October 2020

We no longer travel to faraway places only during the summer holidays; we travel whenever our time allows.
This pleasure harms the environment in many aspects; animals are abused for our entertainment, and tourism is not always beneficial to all regions and their inhabitants.

However, there are ways to travel more sustainably. This manual entry introduces you to the basic “how-tos” and provides first ideas and inspiration to help you get started.

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM?

When we at TCC talk about sustainable travelling and tourism, we mean environmentally friendly travel. This means travelling activities that harm the environment as little as possible.

TRAVEL PREPARATION - BEFORE TRAVELLING

To make a good decision about planning your holiday, finding out what you expect from your trip and what you want to do on-site is essential.
To help you make the right and most sustainable choice, we have compiled a catalogue of questions to ask yourself before planning your trip.

• What is the purpose of my holiday, trip, travel?
  → If it is recreation, isn’t it more relaxing to go somewhere near?
  → If it is shopping, don’t I get those things in a nearby city or order online?
  → If it is culture, isn’t there also a cultural ‘hotspot’ in my city, area, or country?
  → If it is volunteering, can’t you volunteer at an organisation nearby?

• Transport - How can I get to my destination in a (more) sustainable way?

• Offers - Is a destination closer to my city offering the same or similar landscape, culture, activities, etc.?

• Timeslot - Does travelling that far for a short getaway make sense?

Here are some helpful links to help you decide on a holiday type: workaway.info, interrrail.eu, volunteerworld.com, or gooverseas.com.

STAYCATION - HOW TO

Let’s begin imagining staying home during your holidays: Staycation does not mean hiding in your house/flat but discovering your area or region. And, strategically organise your staycation:

• Commit to unplugging,

• Ensure everybody knows you take a break from work and put an out-of-office notification into your calendar.

• Follow a routine you usually adopt during holidays - avoid things you do in your daily work-life.

• And finally, grab your bike and explore your surroundings.

sustainable, eco-friendly destinations & accommodations

Where do you find sustainable and eco-friendly destinations & accommodations? To help you get started, here are some providers listing sustainable and eco-friendly destinations or accommodations: earthcheck.org, greendestinations.org, and gstcouncil.org. Plus, check the official EU tourist accommodation catalogue ec.europa.eu for eco-friendly places.

PROVIDER

Consider responsible travel websites that help you check your trip for eco-friendliness.
Here are some for your inspiration: bookdifferent.com, thegreenwall.com, ecobnb.com, ecohotels.com, travganic.com, goodwings.com, viabono.de (G)

ACCOMMODATION

Here is how to support the local community when staying overnight:

• Peer-to-peer sharing platforms:
  Check out platforms like Eco BnB for rental apartments or Couchsurfing. Always double-check to ensure this accommodation type does not negatively impact housing rent in the city/region.

• Family-owned hotels.

• Special local initiatives include the Austrian farmholidays.com

• Camping or glamping. Glamping is camping in comfortable tents or bungalows with some of the comforts and luxuries in hotels.

sustainable luggage

• Could you lend your luggage, if yours is not suitable sice-wise? Some companies offer luggage for rent, such as koffermieten.de (G), Erento, Rentluggage or other sharing platforms such as fairleihen.de (G).
  Check the web for offers in your country or region.

• If you want to purchase new luggage, opt for sustainable brands. Here are some brands to help you get started: verenabellutti.com, patagonia.com, ethnotek.com, vaude.com, greengurugear.com, chicobag.com, upcycling-deluxe.com, milchmeer.de (G).

PACKING LIST

Always pack light. This habit impacts the environment since less weight means less energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
Always work with a packing list. It helps us avoid forgetting anything and over-purchasing/ buying items we discard after our trip. Here is your sustainable packing list to help you get started:

BEAUTY - Bring your cosmetics in small, reusable containers. If you need to refill, consider buying Sustainable Personal Care Products → to ensure your cosmetics were not tested on animals, do not contain any harmful substances and do not contribute extra waste.

FASHION - The most sustainable clothing items are those that you already own. If you need to buy new ones, consider choosing second-hand items or opt for sustainable brands. Check out our manual entries on Sustainable Fashion Brands → for more details.

