If there is one thing every traveller will agree on, it is that the world around us is wonderful. Having seen its beauty, we also understand the importance of preserving it. But no one is born knowing everything, and it can be hard to know how to help conserve our planet. So we begin with “There is no planet B«, a series of publications in which we will try to give advice on actions that can help us preserve our wonderful world. Let's start!
Chapter 1: 5 small actions to protect the environment while travelling
In this first chapter, we have compiled 5 small actions that can be key to preserving the environment when we travel.
1. Use a biodegradable sunscreen.
Especially if you plan to go into the water. Traditional sunscreens contain many chemicals, fatal to marine ecosystems. Although their use is already being banned in some places, they remain permitted in most. Why wait for a ban? It is a good time to switch to biodegradable sunscreen. Unlike conventional sunscreens with chemical filters, biodegradable ones use mineral filters such as zinc and titanium, which are much better for your health.
2. Use natural repellents.
If you use chemical repellents, apply them correctly. We often wait until we notice bites before applying repellent, then spray as if there were no tomorrow. As well as using too much and potentially harming our skin, we are also spraying our surroundings, thus harming the ecosystem. We therefore recommend using natural repellents, or, if using chemical ones, applying them before setting off to avoid polluting the environment. If you use chemical repellent, please do not enter the water.
3. Don't touch or feed wild animals.
Under no circumstances. Wild animals have their own ways of surviving and do not need our help. Contact with humans can change their behaviour, with very negative effects, making them dependent on people and unable to survive on their own. A change in a species’ habits, can be fatal to an entire ecosystem. Respecting their freedom and independence helps both the animals and their natural surroundings survive. If you are offered activities involving tamed wild animals,
4. Make sure that the waste you generate can be recycled.
It's possible that the place we're in lack the facilities to recycle the waste we generate. That means that, at best, our rubbish will end up in landfill and can never be reused. We therefore need to generate as little waste as possible; in our case, in 2019 we started with the initiative #StopPlastic, through which we give a metal water bottle to travellers on trekking or hiking trips, replacing plastic bottles with a reusable container. If you do produce waste, make sure it can be recycled, even if this means take it to your country of origin.
5. Little by little, it helps clean up the world.
By now, most travellers know we should not litter, so we leave no trace of our activities. What is less instinctive is cleaning up what others leave behind. We are not obliged to collect other people’s rubbish, but if we picked up every piece of litter we found and disposed of it properly, The world would look different.. Perhaps it is just us, but removing litter from the natural environment makes us feel wonderful!
About Tuareg Responsable
At Tuareg, we take an active role in working for social justice and protecting our environment. The initiative Responsible Tuareg aims to promote projects that allow us to do our bit for make our world a better place for all. Find out more...