TRAVEL LIGHTER

CAN YOU GO PAPER-FREE? Tickets and documents are readily accessible on phones now, so there’s no need to print them out, too. If you’re worried about losing important tickets, why not email them to yourself or the person you’re travelling with so they’re backed up?

DUTY-FREE DISCOUNTS MAY BE TEMPTING BUT CAN LEAD TO WASTE. Before buying, ask yourself whether you would still have considered buying the item if it was full price.

AIRPORTS ARE STARTING TO PHASE OUT PLASTIC TOILETRIES BAGS AT SECURITY.

If you’re travelling through an airport that still requires them, save your plastic bags and reuse them the next time you travel.

PLAN AHEAD. Could you travel to and from the airport or train station by public transport, rather than getting a taxi or driving? Buses in cities often have hybrid engines, making them a cleaner option.

BALANCING YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT after a flight can be done cheaply, by compensating for the impact of your travel – why not pledge to swap driving for cycling or walking for a couple of weeks? Or go meat-free for one day a week? Consuming less meat reduces greenhouse gas emissions, water usage and your carbon footprint. Alternatively, you can pay a monthly donation to help with tree-planting projects and to fund wind farms, solar farms and many other projects. Visit carbonneutralbritain.org for more information. TAKE THE TRAIN. Give rail travel a fresh look, as the EU is reviving high-speed rail to make routes faster, such as the scenic route from Barcelona to Madrid. What’s more, by 2025, you will be able to reach Madrid, Berlin and Venice from Paris.