Bal Tashchit and Beyond: Six Ways to Make Your Trip More Sustainable

Charlotte Jewish News September 2021

By David H. Rosenthal

After a year of travel cancellations, many of us are eager for the return of the road trip or ready to take to the skies once again. And with Rosh Hashanah fast approaching, many are planning to rekindle connections with

family and friends. Much has changed since we last packed our bags, including perhaps how we want to travel. If you are thinking green, or interested in traveling a little more sustainably, there’s good news: reducing your vacation footprint doesn’t necessarily mean avoiding planes or cars altogether, going completely off the grid, or making arduous treks. In fact, there are some relatively easy things you can do to travel with a smaller eco footprint.

Pack light.

When you’re traveling green, the term “lighten up” takes on a new meaning. If you can manage to bring less with you, your efforts can contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Here’s how: people, pets, packages, and other cargo all have weight. More weight translates into more fuel. When you pack less, you’re potentially reducing emissions generated by your mode of transportation. As an added bonus, if you’re flying, packing light can eliminate baggage fees.

One tip: check the weather in advance and pack accordingly with versatile clothing that can be used for more than one activity. If the idea of packing too lightly makes you nervous, see if your lodging offers laundry services or scope out nearby local options.

One way to save space? See what’s available where you’re staying. Your accommodations may provide beach towels, hair dryers, cots, cribs, and other amenities.

Look for green places to stay.

Although you could sleep outside on the ground wrapped in bamboo sheets, you don’t have to give up sleeping in a real bed to travel green. More traditional (and to us, more comfortable) options may be available. For example, seek accommodations offering earth-friendly practices such as water fillers for your reusable

bottle, bath products in dispensers (instead of tiny plastic bottles), or eco-friendly cleaning products. Some hotels encourage guests to help save on water and energy by offering discounts or rewards if you reuse towels or linens instead of changing these out every day. Check out the U.S. Green Building Council’s roundup of sustainable places to stay: https://www.usgbc.org/articles/ green-travel-roundup-leedcertified-places-see.

Consider transportation options.

Taking a train or driving may be better for the environment than flying, but it’s not always possible, feasible, or reasonable. Planes do pollute. The David Suzuki Foundation (April 2021) attributes 12% of emissions to airlines, among the top 10 sources of emissions overall.

It is possible to minimize your in-flight environmental impact. Direct flights tend to have smaller carbon footprints, so it could be greener to take a single, continuous flight instead of piecing together a trip of connecting flights. Going economy is greener because this section carries more people than first class, resulting in a smaller per-passenger carbon footprint.

What about traveling by sea? A cruise may appear to be an eco-friendly option — it’s on water, you’re surrounded by nature! Actually, the environmental impact can be severe. A researcher told the New York Times that cruise ships give off almost four times the amount of carbon dioxide per mile than jets do.

Use an eco-friendly trip operator or travel company.

Using a travel company specializing in eco travel accomplishes a few things: A sustainable travel approach may ease the negative impact of over-tourism, the official term for too many people visiting one place, by drawing attention to less crowded areas.

Pairing donations to environmental causes can enable vacation discounts.

If you want less of a tour approach to planning, you may be able to find some green activities through local outdoors stores, parks departments, or tourism boards. Learn more about ecotourism from the International EcoToursim Society. https://ecotourism.org/what-is-ecotourism/

Travel and eat like a local.

Public transit can be a great way to see a new city, and because it’s mass transit, it’s greener than taking a car. Trains and buses, however, aren’t the only ways to reduce vehicular traffic and fuel consumption. You may be able to rent bikes or walk, providing an added benefit to your personal health.

One of the best ways to get a feel for the culture of a new city is through its cuisine. Supporting local venues that serve local ingredients is good for the environment and your taste buds. Local food doesn’t have to travel as far to arrive on your plate, so it helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to improving our carbon footprint.

Stay close to home.

Of course, perhaps the most eco-friendly and sustainable travel is the staycation. Instead of planning a trip thousands of miles away, consider living like a tourist by seeking out local sights, events, and activities in your own city. It may be just the push you need to finally go to the places you’ve been meaning to visit and support local businesses at the same time.

Jewish tradition teaches the importance of caring for the environment, for we must act as partners in preserving creation. If you are interested in supporting Shalom Green or have ideas for educational programming, please contact us at info@shalomgreenCLT.org. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ShalomGreen_ CLT, and visit our website at www.shalomgreenCLT.org.