GOING GREEN
68 wanderlust.co.ukMarch 2020Choose an eco-friendly
destination
When planning your journey let
your conscience be your guide;
choose somewhere with a green
ethos. Do your research. Is there
a public transport system, a cycle
network, local food markets or
volunteer programmes? There
are an increasing number of
destinations working to become
more eco-friendly.
In 2016, France became the
irst country in the world to
announce a total ban on the
manufacture and sale of single-use
plastic cups, cutlery, plates and
takeaway boxes by 2020. Finland’s
‘Be more like a Finn’ campaign
and New Zealand’s ‘Tiaki Promise’
both encourage
visitors to make
a pledge to respect
the country’s
nature, culture
and inhabitants
during their
stay. Meanwhile,
Iceland’s ‘Kranavatn
Challenge’ gave
the country’s tap
water a luxury
branding to give
people an incentive
to save on plastic
bottled water
and drink running
water instead.
Unfortunately,
though, the more
a destination is
promoted, the
more people tend
to lock to it. In
order to avoid
overburdening
popular places, try
to buck the trend or
travel out of season.TOP TIP
It may not save
a huge amount
but rather than
printing your
airline ticket, why
not go paper-
free and use the
boarding pass on
your phone?Eco-proof your home
Make sure your home isn’t wasting
energy while you’re away. Unplug
all your electronics – just not
your fridge or freezer – or ensure
switches are o. You can also turn
down the thermostat as there’s
no point keeping the temperature
high while you’re not around. If you
have a newspaper
or magazine
delivered to your
house, why not
suspend the
service for the
time you’re away
to save on paper
and delivery?
Finally, make sure
you’ve recycled
everything. If
you’re packing
new toiletries or
medication, leave
any packaging
at home. Land
waste in foreign
countries can be
problematic so
it’s best to reduce
the amount of
waste you produce
abroad. It may
not be as easy to
recycle overseas
as it is in the UK
and you don’t want
to add to a land ill.
BEFORE YOU GO
There’s plenty you can do to help o set the e ects of your travel
before you even leave the house – from reducing energy waste in
your home to what to pack and where you choose to go...
Pack light
The heavier planes and trains are,
the more fuel they use, so why not
lend a helping hand by only taking
what’s necessary. When laying out
your clothes, think about how you can
adapt outits to wear again. Take a
reusable water bottle and co ee cup,
as well as recyclable shopping bags.
Packing your toiletry bag is key,
too. Reduce plastic waste by taking
a bamboo toothbrush. Decant
products such as shampoo and
conditioner into reusable bottles to
save on plastic or – even better – use
a shampoo bar. If you do have to
take liquids in plastic bottles, take
them home afterwards to reuse.
Try to ensure all your products
are biodegradable and check your
sunscreen is reef safe so you’re not
polluting the environment.