With thousands of ways to consume mindfully, switching up your daily routine to create a more sustainable lifestyle is easier than you think, even while traveling locally. From buying plastic-free products to using public transport or organizing a carpool to work, consuming less helps you live greener, and happier.
Green living is definitely achievable when you’re at home, but how can you apply the same eco-friendly mindset when you travel? The easiest way to reduce the impact of your adventures on the natural environment is to travel locally. Why should we travel locally when there are so many exciting places around the world we could visit? The answer is simple, stay local and leave a lighter footprint that’s better for the planet.
Here are a few benefits travelers can enjoy when switching from long-haul to local destinations:
Reduce the Carbon Cost of Your Adventures
Did you know that flight emissions make up the majority of your vacation’s carbon footprint? In fact, one study suggested that taking a long-haul flight generates more carbon emissions than citizens of some countries produce in a whole year. That’s a pretty shocking statistic to swallow if you love to explore foreign destinations, but perhaps it’s time to shift our perspective on what we expect from travel?
How can you become a more sustainable traveler? Cut the need for a flight from your itinerary and you’ve already made a massive reduction in the impact of your trip on the environment—here are other key ways to reduce your air travel carbon footprint.
Spend Less on Your Trips
Throw your favorite travel essentials in a lightweight, packable duffel and choose to road trip with friends or take a train to your destination and you could spend a lot less on your trips. Without the cost of a flight eating away at your savings, you could instantly reduce the cost of your time away and maximize your budget to spend on things like activities and accommodation.
Travel More Often
With more of your travel savings set aside to experience the places you visit, you could find that you have the budget to travel more often or even to extend the length of time you’re away. Instead of shorter trips to far-flung locations, enjoy relaxed local breaks that allow you to make the most of your time off. You’ll also be able to travel better and maximize your packing capacity to accommodate items you wouldn’t be able to travel with otherwise, like camping kit and food provisions.
Support Your Local Economy
In a time when everything is available to buy online, it’s never been more important to support your local economy. Just as reducing food miles by buying local produce is a great way to consume mindfully at home, spending your travel dollars at local eco-tourism destinations means that you’re investing your cash in your local economy and benefiting families and businesses close to home.
Limit Travel Time and Reduce Stress
One of the great advantages of staying local is that you reduce the time it takes to get to your destination. There’s no need to spend time in airport departures lounges, sit uncomfortably for hours in the middle seat, worry about where to put your stash waist bag while in transit, or navigate foreign public transport networks to get to where you need to be. Choosing a location within a couple of hours drive or just a few stops away on the train, means that you can spend more time at your destination.
Explore Your Own Backyard
We’re all guilty of coveting vacations in exotic locations, but there’s a lot to be said for exploring your own backyard. With more time and money to spend on your trip you’ll be better equipped to immerse yourself in the local culture, and revisit places to discover more of the locations you’ve really enjoyed.
Choose to travel more sustainably and reduce the carbon cost of your adventure by traveling locally this summer. Looking for eco-friendly travel luggage to take with you? Shop our sustainable range of EveryStep bags now.
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