Holidaymakers are being urged to think of green travel when packing their suitcases this summer. Not only is carrying heavy luggage bad for backs, but it’s bad for the environment too.
Over-burdened suitcases are being blamed for increased carbon emissions as heavy loads cause aeroplanes to use more fuel.
Only 16 per cent of holidaymakers actually use and wear everything they’ve packed and over a third only use 25 per cent of the items in their case. The figures were revealed in a survey published by Thomson earlier this week.
The holiday firm is asking travellers to think twice when packing their bags and cut their carbon footprint. Thomson say that if a third of holidaymakers left that extra 25 per cent of unused luggage behind it would save 7,537 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually – the equivalent of taking 2,216 cars off the road.
TV fashion expert Brix Smith-Start has been recruited to back Thomson’s Holidays Forever green packing campaign. She said this week: “Everyone wants to look fabulous when they are on holiday, yet too many of us don’t think about what outfits we’ll actually want to wear and so we end up with clothes that won’t see the light of day once we are away. I’m providing travellers with some top tips on how to make their luggage more green and advising how holiday makers can bring fewer items, but still look great.”
Brix’s top tips include:
- Check the weather before you leave
- Take a look at the weather forecast and plan accordingly. If the Met promise seven days of sunshine, you won’t be needing a heavy jumper and jeans!
- Cut down on shoes
- Shoes weigh a lot and take up loads of room in your case. Resist the temptation to pack footwear to go with every outfit – take some flat sandals, flip flops for the beach and plimsolls for walking.
- Pack statement pieces
- Bright kaftans and maxi-dresses are easy to dress up and down, making them ideal for day to night dressing. Pack a couple along with a few pieces of statement jewellery and you’ll have enough to see you through your holiday.
- Ditch the towels
- Bulky towels are heavy and take up a lot of room. Use towels provided by your hotel or buy a cheap one when you arrive.
- Cut down on toiletries
- Think about what you really need and what you’ll actually use. Take travel sized versions of your must-have products and co-ordinate with holiday buddies if you’re travelling as a group.
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Great Post. Ithought it worth a mention, there are a number of companies that specialise in producing clothing that can help travellers seriously reduce their baggage. Clothing that has small pack size, wash and dry like dream,looks, feels and smells great even when it’s been on for days and covers all the climate zones.
Rohan is one of the major UK brands that have been doing this for the last 30 years.
Regardless of how organized you may be, if you don’t have each and every one of your essential travel documents, you’re not goingphuket travel docs 300×225 Gap Year Guide Part 4: Pack anywhere!
Here’s a list of the items that you cannot leave without:
* Passport
* Photo ID
* Flight Tickets/Details
* Insurance Documents/Medical Cards
* Money
This is not an exhaustive list. Other extras that you may need to remember include receipts for accommodation, visas, travel guides and bank account information.
Top Tip: Keep all your travel essentials in a single file stored in your hand luggage rather than a main backpack.
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