Sustainability expert Kate Hall explains some easy ways to reduce your footprint on your next holiday.
Often people think sustainable living takes away from your life, but in my experience, it adds to it - even on holiday. To properly enjoy the holiday you deserve, while being mindful of sustainability, start by reminding yourself that you cannot do it perfectly.
Holidaying involves new variables that are out of your control. Like the consideration of friends and family holidaying with you, new environments and a lack of familiarity with the local sustainable shops and waste sites. When you ditch the guilt that comes with compromising your usual daily sustainable habits, it’s easier to focus on what you can do. Before you head off, as well as checking if you’ve packed your sunscreen and enough spare undies, ask yourself a few simple questions.
How can I responsibly deal with my waste?
Organic matter does not break down in landfill and is an incredibly valuable resource for making new, precious soil. Ask your Airbnb host, hotel manager or campsite representative if they have a compost system. If not, use ShareWaste to find someone local who will happily take your food scraps. I try my best to carry a jar when I holiday so I can store my food scraps in it without being pestered by smells and then empty it whenever I find a compost bin. All communities have varying recycling policies, so ask your host, or a local, or check what the rules are on the council website of where you’re staying before you use the recycling bin.
