Travelling Sustainably in 2019
Sustainable travel (Green Travel) is about making simple & small choices in order to decrease your negative impact on your destination. Now, me & Luiz, we don’t live in a sustainable, new-eco build or in a van. We aren’t perfect when it comes to sustainability but we really try to create an environment which ensures the present without compromising resources for the future.
We are travellers through & through, which as you can guess is an oxymoron (sustainability & travelling) When researching how to lessen our impact , it was always the same answers: travel less, travel closer etc. But for us, As a family split across the globe we are regular long hall travellers, it isn’t really possible for us to be anything else.
Sustainability is all about the small choices-which may feel small but collectively make a huge impact. So we can make changes to make travel less wasteful without missing out on family time.
Airports have always been negative when it comes to the environment; with the air pollution and the constant noise pollution not to mention the millions of tons of waste collected each year. However, architects are working on building more sustainable, eco friendly airport systems, take for example the proposals for Heathrow & Gatwick. We can’t control the sustainability of the planes we travel in, the places we stay at or the places we go but we have the choice to be more eco friendly when choosing the transportation, hotels & activities.
Here are a few tips which can help when travelling is necessary but you still want to do your little bit for the environment to make the general positive and sustainable push:
Choose How you Travel Wisely
There are three main ways to be a more sustainable traveller than you are right now.
Book fewer trips which last longer. We would rather do two trips a year to brasil for two weeks at a time rather than four trips for one week each; it saves money but less rushed with more time on your hands.
Book non-stop/direct flights when you can. The take off and landing sections are what takes the most energy and creates the most carbon emissions. These flights are sometimes a little more expensive but it is less stressful and easy on the jet lag (no long waiting times.)
Choose to fly on one of the IATA airline members (International Air Transport Association Members.) There are over 30 different airlines and they invest in neutralising their carbon emissions with different projects.
Bring an EMPTY water bottle
Ever since we bought our swell water bottles we take them everywhere we go and the airport is not an exception. We drink water by the gallons so used to spend a lot on bottled water. I also find drinking 1 litre per 5 hours flying stops my jet lag & tiredness. Many airports have free water fountains you just need to ask! One point to remember is to have an EMPTY bottle through security. You will get stopped if not (I usually take off the lid to make it obvious) once through, we refill over & over again.
Bring snacks
Maybe it’s the European in me but I will never travel without snacks. Luiz finds it frustrating but will always grab a few from my bag. Airports allow food through (which many people don’t realise) I pack my snacks based on the amount of travel time! I tend to try be as healthy as i can so take fruit, nuts, homemade cookies & granola. Not only does this keep me and the people around me from getting hangry but it saves money as airport/airline food is expensive and does not always hit the spot for me.
Stock up on reusable travel bags and bottles
Collect TSA approved reusable bags & bottles to fill with the products you use. It helps minimise your weight but can save you from buying the travel sized versions (I mean they run out so quick!) & it should last you many years if you look after them.
Use clothes bags, these may seem like wasteful but they can create a more structured packing pattern so your luggage is minimised and lighter.
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