The Truth About Sustainable Travel: What I Wish I Had Known Sooner

I recently completed a Sustainable Travel course as part of a continuing education program for my work in conservation. I expected to learn practical tips on how to leave less of a footprint, travel lighter, and make more eco-friendly choices along the way. What I didn’t expect was for the course to shake me to my core.

When I finished, I told my husband it was one of the most eye-opening and, honestly, depressing classes I’ve ever taken. And I meant it. Long after I received my certification and added it to my LinkedIn profile, the lessons stayed with me. They lingered. They unsettled me. They changed the way I see travel altogether.

I truly believe anyone who travels should take a course like this. It completely reshaped how I think about moving through the world, and it has already changed how I plan to travel going forward. And before you stop reading, worried that I’m about to climb onto a high horse and preach about being a perfectly sustainable traveler (or human), let me be very clear - that’s not my style.

I am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. I’m learning in real time, just like most of us are.

Years ago, I worked for a company that often said, “We reserve the right to get smarter and do better.” That phrase really stuck with me. Because the truth is, we’re all doing the best we can with the information we have. Sustainability isn’t about being perfect 100% of the time; it’s about curiosity, humility, and a willingness to listen, learn, and do better as we move forward.

So what is sustainable travel, and why does it matter?

To me, sustainable travel means exploring the world in a way that minimizes harm to local communities, ecosystems, and wildlife, while also contributing positively to the local economy. Simple enough, right?

Not quite.

There are many layers to what it actually means to travel sustainably. It’s complex, nuanced, and sometimes uncomfortable. I could probably write a dissertation on the subject, but for now, I want to break it down into more approachable, bite-sized pieces, starting with what I wish I had understood sooner.

The Flight

To reach most destinations, we need some form of transportation - and more often than not, flying is the fastest and most accessible option. We all know that flights burn enormous amounts of fuel, and to be honest, there’s very little the average traveler can do to change that reality right now.

But what surprised me most wasn’t just the emissions. It was the sheer amount of waste.

From water bottles and drink cans to plastic cups, napkins, headphones, mini toothbrushes, single-wrapped food items, plastic wrap, and pre-made meals, the list goes on. Airlines generate millions of tons of cabin waste every year. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated roughly 3.6 million tonnes of cabin waste in 2023, a number projected to reach 10 million tonnes by 2030 and potentially double again by 2040 if current trends continue.

Let that sink in for a moment.

What makes this even more troubling is that much of this waste isn’t recycled. Because flights move between states and countries, recycling becomes a logistical nightmare, and in many cases, it doesn’t happen at all.

Now, I’m not saying don’t fly. That’s unrealistic and, frankly, not the point. Travel is deeply meaningful, educational, and often essential. But we do need to be aware of the impact, because these numbers are staggering.

The amount of single-use plastic associated with flying is overwhelming, and awareness is the first step toward change. Many airlines are beginning to recognize this, making small but meaningful shifts, like switching single-use plastic cups for compostable paper ones, or allowing passengers to pre-order meals to reduce food and plastic waste.

That’s a start.

But it’s not enough if the responsibility only falls on the traveler. We also need to let airlines know that we’re not okay with the sheer volume of waste being produced. Change begins with knowing, but it continues when we speak up, ask better questions, and demand better systems.

The Hotel

There are so many factors that go into choosing a hotel. Most of the time, I start with location, the view, proximity to the ocean, reviews from other travelers, price, whether it’s all-inclusive, the property itself, the pool, excursions…the list goes on.

But what we don’t always think about is how sustainable that hotel actually is. And if you love traveling to remote islands like I do, this matters more than you might realize.

The course I took included a case study on the island of Zanzibar, off the coast of Africa. But the lessons apply to many small islands and developing regions around the world - places with fragile ecosystems and limited infrastructure.

One topic in particular stopped me in my tracks: waste management.

When you stay at a hotel, especially one near the ocean, its waste management and sewage systems are incredibly important. I know it’s not a glamorous thing to think about. But what’s even less pleasant is the reality of what happens when those systems don’t exist or aren’t properly maintained.

In many places, untreated sewage flows directly into the ocean. Which means that when we choose to stay at hotels without a commitment to sustainability, we may unknowingly be swimming in water contaminated with human waste.

This is the unseen cost of “paradise.”

Supporting hotels that invest in proper waste treatment, water management, and environmental protection helps protect local communities, marine life, and the very places we travel across the world to experience.

Because sustainability doesn’t stop at reusable towels or skipping daily housekeeping. Sometimes, it’s about asking the harder questions - the ones beneath the surface.

