Let’s be more responsible and make travel greener
When we talk about the environment, airlines are the first to be criticised but they are not the only culprits, as consumers we have a responsibility too. I have started to see company’s concentrate on eco and green initiatives but the environment is low down on most consumers’ requirements.
Donating to local projects
According to a new startup called ekoVenture they will donate 10% of their profit to help support the local people and places. I think this is a good idea but I do hope that they are not using the environment as a unique selling point because it is a crowded marketplace.
We all have a responsibility
Everyone has a responsibility. I am probably one of a small percentage of consumers who offsets carbon emissions. Tour operators, comparison sites and airlines should be providing an easy way for travellers to donate their carbon offsets to worthy projects.
Recently I started to add more content on the Travellerspoint travel guide because it’s helping rural impoverished communities with limited access to water. I am not perfect though and as consumers we have to be more responsible about our planet.
Flights on the environment
KLM by the time I have published this post will have flown their test flight on 50% bio fuels, a number of other airlines are currently in testing phases, and it is good to see. It’s just a shame that the air passenger duty we pay on our flights is not going to help airlines.
The Irish low cost carrier is often criticised but James Avery of FlightMapping told me “that if all the building owners, farmers, manufacturers and public transport operators followed the same cost cutting measures as Ryanair, you could probably cut CO2 emissions in half overnight”
Cruises and the impact they cause
You rarely hear about cruising and the impact on the environment. On most Caribbean cruises you have to take a flight and then cruise, this increases your carbon footprint. According to Whole Travel, cruise ships emit three times more carbon emissions than aircraft.
Eco friendly gite in France
It is good to see that holiday homeowners are aware of their role. Stu Bradley runs Le Chant d’Oiseau, a gite in the Loire Valley that has an eco policy that advises consumers about recycling waste and energy usage during their stay at the gite.
I would like to start to see more hotels creating their own policy.
Luxury hotels and the environment
Wink Lorch of Wine Travel Guides tells me that she is concerned that some hotels at the luxury end are not showing any care for environmental issues. “There’s a lack of recycling, the sheets can potentially be changed twice a day. All I ask is that they give the customer a choice to be environmentally friendly”
Travel writer, Jill Starley-Grainger recently stayed in an eco luxe hotel called the Scarlet that was surprisingly environmentally friendly; recycling, supporting the local community by using local food, training staff thoroughly on how to be green within the hotel environment, reducing waste.
Discuss your eco thoughts and experiences
So you have seen some good examples of companies and airlines being more eco (or not) what do you think; is the industry becoming more eco friendly and do you agree that consumers now have to start to becoming more aware of the impacts that tourism has on the environment.
The next time you travel be more responsible and travel greener.
This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Blog.
Let’s be more responsible and make travel greener
