30 Awesome Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Travel Tips

Travelling has a harsh impact on our environment. As much as we love it, it’s not sustainable. We will have an impact no matter where we go when we go, or how we go. With these thirty easy sustainable travel tips, we can make a life for Mother Earth a little easier. 

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What is Sustainable Travel? 

A lot of different terms come to mind when we think of trying to make travel more eco-friendly. Sustainable travel and sustainable tourism are often used interchangeably. The World Tourism Organization defines sustainable travel as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities.” Sometimes this is also referred to as “responsible travel” – as in the traveler is responsible for knowing their impact. “Ethical travel” emphasizes the moral obligation to treating communities, animals, and our environment with respect. 

General Sustainable Travel Tips

Enjoy local travel 

One of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint is to not travel far. Thanks to covid, this has become more and more popular. We’ve discovered lesser-known gems around us, like our weekend getaway to Newport. 

Visit a ‘green’ destination. 

Some countries are very committed to Mother Earth and are more environmentally sustainable than others. Costa Rica, Norway, and Denmark are always at the top of the sustainability game (and with their breathtaking nature- it’s not surprising they want to keep Earth beautiful.) So by visiting these countries, you support their local economy, celebrate local culture and tradition, and put your money into countries that are doing good for the world. 

Opt for slow travel. 

This is a change of mindset for me, and one that I’m personally working on. It’s gained in popularity over the past few years and no wonder why. Travel is more than just checking off destinations on a list – picking up and moving to a new city every day – fast-paced. Slow travel is the opposite. Staying longer in your destination allows you to really engage and understand the place you’re visiting in a new way. Bonus, your transportation usage will go down (good for you and Mother Earth). 

Before-you-go Sustainable Travel Tips

Invest in eco-friendly products

We’ve done this gradually over time as we didn’t want to overwhelm ourselves with new habits and then quit altogether. Using reusable cutlery and carrying my own straws have turned into really simple swaps to help us live a more sustainable life (both at home and on the road). One refillable water bottle can replace hundreds of plastic water bottles.

Go digital 

Planning your trip through Google My Maps can help save paper in the planning process. You can download the map offline so even when you don’t have internet, you can still get around. 

You can also save boarding passes, hotel reservations, tour numbers online so you don’t have to carry paper. Gone are the days when I had to carry a folder of papers with me just to make sure I had all my reservations handy.

Don’t buy new clothes just for travel

Unless they’re an absolute necessity, don’t do it. Not only are you going to save money for travel, but you’ll also be greener. The fashion industry is always pumping the next fad that will be out of style in a month. Also, the fashion industry is the second highest polluting industry in the world – in terms of energy, water, land, AND chemicals. Not to mention, clothing companies using child labor and labor trafficking. 

If you do have to buy clothes for travel, checking charity or second-hand shops. If you have to buy something new, be sure to check out sustainable fashion stores and companies like Know The Origin. 

Transportation Sustainable Travel Tips

Choose to travel by train, bus, boat, or electric vehicle over flying. 

Any of these ways of traveling have a less negative environmental impact than flying. You can get to most major cities in Europe by train. We explored a lot of Japan via their shinkansen (bullet train) system which was a lot easier to navigate than I expected. 

One major thing you can do is to take only one round trip flight and travel overland while on your trip. It might be tempting to hop on cheap budget flights. However, you’ll get a much richer experience traveling in a smaller region, using trains and buses to get to your next destination, than jumping on a plane to a new country every three days. 

Research your travel transportation. 

Don’t just go by a little green leaf to tell you something is eco-friendly. Do your research. Alternative Airlines can help figure out which airlines are taking the steps to improve their carbon emissions. 

Fly a budget airline

Okay, no one likes being cramped on an airplane but hear me out. Budget airlines carry more passengers per flight, the individual carbon footprint per person is far lower. They also tend not to have screens on each chair, making the plane weigh less and use less gas. 

Carbon offset your flight (but check into this!) 

Most airlines are now offering the option to carbon offset your flight. It’s usually very easy to find – a small check box. For a small fee, your emissions will be compensated for.  The funds tend to go to projects focused on tree planting, conservation, and renewable energy. 

However, carbon offsetting doesn’t compensate for the entire plane. They calculate the number of emissions that YOU create. Carbon emissions of the plane, divided by the number of people on the plane, is the amount you pay for. It’s better than nothing, but don’t think your flight is suddenly green. 

Look for non-stop flights

Direct flights use less gas because takeoff and landing are the biggest gas-guzzling times. Simply taking a direct flight can lower your impact on the environment. 

Throw out or recycle your own airplane trash. 

Airplanes have a quick turnaround between flights, meaning recycling has been on the back burner. While it may be easier to church your rubbish in flight, if you can properly dispose of it later, please do. 

Use public transportation, not taxis (or better, walk/bike!)

Sometimes we can’t walk or bike somewhere – or you don’t want to (it is your vacation after all!) – stick to public transportation. It’s easier on the environment and many cities are adopting greener forms of public transport so it’s a win-win! 

Use a ride-share app! 

One of the most forgotten about sustainable practices is also one of the most fun! Literally sharing a ride is a great way to limit your carbon footprint, and it’s a great way to meet fellow travelers. 

