Reducing your carbon footprint while traveling: Sustainable travel tips

Traveling broadens our horizons, but it also impacts the environment. From flights to accommodations, every journey leaves a carbon footprint. Fortunately, eco-conscious travel isn’t about giving up adventures—it’s about making smarter, more sustainable choices. Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a long journey, here are a few easy ways to lower your impact.

1. Choose low-carbon transportation

Air travel is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions. To practice low-carbon travel:

  • Opt for trains or buses instead of short-haul flights whenever possible.
  • Choose direct flights to reduce fuel consumption.
  • Use public transport, bikes, or walk instead of renting cars.
  • If using cars, consider an electric or hybrid vehicle.

2. Pack smart

When it comes to sustainable travel, we often hear advice like “pack a little lighter to reduce fuel consumption.” But let’s put that into perspective: a Boeing 737-800 weighs around 45 tons when empty, and its maximum takeoff weight is approximately 82 tons. Asking individual travelers to reduce their luggage by a few kilograms, while well-intentioned, barely moves the needle.

Instead, we should focus on changes that truly scale. Choosing reusable items over single-use products, for example, has a far more meaningful impact over time. Bringing a refillable water bottle, saying no to plastic utensils, or opting for long-lasting travel accessories are choices that not only reduce waste but also encourage broader behavioral shifts across the industry.

3. Stay at sustainable accommodations

Many hotels and lodgings have embraced sustainability by reducing water usage, managing waste, and using renewable energy. Look for eco-certified accommodations or those with clear sustainability initiatives.

4. Support local and sustainable businesses

Eco-conscious travel also means being thoughtful about where your money goes. Choosing businesses that prioritize sustainability can have a ripple effect on the communities you visit and the planet as a whole:

  • Dine local: Eat at restaurants that serve locally sourced, seasonal produce.
  • Shop small: Purchase souvenirs from local artisans instead of mass-produced alternatives.
  • Travel responsibly: Avoid attractions that exploit animals or harm the environment.

And just as importantly—travel with sustainable service providers. For instance, Fast Travel provides sustainable taxi rides. 

As an officially certified Eco-Lighthouse (Miljøfyrtårn) company, Fast Travel has made environmental accountability a core part of its operations. From running on 100% renewable energy to partnering with like-minded businesses, Fast Travel demonstrates what responsible travel looks like in action.

By choosing responsible providers, you're helping build a more sustainable travel industry.

5. Offset your carbon footprint

Many organizations offer carbon offset programs that support reforestation or renewable energy projects. While reducing emissions is key, offsetting unavoidable travel emissions can make a difference.

Fast Travel’s commitment to sustainability

To reduce our environmental impact, we focus on:

Transparency & accountability: Providing stakeholders with environmental reports detailing our sustainability goals and results. 

Sustainable partnerships: Collaborating with companies that share our vision of reducing emissions and working toward carbon neutrality. 

Eco-friendly operations: Evaluating environmental practices across our entire value chain, from data management to cloud services.Our technology is powered by Google Green and Hetzner, utilizing carbon-neutral and 100% renewable energy data centers.

Conclusion

Traveling doesn’t have to come at the expense of the environment. By adopting these sustainable travel tips, we can all contribute to a greener future. Whether you’re commuting for work or exploring new destinations, small choices lead to big changes. Let’s make eco-conscious travel the new standard!

Sustainable travel isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Every small, intentional choice adds up. From taking the train to packing a little lighter, we can all do our part.

Let’s keep exploring—just a bit more thoughtfully.