5 tips to help minimize your footprint during travel
It is that time of year and Earth Day is just around the corner! As lovers of travel, we want to recognize and work attentively to be more conscious of how we can reduce our carbon footprint during travel and in our everyday lives. For more conscious and sustainable travel, we have 5 tips and ideas to share, with some products we love!
One of the easiest ways to travel sustainably is to carry around your water bottle. Each day, more than 60million plastic water bottles are thrown away -- 60 million! This is all the more reason to find a cute water bottle that you can bring everywhere with you. Some IVY staff favorites are 4 Ocean, YETI, Hydro Flask, LARQ, and Nalgene!
Next, we have reusable shopping bags. Reusable shopping bags are something that can easily be forgotten when packing for trips. A lot of stores in many states require you to bring your reusable bags or there is a small fee to buy some in-store. Bringing your bags is not only helping the earth, but it is also a money saver! Baggu is one of our favorite reusable shopping bag brands! They have so many fun prints to choose from, as well as many different types of items from reusable bags to laptop cases.
This next one might seem silly but pack your reusable headphones or earbuds. It always bugs us that airlines choose THE cheapest quality earbuds to sell. Instead of buying a pair of earbuds, keep your adaptor in your travel bag, and that will save you the cost of paying the price for the horrible quality headphones that are sold on flights! Some of our favorites are Bose headphones andApple AirPods!
While we are on the topic of reusable items, here is another eco-friendly travel tip. When you are traveling, you might be bringing some of your daily household and toiletry supplies, and they can all be purchased sustainably.
Some great items we have loved using are reusable Keurig pods, compostable coffee filters, bamboo toothbrushes, compostable sandwich bags, deodorant, all-in-one soap, and feminine hygiene products. One of our hands-down favorite feminine hygiene brands is Cora. You can find Cora products sold at Target! For one, their products are made without dyes, fragrances, GMOs, or chlorine (and who wants bad chemicals down there?!), and with every purchase, Cora gives a box of products to women in need.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, aircraft accounts for up to 12% of greenhouse gases. While, as passengers, we are not in control of the majority of the environmental damage of flying, such as waste and emissions, there are ways to minimize our impact!
Fly direct with a non-stop flight when you can.Not only is flying direct a time-saver, but it is always more fuel-efficient.
Fly economy class. The more people who can fit on a plane, the better. When doing so, the use of space being occupied is much more efficient than the wasted space in business and first-class. While flying economy class may not be as ‘comfortable’, flying economy is a small step towards reducing the size of your carbon footprint!
Pack light! Ok, any of our fellow over-packers out there? Sometimes it’s hard to pack light and we get it. The heavier your luggage, the more fuel is needed to haul the weight. Sometimes it is inevitable to pack light; Let's say you are going on a hiking trip to Alaska and you need your hiking poles, coats, and gear, that will definitely be needed. In cases where you might be traveling to a warmer climate, it helps to pack light when you can. And honestly, this will save you money, too! The fewer baggage fees, the better!
Eating locally is not only great for you but for the community and the planet. Doing so ensures that your money goes directly into the community. Honestly, most of the time, the little hole-in-the-wall restaurants end up having the best food!
Very similar to eating local, shopping local and avoiding big chains assists in building thriving communities. Supporting small businesses does not only support the business but the dreams and goals of those a part of them.
Live like a local!We understand how an all-inclusive resort may be your vibe; but where else can you get a more genuine experience than staying in a locally-owned Airbnb? We’ve had our fair share of experiences with resorts and Airbnbs, and we always find that homestays are much more enjoyable. Kick back, relax, and adventure into the idea of living like a local on your next trip!
Did you know that the fashion industry accounts for up to 10% of global carbon dioxide output? That is more than international flights and shipping combined. Though sustainability measures are growing in popularity, so far they’re no match for the growing production and consumption of fast fashion. Thousands of garments get thrown into landfills the average American throws away 80 pounds of clothing annually, which occupies about 5% of landfill space per person.
Shopping secondhand or from sustainable shops is SO key to help minimize your carbon footprint. Used clothing sites like Depop, Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, and ThredUP are all amazing platforms that let you shop online from the luxury of your bed. How amazing, right?!
Also, stores like Goodwill, Value Village, or even your local thrift store are places where you can also shop secondhand in person. Did we mention having a fun clothing trade or swap with your friend?
Any big or small choice is one step closer to creating a more sustainable way of living, greatly impacting our planet for the better.
Well, Happy Earth Day, everybody! We hope you found some of the tips helpful. If you have any tips, please share! Comment down below – we would love to hear from you!
*This blog post is not sponsored, but some links may contain affiliate links*
Click here to read our blog post from last year, 'Earth Conscious Travel Tips’.
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