It’s no secret that air travel is bad for the environment. However, flying is pretty non-negotiable if you want to see the world. I mean, it’s not like I can take a train from Miami to the Maldives, is it? However, I do think it’s important to try to be as eco-friendly as possible whilst traveling to make it up to Mother Earth a little. It’s actually pretty easy to be a green traveler once you get into the habit of it; it just takes a little forethought and preparation. Here are some simple ways to be a more eco-friendly traveler.

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Choose Eco-Friendly Accomodation 

I absolutely love staying in eco-friendly hotels. I’m a huge fan of wellness travel, and I favor retreats which make a conscious effort to conserve the environment – after all, what’s good for the planet is ultimately good for us all. One of the things I loved the most about my stay at Soneva Fushi in the Maldives was learning about how hard the team work to make the resort eco-friendly. By choosing an eco-friendly resort, rather than somewhere that guzzles water and fossil fuels like there’s no tomorrow, you can really up your sustainability. 

Reuse Towels 

Admittedly, this is a fairly well-known eco hack by now, but try to reuse the towels in your hotel and only request new ones when you really need them. Washing and laundering towels uses a huge amount of resources, so by being conscious of this you can really help to reduce your carbon footprint during your trip. 

Take Your Own Toiletries 

We all love delightful hotel miniatures but they generate a lot of plastic waste. Taking your own toiletries on a trip helps to cut down on single-use plastic and means that less miniatures will end up in the ocean. It’s a small sacrifice in the grand scheme of things. Check out this post for my favorite salon-worthy hair products.

Offset Your Carbon Footprint

Offsetting your carbon footprint means funding a program which saves the equivalent amount of carbon generated by your flight elsewhere. Many airlines already have programs in place which allow you to do this, or you can check out the following websites: 

• CarbonFootprint.com
• Native Energy
• Sustainable Travel International 

Say “No” to Airplane Headphones 

There’s a lot of single-use plastic involved in airplane travel. Have you ever stopped to think about what happens to those free headphones once you arrive in your destination? They’re often treated as trash and subsequently end up in landfill. Besides, using your own earphones is so much more comfortable and you’ll enjoy better sound quality, too. You can buy airplane headphone jacks very cheaply and this small purchase can really help to make you into a more eco-friendly traveler when you fly long haul. 

Bring Your Own Mask

Like it or not, masks are just part of life now – and it’s likely to stay that way for quite some time. Airlines and many hotels give out disposable masks but you can cut down on waste by bringing your own. There are plenty of comfortable and stylish masks out there, and this is an easy way to be a more eco-friendly traveler. 

If you struggle with mask acne, check out this blog post for help. 

Pack Reusable Shopping Bags 

Many countries have actually banned the use of single-use plastic bags but if your destination hasn’t, I recommend bringing some reusable shopping bags with you for spontaneous purchases when you’re out and about. 

Avoid Red Meat

Avoiding red meat on your trip is one way to help balance out your carbon footprint. It’s estimated that livestock accounts for 14.5% of all greenhouse gas emissions – as much as all forms of transport combined – and beef is by far the largest contributor. I’d say go plant-based but this isn’t realistic for everyone and it can actually be very difficult to find vegetarian food in certain destinations, such as Vietnam. However, avoiding red meat is pretty easy to do and it really makes a difference to planet Earth. 

If you enjoyed this article you might also enjoy these easy ways to boost your immune system or this guide to the best travel credit cards.