More and more people are becoming conscious of how travel can have a negative impact on the environment.
This isn't just because travel encourages more high-emission flights, but also because of the negative impact travel can have on the ground, in destination countries.
That's where the concept of green travel comes in.
We'll explain what green travel is in this article, and why it's needed. We'll also give you tips on how to make your next holiday greener.
What is green travel?
Green travel means travelling whilst taking care to limit the negative environmental, economic, and social impacts of travel.
It can also be called sustainable travel, responsible travel, or eco-tourism.
Green travel isn't just limited to using eco-friendly means of transport to get to a destination. It also applies to the activities leading up to - and during - a trip.
This could mean limiting the use of single-use plastics, shopping and staying at locally owned shops and hotels, and not littering.
Is completely 'green' travel realistic?
Completely 'green' travel is unrealistic. In many cases, it's often impossible to avoid the use of fossil-fuel-powered or low-carbon transport, or single-use plastic, as not all countries have the infrastructure in place to avoid these things.
Green travel operates on the principle of "reduce, reuse, and recycle", with reduction being the most important part. This means reducing travel, and when travelling, reducing the carbon footprint of travel.
Travelling with zero carbon footprint is not only unrealistic, it's virtually impossible for most people.
What's the carbon footprint of the travel industry?
The travel industry accounts for between 8% and 11% of the world's carbon emissions, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
However, this could increase as more and more people are travelling each year.
For example, while tourism took a hit during the Covid pandemic lockdowns, it's already set to bounce back to 80-95% of pre pandemic levels by the end of 2023.
7 tips for achieving green travel in 2023
Here are our seven tips for achieving green travel in 2023:
- Fly less
- Use public or shared transport
- Stay at an eco-friendly hotel
- Avoid single-use products
- Shop and eat at locally owned businesses that have local products
- Book trips with sustainable travel agencies
- Use carbon offsetting programs with caution
3. Stay at an eco-friendly hotel
Staying at an eco-friendly hotel will help you reduce waste and keep your carbon footprint down at your chosen travel destination.
To be considered eco-friendly, a hotel needs to implement all or most of the following steps:
- Reduce its energy and water use
- Reduce the amount of single-use plastic it provides to guests
- Provide locally sourced food products to guests
- Use environmentally friendly cleaning products (no harsh chemicals)
- Encourage guests to be sustainable by providing bike rentals, recycling services, or energy saving tips
Hotels can be certified as eco-friendly by several independent programs, such as Green Globe, Green Key, or the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
Websites such as Booking.com now also give sustainability measures for hotels on their site. But be sure to check the hotel's website for full information of their practices, and certifications if they have any.
Summary
It's important to remember that fully green travel - travel that doesn't result in any CO2 emissions or other forms of pollution or waste - is, currently, impossible.
As individuals, all we can do is limit our impact, and pressure governments and larger bodies to do the rest.
There are lots of ways to limit the negative impacts you have when travelling, and even ways to create positive impacts, by funding and participating in local conservation and community projects for example.
For more ways to be eco-friendly in your everyday life, read our handy tips.
What does green transport include?
Green transport includes a variety of modes of transportation, such as electric vehicles, bicycles, e-scooters, or simply walking. Public transport, though not always emissions-free, is also considered a greener alternative to single-occupant petrol or diesel cars.
What is an example of green travel?
An example of green travel could be taking trains, or driving an EV from London to Edinburgh, instead of taking a plane. Staying at a certified eco-friendly hotel during your stay also counts as green travel.
Which countries are good for eco-tourism?
Costa Rica, Norway, and Iceland are all good spots for eco-tourism. These countries either have policies that protect wildlife, an abundance of eco-hotels, or use a lot of green energy to power infrastructure and homes.
