22 Ways To Make Travel More Eco-Friendly

Earth Day comes around every April 22nd to remind us to take care of this planet we call home, and in honor of this holiday, I would love to share 22 ways to make travel more eco-friendly. The tourism industry can be very harmful to the planet with the amount of pollution created and resources used, but that doesn’t mean we should stop traveling. It just means we should all do our part to travel in the most eco-friendly way possible if we want to be able to keep traveling forever.

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1. Visit Sustainable Destinations

Practicing sustainable travel starts before you’ve even left your home. When planning your trip, consider searching for destinations that place a heavy focus on preserving the environment. Services such as Intrepid and Lokal help make it easier to find these destinations as well as plan small group adventures. Not only will you be doing good, but you will be having experiences you might not have found otherwise.

2. Pack Light

Packing light might seem like a small solution, but it can have a big impact if everyone does their part. When taking transportation, the more weight a vehicle is holding the more fuel the vehicle uses up. This applies to anything from cars to public transportation to airplanes. Therefore, only pack what you need! Below, find some of the ways to pack light and eco-conscious.

3. Pack A Capsule Wardrobe

What is a capsule wardrobe? A capsule wardrobe is made up of pieces that can be worn with plenty of other pieces. For instance, a pair of jeans, a white T-shirt, and a pair of sneakers could be considered part of a capsule wardrobe because you can wear a pair of jeans with almost any top, a white T-shirt with almost any pants, and sneakers with several different types of outfits. This helps you pack less as you can mix and match a capsule wardrobe in multiple ways and re-wear the clothing you pack.

4. Don’t Pack Single-Use Plastics

One of the easiest ways to avoid single-use plastics is to replace them with products made out of reusable or eco-friendly materials. For instance, a reusable water bottle can replace your whole 40-pack of plastic ones. Another way is to buy small reusable bottles to pour your home toiletries into rather than purchasing plastic travel-size toiletries at the store. Lastly, consider purchasing a large reusable bag to carry your groceries and other purchases in.

5. Pack Environmentally Friendly Products

Beyond helping you avoid single-use plastics, there are other products out there to help you remain environmentally friendly when traveling. Something, you might not think about but that can be very important, is using a reef-safe sunscreen. Thankfully some of your favorite brands offer reef-safe sunscreen such as Sun Bum!

When traveling, it is always important to keep your phone charged, and you might even already have a portable charger that you take everywhere you go. However, did you know they also make solar-powered battery packs? Some of them even have more functionality beyond just charging your phone such as providing a flashlight and a compass.

6. Go Digital When You Can

Sometimes when traveling, you might end up with lots of tickets, boarding passes, and receipts, so it is beneficial to go digital when you can. Not only will going digital help you to not lose any of these documents, but it benefits the environment as well. If you need to print out any documents, be sure to recycle them after they have served their purpose!

7. Book Nonstop Flights

Air travel is one of the biggest issues with sustainable travel as each plane is constantly putting out CO2 emissions. One way to minimize your carbon footprint is by only booking nonstop flights since planes at cruising altitude burn less fuel. Realistically, not everyone can afford nonstop flights though, so there are other ways to reduce your carbon footprint without breaking the bank.

8. Offset Your Carbon Footprint When Flying

If you want to do something to help offset your carbon footprint after flying, there are a lot of services out there to help you calculate your carbon footprint and provide you with climate projects to donate to.

9. Use Public Transportation

Using public transportation can make a huge difference when it comes to travel. Making use of local buses, trains, and subways can not only be more eco-friendly but cheaper than renting a car as well.

10. Rent Eco-Friendly Cars

Obviously, there are several destinations that call for renting a car, especially if they don’t have public transportation. When faced with this decision, consider renting an eco-friendly car. Electric cars are definitely the greenest choice, but even just renting newer cars as opposed to older models is a more sustainable route since newer cars tend to be more fuel efficient.

11. Carpool

Carpooling or using rideshare services is one of the easiest ways to make travel more eco-friendly. When traveling in a group, try to take as few cars as possible. Also, when using rideshare services, maybe even opt-in to allow the driver to pick up more passengers. This tends to be a cheaper option as well. Obviously, do this at your own discretion and only make this choice when you feel you are in a safe area.

13. Refuse Daily Housekeeping When Staying At Hotels

Next time you stay at a hotel, try keeping your “Do Not Disturb” sign out until you actually need housekeeping. When you refuse daily housekeeping, you’re helping the hotel conserve water by not washing your sheets and towels every day.

14. Avoid Animal Tourism

If you’ve ever seen photos of people posing with tigers or other wild animals that humans shouldn’t really be posing up with, this is an example of bad animal tourism. Avoid any type of tourism that is at the expense of the animals. If you want an experience with animals, try visiting a rehabilitation center. This way, you know that the animals are being treated correctly and that they are better off there than in their natural environment. It is a win-win situation as you will have been entertained & educated, and your money will have gone to a good cause!

15. Learn More About Nature And Conservation By Visiting Nature Parks

One of the greatest ways to learn about nature and conservation is by visiting nature parks. A lot of parks have conservation projects going on for you to donate to or volunteer for, as well as signs posted throughout the park with information on the various types of plants, animals, and more that you might spot during your visit. Education is one of the first steps to going green, so don’t skip out on the educational material during your trip!

16. Leave Nothing Behind

When visiting nature parks or any destination really, be sure to not leave anything behind! This doesn’t just mean that you shouldn’t forget your belongings, but you should be sure not to litter as well. If you are somewhere that you don’t see a trash can or recycling bin nearby, hold onto your trash until you do see one! Maybe, keep a small bag with you to put your trash in for this reason.

17. Pick Up Trash When You’re Out & Participate In Local Clean-Ups

Not only should you not leave anything behind, but you should even leave places better than you found them. Next time you’re on a hike, bring a trash bag with you as well as some gloves, and pick up any trash that you see! Also, be on the lookout for local clean-up projects to volunteer at.

18. Shop At Thrift Stores

My favorite way to shop is by visiting local thrift stores. You can find some of the best items at these places, and it is typically both cheaper and better for the environment. I would say that 99% of my wardrobe is made up of thrifted clothes, and a lot of my decor/furniture is as well! Fast fashion is one of the most detrimental industries to the environment, so avoid shopping fast fashion when you can.

19. Kick Back And Stay A While

Taking things slow is a great way to remain eco-friendly while on vacation. Rather than trying to cram a lot of destinations into one trip, try focusing on a few destinations and taking your time at each. Less travel time = fewer resources used.

20. Conserve Water

Some of the easiest ways to conserve water are by taking quick showers and not leaving the faucet running when it’s not in use. Rewear your clothes when you can, and only use the washing machine and dishwasher when fully optimized.

21. Conserve Energy

Conserving energy starts at home. Before leaving your house and embarking on your next adventure, be sure to turn off all the lights, unplug your devices, and set the thermostat to the appropriate energy-conserving temperature. Afterward, apply these practices to your hotels, Airbnbs, or wherever you choose to stay.

22. Advocate For Sustainable Travel

Lastly, advocate for sustainable travel. This could be as small as educating your travel friends on the best eco-friendly practices (by sharing this blog with them, of course) or as big as getting involved in the political space. No matter what, your efforts will be making a contribution to a healthier, brighter, and more sustainable future.

I want to make it clear that I didn’t write this blog to make you feel guilty for traveling but to open your eyes to all the ways you could be making your trips more environmentally friendly. I understand some of these are less realistic than others, and you probably won’t be able to exercise each one every time you travel, but I think it’s important to just do what you can.

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Twenty Something Traveler is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Affiliates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com.

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