The Altruistic Traveller
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Africa
    • Cambodia
    • Colombia
    • Europe
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Laos
    • Malaysia
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Mexico
    • Nepal
    • Philippines
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam
  • Travel Resources
    • What is Responsible Tourism?
    • How to be a Sustainable Traveller
    • What is Community-based Tourism
    • Responsible Volunteering
    • The Rise of Impact Travel
    • Ethical Animal Encounters
    • The Importance of Fair Trade
    • Responsible Travel Websites
    • Sustainable Tourism Organisations & Experiences
    • Sustainable Tourism Podcasts
    • Travel Insurance (that covers COVID-19)
  • About
    • Bianca’s Story
    • The Altruistic Traveller Story
    • Personal Stories
    • Podcast Interviews
    • Bee Designs Co
    • SustainAffiliate
  • Media
    • Featured In
    • Work with me
    • Book a Podcast Interview
  • Contribute
    • List a Sustainable Tourism Organisation or Experience
  • Contact Me

The Altruistic Traveller

Banner
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Africa
    • Cambodia
    • Colombia
    • Europe
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Laos
    • Malaysia
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Mexico
    • Nepal
    • Philippines
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam
  • Travel Resources
    • What is Responsible Tourism?
    • How to be a Sustainable Traveller
    • What is Community-based Tourism
    • Responsible Volunteering
    • The Rise of Impact Travel
    • Ethical Animal Encounters
    • The Importance of Fair Trade
    • Responsible Travel Websites
    • Sustainable Tourism Organisations & Experiences
    • Sustainable Tourism Podcasts
    • Travel Insurance (that covers COVID-19)
  • About
    • Bianca’s Story
    • The Altruistic Traveller Story
    • Personal Stories
    • Podcast Interviews
    • Bee Designs Co
    • SustainAffiliate
  • Media
    • Featured In
    • Work with me
    • Book a Podcast Interview
  • Contribute
    • List a Sustainable Tourism Organisation or Experience
  • Contact Me
Environmental AwarenessSustainable Travel

How to Talk to Your Friends About Sustainability (and Why You Need to)

by Madison Adams July 9, 2019
written by Madison Adams July 9, 2019
talk-sustainability

Unfortunately, our environment is changing — and not for the better. Heat waves, melting ice, and CO2 levels are increasing all over the world. It’s now imperative that every inhabitant of this planet makes their own contribution to save it.

Small efforts to reduce your individual footprint, even day-to-day, are what will make the biggest difference in the long run. These efforts include telling your friends about the little ways they can help the planet too.

Show empathy

Your friends want your opinions and advice more than those from a random website or government initiative. When it comes to having a conversation about changing habits and lifestyle, sensitivity and kindness should be paramount for making the conversation productive. Remember that we are all working together toward the same goal.

Put yourself in the shoes of the person you are approaching, and remember how you felt when you realized some of your tried-and-true habits were bad for the planet. If you approach it too harshly your friend could feel attacked just by simply telling them they use too much water to brush their teeth, so thoughtfulness is key. Most importantly though, make sure you’re having an open dialogue with them, not just criticizing their lifestyle.

Emphasizing how you also had to learn a greener lifestyle creates a more comfortable environment and can make your friends more responsive. Also, mentioning steps that you and your friends(s) can take together to become greener is a great way to create and show that you are with them in the process.

Power in numbers

Including friends in your sustainability efforts isn’t just good because it increases awareness, it also expands your network of people to be sustainable with. It’s much easier to commit to change when you have a group to keep you accountable. For example, carpooling with a few of your coworkers can have tons of perks, namely group accountability. If you all agree to travel together, the whole group benefits from reduced gas prices, time-saving and a reduction in emissions.

On a larger scale, the more people that share a car the fewer cars there are on the road, which lowers your commute time. Most importantly though, it helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which are to blame for atmospheric warming.

