No need for “flight shame” — here’s how to lower your carbon footprint when flying  

If you’re feeling inspired by teen environmental activist Greta Thunberg, LuggageHero has some helpful suggestions for you. The 16-year-old recently sailed from her home in Sweden instead of flying to New York for the United Nations Climate Action  Summit on Sept. 23 (Youth Climate Summit is Sept. 21).

Greta is the current face of “flygskam,” or “flight shame,” a growing movement in Europe and North America to reduce air travel in order to lessen impact on the environment. Burning jet fuel releases greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide into Earth’s atmosphere and oceans, which causes global temperatures to rise.

Worldwide, flights produced 895 million tons of CO2 in 2018, while humans produced over 42 billion tons, said the Air Transport Action Group. Overall, the aviation industry is responsible for around 2 percent of human-made carbon dioxide emissions, according to the International Air Transport Association. Those emissions can have a devastating impact on our environment. With air traffic rapidly growing, the damage is sure to multiply. But it’s not too late to improve the situation.

Here are some tips to lower your carbon footprint while still getting the most out of your travels. Remember: Every bit helps!

Avoid short hops

For instance, if you are traveling from Bucharest to Zagreb and choose road transportation over flying, you’ll cut your carbon dioxide emissions by more than half. Your portion of CO2 emissions on a flight between the two cities would total 240.5 kilograms, while driving would be 105.3 kilograms and train travel 66.

Energy-wise, trips below 965 kilometers (600 miles) are said to be more efficient with a train, bus or driving.

Say yes to nonstop

Flying nonstop saves a lot of energy because takeoffs and ascent require significantly more energy than cruising at altitude. In fact, around 25 percent of the fuel used is consumed during takeoff. Once at cruising altitude, the plane becomes much more fuel-efficient. Think of it this way: changing planes is double the trouble.

But also avoid long flights

For fuel efficiency, the best flight length is about 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers). Longer flights need more fuel, which makes the aircraft heavier and less efficient, thereby increasing its carbon footprint per mile.

Or just slow it down

Take fewer flights and stay longer on the ones you do take. Side benefit: You get to know a place better. Isn’t that what travel is all about?

Use green airports when possible

What makes an airport green? Things like their recycling programs, sustainable building design, reduction of noise pollution and emissions control for airport vehicles. Airports recognized for their environmental efforts include Boston Logan International Airport, Zurich Airport, and East Midlands Airport in England.

Choose the economy section

The more people on a plane, the more efficient the energy use becomes. You can pack more passengers into coach, while business and first class give fliers more space, so thereby hold fewer bodies. Upgraded sections also have heavier seats, allow more luggage and use more service items.

Pack lighter

The more your baggage weighs, the more the plane has to carry and the less energy efficient it is. So keep your stuff to a minimum, which is more convenient anyway.

Refuse or reuse plastic

Don’t use plastic when you’re in the airport or on the flight. That includes straws, stirrers and cups. If you do take a plastic up on the flight, reuse it. You could even bring your own meal, foregoing all the plastic parts to an airline meal.

Patronize travel companies that offset carbon

Some tour providers routinely offset carbon. Look for companies that mitigate both the impact from their travelers and their own business operations.

Sign up for a carbon offset plan

Nonprofit carbon offset programs allow you to purchase a carbon offset equivalent to how much carbon your flight costs. In this way, you pay money into a project that attempts to save energy and emissions elsewhere. Examples are planting trees and subsidizing fuel-efficient cook stoves in Africa. Some airlines also partner with carbon offset programs. When choosing a plan, you’ll want to research the sponsor and where your money is being spent.

Forego flying for a year

Maja Rosén from Sweden is encouraging people to make a pledge to give up flying for one year – 2020. Last year she founded the group We Stay on the Ground to recruit fellow activists. Anyone can join, but a national pledge won’t become official until 100,000 in a country have signed up. Active campaigns are ongoing in Sweden, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany and Canada.

Stay grounded

You can jump totally in by not flying at all, like Greta and others have. Instead, take alternative transportation, such as trains, buses, boats, bicycles and automobiles (even better if you carpool).

Join the movement

Regardless of whether you boycott flying all together, change a few personal habits or make no changes at all, you can still help by advocating for the environment. That could include supporting research and development of greener aviation, pushing for more energy-efficient public transportation and voting for local and national leaders who prioritize climate change. Every bit helps!

LuggageHero.com is a global network of safe, convenient and affordable luggage storage sites in local shops, cafés, and hotels. It has stored more than 1 million hours of luggage across more than 1,000 drop-off points in Europe and North America. LuggageHero is headquartered in Copenhagen and serves travelers across 30 major cities in Europe and North America, with at least a dozen more to be launched this year. LuggageHero was named one of the Top 25 travel startups to watch in 2019 by PhocusWire and has been recommended by leading media outlets, including New York Times, Lonely Planet and CNBC.