As we head into Memorial Day weekend and, with it, the onset of summer, it’s time to take a look at how you travel and whether you are an Eco Warrior or Eco Disaster when you are on the road and/or flying the friendly skies.
Vacations are wonderful for relaxing and recharging, as well as seeing new places near and far, but they are also a time when some people lose their heads environmentally. Luckily, the Eco Women have some EASY tips for you to keep your Eco Warrior status while you travel:
Don’t buy small travel sizes of your toiletries. Instead, buy reusable travel bottles and fill them with your shampoo, lotion, and whatnot. Recycla has been using the same travel bottles for 15 years and they’ll probably last forever.- Before you leave home, if you have air conditioning, bump up the temperature a few degrees because there’s no reason to cool an empty house.
Instead of eating McCrap while you’re on the road (or in the sky), plan ahead and pack good food. If you’re going by car, fill some reusable grocery bags and your cooler with fruit, cut veggies, nuts, sandwiches, cheese and crackers, etc. If you’re flying to your destination, you can still put some snacks on your carry-on bag. And don’t buy food in single-serving packaging! Instead, buy the larger packaging and put your snacks in reusable containers — they’ll come in handy for the rest of your vacation.- And it goes without saying, don’t pack or buy disposable water bottles. Tote your reusable one and refill it as necessary. If you’re going through airport security, leave your bottle empty and then fill it at the food court or water fountain afterward.
Pack a small folded shopping bag for the inevitable souvenir purchases you’ll make while you’re gone. Recycla forgot to pack one for a trip to London two years ago, so early in the trip she stopped at a Marks & Spencer and bought a bag to carry her groceries. This turned out to be one of her favorite reusable shopping bags and now she uses it almost every day.- Depending on where you are going, you might not need to rent a car. If you’re traveling to a large city, use public transportation or even your own two feet to get around. If you do rent a car, don’t get the gas hog — go for the smaller more fuel-efficient vehicle.
Are you staying in a hotel? If so, now is not the time to be wasteful. Don’t use the little soaps and shampoos just because they are there. Many hotels now give guests the option of not having their linens and towels replaced daily — do it! Find out if your hotel has recycling bin for newspapers, soda cans, etc.- You’ll need to eat while you’re on vacation. Stay away from fast food restaurants and other places that sell McCrap. Instead, find good local restaurants — bonus points if they serve only local foods. There are quite a few websites that help you find restaurants that serve organic and/or local foods, including Organic Highways and the Organic Food Database. For lunches and snacks, visit the market and stock up on your day’s supplies — fresh fruits, flavorful local cheeses, melt-in-your mouth breads. Fill your water bottle and you’ll be set.
So those are the easy things you can do. If you want to be a truly committed Eco Warrior, buy carbon offsets from a place like TerraPass.
Tell the Eco Women: Where are you going this summer and what kind of Eco Warrior will you be when you travel?
Well let’s see, I went to the Grand Canyon earlier this month and I see Mt. Rushmore pretty much Monday – Friday all year ’round. I’ll be heading to Yellowstone in a few weeks and I just got back from Rocky Mountain National Park. But that’s work, not play. (Oh fine, we play a little while we’re there. How could you not?)
We’re heading to California for my sister-in-law’s wedding this summer. And maybe to the east coast this fall for some color watching.
Another tip I’d add is to actively seek out companies who are committed to the environment. B&B’s that have gardens and use green cleaners. Hotel chains that have full EMSs. (Env. Management Systems). Most lodging companies now brag about their environmental commitment on their website. But don’t be afraid to call up and grill them for details. Look for 3rd party certifications (like ISO14001, LEED, and state green lodging groups). And don’t forget if you’re going to buy souvenirs, look for environmentally friendly ones – t-shirts that are organic or recycled material, local handicrafts, and local treats (preserves, candy, etc) are all super popular with our guests. Plus the local treats are awful gosh darn yummy.
How about this? Take a trip to a National Park. Turn off the tv (some park hotels don’t even have tvs), the cell phones, the iPods, the game systems, (think of the energy savings!) and get out and enjoy some of the most beautiful places on Earth. Watching kids marvel at baby bison playing in a meadow, or hearing a family recount their adventure hiking a trail to a hidden waterfall are some of the most rewarding parts of my job.
I’m on my way out of town and used your checklist–check check!