Ocean Bottle’s Insider Guide to Sustainable Travel

Ocean Bottle’s Insider Guide to Sustainable Travel

From conscious travel checklists to greenwashing traps to avoid, here are some top tips for a responsible (read: guilt-free) holiday.



Fighting
plastic pollution can often feel like a thankless task:
luckily, Ocean Bottle is here
to up the ante. Founded in 2018 by Will Pearson and Nick Doman, the
reusable-bottle brand funds the collection of 1,000 ocean-bound
plastic bottles in weight with every purchase, so customers are not
only reducing their own plastic waste, but the planet’s, too. Plus,
the entrepreneurial duo’s innovative exchange platform allows
locals in coastal communities to turn plastic collection into a
long-term, sustainable livelihood. In short, this is hydration with
a whole lot of heart.

Because Ocean Bottle knows a thing or two about making a real
impact where it matters, we sat down with the team to talk all
things sustainable travel. Here, we share the experts’ advice on
minimising our impact when on the move.


Now that the world is opening up again, we’re desperate
to travel but mindful of our footprint. What three things can we do
to travel more sustainably?

Our top three tips would be:

Consider how you get to your destination. There are plenty of
options that don’t involve taking a flight that will lower your
overall carbon footprint, such as taking the train, boat or
bus.

Choose a destination that values sustainability – one, for
example, that makes use of solar power, recycling or
energy-efficient buildings.

Sustainable travel is not only about emissions and materials,
it’s also about how travelling impacts the local community,
including when it comes to staffing and workers’ rights. We
recommend doing your research when choosing your destination.

What should be on our checklist when planning a
sustainable holiday?

Being on holiday shouldn’t give you a licence to forget about
your environmental footprint and there are plenty of things you can
do to make a difference. A staple on our checklist would, of
course, be to bring your Ocean Bottle to minimise your single-use
plastic consumption and help in keeping you hydrated.

Any essentials we should think about
packing?

We’d recommend packing reef-safe sunscreen, bringing a reusable
bag for your shopping and a food container for making your own
lunch.


What destinations should we have on our radar for
sustainable travel?

Norway is one of the leading countries in terms of
sustainability practices: almost all of the country’s domestic
electricity comes from hydropower, and it has the highest electric
vehicle adoption in the world, so it’s the perfect place for a
sustainable road trip.

Sweden is another sustainability trailblazer: most of
Gothenburg’s public transport runs off renewable energy, and
several hotels in the city have been awarded environmental
diplomas.

Finally, Ocean Bottle will soon be launching plastic-collection
initiatives in Colombia, a country which is leading the way in
community-driven enterprises for low-income communities.

We’ve arrived at our destination and there are no
recycling points in sight. What should we do?

If it’s a short trip, we’d recommend holding on to your rubbish
until you come across a recycling point. If that’s not possible,
try to minimise your waste consumption by carrying reusable
products and avoid any unnecessary purchases. It’s these small
changes that add up to make a significant difference.

We want to help with the fight against ocean plastic
but don’t know where to start. What do you suggest?

A simple first step would be to purchase an Ocean Bottle. Not
only will this stop you buying single-use plastic bottles, but
we’ll also collect 1,000 ocean-bound plastic bottles in weight on
your behalf (as we do with every Ocean Bottle purchased), so you’ll
be reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in our oceans,
too.

Does carbon offsetting make a difference?

Yes, carbon offsetting can help in the fight against climate
change, however, it should be a last resort, and its benefits vary
hugely depending on the project. Planting mangroves with
community-led initiatives is one strong way of offsetting carbon,
as the trees are able to absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide,
while also providing nurseries for fish in coastal regions.


How can we encourage our friends to travel more
sustainably?

Show them that it isn’t as hard as they think, and remind them
that small changes really do make a big difference.

What’s one trap we should be avoiding if we want to
travel more responsibly?

Be aware of potential greenwashing with certain “ecotourism”
schemes. Do your research beforehand to ensure that the places
where you’re staying practice what they preach. Bouteco is a great
resource for finding trustworthy sustainable hotels.

What’s next in the fight against ocean
plastic?

Ending the flow of plastic into the ocean is a great challenge,
and we’re currently still moving in the opposite direction. Ocean
plastic is expected to quadruple by 2040. We can, however, easily
make a big dent in this with funds and global action for local
recycling and waste-management infrastructures around the world. To
do so, there will need to be regulation and action from governments
and, of course, a reduction in virgin plastic production
globally.



How would you like the world to start managing plastic
waste in the future?

We have produced more than enough plastic to meet the world’s
needs many times over, and we need to begin to halt the production
of virgin plastic and increase the value of plastic waste to ensure
it is collected and properly recycled. Then, we’ll be able to build
a future where we are able to use this incredible material without
damaging the planet.

We want to volunteer in ocean conservation. Where
should we look?

We recommend checking out Go Eco in your search for ocean
conservation projects to get involved in. There are so many to
choose from, and they’re all impacting our ocean positively.

What’s next for Ocean Bottle?

Our pledge is to fund plastic collection that is equivalent to
seven billion plastic bottles by 2025. In the shorter term, we’re
aiming to fund the collection of three million kilograms of
ocean-bound plastic by the end of 2021, which is equivalent to 188
million plastic bottles. So far, we’re over halfway to reaching our
goal.

Discover More
11 Ways to be a More Sustainable Traveller