Accommodation Sustainable Travel Tips

Go camping! 

One of our favorite things to do is also one of the top sustainable travel tips! Hotels are…. how should I put it…. not as eco-friendly as we would like. Water, energy use, disposable plastics (which have been on the rise due to covid) all have an impact on our environment. 

Camping is often a cheaper option than a hotel, better for the environment, and the fresh air is awesome. Please be sure to leave your campsite clean for the next person to enjoy! 

Research sustainable accommodation

Sometimes camping isn’t an option – could you imagine popping a tent in Rome? Do your research before booking accommodation – do they have sustainability initiatives? This means going beyond the “bulk shampoo” and the green leaf next to their name. 

Are they plastic-free? Committed to being zero waste? Do they source their food from local farms and work toward zero-miles? Are they committed to environmental practices – donate to local organizations to offset their carbon footprint? Do they provide car-free transportation? All good questions to ask before visiting. 

Bonus sustainable travel tip: When you leave your room, always turn off the lights, heat/AC, and the television.

Skip the daily hotel cleaning

Leaving the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door of your hotel room is an easy way to tell hotel staff to skip your room. With covid, many hotels are regularly doing this. However, it’s a great way to cut down on chemicals used for cleaning, electricity, and washing! You can also hang your towels in the bathroom, which is pretty much a universal sign that you’re okay with them not being washed.

Prevent the air-conditioning or heating from leaving the room

Be sure to keep the hotel doors and windows closed so you don’t lose any of the air. I know it’s tempting to have the AC on while opening the window so you can hear the beach roaring, but it’s a huge waste of energy. 

Try a multi-person hostel dorm. 

If those days of crashing in hostels are far behind you, move to the next tip. However, if you’ve never tried it, it’s a great way of traveling. Hostel rooms require less energy. It’s also a great way to save money and meet new people while traveling! 

Cook in your accommodation 

One of my favorite ways to save money while traveling is also great for the environment. I only buy what I’m going to use since I can’t take it home with me, shop at local farmer’s markets and grocery stores, and use less energy. 

Avoid all-inclusive holidays

Since these holidays include all accommodation, food, drink, and activities, visitors do not need to leave to spend money. So the local economy does not really benefit from our visitation. Many of these all-inclusive resorts are foreign-owned as well. 

Destination Sustainable Travel Tips

Do not engage in animal tourism. 

It sounds pretty simple. Unfortunately, not everyone knows this. Including me. When visiting South Africa we had the opportunity to ride elephants. While the elephants seemed well-cared for – I learned this doesn’t mean it’s ethical. I don’t show pictures of this or promote this and have promised to do better in the future. It’s okay to make mistakes – as long as you learn from them. 

Tigers have been my favorite animal since I was a kid – I even wanted one as a pet. So yes, I would absolutely LOVE to have a selfie with a tiger. Here’s the thing – tigers are wild. So until I get to go on my tiger safari in India – it’s not going to happen. 

Avoid riding elephants, walking with lions, or taking selfies with tigers. Animal tourism is a heartbreaking industry that illegally captures and abuses animals. 

Return maps or brochures after you’re done

If you can’t fully go digital for planning, then try to return your information guides or maps to where you got them so they can be reused by future travelers. It saves more copies being printed out in the future. 

Walk, cycle, or scooter to get around. 

Choosing to walk or cycle around instead of driving cuts down on petrol gas and can save you money! We really enjoyed exploring Baltimore on electric scooters – and only spent $15 for the entire day! 

If you travel by tour, do so with an eco-friendly tour company or local company. Do your research and find an eco-friendly travel company. Local tour companies ensure that your money is staying local as well. 

Honor local customs

As discussed, sustainable travel is more than just going-green – it’s about how we treat everything in the world – including our local destinations. I can’t stress this point enough as it’s a problem for many travelers. LEARN ABOUT THE PLACE BEFORE YOU VISIT. Research if you have to cover up to enter certain places or basic mannerisms as to not to offend the people of the place you’re visiting. You can even learn some essential travel phrases in the local language – even if you’re not perfect, from my experience, the local people appreciate that you’ve tried. 

Pick up litter when you can

Tourists can be quite…. inconsiderate (that’s the nicest word I could come up with) and leave their trash around. Don’t be that person – the place should be just as you left it, if not better. It’s not hard or time-consuming, just pick it up and dispose of it properly. You’d be surprised at the number of plastic bottles left on beaches! 

Eat local 

Many places have street or farmer’s markets (especially on weekends!) Not only are you supporting local businesses, but the food also hasn’t traveled to its destination, meaning less impact on the environment. If you do eat out, look for a local restaurant that uses seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.

Avoid voluntourism

This is probably one of the top controversial subjects in travel today, and I’m not an expert in it. So the only thing I’ll say is to do a lot of research. Many voluntourism options do more harm than good, so find a reputable company. 

Final Thoughts

So there you have it – 30 sustainable travel tips to help you be a more ethical traveler. If you have your own tips that I may have missed – your favorite way to save water or lower carbon emissions – let me know and I will add it as a reader favorite! 

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