Tourism produces a stagging amount of environmental waste and carbon emissions, in fact, according to the United Nations Environment Program, “tourism produces 5 percent of the world's carbon emissions… and contributes to the depletion of natural resources, the degradation of ecosystems, and the proliferation of the waste found from shorelines to trekking trails.” (source)
When faced with these facts, it is easy to feel travelers’ guilt, and even find yourself questioning if you should travel at all.
Which is a good thing.
The only way to make travel sustainable is to make sure that those of us that are doing it are aware of the impact that we are having, and do our best to counter, offset, and reduce our footprint as much as we can.
Let’s not forget that travel is a crucial economy for many countries and popular destinations all over the world — a fact made very obvious over the last year when we saw entire economies collapse when tourism dried up as a result of Covid. Another important part of tourism involves generating money to help preserve important cultural sites, fund research, and give back to at-risk communities.
There is also a lot of good that comes from the perspective you get learning about a new culture, interacting with people who live differently than yourself, and experiencing life in a different part of the world.
Travel isn’t going anywhere, but the way that we travel, and the impact it has on the environment can definitely use an upgrade.
Here are some easy things that you can do to make your next trip a little more sustainable.
When packing your bags….
Don’t pack your clothing, toiletries, shoes, etc., with plastic or disposable bags. Use reusable packing cubes, pillowcases, or fabric bags that you won’t be tempted to dispose of, and will last your entire trip
Pack light — the heavier a plane is the more carbon emissions it produces.
Use an actual (TSA-approved) toiletry case for your carry-on toiletries instead of one of the plastic bags that they supply at the airport. These bags inevitably break or tear, and you just end up throwing them out at your destination and then getting another one for the trip home.
Staying sustainable at the airport
Bring your own food with you in recyclable or reusable containers for the plane, instead of buying a bunch of plastic-wrapped stuff at the airport.
Fly direct – take-off and landing at stop-over airports uses more fuel than flying at altitude.
Book your flight on a fuel-efficient aircraft like a Boeing 787 Dreamliner or Airbus A350.
(Learn more about offsetting the carbon footprint of your flight here.)
Getting around greenly
Embrace slow travel when you are at your destination — walk, ride a bike, take public transit, and avoid cabs or car rentals.
If you are planning to hop between different cities or countries, take the train, bus, or drive instead of a plane for shorter trips between closer destinations.
Saving the environment where you sleep
If staying in a hotel, avoid getting clean towels for the duration of your stay. This reduces the amount of water used, as your towels won’t be washed daily.
Turn off the TV, lights, AC, heat, fan, etc., when you leave your room so save electricity.
Better yet, avoid AC altogether and use a fan or open the window if you can.
Choose a hotel without a pool, especially if you are planning on being in the ocean, lake, river, etc. Many of the warmer climates are experiencing water shortages.
Stay in a LEED-certified hotel. This is an internationally recognized green building certification system that was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
Use Airbnb or other home rentals when you can, they cost less to build and run, and produce less waste.
Washing clean
Bring solid shampoo, conditioner, and soap with you — less plastic waste.
Don’t have long showers and avoid baths — there are water shortages in many popular tourist destinations, makes sure you are conscious of that.
Bring a laundry soap bar with you. This cuts down on plastic, and you can easily hand-wash clothing in the sink, saving water.
Eating and drinking sustainably
Bring a reusable bag with you specifically to use when shopping in local markets, shops, and grocery stores.
Carry a cloth napkin or handkerchief and reusable cutlery, so you don’t have to use paper napkins and plastic cutlery when self-catering or eating grab-and-go meals.
Eat from farmer’s markets or local businesses that source local produce — the shorter the distance food travels, the smaller the carbon footprint.
Drink local beer, wine, or whatever the local spirit is. Like with food, the shorter the distance that the drink has to travel, the smaller the carbon footprint.
Bring a water bottle and avoid buying bottled water as much as you can. Check ahead of time to see if where you are staying will have a water filter for you to use if the water is not safe to drink from the tap.
Exploring consciously
Stay on marked trails when hiking — you may risk killing protected plants and natural areas.
Travel alone or with just a few people. Smaller groups tend to have less of an impact on the environment.
Don’t vandalize natural areas (scratch your name in trees, etc.) or walk all over them for a great photo.
Keeping the beach healthy
Purchase and only use sunscreen without Oxybenzone. This is a chemical that damages and bleaches coral reefs and is actually banned on some popular islands.
If you are planning on going out on the water in a boat, consider a kayak, canoe, paddleboard, sailboat, or another vessel without an engine. Boat engines pollute the water and disturb fragile marine ecosystems.
Stop buying disposable sandals and flip-flops. This is a massive contributor to plastic waste in tropical locations.
The mantra of all travelers, traveling with sustainability in mind, should be to leave no trace — make it your goal to always leave a place better than you found it.
Photos by Lindsay Shapka, The Antrhtorian, and Maria Orlova from Pexels
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Meet The Author
Lindsay Shapka is an avid traveler and the creator of The Anthrotorian — a website dedicated to sharing travel tips, stories about adventures, culture quirks, artists you should know, fascinating bits of history, and more!
She is also an artist, marketing specialist, editor, and freelance writer who has work featured on websites, blogs, and in magazines like National Geographic Traveler.
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