Nowadays, people are conscious about how to protect the environment, shifting to sustainable lifestyles, and finally creating a greener planet. Moreover, the travel industry also shifts to a sustainable trend. That’s why we often hear about ‘sustainable travel’, in which the concept allows people to see the wonders of this world while contributing to a greener planet. People are searching for destinations for them to travel in an eco-friendly way. Thus, Europe comes as a continent with tons of sustainable destinations. That’s why the interest in sustainable travel in Europe keeps on increasing.
How to Travel Europe Sustainably
Actually, going around as an eco-friendly traveler in a continent that has highlighted sustainability in their every day requires no sweat. There are lots of sustainable sources, from transportation to itineraries, all over Europe. Then, here are some things you can do if you want to level up your Europe trip to a more eco-friendly and sustainable one.
Choose Trains over Flights
One of the basic sustainable travel tips is taking other transportation modes than airplanes. And why is that? So, the aviation industry contributes around 2-3% of the world’s total carbon emissions. Thus, it is one of the biggest carbon footprints someone can have.
Meanwhile, taking land transportation, especially trains, allows you to save your carbon footprints. Someone can cut their own carbon emissions by half, which is around 41g per person if they take trains instead of airplanes. Thus, even though some railways seem to emit more carbon as they are operated by diesel engines, the carbon footprint per passenger is lower than airplanes. This is because trains can fit a lot more passengers than airplanes, making them more effective and energy-efficient.
Europe starts excelling in low-carbon and comfortable trains. Railways like Eurail are highly promoted for inter-nation transportation as a part of the European Union’s support for green tourism. Thus, you can go from one country to another on this versatile European railway. Check the website here if you want to book a ticket or day pass.
Getting Around by Bicycles
Want to go around a lovely European city, soak up the atmosphere, and not miss anything? Then, you can try cycling. Besides the fact that it is a fun thing to do, cycling is a sustainable option. Bicycles emit lower carbon emissions than motorcycle, cars, or even buses. Thus, they produce only allowing you to save up your carbon footprint. Moreover, cycling has no negative impact on the air quality and environment, as it has no harmful byproducts. Besides that, some researchers perceive cycling as an effective, economical, and healthy alternative to transport. It is a nice physical activity, as well as an affordable way to go around.
Europe comes at a top place when it comes to cycling. Since 2009, the European Commission has promoted the establishment of cycling routes and granted projects to promote the sustainability of cycling tourism. No wonder there are lots of comfortable and safe cycling routes all across the continent. Then, if you want to see bike-friendly cities in Europe, you can head to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Antwerp.
Get on Public Transportation
Who loves getting on public transport when arriving in a new city or country? Besides being cheap, public transportation is a great way to save carbon footprints and shift to sustainability. Public transportation gets more attention if we see the fact that transportation accounts for 90% of fossil fuel use. Thus, fossil fuels produce tons of carbon dioxide and the transportation sector itself contributes around 27% of total annual greenhouse gas emissions.
So, why is actually public transportation comes out as a more sustainable option? First of all, public transportation saves around 45% of carbon emissions annually. Then, it also reduces an individual’s carbon footprint, as they are traveling with many people in the vehicle. Finally, public transportation can transport a lot of people at the same time, so it is both time and energy efficient.
Bring Your Own Bottle
One of the best ways to reduce single-use plastic is to bring your own reusable bottle. It is a great way to avoid buying plastic bottles, which are the type of plastic that we use the most. Thus, bringing your own reusable bottle also allows you to save costs. In many countries in Europe, you can find drinking fountains to refill your reusable bottle. It is a nice way to save money from buying bottled water, also stepping into a more sustainable way of travel.
Be Mindful of Your Energy Usage
Do you know that electricity is one of the main contributors to climate change? Yes, it is. That’s because 40% of fossil fuels are burned for electricity, emitting tons of carbon emissions annually. So, be mindful of our energy consumption and reduce unused electricity usage.
When you are in your accommodation, make sure to turn off electronic appliances that you don’t need. Then, turn off the lights if you are going to leave your room. Those are simple yet effective ways to be mindful of your energy usage.
Choose Sustainable Destinations and Activities
Your itineraries matter when it comes to sustainable travel in Europe. So, if you want to travel more sustainably, you can choose awesome activities that are good for the environment and the people. Thus, Europe has tons of sustainable options that will make you bid boredom goodbye!
Some of the sustainable destinations you can visit are national parks and conservation centers. Hike the Dolomites in Italy or see the natural wilderness in Wild Taiga in Finland – anything related to nature will help us to understand how charming it is and how important it is for us to protect.
Thus, you can also choose green cities, like Stockholm and Helsinki, for a sustainable trip. Moreover, you can choose out-of-the-box activities that are exciting yet sustainable. There are several awesome activities that you do, like a short-volunteer program for the environment or sampling locally-sourced food.
Stay in Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Accommodation
This one is a big win! You get comfortable and aesthetically-pleasing accommodations while contributing to the local economy and the planet. Sounds good, right? Then, what is sustainable accommodation?
Sustainable or eco-friendly accommodations are hotels, lodges, guest houses, or other types of accommodations that promote sustainability practices. They can be reducing waste, avoiding food waste, using zero single-use plastic, to incorporating green architecture in the building. Thus, sustainable accommodation also empowers local people and contributes to their economy and livelihood.
You can find lots of sustainable accommodations around Europe. From solar-powered hotels to sustainable luxuries, you can see them on the continent. Also, you can check out some of the best, including Vila Vita Park in Portugal and Borgo Pignano in Italy.
Travel in a Group
Do you know what is the most exciting way to travel sustainably? Yes, traveling in a group! If you travel with your friends or as a group, you can share many things like accommodation and food. Then, sharing with others means you can reduce waste, reduce energy consumption, and lower your carbon footprint. For example, traveling in a group and sharing accommodation allows you to save up energy. Plus, it is an awesome way to travel that leads you to once-in-a-lifetime experiences!
Europe is an amazing place to start your sustainable travel journey. From visiting green cities to practicing a less-waste lifestyle, Europe makes it easy for you. So, are you ready to explore Europe and start an incredible sustainable trip?
Also, as a kind reminder, one of the best ways to travel sustainably is by traveling in a group. Searching for the perfect group with amazing travel buddies and fantastic itineraries? Then, check out JoinMyTrip! We offer a wide choice of awesome trips that allow you to explore Europe while meeting travel buddies. Then, it is also a good way to start sustainable travel. You can share costs, accommodation, vehicles, and meals. That’s a great way to reduce your carbon footprint.
So, what are you waiting for? Start traveling sustainably and book group trips with JoinMyTrip!
