The environmental impact of air travel is staggering.  According to the David Suzuki Foundation, recreational air travel could be responsible for nearly ten percent of the climate change caused by human activity, and air travel has the greatest per-traveler environmental impact of any form of transportation, at every distance.  With the number of people traveling by plane rising every year, it’s clear that the airline industry needs to explore alternate ways of fueling their flights.  One airline that is taking the lead in this area is Alaska Airlines.

In November 2016, Alaska Airlines flew the world’s very first commercial flight powered in part by forest residuals biofuels.  The flight traveled from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., and twenty percent of its fuel was a brand-new, sustainable biofuel.  This new biofuel was manufactured by Gevo, Inc., a Colorado-based biofuel company that has worked with both military and commercial airlines.  It manufactured its biofuel blend for Alaska Airlines from sustainable Pacific Northwest forest residuals, or the parts of trees that are left after environmentally-friendly logging occurs.  The forest residuals were shared by Indigenous communities who have a long history of using every plant and animal to its fullest.

Sustainable biofuels are the most useful tool that airlines have in their arsenal to reduce the environmental impact of mass consumer airline travel.  Alaska Airlines notes that the flight that was powered by their twenty percent biofuel blend emitted almost seventy percent less carbon dioxide than it would have if it had been powered entirely by standard jet fuel.  Gevo Inc. believes that if the aviation industry commits to powering flights with biofuels, they could reach their goal of cutting carbon dioxide emissions in half by 2050.  If Alaska Airlines could replace only one fifth of the fuel it uses at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with similar biofuels, it would have the same positive impact as taking 30,000 cars off the road for a year.  Unfortunately, biofuels are currently much more expensive than traditional jet fuels, so the industry will rely need further innovation and regulation to make biofuel standard on all commercial flights.

If you would like to see airlines using more biofuels, start by writing letters to your favorite airlines and to your local lawmakers.  In the meantime, you can reduce the ecological footprint of your air travel in a few different ways.  First, choose direct flights instead of flights with stopovers, as planes use most of their fuel during take-off and landing.  Then, book seats in economy class or on budget airlines, as this allows more passengers to fit on a single flight.  Finally, pack as light as possible, because less onboard weight means less fuel can be used.  To really make a difference, though, consider traveling by bus or train, because they both have a much smaller carbon footprint than air travel.

Eco-tourism is booming in recent years, offering ethical and environmentally friendly options for those who want to explore the natural world while minimizing human impact. Companies offer eco-tours that might be anything from a trek through the Amazon to a hike up an extinct volcano. Deciding what part of the world you want to explore is the fun and easy part, but once you’ve figured out your budget and where you want to go, how do you choose the right eco-tour?

Here are a number of tips to consider when planning for your environmentally friendly vacation. Choosing an eco-tour isn’t easy, but it’s definitely worth it to keep these guidelines in mind as you make your decision.

Do your research

Make sure you really look at a tour company’s offerings and reputation before you book. A good way to get a sense of what people think of a tour company is through sites like TripAdvisor, which provide a free space for people to write their honest opinions about their experience with a particular tour or tour company. If you know someone who has been on an eco-tour before, ask for his or her opinions, too.

Don’t assume “green” buzzwords tell the whole story

Because eco-tourism is only becoming more and more popular, many companies try to get in on the trend by labeling their offerings as “green” or “eco-friendly” when their practices in fact don’t actually match up. Here again is where additional research can help – and it’s ok to call the tour company directly to inquire about their green practices. Asking questions about how and why they practice environmentally friendly tour operations can help inform your decision.

Look into local organizations

Some areas of the world actually have guidelines on what constitutes an eco-tour, and what standards or practices a tour company has to maintain in order to qualify as environmentally friendly. A quick search should be able to tell you if such a tour board exists, and you can use their standards to compare against the offerings of a tour company you have in mind.

Opt for smaller tours

Any tour company that advertises an eco-tour for big groups is being environmentally irresponsible. The more people that trek out into nature, the greater potential there is for damage to plants and animals. Smaller groups leave less of an impact on the environment, and they also provide a more enjoyable experience, so be sure to look into tour sizes before you book. Again, it’s ok to call the company directly to ask about this if the information is not on their website.

