9 eco-friendly things you can do on any vacation that sustainable-travel experts say add up to make a big difference

Alesandra DubinApr 3, 2023, 22:52 IST

Insider

Travel is one of life's pleasures. It also has an inevitable, often negative, impact on the planet.
But there are small things travelers can do that make a real difference, experts told Insider.
Fly coach, shop local, and avoid single-use plastics, they said.

Travel has an inevitable environmental impact.

Tourism alone is responsible for approximately 5% of all global emissions.Shutterstock/1000 Words

Travel by train instead of plane whenever possible to help out the environment.

Train travel is more eco-friendly than flying.Shutterstock/Pagina

If you do have to fly, booking a cheap flight isn't just good for the wallet, it's good for the environment.

Purchasing cheap flights indicates to airlines that there isn't strong demand, and seats will be discounted to be filled.Shutterstock/joyfull

Sitting in economy class can be uncomfortable, but it's actually better for the environment than premium cabins.

Flying in economy class means taking up less space, weight, and resources on a plane.Shutterstock/Try_my_best

Avoid single-use disposable plastics when you travel, from hotel toiletries to on-the-go water bottles.

Bringing your own toiletries in refillable cases helps reduce waste.Shutterstock/Vadim Zakharishchev

Only book accommodations that are proven to care about the environment.

Sustainability experts urge travelers to look online for venues' sustainability commitments, like those made by the luxury hotel group Relais & Châteaux.Shutterstock/BalkansCat

Power your own activities — like walking and biking — rather than choosing environmentally unfriendly methods that generate carbon emissions.

Human-powered activities also help you learn about a place as you move around it at a slower pace.Shutterstock/Licvin

Choosing to spend your money in local communities benefits the environment and humanity, too.

Shopping local ensures that the money you spend stays in the community.Shutterstock/MoreGallery

Eating locally sourced food isn't just a chance to experience delicacies, it's better for the planet.

Eating locally sourced, plant-based options is less taxing on the environment.Shutterstock/MikeDotta

Consider not buying trinkets that might only accumulate as clutter and take home memories instead.

Sustainability experts advise rethinking travel as an excuse for shopping.Shutterstock/Claudio Divizia

I stayed in a $600-a-night suite with perfect views of Disney World's nightly fireworks, and it's the best hotel room on the property

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