6 Easy Ways to Travel Sustainably and Reduce Your Environmental Impact

Do you want to travel while making a conscious effort to do it more eco-friendly and sustainably? Eco-travel is about exploring the world while minimising your environmental footprint. Whether you're planning a long weekend or a globe-trotting adventure, these 6 tips will help you travel greener, smarter, and more responsibly.

1. Choose Greener Transportation Options

Transportation is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions. When possible, take trains, buses, or shared rides instead of flights. Utilise ride-sharing apps like Uber, DiDi and Grab - Grab even offers a sustainability program that lets users pay a little extra to help offset carbon emissions. Since its launch in 2021, this program has contributed to planting around 1.2 million trees.

For local travel, try renting a bike or consider walking where possible, it’s more eco-friendly and a great way to see a new place.

2. Pack Light and Intentionally

The advantages of lighter luggage are numerous. Firstly, it makes moving around much easier, you can breeze through airports, public transport, and busy streets without dragging a heavy suitcase. You'll also save money on baggage fees and reduce the risk of lost luggage. Packing light encourages smarter choices, helping you avoid overpacking “just in case” items. It also makes packing and unpacking quicker, which is a huge plus when you're constantly on the move.

From an environmental perspective, collectively, lighter luggage means less fuel burned during transportation—making your trip a bit more eco-friendly. To pack sustainably, choose multi-use clothing, eco-friendly toiletries, and reusable items like a stainless steel water bottle, (YETI make some fantastic, tough bottles), a canvas shopping bag, and bamboo cutlery or chopsticks and avoid single-use plastics whenever possible.

3. Stay at Eco-Friendly Accommodations

Look for hotels or hostels with green certifications like LEED, EarthCheck, Green Key or Green Seal. If you stay somewhere that consciously makes an effort to be eco-friendly, be sure to mention it in your review, positive feedback helps other like-minded travellers find and support sustainable businesses.

Additionally, many eco-lodges and boutique stays now offer features like renewable energy, recycling programs, water-saving systems, and locally sourced food.

4. Support Local Businesses and Communities

Try to choose locally owned markets, restaurants, shops, and tour companies. It reduces the carbon footprint of imported goods and helps the local economy thrive. Additionally, you’ll get a more authentic travel and culinary experience.

5. Respect Nature and Leave It Better than you Found It

When exploring, please stay on marked trails, avoid picking plants, and never disturb wildlife. Take care not to leave any litter behind—even natural items like fruit peels can harm local ecosystems. If you can, go a step further and help keep the area beautiful by picking up any litter you see along the way. Spot a plastic bottle or wrapper? It only takes a moment to carry it out and dispose of it properly.

6. Avoid Animal Tourism

Visit and support ethical wildlife sanctuaries and go on responsible, conservation-focused wildlife tours. Skip attractions that exploit animals, such as elephant rides, tiger selfies, or marine life shows. 

That concludes my list of ways to travel more eco-consciously. Just remember, you don’t need to be a perfect eco-traveller. Even small changes—like skipping plastic straws or supporting businesses that follow eco-friendly practices—can make a big difference. Let’s explore and protect the places we love.

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Thanks for reading! - Humble Traveller