How to Travel While Reducing Your Ecological Footprint

The ecological footprint, an important indicator measuring the impact of human activities on the environment, in terms of the amount of natural resources required to sustain our lifestyle, is particularly under pressure when we travel, whether for business or pleasure. Yet, precisely when traveling, we can all, and always, do something that actually means, simply and thoughtfully, reducing our consumption of natural resources.

Travel, and not just vacation, is almost always a choice of freedom. The way we organize and experience it also determines the contribution—both tangible and virtual—we can make to tourism and sustainable mobility, that is, to behaviors that are more respectful and beneficial to the environment and to people. The means of transport, the luggage, the places to sleep, the restaurants for lunches and dinners: they are all pieces of a mosaic that each of us can compose, according to our own tastes and desires, under the banner of sustainability, avoiding unnecessary and harmful waste during travel. But when calculating what we call our "ecological footprint," choices that involve the most personal aspects of our lifestyle also play a role: the desire for silence, the slow pace to truly enjoy the pleasures of travel, and respect for the local communities we encounter.

Index of topics

The means of transport

We all know that trains and buses, for the same route, have significantly lower CO2 emissions than airplanes. So why not use them as your first choice for travel, in terms of mobility, whenever possible without significant inconvenience? The same goes for trips to islands and seaside destinations: sometimes using a ferry or ship (think of overnight trips) is more appealing and pleasant than a quick plane or even a hydrofoil, and has a smaller carbon footprint. Choices like these are also part of the truly sustainable mobility.

How to get around holiday destinations

The same applies to mobility in the place we've chosen as our travel destination. Where public transportation exists, perhaps electric (in small tourist towns this is often the norm), let's use it for our travels. And let's remember that the bicycle, like a simple walk, they are synonymous with good health and psycho-physical well-being.

The light luggage

Traveling from one place to another without a slew of suitcases, as if it were the 19th century when a journey of a few hundred kilometers took weeks, if not months, offers at least two advantages. First, it lowers costs, considering that all airlines now charge a premium for luggage. Second, the trip is more convenient and less likely to experience unexpected inconveniences. Traveling with a hand luggage, light and roomy, when you take a plane, for example, you avoid waiting at the baggage drop-off carousels in airports and the risk of "lost luggage".

Where to sleep

We have at our disposal, everywhere in the world and in particular in Italy, a truly infinite network of accommodations, first of all Bed and Breakfast and agritourism, some of which are even certified, which can boast various sustainable practices. They run on renewable energy, have plenty of outdoor green spaces and a vegetable garden for self-production, and offer typical local, zero-kilometer products. If, however, we're staying in a traditional hotel, regardless of star rating or category, it's important to make small, crucial changes to our trip's environmental footprint: always turn off the room lights and don't leave the air conditioning on when you leave, use water and towels wisely, without excessive deprivation, but also without waste, which is easy to avoid.

Where to eat

A good habit for sustainable travel is to indulge in local cuisine, without forcing it, such as choosing menus completely out of step with the season of your vacation. Here too, there's no sacrifice on the horizon: there's no city, town, or village, in any region of Italy or anywhere in the world, where you can't enjoy a healthy, enjoyable meal, using typical local products, and without suffering the drain of an unjustified bill.

Little waste

At the seaside or in the mountains, in the countryside or in the hills, the golden rule of sustainable tourism is to reduce waste, and pay close attention to where it is deposited. We are all aware of the damage caused by plastic waste, even a simple cotton swab or a bottle of mineral water, when they end up in the sand, on the seabed, or along a mountain path. We have no excuses or alibis of any kind that can justify a lack of attention, during the holidays, with respect to garbage collection and disposal. Travel, whether for work or pleasure, is a good opportunity to get used to reduce waste.

Silence and slowness

The true pleasure of a journey also lies in the rediscovery of what we have lost during our frenetic, and sometimes compulsive, daily life: the emotion of silence, the pleasant slowness, the calm and mastery of time to be less stressed and able to relax, enjoying all the beauties, natural, artistic and historical, that we encounter during our journey.

Respect for places

Simply put: for sustainable travel, respecting local flora and fauna, common sense is all you need. Being a strict environmentalist or a member of an association isn't essential. greens. In the mountains, follow the marked trails and avoid reckless or risky adventures; at the seaside, don't collect shells or sand where it's prohibited; in the countryside, don't trample on cultivated land, and don't pick flowers unless permitted. With all animals, both terrestrial and marine, you must keep a safe distance, without disturbing or frightening them.

Respect for local communities

When traveling, the most important discovery isn't about the places, but about the people who live in the areas where we are only paying and temporary guests. Welcoming them with empathy and curiosity, without being obsessive about taking photos and videos to post on Instagram or TikTok, treating the locals as if they were our own. souvenirs, all behaviors of travelers affected by narcissism, It means giving a more authentic and profound meaning to our sustainable journey.

How to travel while reducing your carbon footprint