This week, I’d like to write about something a little different, as I believe I could shed light on a topic that is very prominent in the world of environmental awareness but that is often communicated badly. While writing my previous blog, I realised there are a few things I do when travelling to ecologically vulnerable locations that I’d like to share. Whether going to the Amazon rainforest, a pasture in the Swiss Alps or a British woodland, it is important to keep in consideration the welfare of people and the environment. Hopefully, this post can help you the next time you go abroad (whenever we are set free again...)! Reading around on the internet, I have found many useful sites that give very sound advice. Have a look at bookmundi.com and their 10 tips on eco-friendly travel. Most websites or blogs, however, don’t really suggest practical and effective ways to make an immediate difference. So, here is my version of a quick guide for eco-travelling! 1. Carbon offsettingOne of the first things that everyone speaks about is carbon offsetting. To me, it is a good idea to pay a bit of money to help fuel companies invest in ways to offset their carbon footprint but, unfortunately, a couple pounds don’t really work to clear my conscience about the carbon I am releasing into the atmosphere by taking a flight. My trip to Peru, for instance, released 3,000 kg of CO2 per person over the space of both my flights out and inbound (12,000 miles in total), which is almost equivalent to the average UK domestic use of gas per year (about 3,300 kg of CO2). Multiply that for the over 500 passengers, and you can immediately see the problem. Still, this is just how much CO2 was released, but planes emit many more greenhouse gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides and lead, which are just as impactful on the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, if not more. Very. Upsetting. Nice window shots though! A good idea, therefore (without having to turn my back on a one-in-a-lifetime trip to a beautiful country), is to choose non-stop flights and make the trip worth it by staying longer. Yet, I have taken flights and greenhouse gases have been released into the atmosphere because of me, so the best thing to do is to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle while being abroad. Eco-friendly tourism doesn’t mean roughing it and giving up on experiences, but it also doesn’t mean taking advantage of all the comforts you’re given. 2. Eco-friendly and biodegradable productsOne of the things I do to reduce my impact is to take with me environmentally friendly self-care products. Lush and Little Soap Company, for instance, make non-harmful and biodegradable products such as shampoo bars that come in metal containers, thus reducing release of chemical into water as well as plastic pollution. This is especially important when going to places with endangered wildlife and fish populations. Using coral-safe sunscreen can make the difference when travelling to coastal destinations, as they reduce the amount of toxic chemicals that can both reduce fertility or kill marine species. Here is some more information and a few brand suggestions! Another point to consider is to avoid buying insect repellent with DEET, a chemical that has been shown to be toxic and affect the nervous system of birds, fish and invertebrates. A very good brand that I use, and that is actually more effective than any DEET based spray, is “Avon skin-so-soft” – and it is actually good for skin too, unlike DEET. 3. Plastic waste
If you are still feeling a bit conscious, you can always add a chlorine tablet to sterilise the water further. Similarly, if you are trying to reduce your plastic usage then you should consider bringing your own reusable kitchen utensils, like ‘sporks’ or bamboo cutlery sets. It’s also a good idea to try ditching straws when you go abroad or bring your own reusable straws if you really need them. 4. Support local businessesWherever I can, I also try and support local businesses as much as possible. One of the best parts of travelling is experiencing the culture, the food and the nature, so why not spend invest in local restaurants and shops in order to safeguard tradition and environment? Most likely, locals will have a lot more respect for their surrounding environment than international companies. Buy souvenirs in markets or artisan shops and eat in authentic restaurants instead of chains (why wouldn’t you anyway?). One noteworthy catchphrase is “drink near beer”, which encapsulates the idea of buying local products (in this case beer) to promote businesses and get to know the culture better. Buying locally derived products also means a far lower carbon-mileage, so you can avoid increasing your already high carbon footprint. 5. Souvenirs and animal welfareWhen you do buy souvenirs, however, always make sure you’re not buying a ‘bad’ souvenir. Don’t purchase products of which you don’t know the source, as you might find yourself with something made of a critically endangered species, or something that has been produced in an environmentally harmful way. On the same note, do not partake in animal tourism. This involves taking pictures with caged animals that clearly don’t belong in cages (are you familiar with Tiger King? Yeah, that’s how most animals you take pictures with will be treated). I know it might be tempting to take a picture while hugging a lion or a tiger; take a ride on an elephant, a camel or a donkey; or swim with pink dolphins and watching orcas do tricks in swimming pools. Sadly, however, most of the time these animals will be mistreated, underfed and abused. Even if they aren’t, they would probably rather be living a life outside a cage or without a chain around their neck instead of posing for our selfies. If you are really craving some wildlife, which is definitely one of the parts I enjoy the most about travelling, you should invest in wildlife sanctuaries and consider giving a donation to local animal welfare organisations – or donate to WWF. In general, just be a responsible tourist! Don’t litter, save water and electricity, and be kind to people and the environment. Travel with a big smile, because you’re abroad! Tourism is often very important for the countries we visit, but we can’t take advantage of the comforts offered to us. More often than not, these offers are not meant for the welfare of environment and people but only for the enjoyment of oblivious tourists. We must respect the places we visit more than we respect our home countries, because we are guests and we don’t want the magic of travel to fade away.
Hopefully we can all go on holiday soon, but when we do, let’s do it properly! Stay tuned and stay wanderlust, Dael
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