How To Be Green On Holiday

Everyone has a part to play when it comes to fighting the war on climate change and there are certainly ways in which we can all take steps to reduce the impact that we have on our planet.

There’s no getting away from the fact, however, that going on holiday will increase your carbon footprint in some way or other so if you’re concerned about how your next trip away will affect the environment it’s worth doing some research to find out just how you can minimise your impact in this regard.

Your choice of destination should be your first consideration as the majority of forms of transport will contribute to climate change. So choosing somewhere closer to home or that perhaps doesn’t require a flight can help you reduce your carbon footprint, sometimes quite dramatically.

You could also think about going on an eco-tourism holiday as some holiday companies out there now offer trips away that focus on sustainable development and which can help provide financial support to the communities you’re visiting.

Take a look at this article on the Daily Telegraph website featuring some of the best conservation-led places to visit around the UK if you don’t want to go too far afield.

You could, for example, visit Kudhva in Cornwall, now a disused slate quarry that has been set up to help you get closer to nature. There are tree tents to stay in and a Danish cabin, with sustainability a true priority thanks to the solar powered showers and reclaimed materials used for building parts of the site.

Or you could head off to the Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant in Northumberland, one of the most proactive hotels to be found in the UK. There’s a pesticide-free garden, bee-friendly hedgerows, bird and bat boxes to boost biodiversity, and a wildlife meadow. There’s also a dark sky observatory for when you want to look up at night.

Once you’ve decided where to go, think about how you’re going to get there and choose the most eco-friendly form of transport you can. If there’s a big group of you, what about sorting out luxury coach hire to get you to your destination or the airport so you don’t all have to drive your separate cars.

If you’re planning on flying out of the country, try and choose an airline that has a higher occupancy rate and more efficient aircraft so you know you’re doing all you can to reduce your carbon footprint. Short-haul flights may be the better option if you’re particularly concerned.

From there, it comes down to personal behaviour and what you can do to be more environmentally responsible while you’re away. Try your best to conserve water so take showers instead of baths, use refillable water bottles instead of single-use plastic, take your own reusable straw with you wherever you go and limit your energy use where you can. Recycle as much as you can while on your trip and opt for public transport instead of hiring a car if you can.