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By Lacey Pfalz, TravelPulse
It can be hard to slowly adapt to more sustainable solutions throughout your personal life, work-life and more, but it's becoming even more important to do so. As we near Earth Day, we're here to help you consider some more eco-conscious solutions to traveling, so you can rest easy knowing that you're doing your part to help the planet. From choosing luggage made from recycled materials to choosing tour operators, cruise lines, or hotels that offset their emissions, utilize renewable energy or do important conservation work, there are a ton of great ways that you can begin being a more responsible and sustainable traveler. Read on to learn more.
Read More: What Is Sustainable Tourism?
Plan With a Purpose
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Being a sustainable traveler begins with the planning process when travelers first begin considering where they'd like to go, where they'd like to stay, and what they'd like to do when they get there. But there are some vacation types, travel methods, and styles that can increase your carbon footprint. Our tip is to first begin considering more sustainable options. Usually, a resort, cruise line, or tour operator's website has information about some sort of sustainability measures for people to read; if they don't, avoid booking with them. If you feel like you need extra help, contact a travel advisor. Some of them specialize in more sustainable ways of traveling and vacationing, while others have the know-how to find the types of destinations, resorts, or cruise lines that will fit you and your travel style best.
Pack Responsibly
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Packing is a huge part of any vacation, but did you know that there are some methods you can use to reduce your footprint even while packing? The first is choosing a more sustainable suitcase, like DELSEY PARIS's eco-friendly lines, which are produced from water bottles that were taken from the ocean and recycled into gorgeous luxury luggage. Packing light is another great tip because lighter packing means fewer emissions on flights, as well as on other transportation methods. Avoiding purchasing things made from single-use plastics or paper is another key sustainability method when packing, and tips for reducing this type of waste include using reusable bags for things like shoes, undergarments, and liquids. Purchase refillable travel-size containers so you can avoid purchasing those small travel-size toiletries. Bring along an empty reusable water bottle to fill up once you get past TSA if you'll be flying, so you can avoid purchasing a plastic water bottle. One last packing tip: make sure to pack coral-friendly sunscreens if you'll be traveling near the ocean. Regular sunscreens can actually hurt coral reefs, so make sure to do your due diligence before purchasing your sunblock.
Travel With Your Carbon Footprint in Mind
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Travel methods also differ in the amount of carbon emissions produced. Some methods of travel offer carbon emissions tracking so you know exactly how much your travel is producing. Some tour operators even include carbon offsetting measures, while some cruise lines are investing in liquid natural gas or hybrid power to reduce their emissions. If you're considering taking a short-haul flight, try taking a train to your destination instead, since they offer reduced emissions than short-haul flights. While you can't reduce emissions on a long-haul flight, some airlines offer the ability to offset their carbon emissions, or they're already doing so behind the scenes.
Finnair, for example, will reduce its CO2 emission by 50 percent from 2019's levels by 2025 by investing in biofuels made from waste materials, reducing the weight of their aircraft, and participating in other measures. Many other airlines are doing similarly, so it's important to also consider their sustainability initiatives prior to booking your flights.
Choose a Sustainable Accommodation
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Sustainability is most often considered to be where and how you're staying during your vacation, and there's a reason for this. Resorts offer great opportunities for local sustainability initiatives, but they can also be great sources of ecological detriment to a destination. That's why it's so important to choose a resort, hotel, lodge, or other accommodation that offers sustainability measures. Whether that be food waste reduction, utilizing renewable energy, participating in conservation research, or other methods, you'll know you'll not only be investing in a great vacation experience but also one that makes the world a better place.
Club Med's newest resort in Quebec is participating in local sustainability practices by sourcing the majority of its food products and ingredients from the surrounding area, while the Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda will be participating in composting its beach's seaweed to make fertilizer. Iberostar is another resort brand and sustainability powerhouse, and its Wave of Change program includes four coral nurseries to help conservation efforts in the Caribbean.
