I’ve written a lot about sustainable living and how you can shop, gift, and eat more sustainably, but so far I’ve failed to make the connection(in my writing) from living sustainably to sustainable travel. Some say that traveling itself isn’t sustainable and technically they’re not wrong. Flights cause excess carbon emission, travel-sized items create extra waste, and buying food on the go isn’t the most sustainable thing either.
With that said, travel is worth the waste it creates. This might seem odd coming from a sustainable lifestyle blogger but here’s why: Traveling makes the world a more tolerant and educated place. It spreads ideas and understanding.
Traveling has given me endless inspiration and motivation. It has taught me so much about the rest of the world. Living abroad in the UK was the first time I realized that composting in the middle of a city could be effortless. Traveling in France taught me about buying high-quality local produce and ingredients. While traveling around Europe allowed me to see how other countries implement sustainable policies and practices.
All of that has helped me to start this blog and to learn and share about sustainability. While travel itself is often not the most sustainable, there are ways you can make your next journey more sustainable!
First, what is sustainable travel?
Before we can start traveling sustainably, we need to understand what sustainable travel is. There are a lot of ways to travel more sustainably. However, sustainable travel can mean very different things to different people. To some, sustainable travel may be taking minimal flights per year or purchasing carbon offsets. To me, a basic definition of sustainable travel means reducing waste, supporting the local economy, and exploring responsibly.
Here’s how you can travel sustainably:
Reducing waste for more sustainable travel
Reducing waste is one of the easiest ways to travel more sustainably. If you are trying to live more sustainably, odds are that you are already taking steps to be more sustainable on a daily basis. A lot of these lifestyle changes can be continued while you’re traveling, like carrying a reusable water bottle with you.
When looking to reduce waste while traveling, think about what you can do before, during, and after your trip to reduce waste. Consider making easy changes like packing toothpaste tabs or bringing a canvas tote bag with you. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite sustainable travel essentials that can help you to prepare for your travels and pack sustainably. Check them out here: https://creativeandambitious.com/sustainable-travel-essentials/
Supporting local businesses while you travel
There are so many reasons to support local businesses, but here‘s why it’s more sustainable to support local businesses. When you support a local business, you are putting money back into the community that you’re visiting. That money goes directly to local families that spend money in their communities and it helps to strengthen their local economy. This might even help to increase the quality of life for local families.
Another benefit of supporting smaller local businesses is that the goods you are purchasing are more likely to be from that community. That means you aren’t only supporting the locals that own the business but you’re also supporting the local suppliers. This could be local farms, producers, or artisans.
An added benefit of supporting local businesses is that your experience will likely be more authentic to the culture and community you are visiting. If you want to support more local businesses but can’t always afford their products or services, consider supporting them online. Here is an article on 10 ways you can support their business besides making a purchase!
Choose to explore responsibly
Like the concept of sustainable travel, exploring responsibly can mean many different things. Exploring responsibly can be as simple as leaving no trace when visiting a natural wonder or opting for public transportation. I like to think of exploring responsibly to also include learning about the destination’s culture and history. This helps me to be respectful of the people and spaces around me.
The definition of sustainable travel can differ from person to person but defining what it means to you can help you make steps toward more sustainable adventures! By making choices to reduce waste, support local businesses, and explore responsibly, you can have more sustainable travels.
If you feel overwhelmed with all of the different ways to travel sustainably remember that any action you take to travel sustainably is a step in the right direction! I’m a firm believer that small actions taken by many can make a huge impact.
If you are trying to live or travel sustainably, you should join the C&A Sustainable Living Group on Facebook. This group exists for you to connect with other people with similar goals! Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/creativeandambitioussustainableliving/
