Echo-friendly, green holidays are often misinterpreted as “roughing” it in some inhospitable location without any luxuries. Not so! With a little bit of effort you can “green” any type of holiday. Here’s how…
How green is your holiday?
In South Africa, the long awaited and eagerly anticipated December to January summer holiday and festive season is traditionally spent at the coast. Unfortunately, few holiday makers realise or think of the impact their visit may have on the environment, local resources and the community. The concept of leaving an environmental footprint behind is not always generally acknowledged or understood.
Fortunately, it’s no big deal to start taking responsibility and “greening” your future holidays. It actually simply means planning a holiday in which you and your family will undertake to protect and conserve the natural environment, respect and conserve local cultures and ways of life and contribute to stronger local economies and a better quality of life for local people.
Eco friendly, greening guidelines
Use some or all of these guidelines to make your next holiday a rip roaring green success.
Use echo-friendly transport
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- This is a tough one as most modes of motorised transport (cars, busses, coaches, trains, planes and boats) all pollute the atmosphere. However, trains and buses are better if not always more practical options.
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- Airplanes emit more carbon into the air than any other transportation method. Try to limit flying to your destination if other less toxic modes of travel are available or at least take direct flights without stop overs. If you are serious about greening your air travel you may consider buying a carbon offset, a financial payment or donation that will be invested in a green initiative such as cleaning a river system, reforestation programmes, etc.
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- Ocean liners are known for emitting large volumes of pollutants and grey water but many green cruise companies have already started employing eco-friendly waste management and other green solutions.
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- One way in which you can green your mode of transport is by walking, riding bicycles and only making use of hotel shuttles once you have reached your destination.
Holiday at eco-friendly hotels and resorts
More and more local establishments are adopting eco-friendly principles to minimise their energy use and general impact on the environment by:
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- Generating their own power with solar energy
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- Harvesting rain water
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- Using energy-efficient lighting
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- Recycling garbage
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- Using non-toxic cleaning products
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- Using organic meat, dairy and vegetables and serving organic meals.
You can do your bit to minimise the environmental impact of your stay at these establishments by:
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- Reusing bedding and towels
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- Switching off lights and appliances before leaving the room
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- Only charging your cell phone as much as needed and then removing it from the plug when done
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- Opening a window instead of turning on the air conditioning
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- Using water sparingly.
Be aware of the social impact of your holiday
It is always good to do some research about the place you are visiting to find out about the local culture, history, geography and beliefs of the people in that area.
Support the local economy while reducing your environmental impact by:
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- Visiting farmer’s markets, food fairs and local grocery stores
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- Buying authentic, locally-made souvenirs
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- Hiring local guides wherever possible
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- Volunteering for activities to improve the environment or help support local businesses or schools (see www.volunteerafrica.co.za).
Minimising your environmental impact in the great outdoors
The main and most important eco-friendly principle to adhere to when in the great outdoors, hiking, camping, having a picnic or lounging on the beach is to leave nothing behind, leave no trace or as the old adage goes: “Take only pictures, leave only footprints”.
In practical terms this means:
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- Selecting a camping or picnic site well away from more fragile ecosystems such as those on the banks of lakes and rivers
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- Taking all your trash back home with you if the site does not have rubbish bins
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- Using eco-friendly camping equipment such as solar cookers, generators, lanterns, cell phone chargers and manual wind-up or shake flashlights (see more at http://www.sustainable.co.za)
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- Not using disposable containers and items except if they are biodegradable
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- Knowing how to build a safe campfire, preferably in a fire pit, and putting the fire out at least 45 minutes before you leave the site or go to bed
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- Using eco-friendly, biodegradable toiletries, soaps, moisturisers and cleaning products as well as insect repellents
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- When nature calls, doing as cats do: dig a hole, do your business and cover it up. Place the soiled toilet paper in a bag to dispose of later
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- Being especially careful not to leave litter on the beach; 39% cent of all marine litter consists of litter left on beaches
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- Using an eco-friendly or mineral sunscreen. Over 6000 tons of sunscreen washes into the ocean each year and is especially damaging to fragile and decaying coral reefs.
All-time eco-friendly summer holiday
The all-time eco-friendly summer holiday, the one way to minimise your environmental footprint, prevent masses of fuel being pumped into the air and litter being strewn on beaches and other locations, is to stay home, continue relying on your normal environment-friendly practices and to check out the local attractions.
Sources
Berman, C. 2014. Those summer nights: saving electricity in summer. Retrieved from: http://savingenergy.co.za/saving-electricity-in-summer/
Echo travel tips: how to choose a green cruise. Retrieved from: http://www.sustainable.co.za/blog/2011/10/eco-travel-tips-green-cruise/
Five eco facts about sunscreen. 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.postconsumers.com/education/eco-friendly-sunscreen-facts/
Green tips. 2012. Retrieved from: http://www.earthshare.org/green-tips.html
How to plan an eco friendly vacation. Retrieved from: http://www.wikihow.com/Plan-an-Eco-Friendly-Vacation
Jones, R. Eight tips on how to make your holiday more eco-friendly. Retrieved from: http://blog.builddirect.com/tips-make-your-holiday-more-eco-friendly/#ixzz3KMOhq5S4
Moss, L. Ten ways to green your camping tri. Retrieved from: http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/responsible-living/photos/10-ways-to-green-your-camping-trip/plan-an-eco-friendly-outing
Top tips for a greener summer holiday. Retrieved from: http://www.wasteawarenesswales.org.uk/summer/top-tips-greener-summer-holiday#.VHg4q9KUeE4
What in the world are we doing to keep the oceans clean? Retrieved from: http://open.salon.com/blog/planetpals/2011/06/08/what_in_the_world_are_we_doing_to_keep_the_oceans_clean