by Tina Kelly –
Ah, travel – it’s been too long. Finally, it felt like the right time to get away. With my passport dusted off, it was time to put a plan into action. Whether travelling by train, plane, ferry, car or a combination thereof, we can look for ways to make the journey, and our time at the destination, more sustainable.
Where to go; where to stay? It’s no longer just about choosing a hotel within my budget, it’s also about supporting businesses that care about their impact and that of their guests. It takes a little sleuthing to get past large chains slapping on a green label when their actions show otherwise. Look for website content that clearly and thoroughly outlines the property’s environmental and social responsibility initiatives. I also took the time to click through hotel images searching for features I view as “walking the green walk” – one of these being the elimination of travel-size toiletries. While I usually pack my own refillable travel-sized products, this time I flicked through photos to find hotels that have converted to wall mounted full-size shampoo, conditioner and liquid soap. Imagine how much plastic and waste is avoided with this simple change.
Urban vacation? Location, location, location. Paying close attention to the distance between accommodation and planned activities as well as access to transit and the overall walkability of an area allows me to use my feet or public transit instead of hiring taxis or rideshares.
The sustainable practices ingrained in my daily rhythm don’t go on vacation when I do. The trusty green sidekicks – reusable coffee cup, water bottle, cutlery and shopping bag – come along with me. Many ferries and airlines accept the use of a personal cup or bottle for onboard drinks; some American airlines are a hard no but I’ll keep asking. A reusable container or snack pouch also come along, initially fully loaded with healthy snacks and then used while on the road and for the return trip. On a trip to Berlin in 2018, market vendors didn’t hesitate to fill my coffee cup with beer or place food in my own containers. The ice cream vendor even thanked me!
Carry-on only is my preferred way to travel, not only to avoid the anxiety of waiting for a bag, but I appreciate having limited space. I’m generally not much of a consumer but there is something about a new location, different stores and access to diverse products that is all too tempting. With less cargo space, I am limited in impulse spending; I’m forced to be more thoughtful to avoid purchases I really don’t need.
I am just back from my getaway and my hotel was as advertised. They had full-size liquid soap and shampoo with other toiletries available if needed and there were other obvious initiatives to reduce waste related to trash and resources. Upon checkout, I felt good about my footprint and fully appreciated the hotel’s stated vision: “we want to influence positive change in a world where we are simply guests.” I plan to write a positive review about my stay. 97% of consumers use online reviews when researching businesses, produces or services and I want other travellers to have support when looking to green their next trip.