Investigate the accommodations, too

Often, eco-tours are totally immersive experiences that give you an opportunity to stay overnight in a natural environment. If this is the case for the tours you’re looking at, you should check to make sure that your lodging options are also environmentally responsible and sensitive to the local community. Attributes like sustainable building, natural materials, and a lack of disruption to the ecosystem are important considerations.

Be aware of the wildlife 

If your tour involves an animal sanctuary or an environment in which you may encounter wild animals, make sure that your tour operator isn’t going to offer or promise interactions with the animals. Any tour that advertises a chance to pet or feed local wildlife is not being responsible and actually poses a danger to the animals by risking them becoming reliant upon human assistance.

Find out how the tour company gives back

One of the central tenets of responsible ecotourism is that the tour company gives back to the community and contributes to the conservation of the environment. Whether that’s through donating a portion of their profits to preservation efforts, or hiring locals to help empower the community, make sure that your chosen company is actively helping out in some way.

If you take these factors into consideration when choosing a company for your eco-tour, you’ll be able to find a tour that’s truly environmentally friendly and ethically responsible to the ecosystem and people they interact with. Don’t forget to pay it forward after your trip, either! Your honest reviews about the company will help others make their decisions, too.

So you want to plan an environmentally friendly vacation. You’ve chosen a hotel that reduces water waste and serves organic food. You’ve opted for an airline that offers drinks in recycled cups and minimizes food waste. You’ve even chosen the ideal destination to encourage your love for the environment. But to take that last little step towards the perfect green vacation, you need to make sure your travel accessories are the most eco-friendly options on the market.

While green technologies are ever evolving and it can often be difficult to keep up on the latest in sustainable design, there are a few key characteristics to keep in mind when choosing an ecofriendly accessory. For one, the use of natural or recycled materials is essential. Reusing existing materials (especially those that would otherwise damage the environment like plastic) is an important factor in reducing pollution and waste. Another factor is whether or not the product is culturally responsible or sensitive: was it made by local artisans, or sold by a company that’s run by or works with locals? In a related consideration, does the company donate some of the profits to charitable or environmental organizations?

If you take into account these qualifications when choosing a green accessory, you’ll feel better about what you buy and how you use it. Here’s a list of a few popular and useful travel accessories to consider for your next trip.

Sleep masks or pillows made from recycled material

Comfort when flying (especially to faraway destinations) is important. But what’s even more important is making sure that your favorite accessories are good for the environment. Airplane pillows in particular are often made of synthetic material, so be sure to look out for one made of recycled or natural materials.

Water bottles made out of recycled or sustainable materials

Eco-friendly water bottles have been a big thing for a while, so these should be easy to find. Companies like SIGG (which is a leader in healthy, environmentally friendly bottles) offer products in a wide array of styles and colors, so you can be fashionable and eco-friendly. They even make special patterns for kids, so the whole family can get in on being green.

Journals from recycled or chemical-free paper

The best parts of travel are the memories you make along the way. Record those memories in an eco-friendly journal made from recycled or natural paper, so you’re reducing environmental pollution. Plus, they come in a wide variety of patterns and sizes, so it’s easy to find one that speaks to you. Companies like Paperblank also donate a portion of their profits to charitable organizations.

Luggage or bags that are made from environmentally friendly materials

There are actually several companies currently producing luggage or other bags made from recycled materials. Again, here you’re reducing your impact on the environment by choosing something that isn’t made from artificial materials. Many of them are also lighter and easier to use than standard luggage, like the super environmentally friendly LiteGear.

Ecofriendly Gadgets

With consumer interest in ecofriendly gadgets on the rise, there are plenty of companies producing everything from water-powered alarm clocks to tech made partially from bamboo (like external hard drives and laptops). You’ll also find a lot of solar-powered options, like headsets and media players. These gadgets range widely in price, too, so there’s no need to drop a ton of money for sustainable and recycled goods.

Rechargeable batteries

While most of our technology these days relies upon rechargeable batteries, on the off chance that you have something that does take AAs, opt for rechargeable varieties. The materials that batteries are made of can be very toxic to the environment in landfills, so the fewer batteries that we dispose of, the better.

