Many people worldwide are making changes that refer to sustainability in their lifestyles. People have realised that we have been living rather unsustainably in the past few decades. The continuation of this kind of living is bound to have various adverse effects on our planet and future generations. To minimise those adverse effects, we should try and live our lives more sustainably. Many of us are probably already doing something regarding sustainability: we recycle, use LED bulbs, repurpose things, donate clothes, and we save water and electricity. However, only some people know that they can also travel sustainably. Keep reading to learn more about how to travel sustainably with your family.
When it comes to sustainable travel, you need to start with eco-friendly transportation – it is one of the biggest factors. Then, you can also opt for sustainable accommodation; more on that later. As far as travel activities are concerned, you can also engage in some sustainable activities. What you should also be mindful of is the food. Also, you can reduce the waste you produce by using reusable items.
- Opt for sustainable transportation
Planning a family trip implies thinking about transportation. The means you choose for getting around can reduce your carbon footprint. Environmentally conscious travellers often opt for walking instead of driving, using public transportation, or even renting a scooter or a bike. Countries that are doing their best to promote a green way of living usually offer these kinds of renting services. By opting for an eco-friendlier way of getting around, you decrease the C02 emission in the atmosphere and don’t contribute to traffic congestion. If you rent a bike or a scooter, you can visit any accessible part of town, explore it even deeper, and be physically active. - Search for eco-friendly accommodation
Besides the transportation, what you should also consider is the accommodation. It should also be sustainable as, in that way, you can decrease your environmental impact even when on holiday. So, what would some standard eco-friendly features be of accommodation? Well, for example, they can use solar panels or wind turbines for energy. Additionally, you can look at their cooling and heating systems and check out the building and materials used in the construction process. Also, some hotels use less packaging to avoid unnecessary waste. Places directed towards sustainability display these valuable pieces of information on their websites or third-party platforms they use to promote their services. - Do sustainable activities
Many options are available when it comes to activities you can do on your trip, depending on the place or country you’re visiting. However, they can too vary from unsustainable to sustainable. So, you need to be careful when choosing them. You should take the environmental impact each activity would have. For example, hiking and biking are always great options as they don’t require fossil fuels. Moreover, you can look into other eco-tourism options to see what else you can do that won’t harm the environment additionally. Another great wildlife-based eco-tourism alternative is the unique experience of whale watching on the Gold Coast. You can enjoy seeing the biggest mammals only in specific parts of the world and at specific times of the year. So, if you are travelling to Australia, make sure you use the opportunity to see the whales. - Be mindful of food
Another essential aspect of eco-friendly family vacations you should consider is your diet or the food you plan to eat. The food industry also contributes to global pollution and climate change. However, with only a little research, you can easily find various food options that are both delicious and sustainable. One approach you can use is to look for local farm-to-table restaurants. In such cases, the ingredients are sourced from local farms, significantly reducing transportation costs. Also, it supports the local economy. Farm-to-table restaurants serve fresh produce as well as sustainably prepared meals. - Reduce waste by using reusable items
One of the most efficient ways of reducing your carbon footprint is reducing waste. You can do that by using reusable items instead of single-use items, which create loads of unnecessary waste. For instance, one such item would be a reusable water bottle. Whatever reusable you can use, use it, as you will significant;y decrease the amount of waste you would otherwise produce.
These are just some of the several handy pointers when it comes to travelling sustainably with your family – hopefully, they will help you be eco-friendlier in your trips.
