đ Easy Sustainable Practices While Traveling
Sustainable travel doesnât have to be complicated or expensive.
A few simple habits can make a meaningful difference while also supporting local communities.
We can all practice caring for God's creation, respecting the communities we visit, and leaving historic, cultural, and natural treasures for those who come after us.
Here are some practices and small everyday choices to travel more consciously and to make your vacations more sustainable. âď¸
1. Bring a reusable water bottle
Refill it rather than purchasing single-use plastic bottles. A collapsible bottle is especially convenient for group tours and flights.
2. Pack light
Traveling with less luggage can reduce transportation weight and make it easier to use trains, buses, and other shared transportation.
3. Use public transportation when practical
Trains, group motorcoach, public buses, walking, and cycling can reduce your environmental footprintâand often provide a more authentic way to experience a destination.
4. Walk whenever possible
Exploring a city on foot is one of the simplest sustainable choices. It also allows you to discover neighborhoods, churches, cafĂŠs, shops, and cultural sites you might otherwise miss.
5. Support locally owned businesses
Choose locally owned restaurants, cafĂŠs, markets, artisans, and tour operators when possible. Your travel dollars can directly benefit the communities you visit.
6. Avoid single-use plastics
Carry a reusable shopping bag and avoid unnecessary plastic utensils, straws, cups, and containers.
7. Be mindful with hotel resources
Reuse towels and linens when appropriate and replaced every 3-4 days instead of every day, turn off lights and air conditioning when leaving your room, and unplug chargers and electronics when they aren't needed.
8. Choose food thoughtfully
Enjoy local and seasonal foods when available. Buying from local markets or eating at locally owned restaurants can reduce transportation impacts while giving you a wonderful taste of the destination.
9. Respect historic and natural sites
Stay on designated paths, don't touch or remove artifacts, and follow guidelines at churches, archaeological sites, national parks, and other protected places. Sustainable tourism also means helping preserve these places for future generations.
10. Carry your own small âtravel sustainability kitâ
A reusable water bottle, shopping bag, utensils, and a few reusable containers can eliminate a surprising amount of disposable waste.
11. Choose experiences and local hand-crafted items
Rather than buying numerous items, consider investing in a local cooking class, cultural experience, museum visit, or guided tour. The memories lastâand you support the local economy. If purchasing items, purchase hand-crafted items and support the local artists in the community instead of mass-produced souvenirs with disposable packaging.
12. Be a respectful traveler
Learn a few words of the local language, dress appropriately for churches and sacred sites, ask before photographing people, and respect local customs and traditions.
An easy rule to remember,
Travel thoughtfully. Tread lightly. Support locally. Leave beautifully.
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