Yes, you can love the Earth and still love your holidays.
Travel is one of life’s greatest pleasures, new places, new food, fresh perspectives. But it can also come with a heavy environmental cost: flights, fast food, plastic, and waste.
The good news? You don’t need to give up travel, just rethink how you do it.
Here are 7 easy ways to reduce your impact while still enjoying every moment of your trip.
1. Choose slower travel when possible
Trains, buses, and carpooling have a lower carbon footprint than flying.
If you must fly, consider:
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Booking non-stop routes (take-off and landing use the most fuel)
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Offsetting your emissions (via verified climate programs)
Bonus: slower travel = more time to enjoy the journey.
2. Support local, sustainable stays
Instead of big chain hotels, look for:
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Eco lodges or guesthouses
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Locally owned homestays
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Places that minimize single-use plastics and wash towels on request
Your money stays in the community, and your footprint stays lower.
3. Eat like a local (and bring your reusables)
Skip airport snacks and fast food chains.
Try markets, small cafes, and home-style meals. Bring:
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A travel cutlery set
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Reusable straw
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Cloth napkin or beeswax wrap
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A water bottle (most airports now have refill stations!)
4. Pack low-waste toiletries
Instead of travel-size plastic bottles, try:
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Shampoo & conditioner bars
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Bar soap
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Refillable containers
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Menstrual cup or reusable pads
They last longer, take less space, and don’t spill in your bag.
5. Respect nature and local cultures
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Stick to marked trails
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Don’t touch or take wildlife or shells
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Learn a few local phrases
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Dress respectfully and ask before taking photos of people
Kindness is a form of sustainability, too.
6. Leave nothing behind
Carry a small trash bag if you’re hiking or camping.
Clean up after yourself, and if you can, leave a place cleaner than you found it.
💛 7. Slow down and stay curious
Sustainable travel isn’t just about less, it’s about more meaning.
More presence. More connection. More gratitude.
When you slow down, you notice more, and leave a lighter mark wherever you go.
You don’t need to be perfect to be a more conscious traveler.
Just aware, intentional, and kind, to the planet and to the people whose homes you’re visiting.
Because a trip should feel good for you and for the Earth.