Travelling sustainably? You might think it sounds like a paradox. The tourism industry is one of the biggest culprits for climate damage, creating around a tenth of greenhouse gas emissions. However, there are small ways which we can reduce our environmental damage as travellers, and get back to enjoying the sun!
Travel by train
One of the best ways to reduce your individual carbon footprint is to take the train instead of flying. A recent Eurostar study found that, on a trip from London to Paris, taking the train compared to flying reduced individual carbon footprints by a staggering 91%. There are so many perks to travelling by train; no airport complications, more room, scenery to enjoy out of the window, and more time to read your book, or catch up on emails. At Montagne Verte, our AlpineExpress scheme offers you even more perks! We partner with restaurants, accommodation, and summer activities in the Haute Savoie to offer you discounts if you travel here by train. To find out more, check out our website, and get your AlpinExpress pass today! To make travelling by train a breeze, you can also consult our easy to use online information guides.
Think before you picnic!
Picnics on the mountains or barbecues on the beach; we all love to enjoy the tastes of summer with some outdoor dining. It can be tempting to buy single use plastic cutlery, water bottles and containers. But, one of the most simple swaps you can make requires just a little more thinking in advance when you are packing. Make bringing reusable water bottles, tupperware and cutlery an essential part of your packing list, alongside your bikini and sunglasses!
Use suncream which protects your skin and the sea
It’s important that, whilst we are protecting ourselves from sun damage, we are also protecting our environment. Did you know that most sunscreens contain chemical compounds which block the sun’s UV rays and can decrease fish fertility, or lead to bleaching and deformity in coral? The good news is, there are some brilliant cosmetics brands who are now making environmentally friendly skin products. Swap last year’s sunscreen with an environmentally friendly sunscreen instead.
Eat and buy local produce
A swap you can do wherever you go on holiday. It can be tempting to head straight to supermarket, or cornershop and buy pre-made meals, or products which have been imported from across the world. But, going to that little bit more effort to find the local market, grocers and restaurants makes all the difference. In Morzine, there is a market every Wednesday, in Les Ges the market is on Thursday and the surrounding villages have shops with local produce from cheese to beer available.Buying, and eating locally, is more sustainable, it supports the local economy, and usually it will save you money. It’s a win-win!
Avoid the fast fashion urge!
We’ve all been caught up in the excitement of a getaway, and bought the latest trendy summer outfits, only to push them to the back of the wardrobe at the end of the holiday season and never wear them again. This year, think before you add that 5th bikini to your cart… do you really need it? Fast fashion, particularly brands like Shein, Zara, Temu and H&M, are particularly damaging, so much so that in June 2025, the French Senate passed a bill to regulate ultra-fast fashion, which would impose a ban on advertising it. So, before you go on a spending spree, take stock of your wardrobe, and take a minute to work out what it is you really need. Once you have, opt for environmentally friendly brands, or shop second-hand in person, or on apps like Depop and Vinted. Here in Morzine, Montagne Verte also has its own second hand shop. We receive new stock everyday – pop in and see if you can find what you are looking for. We frequently post our ‘second hand shop finds’ on Instagram – keep an eye out!
Get to know the bins!
Your hotel, or AirBnB, should have recycling bins on site. For many countries, it is a legal requirement. However, if you are travelling somewhere where restrictions are more lax, these may not be obvious to find. It may take that extra minute to Google the local administration’s recycling bins, or take a quick stroll down the street to find one, but it is worth it. Just because you are on holiday, and free of many responsibilities, you are not free from the responsibility of being an environmentally friendly traveller. For recycling in the Haute Chablais region, you can read our recycling blog for more advice.
Walk, walk, walk…
This one is fairly self-explanatory! If you can, and it is safe to do so, walk instead of taking a taxi. For short journeys, it is cheaper and more enjoyable to walk instead of using public transport. Here in Morzine, Avoriaz, Les Gets & Montriond we have free public public buses to get between the villages and the lake.
As we’ve shown, there are plenty of simple swaps that can make your holiday healthier for yourself, and for the planet. What unites them all is just taking that little more time to plan in advance. Take a moment to think about transport alternatives, what you are packing and the clothes you are buying. When you arrive at your destination, take time to be attentive to your surroundings. Where are the local producers? Where are the nearest recycling bins? What is the ecological climate like? Are their environmental regulations in place, like drought restrictions, which I should be aware of? If we all stop to ask ourselves these simple questions, we can make a significant positive impact on our climate.
Further reading:
https://www.carbonclick.com/news-views/train-tourism-carbon-savings-compared-to-flights
Written by Maddy Gordon-Finlayson
