How to Go – And Stay – Green During Your Next Vacation

The salty spray of ocean waves, open roads, the wind in your hair: summer vacation season is fast approaching!
If, like the Carolina Fibre team, you live in a state that makes traveling to various landscapes an easy feat, then you might only be planning on a brief road trip or two this season. But maybe you’ve decided to take a longer excursion that will keep you away from home for a while. Extended vacation time is great, but it can also make it seem more acceptable to let those green habits slide while you’re on that well-deserved break. Check out a few tips to help you stay on top of your green game even during your globe-trotting adventures!
Reusable water bottles
While we highly recommend having one of these on hand at home or work anyway, a reusable water bottle is especially handy for while you’re on the road (or in the air). And it’s not just to keep plastic out of landfills; over a lengthy trip, the cost of buying disposable water bottles every time you get thirsty can really add up! Bringing your own along saves you the trouble of repeat purchases, and keeps trash cans a few ounces of plastic lighter. So when you’re putting together a packing list, make sure you include a reusable water bottle – for both the environment’s sake, and your wallet’s.
Non-stop flights
Filling your car with fuel is one thing, but have you ever stopped to think about how much a plane uses just to get itself off the ground? By booking a non-stop flight, you can help conserve some of that valuable fuel! Just as it happens with cars, taking off and landing takes more energy than cruising along at high altitudes does. So, when you take a direct, non-stop flight instead of hopping onto multiple planes that have to start and stop, you’re actually helping to ensure that the minimal amount of fuel is being used for the duration of your trip. Plus, who doesn’t want to avoid layovers and the stress of making connecting flights?
Sustainable accommodations
Did you know that many hotels have adopted green policies to help cut down on the amount of waste that vacationers tend to accumulate? In fact, many of them will advertise these measures on their websites, so you can become familiar with them before you even arrive at your destination. When you’re looking into where you’d like to stay, keep an eye out for hotels and other accommodations that mention eco-friendly renovations they’ve recently completed, energy-saving methods, even sustainable products they like to use on-property.
Local products
While you’re away, we recommend soaking in as much of the local flavor as you possibly can! Not only is it a great way to experience a new place, but doing so can help cut down on the pollution and waste production in that region. It’s the same thing as being locally-centric when you’re at home; shopping and eating local products creates less demand for things that have to be driven or flown in, fewer instances of tossing materials like plastic from large manufacturers into trash cans instead of recycling bins.
Linens and things
You wouldn’t change your sheets and bath towels every day at home, so why do it on vacation? Request that your sheets and linens not be changed out every day to save on water and other resources expended during each load of laundry. Most hotels have some sort of system for housekeeping anyway, so it’s a simple matter of conveying your request in the right way.
There are tons of easy ways to give the planet its own sort of vacation while you’re off sightseeing and exploring new places. Stay tuned to our blog for more tips, and safe travels this summer!