Most of us tend to throw sustainability out the window when we Travel. Just like we tend to break our diets and exercise regimens we tend to not worry too much about the waste that we create when we are on vacation. It is not something that we need to be ashamed of, we are out and about enjoying the world and want to experience things while simultaneously convincing ourselves that we will get back on track as soon as we get home. Here are a few things we can bring with us in order to minimize waste and help conserve the places that we travel to in order to leave the magical places in the way that we found them.

1.             Bring a refillable water bottle:

Whether this is your trusty RAIN Bottle that you are reusing or that gym and hiking thermos that you bring with you everywhere. This will help you both minimize the amount of single use plastic bottles that you are putting out into the world but also will help you save a little money by simply asking restaurants to refill it for you.

2.              Book eco-conscious accommodations

A quick google search will let you know if the hotel where you are staying recycles, offers sustainable food/drink options or has any sustainability efforts. A lot of hotels are completely off single use plastics across all products. Many Hotels these days are trying to ensure that they stay as carbon neutral as possible. If you are very adventurous you might consider an eco-hotel/Airbnb. These have become very popular in recent years and are a great way to experience nature and keep your footprint to a minimum. Habitas Hotel in Tulum is a hotel that prides itself in its jungle-like stay feeling and its commitment to nature and sustainability.

3.             Consider the way you travel:

Very Commonly we tend to see flying as our default to the cheapest option of travel but now using Google flights we are able to estimate exactly what our Carbon footprint will be during our travel and how booking a direct flight or a smart connection will reduce the amount of fuel we burn. Also, similar to our hotel choice, our airline choice might make all the difference. Many Airlines have begun taking steps to ensure that their flights are as sustainable as possible from the interior materials they use to build the planes to the type of concessions they serve to their guests. Other airlines such as Jet Blue and Quantas have begun to invest in more sustainable biofuels to ensure that their carbon output is as low as possible.

4.             Try to contribute to the local economy as much as possible:

This is one that is really a big one to help the places you travel to. According to the World Travel Organization only about 5% of the money you spend when you travel ends up in the pocket of locals. By ensuring that we buy our gifts and food from local merchants we can really help revitalize tourism economies after the pandemic. Little things like heading to farmers markets will not only help you get the best produce and provide a unique experience but it will lower the amount of packaging that you consume on these trips and help locals revive their businesses. Eating street food is another great way to experience a culture and help the local economy.

5.             Travel and Volunteer:

The camping rules should apply to traveling to a new destination, leave it better than you found it. When we travel somewhere, if we can dedicate any of our time to volunteering with locals to do anything to improve their environment, that goes a long way. Participating in a beach cleanup or as little as just picking up trash when you see it on the street goes a long way to ensure that things are better when you leave.

6.             Support eco-friendly tour companies:

I’m sure we have all been there, you are excited to get on your trip going to Thailand and heading to pet the tigers only to realize that behind everyone’s impressive Instagram photos are drugged up tigers and bad conditions. Choosing a tour company that cares about sustainability not only helps you lower your footprint when you travel but will hopefully help that company grow and eliminate those other companies that are damaging the environment. When you are booking most places will the word eco or responsible in their advertising that they are eco-friendly. You can’t just trust the marketing. Making sure that you ask them what steps they take to ensure that they are eco-friendly is key to ensuring that you are choosing the right company.

7.             Choose companies that invest in carbon offset programs:

Some hotels go beyond just sustainable efforts in their locations. Some companies buy carbon credits from Carbon Neutral companies that help them expand their efforts via financial investment. For example if a company is causing 100 lbs of waste that is not recyclable, they can purchase carbon credits from a company and this ensures that the company selling the carbon credits will pick up 100lbs of trash and ensure that it is recycled from a different part of the world. Cool Effect is a company that for every carbon credit that you purchase they pick up garbage in India and ensure that one of the most wasteful countries in the world gets better day by day.

8.             Look out for Certifications:

A lot of hotels and tour companies will go as far as getting eco-friendly certifications. This is a great thing to look out for when booking travel. If you get familiar with these certifications you can find what locations and companies are in their network and help you make informed decisions when booking. You have to be careful and ensure that you do your own research, ensuring that certifications are earned and not bought is huge in order to ensure that these companies are actually following these guidelines.