Small Actions That Help the Environment While You Travel

Actions that help the environment during your trip are essential to ensuring that the world's natural and cultural wonders remain intact for future generations.

Traveling is an enriching experience, but it can also be a destructive force if not done responsibly.

By 2025, as post-pandemic tourism surges, the pressure on fragile ecosystems has never been greater.

According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the sector is responsible for 8% of global CO₂ emissions, a number that only grows. But change starts with small gestures.

Is it possible to explore the world without leaving a trail of destruction? The answer is yes. From your choice of transportation to your daily habits at your destination, every decision matters.

This guide shows you how to travel sustainably, without sacrificing comfort or adventure.

The Impact of Tourism and the Importance of Small Choices

Mass tourism has already caused irreversible damage in places like Venice, where too many visitors have accelerated the erosion of canals, and in Bali, where plastic waste suffocates paradisiacal beaches.

But all is not lost. Actions that help the environment during your trip, when multiplied by millions of travelers, can reverse this scenario.

A study from the University of Sydney showed that if only 30% of tourists refuse plastic straws, 1.5 billion units would stop polluting the oceans annually.

Practical example: In Iceland, the movement “Inspired by Iceland” encourages visitors to follow official trails, avoiding degradation of sensitive volcanic soil. Result? Less erosion and more preservation.

Transportation: How to Get Around with a Smaller Carbon Footprint

Airplanes are responsible for 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions, according to IATA. If you can't avoid them, choose direct flights – takeoffs and landings consume more fuel.

Trains are the most environmentally friendly option. In Europe, the high-speed rail network emits up to 90% less CO₂ per passenger than an equivalent flight. Companies like Eurostar already operate with 100% renewable energy.

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For local commuting, bicycles and public transport are ideal. Cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen have exemplary cycling infrastructure, reducing congestion and pollution.

Sustainable Accommodation: Actions that help the environment during your trip

The hotel industry consumes 150 liters of water per guest/day, according to Green Lodging News.

Reducing this number is simple: reuse towels and sheets, turn off the air conditioning when you go out and choose hotels with ecological certification.

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O Soneva Fushi, in the Maldives, is a shining example. In addition to using solar energy, the resort turns organic waste into compost and recycles 100% plastic consumed.

Family-run guesthouses and ecovillages are also great alternatives. In Costa Rica, Lapa Rios Ecolodge protects 400 hectares of rainforest while offering luxury accommodation.

Conscious Eating (actions that help the environment during your trip)

Food production accounts for 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Choosing local and seasonal dishes reduces this impact.

In Lisbon, the restaurant Zero Waste Lab serves meals made with ingredients that would otherwise be discarded, combating waste. In Brazil, the movement “Real Food” values small rural producers.

Bring a sustainable kit: reusable water bottle, bamboo cutlery and cloth bag.

In countries like Germany, supermarkets charge for plastic packaging, encouraging conscious consumption.

Respect for Wildlife: Tourism without Exploitation

Activities like elephant trekking in Thailand or swimming with whale sharks in the Philippines seem harmless, but they cause chronic stress to the animals.

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Prefer ethical sanctuaries, such as Elephant Nature Park, in northern Thailand, where animals are rescued and live in the wild. In South Africa, photographic safaris have replaced hunting in many reserves.

Green Technology: Tools for a Sustainable Traveler

Applications such as:

• Ecosia (search that plants trees)
• HappyCow (vegan and vegetarian restaurants)
• Refill My Bottle (free water points)

facilitate effortless eco-friendly travel.

Conscious Consumption: Avoiding Waste When Traveling

Waste of resources is one of the biggest villains of modern tourism.

A UN report estimates that hotels discard 1.3 billion tons of food per year – an amount that would feed all of Sub-Saharan Africa for months.

Actions that help the environment during your trip include asking for smaller portions, refusing unnecessary amenities and preferring establishments with composting policies.

In San Francisco, the Cavallo Point Lodge transforms leftovers into biogas, supplying part of its energy.

A simple strategy? Take one zero waste kit with metal straw, reusable cutlery and fabric bag.

In Japan, convenience stores have already reduced single-use plastics by 25% after pressure from conscious tourists.

Sustainable Shopping: Actions that help the environment during your trip

Typical gifts often hide serious environmental impacts. Crafts made from coral, ivory or illegally harvested wood contribute to the extinction of species.

Prefer local and ethical products. In Peru, cooperatives such as Amazonian Hands sell sustainable crafts, generating income for indigenous communities without deforestation.

Avoid industrial souvenirs. Instead of a fridge magnet made in China, how about a bottle of artisanal cachaça from Minas Gerais or a hand-beaten fabric in Morocco?

Responsible Communication: How to Promote Your Trip Without Harm

Digital influencers have already caused environmental tragedies – such as the destruction of fields of rare flowers in California by mass selfies.

If you are going to post sensitive locations, do not geotag exact coordinates. The hashtag #LeaveNoTrace went viral among backpackers, reminding us that some landscapes should remain secret.

Photographing wildlife? Keep your distance, no flash. In New Zealand, guides use zoom lenses to avoid disturbing yellow-eyed penguins, an endangered species.

Volunteering: Really Help, Not Just for Photos

“Volunteer” projects with animals often mask exploitation. Elephant orphanages in Asia, for example, may separate calves from their mothers to entertain tourists.

Search for serious institutions. Sea Turtle Conservancy, in Costa Rica, is accepting volunteers to monitor nesting sites – real work, no selfies with turtles.

Cash donations to local NGOs are sometimes more useful than unskilled labor. In Kenya, $50 buy vaccines for an entire herd of endangered giraffes.

Environmental Education: Learning That Transforms

Knowing the local ecology changes your relationship with the destination. In the Galapagos, before disembarking, everyone watches a mandatory documentary on ecosystem fragility.

Ask guides about conservation. In Norway, fishermen will teach you how wild salmon are disappearing – and point you to restaurants that only use sustainably raised fish.

Books like “The Conscious Tourist” (Elizabeth Becker) should be required reading. Did you know that an average cruise ship emits 10 times more CO₂ than an equivalent land trip?

Conclusion: Traveling is a Privilege, Preserving is a Duty

Actions that help the environment during your trip are not an obstacle, but an evolution. The tourist of the future is not one who just takes photos, but one who leaves a positive legacy.

What will your contribution be?

Final tip: Spread these ideas. When other travelers adopt actions that help the environment during your trip, the impact multiplies. Can you imagine if everyone did their part?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I offset the carbon emissions from my flight?
Several airlines offer compensation programs, such as GOL Linhas Aéreas, which invests in reforestation.

2. Are there truly sustainable destinations?
Yes! The Slovenia was elected the greenest country in the world by Green Destinations Awards.

3. Can I travel sustainably without spending more?
Absolutely. Choosing local accommodations, eating at public markets and walking are all economical and environmentally friendly options.

Enrique Medeiros Published on May 22, 2025