Then there’s solid waste management: plastics, packaging, and single-use items we throw away without a second thought. Many smaller islands don’t have the infrastructure for recycling programs at all. Instead, tourist waste is often burned, leaving local communities to breathe in toxic fumes long after visitors have gone home.

So what can we do about it? 

One way we can be more mindful travelers is by choosing certified eco-friendly hotels whenever possible. While no certification is perfect, these programs help set baseline standards for environmental responsibility, community engagement, and ethical operations.

Some of the most widely recognized certifications include:

• Green Globe: Focuses on sustainability in tourism, including energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and support of local communities.

• EarthCheck: A science-based certification that measures environmental performance, particularly around energy use, water, and waste management.

• LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design):  Often used for buildings and resorts, this certification emphasizes sustainable construction, energy efficiency, and indoor environmental quality.

• GSTC-Recognized Certifications: The Global Sustainable Tourism Council doesn’t certify hotels directly, but it accredits certification programs that meet rigorous global sustainability standards.

• B Corp Certification: While not hotel-specific, some hospitality companies pursue B Corp status, signaling strong commitments to environmental and social responsibility.

That said, a certification alone doesn’t tell the whole story.

Some truly responsible properties may not have the resources to pursue formal certifications, while others may check boxes without making any real change (also referred to as green-washing). This is where curiosity comes in. Looking beyond labels, reading reviews and information about a hotel’s waste systems, water sourcing, energy use, and relationship with the local community can be just as important as the badge on their website.

We can also look at our own footprint. Bringing a reusable water bottle (or reusing one plastic bottle for the duration of your trip), saying no to single-use plastics whenever possible, and being mindful of what we consume and discard can make a big difference!

Water Usage

Another topic I hadn’t fully considered was just how much water hotels use, especially on small islands where freshwater is often a limited and precious resource.

Travelers, particularly those of us from highly developed countries, tend to use enormous amounts of water in our daily lives, often far more than local communities do. We’re used to reliable infrastructure and unlimited access, and we often expect the same comforts and conveniences when we travel. What we don’t always stop to ask is where that freshwater actually comes from, or how our usage impacts the people who live there year-round.

I was reminded of this in a very real way during a recent trip to a tiny village in Mexico, about two hours north of Cabo San Lucas. Freshwater was delivered by truck once a week to both residents and local hotels. Watching water arrive this way was a humbling reminder of how privileged we are to rarely think about water access at home.

In many island nations and coastal regions, freshwater comes from rainwater and underground aquifers. These systems are incredibly delicate. Freshwater sits above saltwater underground, and when too much freshwater is extracted too quickly, the saltwater below begins to rise and seep into the freshwater supply. Once that happens, the water becomes undrinkable and unusable for everyone.

This is known as saltwater intrusion, and it’s already affecting many island communities around the world.

At the same time, enormous amounts of freshwater are often used to maintain resort grounds, including lush green lawns, ornamental gardens, and expansive swimming pools that are frequently filled with fresh water. All of this places additional strain on local water systems and can limit access for surrounding communities.

In some cases, hotels even install their own water pumps, further drawing down groundwater that local residents depend on for drinking, cooking, and daily life.

These impacts are rarely visible to travelers. But they are deeply felt by the people who call these places home.

So what can we do about it? 

The most important place to start is simply using less water, especially in regions where freshwater is scarce.

Small shifts matter. Shortening showers by a few minutes, turning off the tap while brushing teeth, and reusing towels and linens instead of requesting daily washes all reduce unnecessary water use. These habits may feel insignificant on their own, but multiplied across thousands of guests, they can ease real pressure on fragile water systems.

We can also pay attention to the choices hotels make. Supporting accommodations that:

• Use saltwater or naturally filtered pools instead of freshwater

• Rely on rainwater catchment systems

• Treat and reuse greywater for landscaping

• Design grounds with native, drought-tolerant plants rather than water-hungry lawns

These practices signal respect for the land and for the communities that depend on the same water sources.

As travelers, we can shift our expectations, too. Lush green lawns and overflowing pools in dry or island environments aren’t signs of luxury - they’re signs of imbalance. Allowing landscapes to look more natural, more seasonal, and more reflective of their environment is part of traveling responsibly.

Whenever possible, we can ask questions like:

• How does this hotel source its water?

• Do they have conservation or reuse systems in place?

• Are they mindful of local water access for surrounding communities?

Even asking communicates that travelers care, and demand often drives change.

Finally, there’s the deeper practice of awareness and gratitude. Remember that water is not guaranteed everywhere. Pausing, even briefly, to acknowledge where it comes from and who else relies on it. Letting that awareness guide our behavior.

