Written By: Emily Osborne
I travel a lot. With family and friends scattered across the globe, my college over 3,500 miles from home, and an irrepressible desire to explore the world, it’s natural to find me on the go. I spend countless hours in airport waiting lounges, Internet cafes, and hotel lobbies, not to mention time spent on buses, planes, trains, cars, and ferries. I still consider travel a wonderful privilege, but it’s hard not to feel guilty about my carbon footprint after many jet-setting adventures. While our circumstances may not be the same, perhaps you’ve also felt troubled by the environmental (and monetary) expense of travel. As travel is rapidly becoming more accessible to the general public, it’s important to consider ways to make sustainable practices as portable and requisite as your cell phone. I have a few tried-and-true sustainable travel tips to offer:
- Always bring your own water bottle and travel mug. Drinking fountains are a great place to quench your thirst and most coffee shops will let you use your cup to fill up.
- If you’re staying at a hotel, bring toiletries from home. If you need to use the travel size soap and shampoo they provide, be sure to take the container with you for later use so that it doesn’t go to waste.
- Also at hotels, try going a day or two without room service. That way, you won’t get fresh sheets and towels more often than you need.
- Bring a handkerchief with you instead of using disposable napkins every time you go out to eat.
- If it’s a quick trip, take bulk-size snacks from home. You’ll save on single serving snack packaging and it will likely be more cost-effective!
- Avoid to-go containers when possible. If you have the luxury of enjoying a meal at the place where you bought it, don’t waste the extra paper or plastic!
- If you eat at a restaurant with buffet or cafeteria-style serving, take only as much as you can eat. If you order something more than you can eat, take it to-go for yummy leftovers!
- Walk whenever/wherever you can. Walking is a great way to see a new place, stretch your legs after traveling, and save on fuel.
- Renting a bike is also a fun way to go, and it’s a means of transportation many major cities are now encouraging!
- Wait until you have a full load before doing laundry. If you only have a few items, wash them by hand and hang them to dry.
- For me, one of the joys of traveling is the food experience. The Yelp Smartphone app can help you locate local eateries for fresh, healthy food. I had some of my favorite meals recently at restaurants in Vancouver, Boise, and the mountains of Colorado that supported fair-trade brands and organic farming.
Many travel companies also promote eco-tourism, which can help you add another element of awareness when you travel. You may not be able to offset your carbon footprint entirely, but the key is to remain conscious and not throw your sustainable practices out the window just because you can’t find a recycling bin nearby. It may require a little more creativity, but remember, that’s what adventure is all about!