Who doesn’t dream of getting away? Here’s how to make your travels more sustainable, and what to keep in mind for a genuinely eco-conscious trip.
By Barbara Hämmerl
The urge to travel and see something new lives in most of us, and it’s only growing stronger. Yet today’s travel habits come at a cost: pollution, heavy CO2, water and electricity use, and, in some corners of the tourism industry, precarious working conditions. So can wanderlust and sustainability actually coexist? Here’s how to bring the two into balance.
Where to?
Distance matters more than people think when choosing a destination. The farther away the destination, the more time you should build in, so the journey itself is worth it. Skip the chains and book somewhere independently run, so the money you spend actually stays in the local economy. A hotel can distinguish itself through real environmental measures — conserving electricity and water, cutting down on waste. Platforms like bookitgreen.com and ticati.com track exactly these criteria and rank accommodations by sustainability, which makes booking a much clearer decision.
How to get there?
Once the destination is set, the next question is how to reach it. The most sustainable mode of transport is the coach, with rail close behind. Travelling by coach produces only about 32 grams of CO2 per person per kilometre — compare that to 211 grams per kilometre by plane. When flying is unavoidable, you can offset the emissions through platforms like Atmosfair.de. Long coach journeys aren’t for everyone. Since 2021, a new partnership between the rail operators of France, Austria, Germany and Switzerland has been expanding night-train routes — a way to cover longer distances in your sleep, with none of the hassle.
What else should you keep in mind?
As a rule, the lighter the luggage, the less CO2 goes into transporting it — so think carefully about what you actually need. It’s just as important to be mindful of the destination and its residents. The best approach is to favour what’s local wherever you can, whether that’s food, restaurants or shops. And, as always, avoid generating waste. If your destination has no dedicated disposal system for batteries, for instance, bring them home and dispose of them properly there. Sustainability matters on excursions too. Pay attention to who and what your money is supporting — zoos and parks that keep animals in cramped conditions are best avoided.
Something different: the micro-adventure
Micro-adventures are trips that start right from your own front door, with minimal luggage. That might mean hiking to a spot you picked at random on a map, or it might mean camping — or glamping. The platform Anderswo is full of exciting ideas for a micro-adventure. For concrete accommodation and activities close to home, Katzensprung-Deutschland.de has plenty to offer, including a short stay in a converted wine barrel.