SWIMWEAR - For sustainable swimwear, take what you have, get it second-hand or check out brands like: Adalù, Anekdot, Bluebuck, Boochen, Inaska Swimwear, Ipanii, Laara Swim, Patagonia, Riz, Stay Wild Swim, Stidston Studio, Underprotection, Undersea Wear, Vanilla Sand, Vinnia, Wearenativ, Woodlike Ocean.

FOOD - Before taking off, consider downloading apps that help you spot sustainable restaurants on the way to your destination and on-site. Here are some apps to help you start: How to Spot Sustainable Restaurants →.
Always bring some snacks, such as dried fruits, nuts and bars, to ensure you have something at hand.

REUSABLE CONTAINERS - Bring your containers for food and liquids. Some food boxes can even be folded up, saving you luggage space.

• A reusable drinking bottle.

• A reusable container for food.

• A Reusable (Shopping) Bags →.

• A couple of recyclable litter bags.

Check our manual entry on Reusables → to find providers and brands.

OFFSET YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT

First, avoid CO₂ emissions, i.e. don’t travel by aeroplane. Further, consider the following:

• Travel as environmentally friendly as possible, using as little fuel as possible.

• Compensate your CO₂ Emissions → and Offset → what you can’t avoid.

• Use a so-called Carbon Footprint Calculator → to determine how much fuel you will use for your planned trip.

transportation

Here's how you can reduce your transport emissions with simple measures.

CAR

• When going by car, avoid peak travel times. Travelling on off-peak days can prevent you from hitting congested highways.

• To overcome longer distances, strap your bike to the roof of your car. Or even better, take the train to cover longer distances faster and make smaller bike tours on the spot.

• Offer your ride as a carpool.

Find more details in our manual entry, The Sustainable Car →.

PLANE

Here are some aspects to take into consideration when travelling by plane:

• Ask yourself: “Do I need to go by plane?” Reduce and avoid flying, especially on short distances.

• One option is taking one long vacation rather than two short ones or flying to one destination and staying.

• Consider travelling with “eco-friendly” airlines or airlines which at least “claim” to care for the environment. Check out platforms such as glooby.com to find more sustainable flights.

• Choose dayflights. “The pollution emitted on night flights has a more detrimental impact on the climate.” (Adam, 2006)

• Fly nonstop and avoid multiple hops.

• For distances below 600 miles, taking a train, bus, or driving is much more efficient.

• Fly economy - The business class is usually between two and three times as energy-intensive as the economy class.

TRAIN

Here are some aspects to take into consideration when travelling by train: 

• Go by interrail and use the train for short distances and within Europe. 

• Go check out travel providers specialising in travel around the globe by rail, such as German providers seat61.com or gleisnost.de (G).

BUS

Cheap tickets, WiFi, and mobile booking apps, such as busbud.com or toomanyadapters.com, make bus transportation attractive.

boat, ferry, cruise

• Go sailing, use the wind and renewable energy as propulsion and make the journey your destination. There are many varied offers, whether alone, with friends or family, in the Caribbean or the Baltic Sea. If you have a sailing licence, charter a boat, or enjoy luxury sailing and catering in a floating private hotel, sailing trips with tour groups are also possible. Swimming stops, island hopping, hikes, sightseeing - there are no limits to your preferences. Browse the web for offers.

• There are no genuinely sustainable cruise chips. For more sustainable options check the Cruise Ship Report Card compiled by foe.org.

• If you want to travel to a place far away, a train is no option, but if you don't want to fly, consider travelling by cargo ship. It's cheaper and takes longer, but it is more sustainable. Travellers on cargo ships also have their rooms, beds, and toilets. They eat what the workers eat.

BIKE

Bicycling does not emit CO₂; you do something good for your health and can decelerate because you set the pace.

BIKE TOURS - The Netherlands and northern European countries are attractive target markets for cycling tourism. Browse the web for great picks of pedal-powered tours for riders of all abilities. Here are some tour providers and organisations to help you get started - Bike Tours, Europe Bike Tours, and German Cycling Club (G).

E-BIKES - Consider trying an e-bike to make a broader range of destinations accessible by bike.

Learn more about The Sustainable Bike →.

transportation on-site

Here are a few thoughts on how to move around on-site sustainably.

