Sustainability”: it’s the word on everybody’s lips these days. We’re constantly hearing about responsible tourism, eco-lodges and waste being dumped into the ocean. The concept of “being green” has filtered down to all of us in one way or another – but how do we ensure it doesn’t become another shallow Instagram trend? It’s time we all engage seriously with the issue of sustainable travel.

What is sustainable travel?

Are you one of those people who occasionally feels guilty getting flying? You’re not alone. When I started to think more about my own carbon footprint, one issue loomed so large it ended up becoming the elephant in the room, something I couldn’t keep ignoring: how could I square my passion for travel with sustainability? On the face of it, it seemed like the answer was simply “you can’t”. However, once I took a closer look, I discovered there are a lot of ways to solve this problem.

The concept of sustainable tourism rests on three main pillars, namely:
• The ecological pillar: e.g. conserving the natural environment of the destination you visiting
• The economic pillar: e.g. supporting local businesses there
• The social pillar: e.g. supporting cultural projects there

Here is how you can put that practice into action on your own travels.

The ecological pillar: consider your impact on the environment

Planes are a major issue when it comes to the environment – the CO2 emissions per-passenger are huge. So it’s important to consider the length of your trip in relation to the distance you’re travelling. In practice, this means the further you fly, the longer you should stay there. So if you’re considering a trip to the Caribbean then you should stay for at least a fortnight rather than flying there and back in a week. Another way to minimise your environmental impact on a trip is to eat less meat when travelling – and try to cut down at home too. Intensive livestock farming is still the number one cause of CO2 emissions.

A key sustainable travel practice (which may sound really obvious but you would be surprised how many travellers still do this), is to always take all your rubbish with you. Never ever leave anything behind on a beach or on a hiking trail – pack it away and dispose of it properly later. An easy solution is to bring your own reusable flask from home instead of constantly buying plastic bottles in the supermarket. Research in advance if the tap-water is safe to drink in the country you’re visiting (fun fact: it is in Curaçao!) or look out for a water cooler in your hostel. It’s also a good idea to take old t-shirts or broken or worn out shoes home and dispose of them there. A lot of countries just burn their rubbish instead of recycling it, which is unbelievably damaging to the environment.

Another big misconception is that eco-lodges are really expensive, which is understandable given that the term is often used to beautiful luxury hotels located by sustainable beaches. Despite this, it’s actually really easy to find environmentally-friendly hostel accommodation too. If the hostel is made out of wood from the rainforest, provides meals made from locally sourced ingredients and uses electricity from solar panels then you’ve got the makings of some really great eco-accommodation.

Costa Rica: the perfect destination

Around 25% of Costa Rica’s countryside and parts of its coastline have been set aside as conservation areas for decades, meaning the country has been home to some genuinely pioneering work in the field of ecotourism. They even introduced certification in 1999, the “CRT”, that rates the country’s accommodation according to how well it conforms to the principles of sustainable development. In Costa Rica, you’ll always be within easy distance of jungle, rainforest and beaches (like other-worldly beaches), making it all the more important, even as a tourist, to protect the country’s natural landscape. Here’s how to do it.