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9 eco-friendly things you can do on any vacation that sustainable-travel experts say add up to make a big difference

Alesandra Dubin   

9 eco-friendly things you can do on any vacation that sustainable-travel experts say add up to make a big difference
Insider

  • Travel is one of life's pleasures. It also has an inevitable, often negative, impact on the planet.
  • But there are small things travelers can do that make a real difference, experts told Insider.
  • Fly coach, shop local, and avoid single-use plastics, they said.

Travel has an inevitable environmental impact.

Travel has an inevitable environmental impact.
Tourism alone is responsible for approximately 5% of all global emissions.      Shutterstock/1000 Words

Travel is one of life's greatest pleasures and privileges. It reveals new cultures around the world, creates lifelong treasured memories, and opens up places and experiences that enhance our lives.

But transportation-related emissions from tourism were also responsible for approximately 5% of all global carbon-dioxide emissions in 2016, and are expected to account for 5.3% of all human-generated carbon-dioxide emissions by 2030, according to a 2019 report from the UN World Tourism Organization.

But for many people, avoiding travel altogether is a nonstarter because of all the aforementioned ways travel enriches life.

"It's good for human society to be able to travel and interact with cultures," said Scott Keyes of the travel website Going.com. "It's not just about the amount of emissions in a vacuum; it's also a matter of human flourishing and it is worthwhile."

But experts like Keyes and others told Insider there are simple steps travelers can take that can help reduce their environmental impact. From supporting local communities to choosing alternatives to airplane travel, here are actionable tips that travel and sustainability pros recommend.

Travel by train instead of plane whenever possible to help out the environment.

Travel by train instead of plane whenever possible to help out the environment.
Train travel is more eco-friendly than flying.      Shutterstock/Pagina

While it is often quicker to fly than take a train, when traveling moderate to long distances, experts say it's more responsible to take a train when possible.

"Travelers thinking about sustainable travel should take a cue from France's new policy and avoid flying on any routes where you can take the train instead," said Bryn Culbert, a travel expert at the bus- and train-booking platform Wanderu, citing travel's "inevitable impact on the planet."

Culbert was referring to new policy in France banning some short-haul domestic flights on routes where train service exists. Specifically, France's new law bans flights when there is a rail alternative of 2½ hours or less.

"Minimizing this impact by avoiding unnecessary flights is one compromise to feel good about your travels," Culbert said.

So in situations where other transportation is available, such as a train, traveling by ground can be the more environmentally friendly choice.

If you do have to fly, booking a cheap flight isn't just good for the wallet, it's good for the environment.

If you do have to fly, booking a cheap flight isn
Purchasing cheap flights indicates to airlines that there isn't strong demand, and seats will be discounted to be filled.      Shutterstock/joyfull

"When going on holiday, the biggest part of your footprint would be from your flights," said Charlie Cotton, the founder of Ecollective, which measures the carbon footprint of travel companies to help them reduce their impact over time.

The International Council on Clean Transportation reported that around 2.4% of global carbon-dioxide emissions come from aviation.

But if you do have to fly, a positive thing you can do from an environmental standpoint is to look for cheap flights, Keyes said

That's because demand is likely lower, and one additional passenger adds little in the way of carbon emissions because the plane will be flying that route regardless of the number of passengers.

High demand signals to airlines that it's necessary to add new flights to the schedule, and that's when the carbon-emissions impact increases, Keyes said.

"Purchasing cheap tickets indicates there's not strong demand, that they're having to discount the seats in order to try to fill them," Keyes said. "That's not giving extra incentive to the airlines to add more flights to the schedule. That's why I say the cheaper your flight, the better ultimately it is for the environment."

Sitting in economy class can be uncomfortable, but it's actually better for the environment than premium cabins.

Sitting in economy class can be uncomfortable, but it
Flying in economy class means taking up less space, weight, and resources on a plane.      Shutterstock/Try_my_best

You can also help the environment by flying in coach class, where you're physically taking up less space, weight, and resources on the plane than in premium cabins. A typical flight might have hundreds of economy-class seats, with just 50 in business class or 10 seats in first class.

And according to a report from the International Council on Clean Transportation, a business-class traveler creates 2.6 to 4.3 times more carbon dioxide per kilometer than a passenger in economy, depending on aircraft class.

