Going on a trip often means filling the car to the brim, taking endless flights and returning with suitcases full of memories.
What if you learned to travel differently? Minimalism can also be applied to your travels: take only the essentials, consume less, and respect the environment. With these three key steps, you're ready for a new adventure: whether it's discovering the Aveyron region, another place in France, or a more distant country.
But in practice, how do we apply these three key actions? Here are some habits to put in place.
Choose more sustainable modes of transport
The carbon footprint The environmental impact of our travel is one of the major challenges for travelers today. How can we successfully travel while opting for more environmentally friendly modes of transport?
Opt for train travel or carpooling.
According to ADEME emissions calculator, train ride systematically generates much less CO₂ than an equivalent flight, with differences ranging from several times to several tens of times less emissions depending on the distance and type of flight.
What if the train doesn't go to your destination? The carpooling It offers a good compromise for sharing costs but also carbon footprint, and as a bonus, you take a step towards potentially great relationships.
Optimize local travel
Le Biking and marche These are two ways to discover the city while taking the time to appreciate each place. And if you don't have a bike, you can always rent one!
More and more places are implementing sustainable mobility solutions. In Aveyron, for example, several tourist offices are promoting green and safe routes. All you have to do is follow the path to visit the most beautiful spots in the region.
Travel light and pack your bag differently
Eliminating "just in case" items is the first step towards lightening your backpack. By reducing its contents, you also reduce the weight you carry; your back will thank you, and it will be much easier to cycle with less luggage.
When packing your bag, also consider your consumption habits and how to reduce waste while traveling. Here are a few tips to help you make the right choices:
Promote sustainable materials
- Stainless steel water bottles rather than disposable bottles
- Solid or refillable toiletry bag
- Versatile, breathable and quick-drying clothing
These simple actions reduce the waste you produce during your trip. And the impact of tourism on the environment is far from negligible. Disposable goods and transportation are among the most significant contributors to natural resources and climate emissions, according to analyses conducted by Carbone 4.
Preserve nature and local spaces
Eco-friendly travel is to care about the place you are visiting and all the resources it contains. If you walk through the gorges and plateaus of the Aveyron, you will understand how much the natural wealth needs to be preserved from humans.
Stay on the trails
The trail markers were put in place to protect the flora and the environment more generally from mass tourism. You might think that a little detour beyond the barriers can't do any harm, but you're damaging sensitive areas that could take years to recover, if they ever do.
Leave no trace of your passage
The principle is simple: for an eco-friendly trip, no one should know you were there.
- Bring back all your waste
- Use biodegradable soaps and keep them away from waterways.
- Do not take elements from nature: leave plants where they are
- Do not disturb the wildlife, observe in silence
Consume locally, in a responsible manner.
Traveling also means tasting local products. Take advantage of your stay to support local producers by shopping at markets, small restaurants, and artisan workshops.
Reduce waste throughout your stay
If you've packed your bag well, you probably already have a reusable water bottle to avoid using plastic bottles. And if you're worried about water quality, there are solutions for purifying water and further reducing your waste. Here are a few other eco-friendly travel tips:
- Refuse unnecessary packaging
- Prepare some reusable containers
- Opt for accommodations committed to an environmental approach
- Don't print your tickets and opt for digital.
Travel connected… safely
You travel using low-carbon transport and need to frequently check train schedules, download your digital tickets, or use apps for your journeys. Unfortunately, the connection you use to access this information is mostly via public networks, which are often unsecured.
It was at this moment that theVPN installation becomes useful. It protects your data while you access your digital tickets, your cycling routes or resources dedicated to sustainable travel.
Protecting yourself when using Wi-Fi networks prevents the risk of data being stolen and visible to everyone. You can even use it to access data specific to certain areas. Using a VPN is one of the CNIL's four recommendations for best practices on public internet connections.
You can then browse the web without fear of your data being intercepted on an open Wi-Fi network.
Conclusion: travel differently, one step at a time
You're not going to change everything overnight, but every little step counts when it comes to eco-friendly travel.
You can revisit the list and start by establishing a habit for your next trip: change your mode of transport, reduce your waste, take care of nature, or secure your travel data. All these actions can be implemented at your own pace.
And you will soon see the change happen and enjoy a much more enriching trip!
