5 Tips to Remain Green on the Plane

Perhaps you are one of those who have received a Green Home Makeover (if not, sign up for one!) and is doing everything right to be green. The only problem is that you have to fly every now and then, and flying carries a big footprint.

Not only does flying emit a lot of carbon dioxide, but it also generates a lot of waste. This includes the cups, cans, bottles, paper, human waste, and all other items that are used just once and then discarded.

Here are 5 tips to keep in mind when flying:

1. Airlines use about 4 million disposable cups daily; opting out of food and drinks you don’t want (or having the crew fill up your own reusable bottle) means less trash. It also may force airlines to cut costs on those goods and improve overall quality instead.
2. If you pack your own food, you’ll get to choose what you get. Make sure you purchase organic, ideally local food to minimize your footprint. Again, this will reduce the need for the airline to ship products from far away into airports and instead focus more on improving other services or reducing prices. Also, since many airlines now charge (a lot) for food and certain drinks, bringing your own snacks means more to spend at your destination.
3. Reuse your own reusable bottle and ask the flight attendant to fill it with your drink of choice. Offer advice about the containers so that the airline can choose to place drinks in large jugs instead of invidual cans or bottles.
4. Refuse peanuts, pretzels, and any other snacks you won’t eat. Also demand healthier snacks that don’t contain harmful or unhealthy substances. Suggest to them to explore the idea of using local partners in sourcing local snacks instead of shipped snacks.
5. Do not use or purchase headphones if offered. Bring your own headphone. You’ll reduce electronic waste. Some airlines now take them back, so if you do rent or take one, make sure to return it for reuse.