Traveling sustainably to reduce your carbon footprint.
What is ecological travel, ecotourism or eco-responsible travel ?
The warmer weather is approaching, and we're already thinking about holidays. The perfect time to talk about sustainable tourism!
Like many fields such as fashion, as exemplified by our brand of eco-friendly sneakers opposite of the fast fashion, Tourism can be approached in an environmentally friendly way. This is called ecotourism.
Eco-friendly travel involves travelling while taking into account its impact on the environment. While its primary aim is to reduce the impact on ecosystems, eco-responsible travel can also be an opportunity to engage in activities related to the preservation of nature and living species.
What are the environmentally friendly means of transport? Which eco-friendly destinations should be prioritized? Which tourist activities align with the concept of ecological travel?
seasonal basketball at your feet, the COG team invites you to explore ecotourism from end to end, in all its forms.
What are some eco-friendly destinations to visit?
As we will see later, transportation represents a significant portion of a trip's ecological footprint. Considering this, choosing a nearby or not-too-distant destination is a determining factor for to make your trip an “eco-friendly” stay.
In light of this, France offers the advantage of presenting an incomparable variety of landscapes. Whether you love the mountains, the ocean, picturesque villages, or prefer the rich heritage of large cities, everyone can find what they're looking for.
THE bordering countries Countries such as Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and Italy are full of authentic places, where nature and heritage splendors are just waiting to be visited.
Portugal, a land of welcome and model making of your brand vegan shoes favorite, and a magnificent country, combining sunshine, artisanal, cultural and gastronomic riches, within easy reach of discovery.
Three key words to fully enjoy your stay while remaining in line with an eco-virtuous ethic and respect for nature: curiosity, contemplation and preservation.
Other countries close to France, not only offering a change of scenery but also exemplary in terms of environmental initiatives, include the Netherlands and Denmark, renowned for their bike-friendly culture, and their efforts to reduce carbon emissions. This opens up new perspectives on practices while also offering enjoyment. Similarly, Norway offers breathtaking landscapes and promotes environmentally friendly practices.
Do you want to explore the world beyond Europe and in ways other than documentaries, or are you not quite ready to give up flying altogether? Why not direct your trip towards a natural destination, committed to a sustainable approach? sustainable tourism ? This is the case, for example, of Costa Rica, a destination renowned for its national parks, biodiversity and ecotourism.
On the African continent, Uganda, Mauritius, Rwanda, Botswana, and the now-famous Kenya offer travelers the opportunity to discover exceptional natural environments, while contributing—both personally and financially—to their preservation through programs such as solidarity and eco-responsible tourism.
Finally, another way to travel while avoiding the temptation of shopping tourism – which is hardly in line with a model of frugality – is to visit destinations like Nepal, Iceland, and many other countries open to trekking excursions, offering you the opportunity to to experience a complete change of scenery, while reconnecting with nature.
How to reduce my carbon footprint while traveling ?
Traveling in an environmentally responsible way means planning your trip to minimize your environmental footprint. Let's take a look here. Some tips for eco-travelers being the fledglings that we are:
Prioritize environmentally friendly transportation For longer journeys, consider options like trains, carpooling, and public transportation. Cycling and walking are ideal for shorter trips and reducing your environmental impact.
Opt for environmentally conscious accommodations, Who promote recycling.
Choose activities with lower emissions and pollution levels, such as walking, cycling, hiking or any other non-motorized sporting activity.
To eat in small businesses and restaurants, offering seasonal products, local and potentially vegetarians or vegans. Find our article here. “Vegan from plate to toe”.
Reduce your plastic consumption by using reusable and/or recycled items. Minimize waste by adopting anti-waste consumption habits.
Avoid the systematic purchase of gifts and souvenirs, to prefer the story of the trip during the reunion with loved ones. If necessary, ensure the origin, composition, and method of manufacture of gifts, giving preference to natural products and ethics.
Finally, controlling one's tendency to immortalize and share every moment of one's trip on social media in photos and videos helps to reduce one's digital carbon footprint and the pollution that this causes.
What are the most ecological means of transport for traveling ?
The joy of packing your bag and setting off on an adventure! While a journey always begins with the trip itself, several transportation options are available; but not all are equally environmentally friendly. Let's explore this together.
