How to travel more responsibly: Your complete guide to low-carbon travel

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Travel is the only thing you buy that truly makes your richer, but it does has a cost on the planet. The good news? Small, conscious choices can make a big difference. Here is your practical guide to reducing your impact, from the moment you pack your bag to the day you return home.

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Before you go

1. Choose your destination wisely : The further the destination, the bigger the impact. Extraordinary experiences can be right next door, so consider exploring closer to home before booking that long-haul flight. And when you do travel far, stay longer to make the journey worthwhile.

2. Pick your transport carefully : Transport is often the single biggest contributor to a trip's carbon footprint. A few key things to keep in mind:

• Train or coach are among the least polluting options, so always prefer them when possible.
• Carpooling beats flying so share the ride.
• If you travel by boat, opt for smaller, more efficient vessels.
• Avoid flying where a train connection exists.

3. Travel outside peak season : Avoid tourist hotspots at their busiest. Travelling off-season reduces overtourism, supports local economies more evenly, and often leads to far more authentic experiences.

4. Travel longer, especially when you fly. Spreading your emissions over more days through slow travel makes each day of your trip significantly less carbon-intensive.

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During your trip

5. Eat local, eat smart : Food's impact can increase significantly while travelling, due to restaurants, buffets and imported products. To reduce it:

• Eat local and seasonal
• Reduce animal proteins (Did you know? A vegetarian diet emits up to 4x less than a varied one.) If you eat meat, ask where it comes from and opt for local, labelled products.
• Bring your own water bottle to avoid single-use plastic.
• Avoid and sort waste wherever you can.

6. Choose your accommodation wisely : The impact of accommodation varies significantly by country, depending on how energy is produced locally. As a general rule, the more luxurious the accommodation, the higher the footprint. Pools, spas and large installations all add up. To reduce your impact:

• Choose smaller, locally-owned establishments that use local resources more efficiently.
• Consider lower-impact options such as camping, guesthouses or eco-lodges.
• Look for commited accommodations or with a recognised green label such as Green Key, which distinguishes over 8.000 locations worldwide.
• Once there: keep your towels for multiple days, turn off lights and appliances when you leave the room, and don't waste water as it is a precious and often scarce resource.

7. Be mindful of your activities : What you do on holiday matters too!

• Avoid flying activities such as helicopter tours, scenic flights or hot air balloons.
• Embrace non-motorised activities such as hiking, cycling, kayaking, museum visits. The activity itself has no carbon impact and are great for your health too.
• Respect the local ecosystem. Don't touch corals when diving, don't feed or touch animals, and don't pick flowers.
• Respect and embrace local culture by buying local handicrafts rather than mass-produced souvenirs, and supporting local markets and restaurants.

8. Reduce your waste on the go

• Choose reusable items and avoid single-use plastics.
• Never leave waste in nature or elsewhere.
• If you're a smoker, carry a pocket ashtray. A cigarette butt takes years to decompose and is highly toxic.
• Sort your waste where facilities allow.

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After your trip

9. Keep the habits going : Sustainable travel doesn't stop when you get home. Continue applying what you've learned and share your tips to inspire those around you. Together, we are stronger.

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👉 Calculate your travel impact and contribute here

For companies: reduce the impact of business travel

Travel-related emissions are often one of the largest contributors to a company's carbon footprint. Here is how to act on it:

• Replace air travel with video conferencing wherever possible . You'll save time, money and emissions.
• Promote low-carbon transport for both business trips and commuting. Inform employees about the real emissions of different transport modes. Not just flights, but also daily commutes and company cars.
• Reward employees who make low-carbon choices.
• Choose green-certified venues and hotels for events and business trips.
• Support certified climate projects to act on the unavoidable business travel emissions.
• Measure your full carbon footprint: not just business trips, also operational emissions. Set concrete reduction targets.

👉 Are you a travel professional ? Discover our climate solutions, specifically designed for the travel industry.

👉 If you're not in the travel industry but want to act on your business trips' impact. We also got you covered!

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The golden rule of responsible travel: leave every place exactly as you found it or better !

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