Travel or hiking gear from ecofriendly materials

If your green vacation involves hiking or backpacking, you’ll want to make sure these bags are environmentally friendly, too. Companies like Eagle Creek, Osprey Packs, and Timbuk2 offer products from recycled and ecofriendly materials that are designed to last and last, ensuring that there’s no need for frequent replacements and the subsequent waste.

Environmentally friendly toiletries

Even your toothpaste makes a difference when it comes to your impact on the environment. Anything you put on your body from soap to shampoo is not only better for you, but also better for nature when it’s organic and chemical-free. Because beauty and health product companies have been working to encourage the development of natural products for a while now, you’ll have plenty of options, too, from Tom’s of Maine and Burt’s Bees to smaller companies.

By Katie Sagal

If you’re interested in planning a green vacation, then you’ll want to make sure you know what you’re looking for when choosing a destination, a hotel, a mode of transportation, and even activities. Of course, it’s also important to know more about the significance behind these sustainable practices. So while you’ve scoured the internet for advice on the best sustainable hotels and top green accessories, there’s still more to do to prepare. For travelers who truly want the full eco-friendly experience when it comes to explorations, it’s important to read a few foundational books that will inform and inspire you.

Here are a few recommendations for the best books to read before your green vacation. Ranging from nature memoirs to critical studies, these volumes all address something important about the interconnectedness between humans and nature. These books are all available via indie bookstores, too, allowing you to contribute to sustainable business practices by purchasing from a small business!

Silent Spring – Rachel Carson

This now canonical work has been credited with inspiring the modern investment in protecting and conserving our fragile ecosystems. A striking study of the disastrous effects of synthetic pesticides on the natural environment with profound implications for the relationship between humans and nature, Silent Spring has impacted everyone from scientists to college students to housewives for decades.

A Sand County Almanac – Aldo Leopold

Another classic offering, this one by environmentalist and ecologist Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac is a collection of thoughtful essays that probe the relationship between humans and nature and then need for a “land ethic,” which Leopold articulates as the responsible stewardship of natural resources. This book has been credited with contributing to mainstream interest in ecology.

An Inconvenient Truth­ – Al Gore

Written by longtime environmental advocate and former Vice President Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth introduces the most critical issues when it comes to climate change and the important decisions we as a society face moving forward if we want to prevent further damage to our ecosystems. A documentary film related to the book was also released in 2006.

My First Summer in the Sierra – John Muir

Written by the man after whom the Muir Woods National Monument is named, My First Summer in the Sierra recounts the story of the author’s spiritual connection to nature in central California. It’s one of the most important books in the history of American environmental writing, and is especially significant because of the work that Muir would go on to do in advocating for the preservation of natural land in the United States.

The Turquoise Ledge – Leslie Marmon Silko

Only one of many inspiring and thought-provoking books by Native American author Leslie Marmon Silko, The Turquoise Ledge is a reflective memoir on the relationship between humans and desert life, as well as the struggle to find connections with nature in an increasingly busy modern world. Her other works also contain important meditations on the links between man and nature, if you want to expand your reading list.

Tomatoland – Barry Estabrook

An important volume focused on the history of agriculture in the United States, this challenging book takes the evolution of tomato growing as its case study for a larger interest in the ways in which modern, big business agricultural practices impact the environment and the people who work in the industry. Concerned with everything from the contemporary reliance on pesticides to the human cost of cheap labor, this is a must-read for those who care about what they eat.

The World Without Us – Alan Weisman

This imaginative book asks readers to envision the world without human habitation, and sketches out a vision of our planet where everything from highways to high-rises slowly recedes back into nature. This non-fictional work uses scientific observations to extrapolate what may happen to our everyday objects and to the billions of life forms whose existence is currently impacted by human habitation.

The Lorax – Dr. Seuss

This iconic children’s book (and recent animated film) is the perfect way to introduce your children to issues of environmental conservation and sustainability. A delightful fable that tells the story of how industrial development encroaches upon the environment, The Lorax is an important story that resonates with adults as well.