Sustainable development has become more and more popular, including in the tourism sector. No doubt, you as a traveler, want to limit your impact on the planet as much as possible. You can do it by following these tips to reduce your environmental footprint during your travels!
What are the benefits of ecotourism?
Fewer trips = less transport = less CO2 emissions = good for the planet. All this is correct, of course. But you should also be aware that in many countries tourism is the main source of income. So stopping your travels, could also mean that the economies of many country would enter a crisis... To continue to travel, but at the same time respect the environment is what's called ecotourism. This mode of traveling, favors the preservation of fauna and flora, respect for local populations and still contribute to the economy of many countries.
Here are our top 10 tips to travel green (or as much as possible):
1. Nearby paradise
It is not always necessary to travel to the other side of the world to find a little corner of paradise. You can also travel by train or boat to reduce your CO2 emissions. 2. Say no to stopovers and yes to offset your CO2 impact
Do you still fly? In this case, avoid stopovers, which are responsible for increased pollution with kerosene and greenhouse gases. Also try to offset your CO2 emissions, for example by supporting a sustainable project in a developing country via greentripper.org. 3. Beauty products in reusable bottles
Take your shower products in reusable bottles and avoid using the hotel's mini shampoos and body lotions. This will reduce the amount of waste. 4. Take only pictures, leave only footprints
Adopt this new mantra. Do not spoil anything, nor take anything you find along the way, leave nothing in the wild and follow the marked trails in order to damage the environment as little as possible. 5. Save water
You probably already knew that it is better not to linger in the shower and not let the tap water run while you brush your teeth. But did you also know that you should avoid using the hotel's laundry service? Indeed, it washes the clothes of its guests separately, even if it is only a few items. Choose clothes that you can wash in the sink. 6. Save the energy
Make it a habit to turn off the lights, heating or air conditioning, and the TV when you leave your hotel room. 7. Support crafts
When buying souvenirs, read the label carefully or ask for an explanation about the materials used. Do not buy anything made from non-recycled plastic or endangered animal species. However, support regional crafts and respect local traditions.
8. Check that your accommodation complies with current environmental standards
There are more than 140 environmental certifications worldwide, the aim of which is to make the hotel sector more eco-responsible. Among the most recognized, we find the Green Key eco-label for Europe, LEED (leadership in energy and environmental design) in the United States and BREEAM (environmental assessment method of the Building Research Center) United Kingdom. They evaluate the use of renewable energies, recycling, eco-responsible cleaning products, and the ecological options that these establishments offer their customers (such as not changing the sheets every day ). If the hotel of your choice has received this type of label, do not hesitate to book.
9. Use local transportation
Renting a car always seems the easiest, but unless it's electric, it is not that environment friendly... According to the European Commission, "cars are responsible for around 12% of total European carbon dioxide emissions". So rather walk, cycle, or use public transports as much as possible...
10 Other concrete actions to preserve the environment while traveling:
- Avoid wasting breakfast food and water in hotels. It is not because it is included in the price that it is not a waste.
- Do not use all the towels in your hotel room every day. A towel can be used several times.
- If you dive, don't touch and step on the coral, you would destroy it by doing that.
- Do not damage the monuments by engraving your name on them, for example.
- When you are in places where there are wild animals, do not feed them. Feeding a monkey, for example, makes them thieves and creates serious problems for the local population.
- Same thing with fishing and hunting. Do not do this in prohibited areas to save endangered species.
- For your outdoor activities, favor the use of recyclable and especially reusable material. - Stop buying plastic water bottles. It is not only a loss of money in the long term, but also an extremely polluting gesture.
- Avoid excessively polluting activities. If you hesitate between an hour of kitesurfing and an hour of jet-ski, take the first option! You will have as much fun while impacting the planet much less.
- A very simple gesture to have on vacation to reduce its impact is to reduce your consumption of meat. We became Vegan since 2019. It was actually much easier than it seems, and we are happy we can contribute to the safeguard of our planet while being healthier as well. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the livestock sector indeed produces 7.1 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent, or approximately 1/7 of all gas emissions.
Here are some of the best eco-friendly trips:
Ecomama Hotel, Netherlands This charming Amsterdam accommodation, is made from recycled or fair-trade materials, the building is equipped with natural stone heating and an ecological water supply system, and the recycling-friendly establishment offers tasty vegetarian dishes. Finally, the hotel donates 1 euro to a charity per reserved night. Check it out here. Hi Hotel Eco Spa & Beach, France This Nice boutique hotel on the French Riviera has a private beach and a rooftop swimming pool and has been awarded a Green Globe certificate for its use of recycled paper, organic paints and ecological detergents , but also for his willingness to serve organic meals. Check it out here. Adrere Amellal, Egypt This ecolodge in the heart of the Egyptian desert takes the concept of “sustainable travel” to a higher level. The hotel is fully candlelit (what an atmosphere!), And the meals are 100% organic and made from local products. Check it out here. Papaya Playa Project, Mexico Both affordable and environmentally friendly, this heavenly hotel on Tulum beach has set a limit on the consumption of water, electricity and fuel. He is a member of the Rain Forest Alliance, which works in a sustainable way for the preservation of fauna and flora. Check it out here. Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat, South Africa
This property offers accommodation in a Unesco protected nature reserve with 10,000 year old archaeological sites, one of the largest concentrations of plants and an endangered species of mountain zebra. Its owners consider the protection of these lands as the mission of their lives and dedicate themselves to them thanks to the income from ecotourism. Check it out here. Misool Eco Resort, Indonesia If the establishment is difficult to access, once you are there, you will not want to leave it. You will stay in a wooden bungalow on stilts built by hand in the heart of a coral reef. The Misool Eco Resort is an initiative of the Misool Foundation which works to protect, conserve and revitalize the richest coral reefs in the world. Check it out here. Finally, do not hesitate to spread “the good green word” to travelers, and get involved in environmental protection actions.
Go GREEN !
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