1) Travel Lightly
This is a great starting point for all travelers. It can be one of the more challenging ones, but once you start traveling with less “stuff,” the more enjoyment your journey will bring.
The more you carry when you travel, the more fuel is required to move it. Traveling lightly also gives you more freedom to move about on your journey.
2) Adopt A “Slow Travel” Approach to Your Trip
Slow travel means connecting with a place on a deeper level. Rather than attempting to squeeze in as many sights or cities as possible into each trip, the slow traveler combines sustainability, mindfulness, and responsible travel to experience deeper connections with a place and its people.
Not everyone can travel for a few months in one place, but that’s why slow travel has no time limit. You can experience slow travel over a few days or one week.
Slow travel can rejuvenate and increase your awareness, and in many ways, you leave as a traveler, not a tourist.
3) Skip New Clothes For Your Trip
The fast-fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world. The manufacturing process in countries such as China, India, and Vietnam has left a mark on the local environments, rivers, streams, and oceans.
To put things in perspective, as consumers, we fill up a rubbish truck full of clothes every second worldwide. That’s over 100 billion garments produced each year.
Before we stock up on new t-shirts, shoes, or jackets, ask yourself: Can I get by with what I already have? Or can I borrow certain items or get them secondhand?
4) Eat Locally
We can often overlook a simple solution: eating from the local food supply.
Freshly caught seafood and fresh-farmed vegetables can be a much more sustainable solution than ordering a steak shipped halfway around the world.
5) Bring Your Water Bottle (And Accessories)
This is a big one. It is estimated that we use 1 million water bottles worldwide each minute. Plastic is a huge issue on our planet.
Bring a filtered water bottle if you travel to a country where the water from the faucet isn’t healthy. There are a lot of great solutions available for travelers. Bring your daily water bottle from home if the water is safe to consume.
If you want to make a difference, pack a reusable shopping bag, cutlery, and mesh bags for the market. It’s a win-win for everyone.
6) Avoid Abusive Wildlife Experiences
Wild animals belong in the wild. Respecting the rights of the animals by not riding, being photographed, or petting them protects our wildlife population. The exploitation of wildlife is about money, not conservation or education.
For example, elephants are typically chained day and night while not performing, and the chain can be 4 feet at maximum. The care and feeding of these animals can be horrific. Please don’t ride elephants.
Let’s work together to free the wild animals used as human entertainment by supporting reputable animal sanctuaries.
7) Book Your Stay With Sustainable Hotels
Today, many hotels have implemented sustainability strategies to become more environmentally and socially sustainable.
Sites like ecobnb.com, fairbnb.com, greenpearls.com, and bookdifferent.com are available for the eco-conscious traveler. Even booking.com is starting to identify hotels committed to doing their part for the planet.
Look for hotels or accommodations with a sustainability policy, are locally owned and run, work closely with the locals, and are committed to making a difference environmentally.
Happy travels!
XOXO
Marla
Resources:
Lonely Planet
Euromonitor Market Research
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