The world is diverse and there are still so many special and fascinating destinations waiting for us. However, many of these wonderful places are threatened by mass tourism and climate change. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important to travel as sustainable and conscious as possible. We have put together 10 tips that will make your next vacation more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
#1 Pack your Suitcase/Bag as minimalistic as possible
Sustainable travel begins even before you leave. It's important to limit your suitcase/back packing to only the essentials. To do this, smart packing (e.g., rolling clothes instead of folding them) may mean using only a carry-on suitcase instead of an XL suitcase. After all, the less the suitcases, and thus the airplane, weigh, the less kerosene is needed for air travel and the lower the CO2 emissions. The heavier the luggage, the higher the fuel consumption on arrival and departure, and this also applies to car, bus and train travel.
#2 Produce Less Waste
In the case of cosmetics, it is a good idea to buy reusable containers in travel size and fill them yourself with shampoo, shower gel, creams, etc. Or you buy particularly sustainable products that do not require plastic packaging: e.g. solid shampoo, shower gel, deodorant creams etc.
#3 Travel as Environmentally Conscious as Possible
The good things are so close. We can definitely recommend a vacation within the country you live in. With a little research, there are always some hidden gems that are worth a visit even without a long flight. In general, distances up to 1000km can be covered by bus, train or car without any problems. If you are traveling alone or as a couple, traveling by public transport (Bus, train, etc.) is the most environmentally friendly. However, with 4 people fully occupying a car, the CO² emissions become relative.
#4 CO² Emissions and Compensation for Air Travel
If it is a long-distance trip by plane, you can also pay attention to your CO² emissions. In general, direct flights are more environmentally friendly than flights with several stops, since the fuel consumption during takeoff and landing is particularly high. Through various climate protection organizations such as atmosfair, greenmiles or myclimate, you can offset the CO² emissions of the trip with a donation. The money donated is invested in various climate protection projects.
#5 Choose Environmentally Conscious Accommodation
When choosing your accommodation, you can also pay attention to various aspects and thus make your trip more environmentally conscious. More and more hotels pay attention to common eco-standards, conservation of resources and sustainability. With a little search, you can find certified organic hotels quite quickly. If you want to travel sustainably, you should avoid all-inclusive travel. Due to the large offer and the abundance of food and drinks, unfortunately a lot of products are thrown away. Therefore, it is better to consume local and regional products as much as possible and visit local, smaller restaurants. Another plus: this way you get to know the country and its people even better and more genuinely!
#6 Behave in a Way that Conserves Resources
Water and electricity cost a lot of energy. Therefore, use air conditioners only as needed and turn them off as soon as you leave your room or accommodation. Also towels and bed linen do not need to be changed every day, so you can save some resources.
#7 Choose Environmentally friendly Vacation Activities
If possible use bicycles to get to attractions and get around the resort. Activities such as jet skiing and banana boat rides require a lot of energy and are not recommended. Alternatively, there are many eco-friendly activities such as canoeing, hiking vacations, or biking that can be done locally.
#8 Respect Plant and Animal Life
It is especially important that you respect the local rules and regulations regarding nature conservation. Pay attention to nature reserves, do not leave the marked hiking trails, do not pick rare exotic plants, do not leave trash, etc. It is best to find out before you travel or directly from the hotel what the rules are and respect them. With often only little effort you can preserve the local ecosystem.
#9 Use Sustainable & Coral friendly Sunscreen
Did you know that many commercial sunscreens contain substances that damage corals in the long term, causing them to die? Among other things, the UV filters used lead to coral bleaching, prevent the reef from repopulating and recovering, and much more. But conventional sunscreen does not only harm the reef, but also other marine life. Therefore, use mineral sunscreen from natural cosmetics manufacturers instead of chemical sunscreen.
#10 Integrate Clean-ups into the Journey
June 8th was World Oceans Day - on this occasion we want to draw attention to the importance of clean beaches and oceans. So how about a Beach Clean-Up instead of chilling on the beach? It's very easy to collect and dispose of some trash on the beach, but it raises awareness about the importance of clean beaches and oceans. Past actions have shown that such a clean-up often sets an example. Others often join in and help clean up the trash together.
Our 10 tips for ecological travel are, of course, only a small selection of measures that make a vacation trip more environmentally friendly and sustainable. But every step, no matter how small, helps to ensure that the environment is less polluted. This will gradually change global tourism away from mass tourism into a more sustainable direction - the future of travel.