Juliet Kinsman - The Green Edit

EBURY

UK | USA | Canada | Ireland | Australia
New Zealand | India | South Africa

Ebury is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com.

First published by Ebury Press in 2020

Text Juliet Kinsman 2020
Images Shutterstock except the image on which is reproduced with kind permission from Shorefast Social Enterprises Inc.

The moral right of the author has been asserted

Cover design by Louise Evans

ISBN: 978-1-473-58311-5

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the authors and publishers rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

I once heard someone compare sustainability to teenage sex Everyones talking about it, very few are actually doing it, and those that are doing it arent doing it very well.

Thankfully, thats changing. Theres more walk; its not all talk. Green travel no longer means having to scrimp on comfort or joy in many ways, its about experiencing travel in a more enriching way; a more authentic, tactile, edifying, soul-tickling way. Being green has never been so gratifying.

Obviously, the shorter the distance we stray from home, the lower our carbon footprint, but when it comes to far-flung forays there are lots of destinations that need more tourism, too. For me, being green isnt just about being kind to the environment, but about getting back to how nature intended time to be spent. This, weve learned in recent times, is now more important than ever. From aviation to accommodation to carbon offsetting and undertourism (see ), this book will help you understand every link in the travel chain, so you can choose wisely and let your travels be a force for good.

In an era where weve become addicted to convenience, instant gratification and disposability, we can feel paralysed, as though all the worlds challenges are too daunting and insurmountable. I hope that reading this book will make things feel a lot easier. Here, I recommend small changes that can make a big difference when planning your trips near and far, with helpful signposts on where to go, hacks on what to pack and secrets that will help you organise how to get anywhere.

Back in 1900, Leo Tolstoy said, Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. Maybe by the end of this decade, well remember the 2020s as the decade when sustainability became more than an on-trend, overused buzzword and instead the start of a new era that saw us change our ways.

Its never been more rewarding to feel youre having a positive impact, while also having the best possible holiday.

Ive been a journalist for two and a half decades, and Ive spent most of this time writing about hotels and luxury travel. As much as I loved all the five-star stays, the excess and indulgence never sat right with me. As dreamy as it sounds to be able to call flying around the globe and staying in world-class hotels work, there was always a nagging guilt. So I started this new decade determined to think of it as the Restoring Twenties a time when everyone finally joins the conversation about sustainability and wakes up to what can be done when were more responsible travellers who care about effecting social change.

Originally a music journalist, I began my career as a hotel specialist when my friends had an idea for a hotel guide for folks who wanted to get their weekend escapes right every time. We created Mr & Mrs Smith an authoritative travel brand with an uplifting and irreverent voice. The first book we published was a bestseller, so great was the appetite for finding the best boutique hotels. After many years as editor-in-chief, I started to notice that some of the hotels we really loved warranted a recommendation for more than just their style they were doing that bit more for the environment or their communities.

To spotlight these heroes, I created Bouteco.co and started working with hotels that stand for something and deserve to stand out for it. My platform helps hotel lovers find the best eco-conscious design-led hotels and I work with hoteliers to improve their sustainability, social responsibility and communications so that discerning travellers can make informed decisions. I believe that the more we talk about sustainability and whats good for the guest, good for the hotels and good for the world, the more we all benefit. And now, with this book, I aim to pass a little more of that knowledge on to you, with tips on how to make your own personal actions as a traveller more eco-conscious.

I believe that the more we talk about sustainability and whats good for the guest, good for the hotels and good for the world, the more we all benefit.

Lets inspire each other to understand better how our actions can pay it forward.

Green neednt mean going full hippy or horticulturalist; it means having a better understanding of the supply chains and navigating choices with more consideration and making the right decision as a savvy, switched-on economist, ecologist, anthropologist, sociologist, philosopher, scientist or half-decent person.

Its time to snap out of autopilot and enjoy the process of taking a little more responsibility when it comes to making low-carbon, low-impact choices. Look to the Slow Food Movement for a great model of celebrating local, seasonal sourcing and the pleasures of simple, quality cooking. Just as weve woken up to the harms caused by industrial agriculture and international freighting, and the destructive nature of fast fashion with its toxic dyes, resource-guzzling and child-labour abuses, its time to get our heads around the same values in travel. Cultivating an appreciation for companies with purpose-driven policies is fantastically gratifying.

Just as the places we visit are a mirror reflecting our curiosity, everything we do and where we choose to spend money reflects our values and our hopes for the future.

Its amazing how quickly revolutions can happen just think of the public attitude towards plastic after David Attenboroughs Blue Planet broadcast. Since 80 per cent of any purchase made is emotional, lets follow our hearts. By committing to something better, were already part of a huge shift. Deep down, most humans want do the right thing, if they can especially if theyre truly aware of the wider implications of each decision. The problem is that the effect of our actions can feel intangible as though its a drop in the ocean. But each drop has a ripple effect. Even if you only take on board one or two tips from this book, just those could make a difference to a family somewhere soon, and countless of their relatives in the future.