Go Green with Sustainable Lodging & Transportation – Travel Portland

By selecting lodging, dining, activity and destination options that protect the environment, contribute to local economies and promote cultural heritage, tourists can conserve and enhance the resources of communities they visit.

Today, more and more companies and communities support sustainable travel. The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, created in 2008, provides guidelines to help businesses preserve resources while sustaining profits.

Travelers can pitch in, too. These tips will help keep your destinations evergreen.

1. Plan mindfully: Select destinations that uphold international treaties and respect human rights. Visit during local cultural events to increase your economic impact on the community and your opportunities for learning. Save reservation details and receipts electronically. Pack travel mugs, reusable bottles and shopping bags to minimize the waste you create while on the go.

2. Travel lightly: Rail travel can be easier on the environment — and more relaxing — than flying. If you do go by plane, buy independently certified carbon offsets. When possible, explore by foot, bike or public transit, and if you rent a car, opt for a hybrid. If you go on an organized tour, support eco-certified companies that use biodiesel or electric vehicles.

3. Eat locally: Flying isn’t the only way to rack up carbon emissions — foods that are transported long distances or produced in factory farms also harm the atmosphere. Local, organic foods (like those at farmers’ markets) minimize your environmental impact and celebrate the flavors of your destination.

4. Shop smartly: Mass-produced souvenirs are often shipped from the other side of the world. Buy eco-friendly products or unique items made by local designers and craftspeople. Explore flea markets and vintage shops to repurpose treasures loved by locals.

5. Stay sustainably: Book accommodations that make an effort to protect the environment. Look for hotels with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Green Seal or STEP certifications or other lodgings that employ sustainable practices. If no eco-friendly options are available, green your own room by turning off lights and appliances and asking that linens not be changed during your stay.

6. Experience actively: Appreciate and support what makes your destination unique. Orient yourself with a walking tour or a bus or streetcar ride. Explore local history, art and indigenous cultures and look for exhibits on social and environmental issues. Also consider “voluntourism” — contributing a few hours of work to a local organization.

7. Speak up: Be an advocate for the environment both at home and on the road. Let businesses know how they could be greener with comment cards or via their websites. Spread good news, too: Reward companies that have high sustainability standards with positive feedback and recommend these businesses. Share what you’ve learned and inspire others to be sustainable tourists, too.