"Generally the smaller your seat, the better it is for the environment," Keyes said. He explained that's why airlines like Delta and American don't tend to win green awards, but ones like Frontier and Spirit Airlines, which lack premium cabins, do. "Because they have the most number of passengers flying on a plane who don't take up a bunch of extra space with big business-class seats," he said.

And because the people in business or first class at the front of the plane take up more space in the air and are therefore responsible for a higher percentage of the carbon emissions, "you can feel good about yourself by flying in coach that at least you're not as culpable for the flight emissions as folks in business or first class," Keyes said.

Avoid single-use disposable plastics when you travel, from hotel toiletries to on-the-go water bottles.

Avoid single-use disposable plastics when you travel, from hotel toiletries to on-the-go water bottles.
Bringing your own toiletries in refillable cases helps reduce waste.      Shutterstock/Vadim Zakharishchev

In recent years, many hotel brands such as Four Seasons, Six Senses, Edition, and others moved away from single-use plastics.

This matters because the world produces 150 million tons of plastics for single-use items each year, and 91% of it isn't recycled at all, ending up in landfills or the environment, according to the National Resources Defense Council.

So reducing the use of these items is the most effective means of avoiding this waste, as well as mitigating the environmental impacts of plastic production.

If you're not sure what you'll find in a hotel room when you get there, bring your own toiletries in refillable cases.

"Do not bring travel-size, single-use shampoo and conditioner that could end up as local waste," said Lea d'Auriol, the founder of the ocean-conservation group Oceanic Global. When discarded, those little bottles go straight into landfills or end up littering the ocean, she said.

"Bring your plastic-free reusable items with you to reduce the amount of single-use plastics you may otherwise consume," she said, and she encourages travelers to bring them home and reuse for trip after trip, so these plastics don't end up in the landfill.

Similarly, experts said to utilize reusable water containers and avoid disposable water bottles or plastic cups. You'll save money this way, too, as a bottle of water often costs well over a dollar, and sometimes much more in hotels and airports.

Based on that math, if you spend even $5 per person per day on water, that's $200 over a 10-day trip that a family of four could save by simply bringing refillable bottles.

"Single-use products, like plastic cups, water bottles, and single-use straws are detrimental to the environment," said Adam Lowy, founder of Move For Hunger, which helps reduce waste in communities and delivers food to food banks across the country. "Bring your own Yeti or other reusable water bottle, and ditch the use of straws altogether."

Only book accommodations that are proven to care about the environment.

Only book accommodations that are proven to care about the environment.
Sustainability experts urge travelers to look online for venues' sustainability commitments, like those made by the luxury hotel group Relais & Châteaux.      Shutterstock/BalkansCat

Another way to make it easier to avoid unnecessary waste is to book hotels known to prioritize environmentally friendly efforts, such as removing single-use plastics, or look for ones that have been recognized for such efforts.

Before you choose your accommodations, research and seek out sustainable hotels, said Rose O'Connor, the founder of Sustainable Wanderlust, which helps travel businesses assess, develop, and promote sustainable practices.

She suggests that travelers actively look at venues' sustainability pages online and determine if there is transparent wording around measuring their environmental and community impacts. Look for a robust and comprehensive sustainability action plan that is thoroughly detailed on the website rather than one that simply alludes to vague efforts. Many hotels also publish annual sustainability reports; if these reports are easily found on the hotel's website, that's a good indication of a solid sustainability strategy.

"This page should go beyond just a generic message about caring for the planet and should outline specific and measurable initiatives and goals," O'Connor said. "See how they're managing their waste, water, and energy consumption. The more information they have, the more transparent and legitimate."

There are also a variety of hotel sustainability certifications. Green Globes has a list of 44 criteria that hotels must meet to achieve certification, related to factors such as project management, energy, water, and emissions.

EarthCheck is another popular certification for hotels and can signal to consumers that a property is meeting environmental and social-responsibility standards.

And more travel companies are pursuing and achieving B Corp certification, a private certification of for-profit companies noted for their social and environmental performance. This "is really exciting," O'Connor said. "Consumers can feel confident about the responsible practices of any company with a B Corp certification."

She noted that hotels such as La Sultana Marrakech and the Sovena Group offer great examples of such website language. She said she's also been impressed with the sustainability commitment made by Relais & Châteaux over the past couple of years, and noted the 1 Hotels brand is also a strong leader in the sustainability space.

D'Auriol advises booking only the places that inspire your confidence after doing the research.