Reduce Waste During Your Trip
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One great way to reduce your environmental footprint is by reducing the amount of waste you produce on your trip. Whether that means bringing along a reusable water bottle or choosing to dine in instead of taking it out, there are a variety of ways to reduce waste. Other ways include staying at a hotel or resort that offers recycling services, bringing along a reusable bag to head to the beach or to carry any necessities you might buy at a store as well as making sure you don't litter when outdoors. One other tip is to pack well ahead of time and bring along your own items instead of purchasing them at a store and leaving them behind or throwing them away, like beach chairs, towels, or toys.
Read More: 10 Ways to Reduce Waste While Traveling
Participate in Voluntourism Initiatives
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One way to directly participate in sustainability initiatives is by participating in a voluntourism initiative, which is a way for tourists to create a deeper connection to the destination they're in. Hawaii is one such destination that offers an easy way (as well as added benefits) for participating in voluntourism initiatives. Called the Malama Hawaii program, the program offers travelers discounts and even free nights for participating in initiatives like beach cleanups and reforestation programs, among others. What better way to be eco-friendly than by empowering a destination?
Support a Local Park, Sanctuary, or Reserve
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Speaking of empowering a destination, another important aspect of sustainability is the conservation of both natural resources and wildlife. There's a very easy way to do this while traveling, and that's by visiting a sanctuary, reserve, or park during your travels. Some destinations are uniquely positioned for this type of eco-conscious experience, like Costa Rica, Chile, and many places in Africa. In fact, so many of the destinations that are known for their animals, like Kenya or South Africa, have communities that rely on these parks and preserves for their livelihoods. Without travelers' support, as it has been throughout the pandemic, these communities could end up relying on poaching to survive. Supporting conservation initiatives wherever you go is an important part of empowering communities, too.
Book Trusted and Eco-Conscious Excursions
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If you'll be on a cruise or at a resort, then most likely you'll be considering taking a few excursions to discover the destination you'll be visiting. But some tour operators are more responsible than others, and it's important to research their websites and even consult your resort's concierge for recommendations. For example, if you'd like to take a whale-watching excursion during a trip to Riviera Nayarit, it's important to choose a tour operator that operates tours using smaller boats and that clearly says on their websites that they offer responsible wildlife viewing opportunities, since boats can frighten whales and interfere with their daily lives. If they don't describe the measures they take, then it might be better off to look elsewhere.
Cruising generally offers a smaller selection of tours and tour operators to choose from, but that doesn't mean that you can't participate in eco-friendly excursions. Oceania Cruises, for example, recently launched a new Go Green excursion category, which directly supports sustainability initiatives across the globe, including visiting a hydroponic farm in St. Kitts to visiting a sustainable vineyard in Almeria, Spain. If you'll be booking a multi-day tour, research the tour operators you're considering. Some, like Intrepid Travel, offer experiences that promote local communities or sustainability initiatives.
Bring the Benefits of Tourism To Less Touristy Areas or Destinations
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One sure-fire method of being more sustainable is to avoid tourist-heavy destinations. More people mean more strain on the local environment, including beaches, bays, and the animals that live there. Why stay in bustling Barcelona anyway when you could stay in Segovia, a beautifully preserved medieval fortified city straight out of a fairytale? Or, if you'll be in Italy, try Puglia instead of Venice or one of Tuscany's small towns instead of Florence. This way, you'll be directly supporting the local communities who normally don't receive as many visitors as their tourist-heavy counterparts while experiencing a slower side to these brilliant places.
Purchase Locally Produced Souvenirs Made From Sustainable Materials
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Lastly, it's an amazing experience walking through a market or visiting a local store to bring home souvenirs from your trip for loved ones and yourself. But some souvenirs might not be the best for the environment, or they might even be made in a totally different country. One pro traveler tip that isn't just about sustainability is to specifically purchase souvenirs that are produced right where you are: if you're in Jamaica, for instance, bring home a bag of their delicious Blue Mountain coffee for a sibling or coworker. In addition to coffee, travelers can enjoy a plethora of incredible and locally sourced souvenirs that are unique to their destination.
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