As much as we have always loved traveling, we haven’t always practiced eco-friendly travel.
Post-covid, we were itching to get back out there but something clicked. Maybe it was having the time on our hands during the pandemic to realize we needed to be more sustainable with our travels.
It seemed a bit surreal to be contemplating travel again, eco-friendly travel of course. If you had told us that our trip to Savannah would have been the last trip for at least a year at that time, we would have laughed, or cried, rocking back and forth in a corner.
It’s almost as if the travel gods knew what was coming, because those last few weeks, just prior to it all stopping, we had a whirlwind of travel… then…crickets.
Eco-Friendly Travel
Yes, the vaccines are starting, plane e-credits were reinstated, and hotels were being booked again… travel was once again on the calendar!
With all of the non-travel time on our hands, we did a lot of research on how we could become better travelers, and more green, eco-friendly globetrotter.
If we are mindful of the earth and our carbon footprint at home, why are we not extending that mindfulness into our time away from home? Well, we are going to share some of the ways that we have found to be better eco-minded voyagers.
Planes, Trains, or Automobiles?
First, we did some research into what mode of travel is best for the environment. We know that all forms of travel play a significant role in carbon emissions, but if you are going to travel a few states away, and you have the choice of the three, which should you choose?
Just this last week, a study on the topic was published by Environmental Science and Technology. Let’s start with the plane, compared to the train. Airplanes are about 3 percent of total global climate emissions. A single flight produces three tons of carbon dioxide per passenger.
Trains
We discovered that if you take the train instead, you’ll cut carbon dioxide (CO2) by half compared to the plane. The main reason is that the train, even though it may be a big carbon emitter, is designed to carry more passengers, so the per capita emissions are a lot lower.
We also must consider that we are talking about full planes and trains. We hope you aren’t taking planes and trains by yourself or are almost empty because if you are, well, then you are killing the planet all by yourself. Thanks a lot.
Automobiles
Get this: driving a car with no passengers has the same basic climate impact as taking an 80-percent-full plane flight at a similar distance. If a plane is full, it has a better emission impact value than a car with one person.
Add two other people to the car and it’s like you’re traveling on a half-full bus or train. The research shows that at full capacity, a diesel bus comes in the lead as the best option, followed by a high-speed train, then a car with three or more people in it, then the medium aircraft. Wonder if Betty White counts as a third person in the car?!
Planes
If you do need to fly, and it is possible, we recommend the most eco-friendly airline, Alaska Airlines. A report by the London School of Economics ranked Alaska Airlines as one of the top airlines for the lowest carbon emissions.
When we have flown via Alaska Airlines, we have noticed a visible difference in how they even handle waste in flight. Alaska Air also consistently leads airlines on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the most fuel-efficient North American airline.
They have very little plastic, and all items they hand out to passengers are recyclable or compostable.
Packing for Eco-friendly Travel
We have mastered packing light, but it never hurts to brush up on skills to improve. One thing we did was upgrade our luggage cases to BÉIS Carry-On Rollers. They have many more compartments and are able to fit more, without having more bags, and that is always great, not only for saving money but space.
When you have more space, you can be more mindful about incorporating eco-friendly items into your travel, like stainless steel water bottles that are refillable, rather than buying plastic bottles.
You can also pack a couple of cloth totes to buy local produce and fresh goodies on your travels, which we will get into in just a bit.
Public Transportation
This is something we are really good about since we really love to take in our travel the way the locals do. Often, it does take a little bit of time to research public transportation options, but it is better for the environment, and you see parts of the towns/cities you wouldn’t otherwise through the back door.
We also enjoy walking a great deal around a new city, taking in as much as we can while on foot, so that is an advantage.
We do seem to get into situations in some cities where we can depend a bit too much on Uber, and we vow to be better about that.
When I am traveling alone, I all of a sudden think I am Carrie Bradshaw, hailing taxis everywhere I go, like I have an endless budget to spend on transportation. That spending adds up, but so do the carbon emissions.
Bikes are also a growing trend, not only in beach towns like our own and, of course, Key West. In larger cities like New York and LA, there are bike share programs such as Citi Bike which are great ways to visually take in your surroundings and is a green way to get around while you travel.
Buy Locally Grown/Made Food
One of the things that we love is a farmers market, but we really love to explore a city’s local options, getting to know the inner heart of those who grow and make items in the places we visit. We feel a deeper sense of belonging at a city’s market or co-op.
It’s usually not where the traditional tourists visit, mainly where the locals dwell, so it’s sort of a hidden, but not so hidden gem.
This is where those cloth bags and stainless steel bottles come in handy. You can make this an experience and grab a few items to prepare a meal later, but you can also grab some local items and find an outdoor space to take in the scenery and dine outdoors, enjoying the nosh you’ve garnered from the local vendors.
Buying local reduces the carbon footprint, supports the local economy, and allows you to experience locally grown and made treats that you most likely wouldn’t have otherwise had.
Of course, we’d be remiss not to mention that every city, state, and country has different recycling laws. When you visit, be sure to pay attention to the local guidelines for how to properly dispose of items.
We hope that these tips inspire you to be a bit greener when you travel.
