Pollution disasters and diseases – these are the result of humans neglecting their responsibility towards mother nature. Recently, the rise of Eco-Friendly endeavors has been rampant because we’ve finally realized that we need to take care of the world.
If you want to find out how to be eco-friendly and you want to ensure that you’re not adding any more problems to the local environment of the place you’re visiting, then you’ve come to the right article. In the next few hundred words, we’ll be discussing several things you can do or not do to practice eco-friendly travel.
Pack Lightly
People might not know it, but the more the plane weighs, the more carbon emissions it produces. Consequently, the more items you bring on board, the more a plane weighs.
How to avoid this? Pack only what you need. Grab only the essentials and a few helpful things. Not only is it not eco-friendly to travel with a lot, but it’s also such a hassle. It prevents you from bringing home those precious souvenirs!
Public Transport
Try to share a load of your carbon footprint by using public transport whenever possible. As scary as it might seem, taking public transport is actually fun. It ensures that you aren’t creating any additional carbon emissions from private transport, but it also adds a more authentic and down-to-earth feel to your travel experience. You’re provided with an opportunity to interact more with the locals and see, feel, hear, and experience more things than you probably would have had if you took that taxi or rented that car.
However, in some cases, it might be unavoidable to travel privately because of safety concerns or difficulty traveling, which is perfectly fine.
Treat Your Hotel Like Home
Hotels are fun because you can keep the shower running, the air conditioning system full, and even the tv on at all times and you won’t have to pay extra. However, it doesn’t mean that you can openly splurge on these amenities when you don’t have to pay for the electricity bill and the water bill. Remember, even if you aren’t paying for them, there will still be repercussions and effects.
When you aren’t using the lights, turn it off. Set the television on a timer if you’re planning on falling asleep to it. Cut down on the shower time, and bring your own towel if possible. Those are just samples on how you can help save on the utilities.
Support Local
If you order things that aren’t locally made, it’s assumed that they’ve probably been transported and exported to the place and they’ve likely contributed to what we call ‘export mileage’. Again, resulting in more carbon emissions and footprint.
Not only is it miles better to drink a locally brewed beer or a locally made apple pie, but it will also contribute more to an authentic experience in your travels. It allows you to taste and experience the local produce and compels your taste buds to be adventurous!
Avoid Plastic Bags
A plastic bag, or plastic bags in general, take at least 500 years to decompose. That’s too long for something that you probably won’t even be used in the entirety of the trip.
Instead, you should opt for something more eco-friendly like reusable shopping bags if you plan to visit the local markets. If you’re planning on using it for the entirety of the trip, try using reusable containers that can at least be used for the whole travel’s duration.
Avoid Bottled Water/Plastic Utensils
Research shows that 35 billion plastic bottles every year and only 25% of those get recycled. Plastic bottles account for a lot of waste. Likewise, plastic utensils also contribute to the pollution of mother nature. Too much waste.
Whenever possible, bring your own reusable water bottle to ensure that you cut down on plastic waste. You can also slip metal straws and eating utensils in your bag to avoid using single-use plasticware.
Observe Proper Hiking Rules
When you’re hiking, try to make sure you stay on the marked trails and paths to ensure that you maintain a safe distance from any animals you might encounter.
Not only does this keep you AND the animal safe, but it also ensures that you don’t accidentally end up trampling on protected areas like nests or endangered plants.
Get involved!
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