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Sustainability doesn’t take summer holidays

Enjoying the sun on the beach or countryside, spending quality time with family and friends, relaxing, forgetting about the hours, planning different activities and lots of adventures – summer is full of good things. The desire to break free from the “chains” of everyday life and the notion that the summer holidays will be over soon can lead most people to relax their sustainability focus.

Even those with sustainable habits in their daily life may end up inadvertently hurting the environment while on vacations. For instance, wasting food due to incorrect storage, returning to single-use plastics or even polluting nature in outdoor activities.

We share eight tips for more sustainable summer holidays. All aboard!

Sustainable Development Goals logo

Sustainability is not just about environmentalism. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals define sustainability as social and economic initiatives beyond the environment. Therefore, sustainable travel involves environmentally friendly activities and choices that are better for society and the economy.

How to maintain sustainable habits during the summer holidays? Follow these tips:

Illustration of several people running and riding bicycle.

  1. Whenever you get the chance, walk or use public transportation

Forget the stress of traffic during your summer holidays. Whether you’re exploring the city streets, on the beach by the sea or on a forest trail, do more walking and leave the car at home – you’ll be fighting a sedentary lifestyle and saving the planet energy and resources. The metro, bus and train are also good options, as is carpooling if you’re travelling across the country.

If you’re travelling by plane, some airlines provide information on the carbon footprint of their flights (which can be a selection factor) and on the carbon offset projects in place.

  1. Avoid the use of plastic

Plastic, when disposed of incorrectly, ends up in the oceans – where we like to dive and swim every year during the summer holidays. Avoid this by starting to reduce your use of plastic. For instance, take reusable water bottles with you, use your own bags or packaging for supermarket shopping, and avoid disposable materials such as cups or straws.

Illustration of three adults and a child picking up bottles in the beach and putting them in recycling bags.

  1. Get involved in a beach cleaning

Always have a few bags with you to pick up the rubbish you find on walks on the beach or in the mountains. As well as being a great example and a fun and educational activity for children and teenagers, nature will thank you.

  1. Recycle

On the beach or in the countryside, make sure that no cigarette butts or food wrappers are left behind. If you smoke, put the butts in the rubbish bin instead of leaving them on the ground. Even if you’re in another country, try to understand their recycling methods and put plastic, glass and paper or cardboard in the appropriate recycling bins.

Illustration of a woman carrying a bowl with fruits.

  1. Cook more plant-based meals

Although summer holidays can include some excesses when it comes to food (who can resist an ice cream or a Berliner on the beach?), the heat calls for light, fresh meals. Plant-based diet is based on the consumption of plant-based products, such as pulses, fruit and vegetables, and is a way of helping to reduce carbon emissions.

Take advantage of your free time to cook different, balanced dishes, or choose this type of dish when you go to a restaurant.

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Illustration of a person carrying a bag with fruits and vegetables in a market.

  1. Get to know the local (and seasonal) produce

One of the most interesting tasks of the summer holidays, especially if they are spent abroad or in a different city, is getting to know new habits and customs – which involves trying typical foods and choosing local products, from fruit to vegetables, helping local producers and businesses. For a more sustainable summer holiday, also take advantage of seasonal fruit and vegetables.

  1. Store food properly and avoid food waste

In hot weather, food can spoil more quickly if it isn’t stored correctly. Use the cooler to transport drinks and food such as fruit or sandwiches, organise the fridge in the right way and, if there are any leftovers, freeze them. To avoid food waste, for example if you go to a buffet or stay in a hotel with breakfast, only put as much on your plate as you need to be satiated.

Table set outside with bowls and plates of fruit and a vase of wildflowers.

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Illustration of a family (men, woman and child) carrying boxes.

  1. Donate or sell the summer clothes you no longer use

When you store your winter clothes to make way for the summer ones, how many times have you come across a piece or two that no longer fits or that you haven’t worn in years? Donating them saves space and might change the summer of a family in need. If you prefer, you can sell your second-hand items or even swap clothes on the various digital platforms available.

It’s also important to buy sustainable, quality products that last longer, so you don’t have to buy a new swimsuit every year, for instance. Here are some Portuguese brands that are committed to sustainable fashion.

Remember: besides summer holidays, these tips can be applied throughout the year.