According to the United States EPA, from 1990 to 2015 there was a shocking 37% increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The Earth can’t tolerate these increasing levels, and helping to minimize the number of cars on the road is an effective place to start.

be-the-change

Make sustainability fun

If carpooling isn’t an option for you and your friends, find activities that are educational and fun. Suggesting something like going to the local farmers’ market on the weekend to buy fresh produce is a good way to try something new and support your local farmers.

If you go, make sure to bring reusable bags instead of plastic! Many environmentally-savvy people are shifting to using hemp products, like paper and fabric, because it has a faster growth time, thus it is more sustainable. Hemp bags and clothing are rising in popularity, both for their style and durability and are a sustainable way for you and your friends to stand out while being environmentally conscious.

Finding ways to reduce plastic use can also be a challenging group project, take the Plastic Free July challenge as an example. More minds are going to yield more ideas! For example, replacing plastic cups with glass jars that are reused from other products (like salsa jars) can be a fun way to see who can be the most creative.

Change takes time

Finally, assuring your friends that all of their lifestyle changes don’t have to happen immediately is essential. It can take months to phase out old habits and products and replace them with new and better ones, but daily improvements are what lead to big changes.

It’s important to remember that you are the best example to your friends of sustainability and the best way to help change their habits. A good role model never hurts; and who knows, maybe your friends will end up selling their belongings and moving into a tiny house… all because you decided to tell them about sustainability.

armsandtreee

 

0 comment
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinRedditStumbleuponEmail
previous post
The one with the reflections of 32
next post
The Reusable Items Packing List Every Traveller Needs

You may also like

From Trash to Treasure – How Organisations in...

January 17, 2019

Travel Bloggers Share Their Off-Season Travel Experiences

May 24, 2019

Guest Post – Eco Friendly Sports to Try...

April 23, 2016

5 Of Asia’s Most Beautiful Destinations Destroyed By...

July 4, 2016

Conserving Kampot’s last Mangroves

August 12, 2016

The Why and How of Altruistic Travel –...

February 9, 2017

7 Of The World’s Most Beautiful Snorkelling Destinations

January 31, 2017

How Travelling as a Group Can Be Better...

December 20, 2016

Ethical Gifts For Him This Valentine’s Day

February 8, 2018

How to Travel Responsibly on a Budget

September 9, 2019

About Bianca

About Bianca

The Altruistic Traveller

I am an Australian-Maltese freelance journalist, blogger & podcast host specialising in stories that ignite thoughts surrounding compassion, ethics and the happiness of all beings. Through my work, I aim to promote ethical values and give a voice to those who are making the world a better place.

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Linkedin Spotify

Sign up for the Newsletter

Subscribe my newsletter for new blog posts, tips & travel advice.

Listen to The Altruistic Traveller Podcast

Get Travel Insurance

incurance-that-covers-covid-19

Offset Your Travel with Offsetra

Offset Your Travel with Offsetra

Save $$$ on your currency conversion while you travel

Transfer-wise

House Sit & Travel The World

trusted-housesitters

Learn a language online with Live Lingua

Responsible Travel (Virtually) with I Like Local

I-like-local

Browse Sustainable Travel experiences on the Greener Act App

Greener Act App Button

JOIN THE IMPACT TRAVEL ALLIANCE MEDIA NETWORK

Are you a content creator specialising in sustainable travel? Join the ITA media network.

Meet local heroes and find local experiences with LocalsFromZero

LocalsFromZero Network

Book Travel with Kiwi


Learn how to become location independent

Use code thealtruistictraveller10 for 10% off courses

NomadsSkillshare

Dine with Locals on EatWith

eat-with-coupon-7B728BBE

Find Ethical Food Venues Nearest to you with Fair Food Forager

fair-food-forager

LATEST TRAVEL TIPS

Subscribe my newsletter for new blog posts, tips & travel advice.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • Email
  • Soundcloud
  • Spotify
  • RSS

@2021 - The Altruistic Traveller. Developed by Cybernite Technologies.
The Altruistic Traveller uses affiliate links. If you make a purchase using a link we may receive a commission. Such revenue helps keep this website running, and allows us to keep the content free for readers like you.
This website uses cookies. To learn more or opt-out please visit our Privacy Policy.


Back To Top