Eco-Friendly Travel: 5 Simple Ways to Prioritise Sustainability After Booking A Trip
Given the costs of things these days, quite frankly, I don’t always find the means to book the most eco friendly travel and accommodation. Many of these mindful actions may already be part of your travel routine, but just in case, incorporating at least some, could make a real difference, especially if we all take part.
Read on to find out more!
In November 2021, the World Travel & Tourism Council report presented a range of studies with estimates of Travel & Tourism sector emissions ranging from 8% to 11% of global green house gasses emissions.
So many industries make up this sector: aviation, transportation, booking sites, accommodation, operators and other intermediaries. Before we know it, we'll go mad with trying to decipher our over all impact in taking a one week break in [insert your beautiful destination, because I was torn between Spain and Italy!]. Not to mention the potential greenwashing we'd need to navigate through and the cost of living...because let's face it, we're all trying to make our dollar go further these days.
Though the impact of travel is not decisively conclusive and evidence not 100% reliable, the call for more sustainable action is clear and here are small easy ways to begin offsetting the emissions from a flight or less sustainable accommodation.
#1 - Take your empty water bottle to the airport
I've tried my fair share of reusable bottles! The most logical option to me, turns out, is stainless steel. It keeps water cool in hot destinations and warm if you are a cold weather adventurer. Though as ever, the best water bottle is the one you already have, surely.
Most airports now offer a free re-fill water point after you clear security, but remember to drink up as you join the security queue. Most local cafes abroad will be happy to refill your bottle when you purchase a coffee or an Aperol Spritz, in my case.
If you drink the usual 2l a day, this will save you 4 x 500l single use plastic bottles and approximately £8 a day! Over a 1 week trip, that's 28 possible bottles not used per person - my back of pack maths though - and if you're travelling with another person, that quickly becomes 56 bottles and nearly £112 saved in a single week.
#2 - Reef safe sunscreen
Researchers found that among the several brands of sunscreen tested, commonly found ingredients, can stimulate dormant viral infections in zooxanthellae (the cells which live in corals and help corals survive). The sunscreen chemicals caused viruses within these cells to replicate until their hosts exploded, spilling viruses into the surrounding seawater, which could then spread infection to nearby coral communities. But don’t take my word for it, I found these resources extremely informative:
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, “Bleached, But Not by the Sun: Sunscreen Linked to Coral Damage” April 2008 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2291012/
National Geographic, "What sunscreens are best for you—and the planet?" 22 May 2019 https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/environment/2019/05/what-sunscreens-are-best-for-you-and-the-planet
"By the numbers, the problem is daunting: 14,000 tons of sunscreen are thought to wash into the oceans each year; 82,000 chemicals from personal-care products may be tainting the seas; about 80 percent of corals in the Caribbean have been lost in the last 50 years due to pollution, coastal development, and warming waters."
Unfortunately, we cannot 100% rely on "reef safe" or equivalent labelling on sun screen products - it is not a regulated market.
So here is a list of ingredients to avoid and look out for (with thanks to the surfrider.org article) :
Oxybenzone
Octinoxate
Octocrylene
4-methylbenzylidene camphor
PABA
Parabens
Triclosan
Any nanoparticles or “nano-sized” zinc or titanium (if it doesn’t explicitly say “micro-sized” or “non-nano” and it can rub in, it’s probably nano-sized)
Any form of microplastic, such as “exfoliating beads”.
#3 - Lighter luggage but sneak in a reusable tote
Reducing the amount of stuff we take away with us will also have some impact on emissions. The more we pack, the heavier our bags will be, and this adds to the amount of fuel being burned, said BBC.
Packing light isn't always possible (winter holidays, I'm thinking of you!) but grabbing a reusable bag saved me needing extra carrier bags on my journey every time.
#4 - Eating, shopping and exploring local
Perhaps transportation and accommodation booking is not something we can or even want to control, but planning more local activities will massively reduce our carbon footprint.
Searching for bike or walking tours is a great way to find out more about the place we’re visiting.
Perhaps even asking where the locals prefer to eat and being open to trying local cuisine instead of eating something we are used to eating at home, will also help reduce the impact of our travels.
It's a good idea to avoid shops and chains you can find at home, and instead supporting small local businesses.
#5 - Giving back to the community
Starting an ocean, forest or town clean up can be an affordable, kind way to give back to the community. If that is something not for you, you could just consciously pick up that extra discarded drink or wrapper and pop it in the bin as you go.
All small steps, collectively will make a big difference
If one person's small step on their journey inspires action from another individual, from saving 28 bottles a week, we'll save hundreds and maybe thousands. Tomorrow, all industries will have no choice but make more sustainable options available more affordably, including across Travel & Tourism sector.
With Bestest Wishes and happy adventuring,
Katya