The train is certainly the most environmentally friendly high-speed transport solution. Regarding land travel, it significantly reduces CO2 emissions compared to cars or planes. It is considered to be more than 50 times less emitting!
Champion of road sharing, the coach is not only less polluting than a car (when compared to the number of passengers using it at full capacity), but it is also cheaper, and will spare you the fatigue of driving.
Another interesting alternative for short distances is the carpooling It reduces the number of cars on the road, and consequently the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the vehicle fleet. It also offers the opportunity to share a journey with travelers from all walks of life.
In the city as well as in the great outdoors, the bicycle It's not only eco-friendly, but also perfectly suited to urban travel thanks to its versatility. More appropriate for short trips, it helps to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in cities. Plus, it's great for keeping you fit! How about a cycling trip for your next vacation? Up for it?
The ultimate eco-friendly mode of transport, and even more so a pair of eco-friendly sneakers at the feet, the walk ! You don't need to be an experienced hiker to set off and discover the world, and it's also the perfect opportunity to travel light.
Between a sailboat and an all-inclusive cruise ship, the environmental impact is certainly not the same! If Ferry travel is considered to emit three times less CO2 than flying., Doing your research before choosing a boat for your trip remains the best advice to follow. But with careful consideration, this solution can prove to be not only an environmentally friendly option, but also a unique travel experience.
Although not the most environmentally friendly mode of transport, the airplane remains the fastest solution for long-distance travel and intercontinental journeys. Beware of advertisements touting the benefits of carbon offsetting ; They can represent a sales pitch with an eco-friendly connotation, rather than genuinely environmentally responsible solutions. Researching airlines before booking your flight is a responsible first step.
How to choose environmentally friendly accommodation?
Finding eco-friendly accommodation isn't easy. Here are some criteria to consider to make booking your environmentally conscious base for your getaway easier.
Search for certified establishments - example: LEED or Green Key certification - helps to ensure compliance with water and energy management standards.
Like any business, COG has his values and his philosophy clean. The same applies to hosts offering accommodation services. Therefore, inquiring about the eco-responsible positioning of accommodations before booking is very important for eco-friendly travel. Internal recycling policy, use of recycled and organic products, initiatives for reduce water and energy consumption, type of food offered in the case of establishments offering on-site catering services; each point must be taken into account.
Favor places of residence that value the preservation of local biodiversity, for example through reforestation programs, the maintenance of organic gardens, but also by working with local actors and suppliers.
Check traveler reviews to assess the eco-friendly approach. Many websites offer filters to find green accommodations and simplify your search.
Which tourist activities are eco-responsible ?
If eco-friendly travel involves choosing activities that respect the environment and local ecosystems, Travel should also remain synonymous with pleasure, relaxation and discovery.
There are as many types of activities as there are different interests, so listing them all would require a separate article. Some people like explore nature, others prefer the visits to monuments or festivals, for some, nothing beats shopping.
Whatever our affinities may be, they do not exempt us from modulating them to ensure that they are in line with an eco-responsible approach.
This can involve mindful and ethical consumption, taking the time to rediscover certain natural beauties, or even making the most of one's vacation to supporting a charitable cause, such as by helping with the reforestation of an ecosystem, or the maintenance of a animal sanctuary, or any other type of task to contribute to the preservation of nature such as cleaning up marine areas.
Did you know that? The interior lining of our Topsy and a good part of our vegan sneakers consists of recycled plastic materials recovered from the Mediterranean Sea.
How to minimize waste during my travels ?
Reducing waste while traveling is a challenge in itself, but a few simple adjustments can lessen the environmental impact and pollution it causes. Here are a few tips:
Bring reusable items such as a water bottle, a coffee mug, or even bamboo cutlery allows you toavoid plastic waste.
Choosing sustainable packaging for toiletries and favouring natural products such as solid shampoos helps to reduce packaging.
Similarly, disposable products are avoided, and cloth napkins and reusable bags can be used to reduce sources of plastic pollution.
Choosing sustainable accommodations that offer recycling and composting options reduces food waste.
Finally, control your consumption of hygiene kits and other welcome gifts distributed in the various accommodation, sightseeing and dining locations one passes through, contributes to the reduction of consumer goods and the ecological nuisances they can represent.
Thank you for reading! See you soon for more topics in line with our responsible and sustainable approach.