• Take a walk. You have time to realise and enjoy your environment - consider going to your destination.

• Bring your bike. If you are travelling from further away, strap it onto the car's roof. Many trains offer extra compartments to transport your bike. You are not going to bring your bike?
  Browse the web and check if you can rent a bike on-site.

• What about public transport? Is there a subway, tram or bus system?

• Car sharing is also an option. 

• Are you in a larger group? Then rent a car and make sure that it has low fuel consumption.

EATING & DRINKING

Here is what to consider when feasting or just getting a snack while travelling.

EATING OUT

Here are some rules of thumb to remember when eating out and Choosing Dishes →:

• Opt for restaurants offering local dishes.

• Prefer vegetarian or vegan restaurants/dishes.

Here is How to Spot Sustainable Restaurants → & what to watch out for when ordering your dish.

to-go food & drinks

• Avoid Food Waste →.

• Avoid Packaging Waste → by using Reusable Containers & Bottles →. If you take leftover food from the restaurant, you have a snack for the road if it takes longer to find the next restaurant.

• Opt for vegetarian and vegan dishes, as Animal Welfare → in food production is difficult to consider as a tourist.

• If you cannot drink tap water, ask the restaurant if they can fill water from water canisters into the bottle you brought.
  Learn more about Sustainable Beverages → and how to enjoy your refreshments sustainably.

SOUVENIRS

When shopping for souvenirs, make sure the items are not mass-produced.
Go for local handcrafts instead and opt for Sustainable Gifts →. Here is how to get there:

previous souvenir shopping

To get started, consider how you have bought souvenirs so far to optimise your future shopping.

• What did you buy for yourself or others?

• Are you or the donees wearing, using, or enjoying the items you bought?

• Which items, if any, ended up in the trash, the back of a closet, or a charity box?

• Did you eat and drink the edible products you purchased and brought home?

future souvenir shopping

From now on, ask yourself the following questions, before deciding for a souvenir:

• Did the items cause harm to the environment in their manufacture?
  → Opt for natural, organic, zero or low-carbon options from sustainable and non-polluting sources.

• Has producing the items exploited workers or put them in harm's way?
  → Opt for purchases that funnel back the earnings to improve the lives of local people and the community.

• Have the items harmed wildlife or other animals or derived from endangered species? For example, items include tortoise-shell, ivory, coral, rosewood and seashell products.
  → Opt for items that instead support local wildlife and ecosystems.

• Is the item derived from cultural non-renewable sources? Always avoid artefacts or stones from Greek archaeological marvels, pieces of the Berlin Wall or any other artefacts from similarly solemn sites. 
  → Take pictures and don’t leave traces, instead.  

• Is the item made from materials that do not pose a waste problem at the end of their (ideally) useful lives?
  → Opt for items that you/the donee needs/wants.

THE PERFECT SOUVENIR

What to shop for?
Only take items that the recipient/the presentee needs.

• Prefer consumables, like foods, as preserves or drinks.

• Opt for traditional items.

• Choose locally-produced items.

• Watch out for items from natural or other sustainable materials, such as recycled or upcycled fibres.

Here are some more concrete ideas:

• Natural & organic honey, preserves, wines and other food and drink items.

• Natural & organic plant fibre clothing/textiles.

• Woven baskets and other similar locally made craft items.

• Items crafted using traditional skills.

• Hand-crafted jewellery (especially ones which use natural or reclaimed materials).

• Hand-made pottery, ceramic items or wooden items.

• Upcycled items that use materials that would otherwise have been thrown away.

If you are in doubt, send a postcard if the souvenir you chose was made locally. Browse the web and check online providers to upload your photos and send them as a greeting card.

tours & holiday activities

Especially when choosing your activities, choose only serious, considerate and environmentally friendly offers. Here are the rules of thumb:

• Take pictures only.

• Pick local tour operators. Local operators know the location and can show you places and features nobody knows.

• Check out the wilderness community “Leave No Trace”, lnt.org, which promotes intangible memories that means “no touching”, but focussing on sights, smells, and sounds instead. set up some principles reminding us to respect and care for our wild areas and do our part to preserve and protect them as we enjoy them.

ANIMAL-CONSIDERATE ENTERTAINMENT

LEARN MORE

Check our sources: Bibliography →