Travel better, not just farther: Circular tourism explained

Leaving a place better than you have left it and being able to dive into the local culture without exploiting it, is for many travelers more important than ever. It might even be a critical decision criteria for you when planning your trip.

But where do you start and which regions are already doing a great job implementing the circular economy principles? This blog post gives you an introduction into the circular economy in tourism. 

What is circular tourism?

Let’s start at the basics. Circular Economy is a model for consumption and production, with the goal to extend a products’ life cycle. 

Nowadays, we live in a linear economy. When something breaks, we throw it away. We buy groceries in the supermarket and throw out the packaging. Some countries recycle these packages, while others do not. In the circular economy the system operates in a way that is not linear but circular. This means that your milk bottle, chip packet, etc., is reintroduced into the economic cycle through recycling or reuse. An example of the latter are zero waste shops where people bring their own boxes. They refuse to produce packaging there.

Circularity doesn’t only apply to physical goods but also services. 

The Circular Economy principles started with the 4 Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle, refuse extended to 10 Rs. Let me introduce me to them:

Intelligence use and production of products.

Refuse

Refuse buying new items that you do not really need. In travel it is common to buy either items that make your travels easier or souvenirs from the country you are traveling to. Next time, think about it before buying something. Is it really necessary? Is the souvenir worth it, or do you need the travel item? Can you refuse the consumption? Refusing to use a straw for your drink is also a form of refusal.

Rethink

Rethink if there is an option to borrow a product/service or use multi-functional products. For instance when traveling it is advisable to use reusable coffee mugs or reusable shopping bags. Rethinking your travels. How you can make them more circular. Before deciding to buy the same model, you could borrow a trolley from a friend.

Reduce

Reducing less natural resources might seem to a traveler something that is not tangible. But you can start taking a shorter shower, turning off the AC if possible, producing less waste or have your reusable container ready in case you can’t finish a meal in a restaurant. Sharing a taxi or a ride is another way to reduce the CO2 emission.

Extend the life circle of products.

Reuse

If you forgot your reusable shopping bags and had to use a single use bag you could reuse it and extend the life circle of the product. You could go shopping for second hand clothing to give chic fashion items a second life. Here’s another tip for women: You could switch to reusable feminine hygiene products, such as menstrual cups or period underwear.

Repair

In some developing nations they are much better at repairing items. Whereas in the western countries it is not easy to find someone to repair your broken electronics or other things. Additionally western countries have many requirements and regulations, therefore you can’t find any old cars. But in developing nations it is norm. In Austria there are often so-called “Repair Cafes”, where you can repair old items. Be resourceful with your things and try to find a way to repair broken items.

Refurbish

Making new from old. Refurbishing online shops has become popular in recent years. Especially if you want to buy a refurbished laptop, phone or tablet you can find them refurbished. But also many fashion brands started to give clothing a second life. This may be your opportunity to buy a refurbished rain jacket for your travels. If your backpack is broken, how can you repair it? If it’s badly damaged, which parts can you still use? You could turn it into a fun DIY project.

Remanufacture

Remanufacture sounds like that is only applicable to the businesses. But you can easily remanufacture your used travel items. Whether it is a piece of clothing that has holes or shoes, bags. Get inspired by the internet and see how you can fix the items, so the usage of it can be extended.

Repurpose

Maybe you can’t do anything with your well-worn travel shoes or T-shirt anymore because they’re so worn out. Try to make the most of them. You could still use the shoelaces or cut the T-shirt up for cleaning cloths.

Reuse the material.

Recycle

The recycling rate in many countries is not very good. See if there is any option to recycle. In Mexico (at least in Monterrey, San Pedro García) for instance you could find recycling bins in supermarkets. This involved more effort from your side, since you need to bring your trash away.

Recover

Classical examples of circularity in tourism is the initial idea of Airbnb. Private people with a spare room or mattress rent out their space for a period of time. Nowadays many companies are operating on Airbnb, so that the initial idea got moved to the background. However, a alternative pop-up which is called Fairbnb. You can only find accommodations there that take care of the environment and/or the local community.

How can I make my travels more circular?

Refuse and rethink while buying new items 

At times you need travel items that are non-negotiable for you. Therefore you can’t refuse buying new items. But you can ask yourself questions in order to make better decisions. 

Do I really need it? Is it a luxury item? Does it make my travels easier? Do I have a similar item that I could use instead? 

If you figured out that you really need the item next you can consider where you buy it. Which companies do you want to support with your purchase? Is there an option to buy it in a physical store, or is it only available online? What about the option to purchase a higher-quality product? Or to buy a product with a longer lifespan?

Making travel plans while considering the circular economy

How can you find out if the accommodation provider is engaged in the circular idea of traveling? You can check if they make any efforts in environmental protection. Which heating/cooling system do they use? Where do they get their food from? Is it local grown organic food? How do they deal with food waste?

Fairbnb provides a list of alternative accommodation options. The company’s principles are to operate in a way that is respectful towards the environment, the economy, and the local community. A concrete example of accommodation providers that engage in the circular economy principles are Svart Hotel in Norway. The hotel is designed to use the sun at its best possible way, in winter for heating up and in summer to produce power. It is built as an energy positive powerhouse. Another example in the middle of Vienna is the Stadthalle Boutique Hotel which is a green oasis. In their courtyard garden they grow herbs and collect rainwater. A hotel in California stands out for its efficient energy and environmental design, the Bardessono Hotel. The Soneva Fushi in the Maldives has its own recycling system. As you can see there are a few pioneers who take the circular economy in tourism seriously. 

Less CO2 Emission with circular mobility

Getting around is a huge factor when it comes to traveling. Choosing eco-friendly transportation can be challenging especially if the country you are travelling to has bad public transportation. You can try car sharing, bike rental, or other forms of transportation usage. Such as walking instead of driving, for short distances. Amsterdam has a huge cycling infrastructure and platform for boatsharing. The two towns Mattershorn, Switzerland and Pontevedra, Spain made their center car free. 

Waste management while traveling

It is an uncomfortable topic, because during your holiday you don’t want to relax, turn your brain off and don’t worry about anything. But let me tell you it is also a habit that you can develop to take your reusable coffee mug or shopping bag with you. Or find out about the country’s recycling regulations. Nowadays this is so easy, you have literally all this information at your finger tips. You can try recycling tips like the iRecycle app or ShareWaste app. Another great option is to use the TooGoodToGo app, you are not only saving food but also money by buying more for less. 

I hope this overview of circular economy tourism inspires you for your next trip. Whether you adopt new practices or make slight changes to your behaviour, every little helps. Even small steps make a difference.