How I Cut Down Emissions and Waste: A Traveller's Guide

Are you planning a vacation but don’t know how to make it as ecological as possible? You landed on the right page! Here are a few tips to make your next trip a bit greener.

Avoid planes (when possible)

We all know it: flying is awful for the environment. This is why one of the best ways to minimize your environmental impact is to avoid planes as much as possible. But how? Opt for alternatives like trains, buses, or ferries if you visit a nearby country. Contrary to flights, travelers often don’t consider these as a preface to their trip but as an exciting part of their holidays. You will probably meet like-minded individuals and share a laugh or a drink with a local.

An extra reason to choose these transportation options is that you will visit towns and villages you never knew existed. On my long journey through Africa, I happened to stumble across the picturesque city of Saint Louis in the north of Senegal, just a few km from the Mauritanian border. Those arriving from Dakar airport often miss this little gem on the ocean, famous for its French postcolonial architecture, where I ended up staying for over two months.

If you cannot avoid the plane, opt for direct flights even if the price is slightly higher.

Reconsider the way you travel

In recent years, hustle culture has convinced us that productivity is all that matters, even when it comes to traveling. If you plan a trip to Italy, you MUST visit Venice, Florence, Rome, the Cinque Terre, Pompei… The truth is that you will learn more about this country by spending a week in a local village, bonding with locals, and experiencing the true Italian lifestyle. This will help you cut down emissions caused by transportation while also avoiding overcrowding sites, such as Venice, which may soon disappear due to mass tourism.

Volunteer

Despite our best efforts, sometimes we have no alternative but to pollute. After traveling from Italy to Senegal via crowded ferries, broken taxis, and wobbly buses, you bet I’ll take that flight back home! As with everything in life, balance is key.

Not everyone has the luxury of spending weeks on the road to reach a destination. If this is your case, a good way to give back to the world is by checking out some volunteering opportunities. You will probably be spoiled for choices from reforestation projects to cleaning initiatives. Another reason to volunteer is that it will give you a unique opportunity to interact with locals and immerse yourself in their culture.

Go Local

Whenever in doubt, go local. Why opt for a massive resort when you can support a local family renting a room in their B&B? This strategy helped me meet lovely people who completely changed my trip, giving me local recommendations and sometimes inviting me to join parties and celebrations.

Pack smartly

It’s so easy to use single-use plastic when traveling. In certain countries, there is no way of saying ‘no’ whenever a vendor hands you a plastic bag. Despite this, try to do the best you can. Buy a water filter to avoid buying plastic bottles in places where water is not potable, and always bring a fabric bag with you. Most vendors will still push you to get their plastic bag, thinking you are declining out of politeness, but a simple ‘no plastic, thanks’ often gets your point across.