Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Some Great Tips for Maintaining a Sustainable Holiday | The Dakota ...

For a great holiday, you don?t have to throw away all the efforts you?ve made at home to live a sustainable lifestyle. You can still have a great time while being conscientious about your impact on the environment. Here are some tips for having a wonderful holiday while reducing your carbon footprint no matter where you are in the world.

If you plan to send greeting cards or postcards while you?re away, be sure to buy recyclable products. If you?re not sure if you?ll find some at your destination, purchase them before you leave and send them later. You can even make your own from recycled paper and eco-friendly inks from a home printer.

Whether you drink wine or just fruit juice, save those bottles for reuse. If you?ve bought smaller bottles, the next time you can purchase an economy size and pour a serving into the smaller, saved bottle to be used over and over again.

Always buy rechargeable batteries for toys or electronics and have a battery charger handy. Once they?re ready to be tossed, look for a service where you can recycle them. Spend a little more for a better battery too. There is a vast difference in longevity and performance when comparing cheap store-bought batteries and higher-end batteries you can buy online.

It?s tempting to eat out a lot in a new place, but think about what you order and what you plan to do if there?s too much food to finish. Take leftovers with you and don?t forget them in the back of the refrigerator. Often you can incorporate a previous night?s meal into a new menu, such as omelettes made with last night?s steak.

When making purchases such as gifts for friends and family back home, to save on waste, try to buy items that are not packaged or have little packaging. If you?re on a holiday like Christmas and will be giving gifts, be sure to use recycled wrapping paper or gift bags. Gift bags are the best option as they can be used again by the gift?s recipient for further gift-giving or storing items.

While away you may stay at a hotel that offers laundry service. It?s a nice service to have but consider how often you really need to have your clothes cleaned. Bring along plenty of clothes to last throughout your holiday so you will only have to do laundry once before you leave.

Whenever possible, use public transportation, walk, or ride a bike while seeing the sights. Leave the rental cars at the airport. You?ll also get an added health benefit when walking or riding a bike.

Pack a few reusable grocery bags for the trip. The environment will thank you for every plastic bag you don?t use. Even if you have the option of paper bags, think of the trees saved when you won?t need to use one.

When out on a hiking trail, stay on the trail. By wandering off into places you shouldn?t go you are contributing to erosion and other damage to the environment. It may seem inconsequential, but often others have the same thought and do not realize they are one of many who ignore the possible damage they can do.

With a little thought and determination, you?ll be surprised at how easy a sustainable holiday can be. Sustainability should not be reserved just for home. It is a lifestyle that should carry into all aspects of your life. Next time you take a holiday, apply what you do at home to your trip. You?ll feel great about it and the environment will too.

JakeAbout Jake Hastings

The Dakota Traveler is a blog created to share traveling experiences. I share my own traveling stories, advice and recommendations from across the world.

The Dakota Traveler is a blog created to share traveling experiences. I share my own traveling stories, advice and recommendations from across the world.

Source: http://www.dakotatraveler.com/great-tips-maintaining-sustainable-holiday/

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