Sustainable travel invites us to look beyond the beauty of a destination and consider the systems that sustain it. Because water is life. And without it, there is no community, no ecosystem, and ultimately, no place to visit at all.

Supporting Local Communities

Tourism is a major driver of GDP in many parts of the world, especially for countries and islands that rely heavily on visitors. Current estimates show that the travel and tourism sector provides employment for roughly 370 million people worldwide - about one in every ten workers on the planet.

These jobs extend to countless other roles that keep destinations running: restaurants, shops, transportation, guides, and local attractions. When we travel, we have the opportunity to directly support the livelihoods of millions of people and the communities they call home.

Something I’ve always loved about traveling is the idea of using my money to help people in other countries. Travel isn’t cheap, but local economies often depend on visitors spending money with them.

There is a caveat, though. Many of today’s hotels, especially large 4- and 5-star resorts, aren’t locally owned. Many are part of global chains based in countries like the USA, China, or the UAE. Upper management is often hired from abroad, and even higher-paying roles may go to non-local staff, while local employees are left in lower-wage positions. Restaurants in these hotels frequently import food rather than sourcing from local farmers.

The good news? There are simple ways to make a difference.

When booking accommodations, consider choosing locally owned hotels. These are often smaller, boutique-style properties where service feels more personal, staff are locals, and your money is far more likely to stay within the community.

The same goes for where and how you eat. Choosing local restaurants over international chains helps support farmers, fishermen, and small business owners. A meal made with ingredients grown or caught just miles away offers a deeper, more nourishing experience than one served by a global brand importing most of its food from overseas - not to mention the added carbon footprint of transporting that food by plane or ship each week.

Supporting local businesses isn’t just better for communities; it often makes your travel experience more authentic, meaningful, and memorable.

Environmental Sustainability

While there are countless factors to consider in sustainable travel, this is arguably the most important: the care and protection of the environment, wildlife, and wild spaces.

I think back to my time in that small village in Mexico that has slowly become a diver’s paradise. Drawn by migrating ocean wildlife, travelers from around the world now flock there in hopes of witnessing something extraordinary. But it raises an important question: at what point does tourism begin to do more harm than good?

Seeing a whale or an orca in the wild is undeniably breathtaking. Yet when 40+ boats chase a single animal for the “perfect” Instagram shot, the impact becomes very real. I’ve witnessed this closer to home in Florida during manatee migration season, where crowds of people disrupted the animals so significantly that they altered their migration and mating patterns to avoid human contact. We love wildlife so deeply that we sometimes end up harming the very beings we’re trying to admire.

I could easily write an entire blog dedicated to ethical wildlife encounters (and I likely will), but these are just a few of the considerations travelers need to keep in mind when visiting these beautiful and fragile places.

A few rules of thumb I like to follow: 

• Any wildlife experience that involves animals in cages, being trained for petting, riding, or close human interaction is never ethical. For example, if you’re offered the chance to hold or pet a baby tiger, it’s almost always because the mother has been drugged or restrained. That cub, now conditioned to human contact, will likely never be able to return to the wild. Truly ethical encounters prioritize distance and respect, such as safaris or boat tours where animals are observed in their natural habitats without being touched or disturbed.

• When snorkeling or spending time underwater, avoid standing on, touching, or anchoring on coral reefs. Coral can take decades, sometimes even centuries, to grow, and only seconds to be destroyed.

• Environmental care also extends to how we consume natural resources. Overfishing, deforestation, and overharvesting don’t just damage ecosystems; they directly affect local communities. When resources are depleted, livelihoods disappear, food systems suffer, and tourism itself begins to collapse. If food is being served in mass quantities, there’s a strong chance it was sourced the same way. While eating fully plant-based/vegan is one of the most impactful choices we can make, even reducing meat and fish consumption, especially in delicate ecosystems, can make a difference!

Protecting the environment is essential to the long-term health, beauty, and vitality of the places we love to explore, and to the life they support.

In Conclusion

The truth about sustainable travel is that it isn’t always easy, or as black and white as we’d like it to be. There’s so much to consider, and the choices we make, especially where we choose to spend our money, carry real weight.

Travel is one of life’s greatest joys, and when approached with care, it can be a powerful force for good. By being mindful of how we move through the world, how we fly, where we stay, what we eat, and how we interact with wildlife and the environment, we can support local communities, protect fragile ecosystems, and help preserve the beauty of the places we love.

When we travel with intention, we help ensure that the world’s oceans, wildlife, and cultures remain vibrant not only for future travelers, but for the people who call these places home.

Did any of this resonate with you? I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to send me a DM on Instagram @HeyStephanieWeber and share how you practice traveling sustainably!