Travel green

From packing tips before you go to steps you can take on your return home, here are some inspirational ideas to help make your travels more responsible

Expect expert tips aplenty with our round-up of how to make your travels more sustainable

Eco-proof your home

Make sure your home isn’t wasting energy while you’re away. Unplug all your electronics – just not your fridge or freezer – or ensure switches are off. You can also turn down the thermostat as there’s no point keeping the temperature high while you’re not around. If you have a newspaper or magazine delivered to your house, why not suspend the service for the time you’re away to save on paper and delivery?

Finally, make sure you’ve recycled everything. If you’re packing new toiletries or medication, leave any packaging at home. Land waste in foreign countries can be problematic so it’s best to reduce the amount of waste you produce abroad. It may not be as easy to recycle overseas as it is in the UK and you don’t want to add to a landfill.

Choose an eco-friendly destination

When planning your journey let your conscience be your guide; choose somewhere with a green ethos. Do your research. Is there a public transport system, a cycle network, local food markets or volunteer programmes? There are an increasing number of destinations working to become more eco-friendly.

In 2016, France became the first country in the world to announce a total ban on the manufacture and sale of single-use plastic cups, cutlery, plates and takeaway boxes by 2020. Finland’s ‘Be more like a Finn’ campaign and New Zealand’s ‘Tiaki Promise’ both encourage visitors to make a pledge to respect the country’s nature, culture and inhabitants during their stay. Meanwhile, Iceland’s ‘Kranavatn Challenge’ gave the country’s tap water a luxury branding to give people an incentive to save on plastic bottled water and drink running water instead.

Unfortunately, though, the more a destination is promoted, the more people tend to flock to it. In order to avoid overburdening popular places, try to buck the trend or travel out of season.

Costa classic The Arenal Volcano is just one highlight to find in celebrated ecodestination Costa Rica