When you are thinking about booking your next vacation, and you are aware that traveling can have an impact on your carbon footprint, but you also want to explore ways to travel more sustainably and consciously, this is for you. The good thing is: You are not alone. Many studies show that over 80% of […]
When you are thinking about booking your next vacation, and you are aware that traveling can have an impact on your carbon footprint, but you also want to explore ways to travel more sustainably and consciously, this is for you.
The good thing is: You are not alone. Many studies show that over 80% of the global travellers believe that sustainability while being abroad is essential, but also, there are studies that show that at least half of them are confused about what this means, and how they can manage to travel sustainably.
And the answer is complex, there are many ways to have a positive impact on the world. We’ll show you different categories of sustainable travel. Let’s get started!
If you don’t have time to read the whole article, you’ll find short answers at the end!
The first thing that comes to mind when we talk about sustainability is, of course, nature. And it is one of the biggest parts of it. When we travel responsibly, we need to take care of the environment. This means: When you visit natural spaces, such as national parks, forests, rivers, the seaside, and the coast, etc., make sure you respect the local rules. Don’t take stuff from the areas if it’s not allowed, and don’t leave things there, like trash. Stay on the marked trails so you avoid disturbing the flora and fauna, and don’t feed or touch wildlife animals.
But, as we said, sustainable travel is more complex; it is not only about nature, it is also about the people living there, about ethics, and about coming together as humans, so let’s check out the next categories.
Now we are talking about the people. You can see your journey as a life lesson. If you are interested in the places and the culture, it’s way easier to travel sustainably. As the people who can tell you about these things are the locals. Spend your time in small, family-owned local businesses. Go to farmers’ markets and farm-to-table restaurants to enjoy traditional food. Shop locally-made and handcrafted, and then be rewarded with better quality and a lasting travel memory item.
People will recognize your ambitions, benefit from your purchases, and then return the favour by sharing more of their culture with you. Which means you will have a more impressive and authentic experience, and this is a win-win.
When you are not sure about whether something is okay to do or not, trust your common sense, or think about whether it would be okay for you if someone did it in your area.
Another key consideration in sustainable travel is where you live. You have different choices. Once again, you can choose local accommodations, small bed and breakfast places, or family-owned hotels. Otherwise, if you want to stay in a bigger, maybe more luxurious hotel, you don’t necessarily have to do without it. Could we please explain?
Hotels and other large accommodations are responsible for a significant share of the travel sector’s CO2 emissions. But some of them are realising that and also want to be part of the sustainable travel industry. With the outcome of many sustainably oriented or even carbon-positive hotels. Choosing them supports the idea and forces other hotels to rethink their economic strategy.
Besides where you stay, it’s also important how you change places or travel around. For long distances, flights are often almost unavoidable. Try to get a direct flight, and many airlines offer a voluntary sustainability fee, which they invest in projects that contribute to offsetting their carbon emissions.
Within a region, it is better to take trains or buses. This is particularly easy to do in Europe, as many destinations are close together and well-connected.
Traveling overland also has another major advantage: you see much more, and the train routes are often very beautiful and can be considered part of the journey. Let’s take our home country, Austria, as an example. The route from east to west crosses a wide range of landscapes, from wine regions to the Alps, offering truly beautiful views. Just make sure you have a window seat. 🙂
First: What is meant by Greenwashing? We understand greenwashing as deceptive sustainability claims, promises that are made but not held, and advertisements that are misleading. Companies try to capitalise on the willingness of sustainable travellers. And, of course, it can take many forms, from vague language and buzzwords to exaggeration or outright misrepresentation of sustainability efforts.
How can Greenwashing be identified?
1. Check for vague language, like “eco-friendly” and “green”, but if they really mean it, they will explain somewhere what makes them so “green”. If it’s just the words, without examples or specifications, it may be empty marketing. Good examples are using renewable energy sources, eliminating single-use plastics, and switching to cleaner modes of transport. If you want to go deeper, you can also check the company’s annual report. Because if they really care about the environment, they will share what they are doing.
2. Watch out for misleading visuals. A company is not necessarily green just because its website is. Same advice as for the language, check if they prove that they mean it.
If you want to look deeper into this topic, we suggest you the sustainable travel international blog.
Last but not least, give something back if you can. What to give back, you may ask yourself now. On the one hand, there are many projects where you can actively help, donate, or get in conversation with locals. Try to be a visitor with the best possible impact on the destination. Not only a passive tourist. Give your respect and interest, and your sustainable travel journey starts right away.
Sustainable travel has many facets. Short answer: Traveling that benefits places and people.
On the one hand, we want to reduce our carbon footprints by using trains and buses if planes are not necessary. On the other hand, it’s also about minimizing harm in the places we visit and supporting local communities. Ultimately, it’s about everyone benefiting from it. As travellers, we gain insight into new cultures; locals preserve their traditions and their stores; and the earth is protected from destruction, with all of us keeping an eye on it.
Go to small local stores. Support family-owned businesses, and reach out to the community to ask what they think about this question.
Keep an eye out for vague language and misleading visuals. If a company really wants to be sustainable, it will share examples of its impact.
And of course, you don’t have to implement and fulfil everything right away. The fact that you are considering and thinking about it is a significant step.
If you want advice and help with your trip, we are here for you.