"Book local accommodations and hotels that embody sustainable values and operations," she suggested. "Choose hotels and restaurants that have been awarded Oceanic Global's Blue Standard, which verifies businesses for sustainability efforts and plastic-free operations."

Power your own activities — like walking and biking — rather than choosing environmentally unfriendly methods that generate carbon emissions.

Power your own activities — like walking and biking — rather than choosing environmentally unfriendly methods that generate carbon emissions.
Human-powered activities also help you learn about a place as you move around it at a slower pace.      Shutterstock/Licvin

Another way to help lower carbon emissions is to power your own activities and transportation where possible instead of opting for carbon-emission-generating activities like motorcycling or off-road-vehicle riding.

"Activities should be predominantly human powered," Cotton says. "Think trekking, kayaking, cycling, etc. They are far more rewarding, too."

Indeed, when you walk or otherwise power your own adventure, you produce no harmful carbon emissions. Comparatively, motorized activities use a total of 2.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually, according to the Sierra Club, with Jet Skis and pleasure boats combined accounting for 1.4 billion gallons; ATVs 594 million gallons; snowmobiles 188.5 million gallons; and dirt bikes 87 million gallons.

Human-powered activities will also help you learn about a place as you move around it at a slower pace, which puts you in the position for unexpected discoveries. It's also great exercise and works up your appetite to try all the local cuisine.

Choosing to spend your money in local communities benefits the environment and humanity, too.

Choosing to spend your money in local communities benefits the environment and humanity, too.
Shopping local ensures that the money you spend stays in the community.      Shutterstock/MoreGallery

One of the best parts of travel is enjoying the unique character of the local environment, and focusing your spending on the local economy can be good for the environment, too, experts said.

O'Connor recommends avoiding hotels and resorts that are designed to keep travelers within the property walls and don't appear to have a relationship with neighboring communities.

"This is a strong indicator that the money spent at the hotel is having little local impact," she said. "These hotels also lack a distinct sense of place and often invoke the feeling that you could be anywhere in the world, versus the specific place you are actually in." And environmental impact aside, that doesn't fulfill any potential for cultural exchange during travel, she said.

A great addition to any itinerary is engaging in community-based tourism activities, O'Connor said. "Seek cultural experiences that are owned and operated by the local community. This ensures authenticity and helps you avoid participating in cultural exploitation."

For example, you might take a cooking class with a local or bring home a souvenir from a local artisan.

"Bottom line, local is key," O'Connor said. "It makes for the best, most authentic experience and ensures the money you spend stays in the community. Each effort, small or big, helps."

Cotton also underscores the importance of keeping travel dollars within local communities.

"The biggest benefit tourism can have on the world is through redistributing wealth from wealthy nations to those less well off," he said, adding that we should all try to stay in locally owned hotels, eat at local restaurants, and support local guides who will benefit directly.

Eating locally sourced food isn't just a chance to experience delicacies, it's better for the planet.

Eating locally sourced food isn
Eating locally sourced, plant-based options is less taxing on the environment.      Shutterstock/MikeDotta

Ordering locally sourced dishes off the menu is a "small, sustainable action that will add local flavor and authenticity to your trip," O'Connor said. "By ordering locally sourced meals, you are not only ensured to be eating the freshest food possible but also supporting a local supply chain and guaranteeing the money you spend stays in the community."

And you may want to consider reducing your meat intake within a healthy diet. Global greenhouse-gas emissions from animal-based foods are twice as high as those from non-animal-based foods, according to a study published in Nature.

"Eat with the planet in mind, and prioritize plant-based options," d'Auriol said.

Consider not buying trinkets that might only accumulate as clutter and take home memories instead.

Consider not buying trinkets that might only accumulate as clutter and take home memories instead.
Sustainability experts advise rethinking travel as an excuse for shopping.      Shutterstock/Claudio Divizia

While shopping locally benefits the local community, you can reduce your impact further by opting out of some purchases altogether.

Keyes advised "getting out of the mindset of thinking of travel as an excuse for purchases, especially little trinkets and souvenirs. We don't need that."

Avoiding these purchases removes the risk that they'll be quickly discarded later, he said, and can be rewarding in other ways, too.

"If your focus is on being present, it's more enjoyable and certainly a cleaner way to go about it than going to the gift shop in every museum, gallery, and zoo," he said. "You can take away memories and feel proud of yourself that it was a greener choice."

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