7 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR TRAVEL PLANET-FRIENDLY

In Go-Go- Adventures we do take the topic of the global worming seriously. It affects not only our professional field but our private life as well. Every 24 hours, 50 million plastic water bottles are used globally. It takes about 700 years per bottle to decompose and with that in mind the future for our oceans, lands, marine life doesn’t look pretty at all.

We want to enjoy the beauty of this planet not to ruin it with every step we take. We want to take care of it and leave it in a better state than we found it. We are cautious about the way we travel - the transportation that we use, the places where we stay, the food that we eat. That's why, when it comes to tourism, in Go-Go- Adventures we think mainly locally. We are designing our adventures not only in a light way, but in a planet friendly manner as well because we want to make sure that our passion will not only takes us to fascinating places but will also help us preserve them.

If you feel that passionate about the future of all that beauty in the world and would enjoy adopting a green style of traveling, here's our short and easy to do list to start with.

1. Say NO to plastic

This seems difficult having in mind that we are surrounded by plastic products. But even the small steps can make a huge difference such as re-thinking the usage of bottled water. Instead you can buy stainless steel reusable water bottle and fill it every time you need. When hiking or exploring the back country you usually have plenty of possibilities to stop and enjoy the taste of the local water. Another big step towards your green way of travelling is to cut off the use of plastic bags and wrapping. Like bottles, plastic bags are virtually non-biodegradable, and they’re even less likely to be recycled properly. You have probably heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It’s a disgusting representation of rubbish that stretches for 700,000 square kilometers of the North Pacific Ocean and it's devastating. Take few lightweight canvas bags in you backpack and use them to store there whatever needed or use paper bags for your food. Not only this is planet-friendly but it is much easier once you have the habit in place.

2. Leave no trace

If we want to have sustainable future for us and for the next generations we need to reconsider our role as travelers. Tourism has developed as one of the biggest global economies which has its positive side but many drawbacks as well. One of them is the mass tourism which leads to devastation of natural and cultural resources. Whether we will hit a little know trail in the mountain, we will enjoy the calmness of a hidden beach or we will visit a popular temple, we need to treat each of these places with respect and make sure that we follow the designated routes that lead to them. In some areas even a single step out of the route can take million of years to regenerate and can cause vegetation loss and erosion. Therefore, the contemporary travelers more than ever needs to be not only passionate adventurers but educated ones, knowing the consequences of their impact as travelers and making sure they leave no trace out there.

3. Think local

The carbon footprint in tourism is not only a result of the means of transportation. It is a combination of the various choices we make while planning our trips. For instance, the more we choose to travel by air, to stay in big hotel chains and eat in big restaurant chains, the less green our travels will be. Why? Airplanes generate about 20% of the greenhouse gasses that a car emits over the entire year. The big hotel and restaurant chains have much wider impact from their supply chain compared with a small local guest house or a restaurant. Thus, whenever possible, we recommend that you choose the local options. Not only that it adds to the sustainable development of the particular area but it also gives you a precious taste for the culture and life of the people in the neighborhood.

4. Manage your trash

It's unfortunate that we still see so much litter around the places that we visit. As a traveler it is really important to ensure that you take care of your trash responsibly. It's simple - don't trow it away in the nature! Take it with you and dispose it at the designated places.

5. Choose who to travel with

Nowadays more and more companies in the field of tourism are focusing on sustainable travel and are adopting planet-friendly attitude. When you plan your vacations and trips, think about your values. Is green travelling one of them? If yes, do your research and choose to travel with a company that focuses on responsible development.

6. Re-think airplane travels

As mentioned above, airplanes are one of the biggest polluters. Not only they spread gasses that add on to the greenhouse effect, but they cause noise pollution as well. Only in the USA, the aviation industry accounts for 11% of all transportation-related emissions. If you are like many people, flying is probably the largest portion of your carbon footprint. We understand that cutting off airplane flights is pretty much impossible for the modern traveler. There are so many places to be explored and all of them are so far away. The aviation industry offers an easy and more and more cheaper way of taking you straight there. However, we have a call for all the adventurers out there - go crazy, choose the non-standard way and embark on a true adventure by hitting the road instead taking the plane! If you change your perspective you will find out that reaching your destination can actually turn out to be the best part of your vacation.

7. Choose your gear wisely

There are plenty of companies on the market that sale variety of gear for the different types of travelers. However some of them take the extra mile and invest in making their business planet friendly. Patagonia, for example not only focuses on gear that can be recycled but prioritizes the design of such that is 100% made of recycled material. Their aim is to close the cycle and ensure that their carbon footprint will be the lowest possible. Adidas are also embarking on a project together with Parley to offer their clients sport shoes made of recycled plastic that was picked up from coastal areas before it reaches the ocean. So if you want to support that movement you can always choose to wear outdoor clothes and gear that is designed not only to make you feel comfortable out there but also adds on to the sustainable future of our planet.

Passionate about the idea? Start today and spread your values. This is a beautiful world and we all should do whatever possible to preserve it.