Travelling with the Environment in Mind
While travelling the world, why don't we think of the world? Have you ever thought about our environmental impact when we travel? We, of course are aware when we are living our everyday lives - we recycle, we compost, we mind our usage of water and even try our best to use natural products. However, when we are on holiday, or embarking on a new adventure, we don't realize what we can do to ensure we think of sustainability. We found some ideas to keep top of mind when planning your next vacation. Mother Nature will thank you.
The tourist industry is definitely a strain on our planet. Studies have shown that many popular tourist destinations are becoming overwhelmed by waste. So what can we do about it? Here are some tips to reduce our environmental footprint and travel a little more sustainably.
Refuse Unnecessary Items - How many coffee cups do you throw out when catching the early morning flights or visiting that new cafe in Paris? If possible, consider packing reusable coffee cups, and even reusable cutlery when eating on the go.
Bring a water bottle where you go. Plastic waste is continuing to increase, and single use plastic water bottles are often the culprit. By packing your own drinks bottle, it can save you money and also cut down on the waste.
Tote bags! When have you ever gone on vacation and not gone shopping? NEVER! Single use and even paper shopping bags are often thrown away after a single use - therefore, taking a tote bag is a practical way to reduce that waste. They are easy to pack and fun to fill!
It can be hard to wrap your head around zero waste toiletries - but it is an easy habit to adopt. We often see the cute, tiny toiletries in our pharmacies and supermarkets that are aptly named 'travel sized'. They seem perfect for short trips and for abiding to the carry-on regulations. However, these cheap plastic containers often go straight into the garbage after a couple uses. To cut down on waste, consider investing in durable and reusable travel sets to fill with your favourite shampoos, soap and creams.
I know we talked about shopping on vacation, but there are also memories that are priceless. Pick sights over souvenirs. It is easy to get caught up into buying the trinkets and visiting the many little shops while on vacation. However, maybe it's more valuable to invest in sightseeing, photographing the journey and taking in the new locations you will visit. Enjoy new foods and drinks. These experiences last in our memories longer than the cheap items and impulse purchases that will most likely be moved to the garbage during your next spring clean.
Also, don't forget about snacks. Nothing is more frustrating than the overpriced snacks in the airports or the draw to the unhealthy choices at the convenience stores. However, with a little preparation, you will always have your favourite snacks at your fingertips. Try packing snacks in advance - this can also help save you money as well as cut down on all the wrappers and packaging you won't likely find a place to dispose of properly.
Overall - there are many small steps we can take to reduce our waste and negative impact on our planet. Together we can make these little changes and reduce the trash and garbage slowly taking over our favourite places to visit. As we travel the world, we can reduce our impact and help keep our dream destinations pristine and healthy for others to enjoy in the years ahead.
The tourist industry is definitely a strain on our planet. Studies have shown that many popular tourist destinations are becoming overwhelmed by waste. So what can we do about it? Here are some tips to reduce our environmental footprint and travel a little more sustainably.
Refuse Unnecessary Items - How many coffee cups do you throw out when catching the early morning flights or visiting that new cafe in Paris? If possible, consider packing reusable coffee cups, and even reusable cutlery when eating on the go.
Bring a water bottle where you go. Plastic waste is continuing to increase, and single use plastic water bottles are often the culprit. By packing your own drinks bottle, it can save you money and also cut down on the waste.
Tote bags! When have you ever gone on vacation and not gone shopping? NEVER! Single use and even paper shopping bags are often thrown away after a single use - therefore, taking a tote bag is a practical way to reduce that waste. They are easy to pack and fun to fill!
It can be hard to wrap your head around zero waste toiletries - but it is an easy habit to adopt. We often see the cute, tiny toiletries in our pharmacies and supermarkets that are aptly named 'travel sized'. They seem perfect for short trips and for abiding to the carry-on regulations. However, these cheap plastic containers often go straight into the garbage after a couple uses. To cut down on waste, consider investing in durable and reusable travel sets to fill with your favourite shampoos, soap and creams.
I know we talked about shopping on vacation, but there are also memories that are priceless. Pick sights over souvenirs. It is easy to get caught up into buying the trinkets and visiting the many little shops while on vacation. However, maybe it's more valuable to invest in sightseeing, photographing the journey and taking in the new locations you will visit. Enjoy new foods and drinks. These experiences last in our memories longer than the cheap items and impulse purchases that will most likely be moved to the garbage during your next spring clean.
Also, don't forget about snacks. Nothing is more frustrating than the overpriced snacks in the airports or the draw to the unhealthy choices at the convenience stores. However, with a little preparation, you will always have your favourite snacks at your fingertips. Try packing snacks in advance - this can also help save you money as well as cut down on all the wrappers and packaging you won't likely find a place to dispose of properly.
Overall - there are many small steps we can take to reduce our waste and negative impact on our planet. Together we can make these little changes and reduce the trash and garbage slowly taking over our favourite places to visit. As we travel the world, we can reduce our impact and help keep our dream destinations pristine and healthy for others to enjoy in the years ahead.
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