Being into Sustainability AND travel could be seen as BIG on the hypocritical stakes. And to some extent thats true.

But I think there is a way to make it all work out.

1. Travel with purpose

Find a way that your travels contribute to the bigger picture. You can donate your time to sustainable projects through volunteering. Use WOOFING or Workaway.info to find individuals already living sustainability and learn practices you can take back into your own home life.

2. Live your values

People don’t like change, and they like less being told what they are doing wrong. Most people change around me simply by me just being me. People get interested in the alternatives when they see you using them happily. Non chemical deodorants, washing products, food, smoothies, health considerations, lifestyle choices such as meditation and excercising, sustainable practices such as pee’ing on vegetable patches rather than wasting gallons of water to flush, or choosing to recycle even in places it is challenging. People might think you are weird at first (be weird and proud) but guaranteed they will ask questions, and be curious about your choices. When they see how easy it is and what a difference it can make to their own life and to the planet, your choices become their choices!

3. Research sustainable best practices

If you are going to spread the word about Sustainability make sure its practical and attractive. A great example is bad compost toilets. Who wants to sit in a cold, badly built wooden hut, crapping in a hole in the rain? No one.  Once people have an uncomfortable experience they will happily be lost back into the comfortable world of 2 up 2 down with flushing toilets and chemical filled products so make sure their experience is awesome, and can easily be taken back into their own life. Research the BEST ways to be sustainable, look into comfortable ways to introduce change into peoples lives, test things out, test everything out, be a sponge.

4. Empower local people, empower everyone you meet anywhere!

Sounds simple but the key thing I am noticing is that everyone on the planet thinks that theres no hope. It is too bad a situation. What can one person possibily change? Why bother when it doesn’t make a difference. They moan about the “system” and the negativity that surrounds us and how its all out of control, that the alternatives are far from being utilised. Well imagine if EVERYONE decided to focus on the positive. That everyone who does care about the planet and their actions DID make those changes and BELIEVED their impact MATTERED? Imagine the global shift it would cause. So speak to everyone ,let them know that it is already happening. Globally. That all is not lost. Empower people to step into their values, focus on what we CAN do and do it, give them examples of successful projects and systems that you have experienced and encourage them to embrace their beliefs and inspire others locally. Encourage them to share with others and create networks in their own towns and build local communities.

5. Attend local sustainable events

If you don’t want to volunteer or work for a sustainable project and just want to have a bit of fun, check out the sustainable events going on in the area. Most countries will have something going on. Google, local newspapers, bulletin boards or old fashion asking will let you know whats happening.  You can learn, network and enjoy yourself all at once!

6. Support local sustainable businesses.

Eat at the local farmers markets, organic shops, book accommodation in eco friendly hostels and hotels. Use your money to support the local pioneers in sustainable business. The more call for it there is, the more businesses will become conscious.

7. Join local networks

Even if you are in town for a few or two go along to local meets for those interested in sustainability, environmental initiatives and anything forward thinking. Knowledge sharing internationally helps everyone progress at the same time, instead of every area reinventing the wheel. Building a global community is the way forward! And you get to make friends in awesome holiday destinations!

8. Do your bit

While you are travelling, ensure you don’t make the local situations worse.  So if people are suffering from rubbish overload try and cut back on your contribution by reusing items or not buying them at all. If people are having issues with water resources, then modify your usage. If there are initiatives already working – such as recycling or selling trash for cash (such as Koh Lipe) make sure you are putting your trash where it will end up in the right place (in Koh Lipe the alternative is a big trash mountain in the centre of the island hidden from view or washed up on shores of neighbouring islands). Take ownership of your presence. Sync yourself into the local needs and do your bit.

9. Offset your actions

If you are travelling by transportation your sustainable approach may need a little offsetting to keep the balance pointing the right way.  If you are flying place to place try and find airlines who offset their carbon emissions and GHG’s or encourage sustainable practices, or choose a way to offset them yourself. Make sure you find a reliable organisation thats certified if you are doing it yourself, as there are lots of offsetting companies out there that are sharks. Use public transport wherever possible, share rides, or just choose to stay local.

10. Combine all of the above!

Combining all of the above ideas will create a net POSITIVE affect of your journeys. We all want to travel but to be sustainable at the same time, and help the earth, use as many of the tips from the above that you can. In every trip.

 

If we can form a global sustainable community while not making situations worse, by knowledge sharing and collaborating, the energy will accelerate massively.

Change is happening. Right now. Globally.

Spread the word

Live your dreams

Inspire each other

Travel. Learn. Grow. Inspire. Share.

Sustainably!