How can you take a circular vacation?

Circular Economy

You can take a circular vacation by not buying everything on your packing list all over again. Once you’re at your destination, it also helps to be less impulsive when buying souvenirs and other items. More than 75% of Dutch people go on vacation every year, and 45% end up spending more than they planned, often on leisure items such as suitcases, swimwear, and books.

Taking a circular vacation means traveling with minimal impact on the planet by reusing resources to prevent waste. It’s all about applying the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle to your travel habits, belongings, and destination.

In this blog, we’ll focus on the most popular vacation destination among Dutch travelers (Spain) and the most commonly booked type of accommodation (camping). So, a camping vacation in Spain. Your packing list will include, among other things, a tent, camping chairs, an air mattress, a sleeping bag, a camping stove, and a toiletries bag.

camping-checklist-english

Is it necessary to buy new camping gear every year?

No, not in most cases. You can simply take along items that still work or are easy to repair. “I think last year’s air mattress had a leak; let’s order a new one. The same goes for the camping chairs—they were already a bit rickety last year.”

Sound familiar? Probably for a lot of people. And it makes sense, because you don’t want any hassle on vacation: you inflate your air mattress and don’t want to wake up on the ground the next morning. Still, you don’t have to buy a new one right away. Easily repair the holes in your air mattress with a repair kit specifically designed for soft plastic. This will have your air mattress ready to use again in no time. Besides, there’s often an air mattress in good condition tucked away in the back of the attic closet. Or was it just a matter of tightening a single screw on that camping chair, which means it’ll last another year? Taking a circular vacation starts with rethinking your packing list: decide for each item whether you really need to buy it again.

Have you come to the conclusion that you really do need a new air mattress and camping chair, and that the old ones can’t be repaired? Then consider asking around in your own circle to see if your coworkers, friends, or family have these items sitting unused at home. That clears out some space for them, and you won’t have to buy anything new. You can also check out your local thrift store.

What are some circular options for your tent?

The best circular option is to rent a tent instead of buying one. You can choose a ready-to-use rental tent at the campground, or a rental tent that you bring along and set up yourself. Pegs, guy lines, and poles are included. Need a complete package? That’s possible, too. Many companies offer a “ready-to-go” package, which includes sleeping pads, a stove, chairs, a table, and a cooler. Ideal, right!

Renting is more sustainable than buying, because the same tent will be used by the next camper after you. This means fewer new materials are needed for the same number of camping trips, and you avoid having the tent end up unused in the closet after just a few uses.

And did you know that you can also consider circularity when choosing a campground? Opt for a sustainable campground that uses solar panels and pays attention to water conservation and waste separation. You can recognize these sustainable campgrounds by the Green Key certification. This is the international certification for sustainable business practices in the tourism and recreation sector. Businesses with this certification do everything they can to protect the environment without compromising the comfort and quality of their guests’ experience.

Which toiletries are circular?

Think of shampoo bars, a bar of soap, a bamboo toothbrush, and toothpaste in tab form. This way, you avoid plastic packaging and leaky bottles in your luggage.HappySoaps is one of the companies that offers these bars, and it operates 100% plastic-free and 100% recyclable.

Then brush your teeth with a bamboo toothbrush and toothpaste that’s no longer packaged in plastic tubes, but as tabs. Pop a tab in your mouth, chew it until it’s fine, and then brush your teeth with the foam.

Don’t forget to bring a reusable bag with you to the campground restroom. It’s also handy for grocery shopping or picking up fresh rolls in the morning, when it’s still nice and cool outside. Bringing your own water bottle or reusable coffee cup also contributes to your circular vacation.

How can you travel to your vacation destination with less environmental impact?

Whenever possible, choose to take the train or drive an electric vehicle instead of flying. Did you know that flying produces up to 15 times more CO2 emissions per person than an international train trip? Although you can fly to the campground in Spain, there are options with a lower environmental impact. For example, try taking the train. Or drive an electric vehicle to your vacation destination. Here’s everything you need to know about taking a vacation to Spain in an electric car.

How can you do something positive for the world while on vacation?

By keeping the points above in mind, you’re already giving your vacation a circular twist. But a growing group of travelers, including teenagers and young adults, also wants to make a positive contribution at their vacation destination. And that doesn’t have to be complicated. Take part in a beach cleanup. Organizations like Clean Beach Initiative organize weekly beach cleanups in Barcelona that you can join. Of course, you can also take matters into your own hands and collect washed-up trash during your walk on the beach. Do the same during a hike in the mountains or a stroll through a city park.

When buying souvenirs, ask yourself: Do I really need this? If you won’t even remember buying it by next year, you’re better off leaving the souvenir behind. Also, be sure not to buy souvenirs made from wild plants or animals, or products made from snake or crocodile leather.

How do other countries handle waste?

That varies greatly by country. Some destinations are leaders in waste separation and prevention, while others still have a long way to go. This is evident from our blog series “A Look at Waste,” in which colleagues take a closer look at the waste management systems of their destinations while on vacation. For example, Japan serves as a model for the rest of the world, the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores performs significantly better than mainland Portugal,and Australia’s Red Centre effectively addresses visitors’ waste-related behaviors.

It’s interesting and valuable to take a fresh look at the waste management system at your vacation destination. For example, do you see a lot of general waste on the streets? Can you sort your waste on the street, or is there only a general waste bin available?

Voedselverspilling verminderen als onderdeel van een circulaire wereld

Want to know more about circularity?

Food also plays a role when you’re on holiday, from local meals to reducing leftover food. Read our blog to see what the circular picture looks like.

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