7 ways to make your holiday greener

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Top tips to cut down on the environmental impact of your holiday

Want to know how to make your holiday greener?

Love the idea of travelling and going on holiday but worry about the environmental impact? At this time of year we are all thinking about where we will travel to this year but sometimes environmental guilt can stop you in your tracks!

Whether you are travelling to Disney or elsewhere I have some top tips on reducing or limiting your carbon footprint on holiday!

7 ways to make your holiday greener

1 Offset your travel

The main thing that adds to your carbon footprint is the method of travel. If you have to fly offset your carbon emissions.

You can use a company to do this or something else you could do if have the space is simply plant a tree per holiday. Not only will this help the planet but in time you will have a beautiful outdoor space to remember your trips!

If you don’t have to fly consider other forms of transport and whether this would be better for the environment. A carbon calculator can help you work it out. 

Why not consider destinations you can take a train or other public transport to?

2 Avoid Plastic Waste

Say no to straws.

If you are going on a Disney holiday for example buy a Mickey Mouse straw in a different colour for each member of your group and use it for the whole trip. They can be rinsed with a small amount of water and then carried in your rucksack. Make sure you say to no to all straws for the rest of the trip-even paper ones! These straws can then be taken with you wherever you go. They’ll not only save you a disposable plastic straw but remind you of your Disney holiday!

You can also buy foldable or collapsible straws which can be taken with you to any holiday destination or day trip! Simply pop in your handbag or rucksack to have them with you at all times!

Avoid plastic bottles. Tap water must be avoided in some areas due to health reasons but if it is just due to taste make sure to use a refillable filtering water bottle. If you must buy bottled drinks buy big bottles and share. 

Pack cutlery. If you find yourself eating in places where you have to use plastic cutlery a lot buy yourself a sturdy travel set of cutlery (again you can colour code for each group member) and use these instead!

3 Avoid food waste

Avoid wasting food where possible.

When trying new foods, for example at a buffet, only put a small amount on to your plate and check that you like it before piling it on your plate.

If serving sizes are large (for example at a quick service restaurant in Walt Disney World) why not see if another member of your party would like to share? If you are hungry again later you can get something different to share. This means you only eat what you need to and you get to try more foods-win win!

4 Limit technology and electricity use

Holidays are the best time to switch off from the rest of the world. Yes you will probably want your phone to take photos. And it seems no one these days can last more than a couple of days without checking social media! But try and prioritise ‘no phone family time’. Not only will this totally change your holiday experience but it will reduce the amount of electricity you use. Both through charging your phone and from using the internet as servers burn a lot of electricity!

Remember to only use heating or air con as needed. Don’t leave it on if you have a window open or if you are out for the day.

Always switch off televisions and chargers etc when not in use and turn off the lights as you head out!

5 Make your holiday greener with ethical choices

If you have the ability to research into attractions etc make sure to pick ethical excursions.

When you are making purchases as well try to think of not only the ethics behind the item but whether it is a good economic choice i.e. something you actually want/need and won’t instantly forget! 

6 Support Local Economies 

Where you can on holiday, try and support small local businesses.

It is important to think of the ethics when making decisions. Generally a small time restaurant for example is more likely to support small local fisherman who use traditional sustainable methods etc. Try and make informed choices whilst away and don’t always go for the big corporate brands. 

7 Make a holiday greener with your booking choices

There are so many different resorts and holiday packages out there catering to those who wish to be green! It’s very likely that if you have a destination in mind there will be a package to match.

Even resorts like Disney are doing their best to be green. They collect all the food rubbish in the magic kingdom to make bio fuel which powers the buses, have a central recycling system and you can spot the Mickey Mouse shaped solar farms generating electricity dotted between parks. Also they have pledged to keep a third of the land they own as natural green land never to be built on.

Summary 

Whilst it is important that we avoid pointless carbon emissions and limit travel where we can it is still important to get out and explore this planet.

Everyday can be a learning day and there is nothing like immersing yourself in another country or culture to grow as a person.

Just make sure to always be thinking of the consequences of your actions-both large and small-and make good decisions.

How will you make your holiday greener this year? Let me know in the comments below!