up after you have used them so that they will dry and can be used again the next day, rather than leaving them on the floor to be replaced. Secondly, switch off the lights, television, and air conditioning when you leave the room. Most hotels have systems that will do this automatically but always make sure that you’re doing your bit too. Finally, think about leaving the Do Not Disturb sign on your hotel room door as often as possible (or for your entire stay) so that this will save energy from the vacuum cleaner not being used and from the washing of your bed linen and towels. 9. Pack a reusable water bottle Pack a reusable water bottle if you’re travelling to a country where you can drink the tap water - be sure to check before you go. If the drinking water is safe then you can just fill up your bottle at the start of the day and when you’re out and about, without having to buy single-use plastic water bottles. 10. Pack sustainable toiletries Using sustainable toiletries like bamboo toothbrushes, soap bars, and shampoo bars will drastically cut down on your use of plastics and will make your suitcase lighter without those bulky plastic bottles. 11. Walk, bike, or use public transport Walking tours are a great way of seeing and learning about a new city and of course it's one of the most eco-friendly ways to get around. Also, look out for bikes that you can hire or bike tours or use public transport to travel around. If you need to rent a car then look for a hybrid or electric vehicle, if possible. 12. Eat local produce at independent restaurants Seek out local independent restaurants that source their ingredients locally and will therefore have a much lower carbon footprint. Besides, these independent restaurants are always better than large soulless chains anyway. With these tips, you can start planning your next trip, keeping your eco-friendly ethos in mind, every step of the way.
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