Planning to get out of town this summer, but worried about your carbon footprint? We’ve got some tips for keeping it light when you travel.
Part of the excitement of travel is embracing the unfamiliar. A new language. Unexpected flavors. Surprising vistas. It’s fun to escape our daily routine. But going on vacation does not have to mean abandoning your green habits. Tourism can be hard on the beautiful places we want to visit. With a little advanced planning, you can minimize the environmental impact of your trip, without sacrificing any of the fun. Here are nine tips to get you started.
Buy Carbon Offsets
There’s no getting around it: Air travel is a major contributor to global warming. One round-trip flight between New York and California can generate up to 20 percent of the greenhouse gases an average American emits driving their car for a year.
It’s possible to counteract the impact of air travel with carbon offsets, a system for paying for services and activities that take carbon out of the atmosphere to counterbalance the carbon dioxide generated by your flight. Considering that it costs about $10 to offset a cross-country flight, it’s well worth the money. Most airlines offer offsets directly, while independent organizations such as Sustainable Travel International allow you to donate directly to wind farms and other conservation programs.
Learn to Love Coach and Direct Flights
A study conducted by the World Bank estimated that a first-class seat could have a carbon footprint as much as nine times as big as an economy seat, since bigger seats mean fewer people being moved by the same amount of fuel. Flying nonstop reduces your total air time—and the annoyance of cramped quarters.
BYOB
Sometimes drinking water from disposable plastic bottles is the safest choice in unfamiliar territory, but for those times when clean water is not a concern, bring along a stainless steel water bottle that keeps your drink cold. A collapsible one, like this version from Samsonite is another great choice. If clean water is a question mark, say, when you're camping, you can also try a personal water filter that allows you to sip from streams or refill your water bottle without consuming harmful bacteria, metals, and protozoa.
Thanks to the increasing affordability of travel and the rise of Instagram, some of the most beautiful spots on the planet are getting trampled by selfie-crazed tourists. If you’re walking or hiking in nature and there’s a marked path or trail, stay on it.
Light It Up
For travel adventure closer to home, there’s a new generation of camping lanterns that don’t require hard-to-recycle batteries, just sunlight. The Solar Lantern by Stansport provides hours of light and doubles as a power supply for your phone.
Tote Your Own
Bring your own shopping bag and avoid dozens of disposable plastic ones. Fold this classic Jute Market Bag tote into your suitcase; the sturdy construction and comfy leather handles make it perfect for all-day excursions.
Pause the Laundry
Most of us don’t use fresh towels and sheets every day at home, so why insist on it while on vacation? Lots of hotels have systems where if you hang your own towel, they won’t wash it that day. Otherwise, simply keep that Do Not Disturb sign on your door and save the water and energy it takes to do daily laundry.
Give Back
Tourism is a crucial source of income for developing countries, and yet the World Tourism Organization estimates that just $5 of every $100 spent in a developing country stayed in that destination. What can you do? Book your travel or participate in a travel experience with one of the new breed of travel companies invested in the idea that every time you dine out, book accommodations, or see the sights, you have an opportunity to make a positive impact on the community you are visiting.
Kind Traveler books boutique hotels in 11 locations in the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Book through their website and they will contribute a minimum of $10 a night to a charity affiliated with the hotel while also offering great discounts.
Stay on the Trail
Thanks to the increasing affordability of travel and the rise of Instagram, some of the most beautiful spots on the planet are getting trampled by selfie-crazed tourists. If you’re walking or hiking in nature and there’s a marked path or trail, stay on it. It helps to preserve the experience for the next generation.
Be Careful What You Buy
In many countries you will find a robust marketplace for endangered wildlife souvenirs and cultural artifacts. When you see that, head in the other direction.