Eco-travel: how to reduce your carbon footprint

Traveling often involves certain environmental impacts. From disposable items to transportation emissions, we have decisions to make that can affect the environment. Global tourism is responsible for about 8% of the world's total CO2 emissions, which includes not only travel but also the consumption of resources at vacation destinations.

How to travel without harming nature? Let's find out

Tourism and 8% of emissions

The tourism industry accounts for almost one tenth of all carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. When popular destinations are overcrowded with tourists, it can lead to the degradation of nature, poorer living conditions for locals and loss of cultural heritage.

The vehicles we travel by also affect this percentage. Fast modes of transportation tend to be more harmful to the environment. Air travel, for example, generates 2.2% of global CO2 emissions, while gasoline-powered road vehicles create 14%. International bus transportation, despite its massive scale, has a less significant environmental impact than aviation, but its contribution is also worth considering when assessing overall pollution levels.

Tips for an eco-friendly vacation

To reduce your environmental impact, you can choose slower and greener ways of traveling. Prefer a train or bus to air transportation. If possible, use electric vehicles. Choose your accommodations to reduce the need to constantly move around on vacation.

The choice is yours: discover the world without harming it.

How to make your travel more environmentally friendly

• Transform your approach to vacationing by following simple guidelines to make nature-friendly choices.

• Save money in your room: Use a "Do Not Disturb" sign instead of cleaning your room daily. This will reduce resource consumption such as laundry and trash bag disposal.

• Prioritize sustainable products: Give preference to local, seasonal foods without plastic packaging. Choose products in paper bags, minimizing waste.

• Reusable eco-bag to help: Perfect for the beach, shopping, or just going for a walk. Also consider using cloth bags to weigh your groceries to avoid disposable bags.

• Prefer reusable containers: Use your own water bottle, avoiding disposable plastic counterparts. If you don't have one, fill a store-bought bottle multiple times.

• Water conservation: Prioritize showering by conserving water resources. Also, try to turn off the water when performing routine procedures.

• Solar Charging: Consider purchasing a solar-powered charger. It is environmentally friendly and convenient for the traveler.

• Responsible waste management: Follow the rules of separating garbage wherever it is customary. Remember to properly dispose of batteries as well.

• Avoiding animal exploitation: Avoid places where animals are used for entertainment. This will allow you to stay true to your principles of respect for all living beings.

• By following these simple guidelines, each of us can do our part to preserve the planet even while traveling.