Many eco-conscious travelers have a hard time reconciling flying with sustainability. Air travel does have a considerable impact on the environment. And yet, you can do much to lessen that impact when boarding a plane is the only way to travel. Here are the changes you can make to travel responsibly without taking the fun out of the trip.
Key Takeaways
- Choose direct flights whenever possible
- Pack light and with purpose
- Treat carbon offsets like a nice extra, not a substitute
- Choose accommodations that take part in credible sustainability initiatives
- Explore your destination by walking, biking, or using public transport
- Eat locally and avoid food waste
- Explore lesser-known attractions
- Stick to reusables
- Use eSIM coupons and get digital SIM plans instead to reduce waste
Make Flights Count
Even when flying itself is unavoidable, you can still make a difference by being smart about it. For example, direct flights are far more eco-friendly than layovers since the bulk of harmful emissions is expelled during takeoff and landing.
Flying economy also helps. You might be sacrificing comfort, but you’re lowering the flight’s per-passenger carbon footprint. Some booking sites display flights’ CO2 emissions and plane models. When possible, choose to fly on newer planes since they’re engineered for better fuel efficiency.
Bring Along Less
Every pound counts toward a plane’s weight limit. The less you bring, the lower the fuel expenditure. Sure, one person going only with a carry-on won’t change much, but starting a trend can add up.
Packing light is also practical. There’s less luggage to tie you down, you don’t have to worry about washing as much, and you get to flex your taste by putting together a minimalistic yet versatile travel wardrobe.
Consider Carbon Offsets
As the name implies, carbon offsets are a tactic that balances planes’ harmful emissions elsewhere. While they’re not an outright scam, pledging to plant trees or upgrade developing nations’ power grids with solar or wind are projects that will pay dividends in the long term.
Prioritize flights that directly reduce emissions, then check whether using one also supports a carbon offset cause. Verify the legitimacy of the airline’s sustainability efforts if it does.
Stay in Eco-Friendly Accommodations
While not as heavy-hitting as flying, choosing a place to stay that takes sustainability practices to heart does make a difference. If you plan on staying in an Airbnb, make sure that the property is locally owned. That way, you’re directly contributing to the local economy rather than a corporation.
When researching hotels and other accommodations online, look for green flags like being involved in energy- and water-saving programs backed by internationally recognized certifications. That said, beware of greenwashing. Some hotel chains might advertise as being “eco-friendly” without actually engaging in any meaningful sustainability practices.
Instead of relying solely on vague claims or green labels, look for concrete evidence of sustainability, such as recognized certifications, transparent environmental policies, renewable energy use, water- and energy-saving measures, waste reduction initiatives, and a genuine commitment to the local community.
Reduce Waste Throughout the Trip
We’ve only touched on big decisions so far, but a series of sustainable smaller ones can be almost as impactful. People usually don’t worry much about waste while traveling. If anything, they end up being more wasteful than usual since they use more disposable products. Luckily, it’s entirely possible to consciously avoid the waste.
For example, you can bring a refillable water bottle to avoid disposable ones. Or say getting an eSIM if you’re traveling to the States to reliably go online instead of buying a local physical SIM cuts down on plastic waste, too. Packing your own utensils helps, as does digitizing all your documents, confirmations, and receipts instead of amassing one-time printouts.
Travel Sustainably Once You Arrive
You’ll find that you don’t need a car to get around most destinations. Many cities, especially older ones, are designed on a human scale and are best experienced by walking. Public transport in places like most of Europe, South Korea, or Japan is both reliable and cheaper than a car. Biking infrastructure is also becoming more popular, making bicycle rentals one of the healthiest and most convenient modes of transportation.
Be Mindful of What You Eat
Eating locally adds a new layer of authenticity to your experience. It also reduces the environmental impact of logistics since ingredients are locally sourced. Even then, try to order only as much as you think you’ll eat to reduce unnecessary food waste.
Avoid Overtourism
Another way to noticeably improve your trip while helping out the environment is by planning your stay strategically. Go during the shoulder season. Visit lesser-known attractions rather than waste time waiting for tourist traps. Make the trip more about spontaneity and discovery than curated experiences.
On the one hand, this will make the trip noticeably cheaper and more enjoyable since you won’t have to deal with droves of other tourists. On the other, you’re genuinely helping by taking some of the pressure off of local ecosystems, infrastructure, and workforces.
Cover image: photo via Canva PRO
