Green travel; What is it?
Green Travel, Sustainable Travel and Eco Travel.
All of these terms can be defined as informed consumer choices that will minimize or reduce the environmental impact caused by travelling.
On some occasions, this may include carbon offsetting by investing in green energy projects.
It may also mean going the extra mile by protecting nature or giving back to local communities.
Green and sustainable travel essentially means making more conscious choices with the aim of reducing the environmental impact on the planet.
Isn’t “green travel” an oxymoron given the emissions impact of travel?
It's true that green or sustainable travel is not a perfect solution.
A study determined that between 2009 – 2013, tourism was responsible for 8% of greenhouse gas global emissions. Many people believe that if you really care about the planet you should stop travelling altogether.
It’s a good argument, but there are some issues with this.
(Besides that, we deeply love travel and there is just something so indescribably unique about the experience of travel. Not to mention, the positive effects that it can have on our minds, bodies & souls)
...is that many developing communities are dependent upon tourism for their economic stability and growth. Particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic, these communities have suffered more than most. We must consider the ethical impact, that removing this source of revenue would have, on the lives of these individuals.
What can travel businesses do to be considered green, eco or sustainable?
For each aspect of travel, there are several qualifiers. For an airline, hotel, or tour operator to be described as a greener option, there are several factors to consider...
For airlines, in the current absence of the technology to create zero-emissions flights.
A greener option means a younger fleet of aircraft that are more efficient and create fewer emissions than their older counterparts. Certain airlines are looking to go even further, creating challenging targets to push businesses to their limits, but more on that later...
Green or Sustainable Hotels
There are various aspects that hotels need to consider in order to gain status as a green or sustainable hotel. These could include:
- They could produce their own green energy to help reduce their carbon footprint.
- Be dedicated to reducing single-use or as use of as much plastic as possible.
- They may also do this by growing their own produce to serve in hotel restaurants.
- They might support local farmers by buying their locally-grown produce instead of buying and transporting this from further away. This reduces their carbon footprint and supports the local community.
- Hotels may protect the environment or create a positive impact on their local environment.
- Hotels with private beaches may ban the use of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate as these are proven to have harmful effects on marine environments and ecosystems, including coral reefs.
- One hotel we partner with even grows limestone in the sea to help with coral growth!
For tour operators, one of our favourite and best examples is G Adventures.
To confuse you further, they describe their sustainable and green efforts as G for Good. Which in a way, is fair enough as their focus is more expansive than most!
G Adventures look to protect and conserve our world by acting responsibly.
Areas of focus include Animal welfare, child welfare, reducing single-use plastic, and respecting local communities. But they don’t just stop there! They also contribute a percentage of every tour purchased back into the community.
What impact can greener, more sustainable choices have on the travel industry?
There is a temptation to dismiss green travel or sustainable travel as a waste of time. However, travel customers have FAR more sway over the industry than they realise.
Sustainable travel and greener travel are already high on customers’ agendas when booking holidays now.
As more and more customers seek businesses that are more conscious of their environmental impact on the planet. We hope that this will become an intrinsic aspect of travelling. It will drive airlines, hotels, and tour operators to follow in the footsteps of industry leaders who are gaining more business by choosing to make more conscious, sustainable, and greener choices.
The more popular this aspect of travel becomes, the more valued it will become within the industry.
This is the beginning of industry norms changing and helps put pressure on businesses that may resist change. Who knows, maybe it will even encourage airlines to invest in greener methods, or entrepreneurs to invent new greener methods of travel!
How does Sustainable Travel by Inspire improve its environmental impact?
Sustainable Travel by Inspire has a green policy in place within the office which means that all employees at Inspire minimise the production of waste, minimise material waste, minimise energy wastage and promote the use of recyclable and renewable material.
Sustainable Travel by Inspire is also a member of “Sustainable Travel International” which plays a critical role in conserving destinations from the negative impacts of Tourism. Sustainable Travel works with government, businesses and local communities to work to safeguard nature, combat climate change, empower communities and tackle waste and pollution.
Sustainable Travel recognises that much of tourism is destroying our planet’s most vulnerable destinations and aims to transform tourism’s impact on nature and people.
By working with Sustainable Travel, Inspire gives money that goes toward:
- Respect & Preserving Culture
- Supporting Local People
- Conserving Natural Environments
- Minimizing Waste & Pollution
- Protecting Wildlife
- Giving Back to Local Communities
For practical information and tips on how to become a more sustainable and conscious traveller, we will have a "Travel Better Practices Guide" coming soon!
What suppliers do we work with and what certification do these businesses have for their sustainability?
All accommodation has varying certification but are all recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council which establishes and manages global standards for sustainable travel and tourism.
These hotels and hotel providers are all certified by the GSTC:
- NH Hotels
- Sun Siyam Hotels
- Adaaran Hotels
- Melia Hotels
- Iberostar Hotels
- Bedsonline/Hotelbeds
Our airline providers are:
- Easyjet
- Jet 2
EasyJet and Jet 2? You heard me.
Did you know that EasyJet joined the UN-backed Race to Zero campaign and are committed a carbon emissions intensity improvement target of 35% by 2035?
Easyjet are working with partners across the industry, including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, GKN Aerospace, and Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, to accelerate the development of zero carbon emission technologies and the required infrastructure.
And in the interim EasyJet are dedicated to making their flights more efficient and carbon offsetting by investing money in green energy projects around the world.
Okay, so what about Jet2?
Like EasyJet, Jet2 are committed to offsetting their carbon emissions and invest in green energy. The are also ranked 11th most environmentally efficient airline in the world by atmosfair and almost half of Jet2’s ground service equipment is already powered by electricity.
They are also committed to using UK produced Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by 2026 and reducing their CO2 per passenger 10% by 2030.
Our Tour Operators
G-Adventures’ awards speak for themselves…
Intrepid Travel
Not too different from G-Adventures, Intrepid Travel gives Animal Welfare, Climate, Community-based tourism, Diversity and Inclusion, Ethical Marketing Guidelines, Nature Positive, Reconciliation. They also are B Corp certified with their own charity Intrepid Travel Foundation to raise money to go even further with their positive impact!
So there’s a lot of reasons to feel positive about booking with any of these travel providers!