SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL

15 ways to travel responsibly

ccording to the World Travel & Tourism Council, the travel industry accounts for 10.3% of the world’s jobs. Unfortunately, there are many negative impacts from traveling that harm the environment, like airline fossil fuels, over tourism lack of tourism dollars going back into the local economies, and travelers leaving waste behind.

However, there are many eco-friendly travel options for us to consider–from planning our itinerary to exploring a new destination. From the flight you book to the toiletries you pack, every travel decision you make impacts the environment. It’s imperative we educate ourselves and incorporate sustainable travel solutions that will help preserve the beauty of this world for future generations.

Here are some helpful tips on how to make your next trip more eco-conscious.

Whenever possible, try to book direct flights. This is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint and also relieves your stress of making it to a connecting flight. Of course, not all destinations have direct flights and often these types of flights are more expensive. However, if you are able to find and afford direct flights, opt to book them instead.

Airlines acknowledge the need to be more eco-friendly and have started implementing sustainable initiatives. These initiatives don’t just stop at a plastic-free policy. They extend into renewable biofuels (produced from biomass such as plant oils, wood chips, agricultural waste) to reduce the carbon footprint when flying. NASA determined that even by using 50% aviation biofuel mixtures, it would be able to cut air pollution from air traffic by 50-70%.

If you’re about to buy outfits for your trip, you might want to consider renting your clothes instead of buying. The fashion industry is notorious for the negative impact it has on the environment. Trvl Porter helps to reduce your environmental impact both in fashion and travel. Renting clothing reduces fashion consumption. While saving you the time it takes to pack and giving you access to many items over actual ownership. Additionally, the less weight you bring onto a plane (aka the clothing in your suitcases), reduces the amount of fuel required to keep it aloft, which reduces CO2 in the atmosphere.

Make sure the only impact you make is a positive one. At the coast use reef-safe sunscreen as some chemicals in SPFs can cause coral bleaching. Pick up your trash, especially plastics. Every year millions of tons of plasticbags, straws, bottles, fishing lines–wind up in the ocean and can be detrimental to marine life. In a national park stay on the trail. You’ll avoid causing unintentional damage to the vegetation and be less likely to endanger the local wildlife.

In order to spread awareness, it’s important to share your sustainable travel tips with your friends and family as they plan their future trips. Social media has become such a powerful tool in raising awareness and you can easily share your trip and eco-conscious choices for other travelers to consider when booking.

Sustainable Travel is Here to Stay

As travelers, we’re hooked on discovering the unknown beauty the world has to offer. Our decisions–small and large– impact the amazing planet that we live in and get to explore. Becoming a more sustainable traveler, starts with education. Know what you can do to help protect the environment and start making small changes to your habits. When you get the opportunity to explore the world in all it’s beauty, know that you’ll be leaving a lighter footprint.