Earth Day is Every Day 
On 22^nd April all around the world we celebrated Earth Day – which aims to highlight the critical importance of protecting the environment and push green issues to the forefront of the global agenda. Earth day brings us together each year to drive awareness and action – this year around “Planet vs. Plastics”, with the aim to reduce the production of all plastics by 60% by 2040 – but how do we take this awareness and action into every day of the year?  
Going into the Early May Bank Holiday weekend how do we continue to think about and minimise our impact and drive positive change – whilst approaching holiday season where our environmentally and socially conscious brains tend to relax? Here are 5 top tips to help you enjoy the holiday season and stay eco-friendly: 
 
Work, volunteer, or fundraise to travel 
Consider how you can give back to local communities whilst you travel. Could this be local work or a volunteering opportunity? Or could you tie your travel to fundraising for your charity of choice? There are lots of travel companies who offer fundraising/ charity trips discounted for those who want to give back to a worthy cause – so not only is this helping a local community or charity – this this often a budget friendly option too! When you are packing, look at your toiletries and accessories – could you do an eco-review and replace anything that is plastic with a more environmentally friendly option? Shampoo bars for example are a great place to start! 
 
Travel by train – avoid the plane (where possible) 
You can get to most places in Europe by train, so if you are open to slowing down and having a more relaxed itinerary, not only are you travelling more sustainably, but you have more time to absorb the culture surrounding you. This is also often a lower cost option with some great travel deals available especially if booked way in advance. 
If you do need to fly, try to limit your flight time as much as possible, especially internal flights, and avoid indirect long-haul options or multi flight holidays.  
 
Consider camping or glamping for your holiday 
Embrace nature, improve your mental health, reduce your travel, and carbon footprint – these are just some of the benefits of camping. You will also have a positive impact on the community you are visiting – supporting local businesses and often getting involved in low environmental impact activities like hiking, paddle boarding and swimming that have the added benefit of improving your physical health. Not to mention this is often a very cost-effective holiday option too – with glamping options are available for those who need a few more home comforts! Start your research now – there are lots of amazing camping options throughout the UK and beyond – accessible by car or public transport. 
 
Create a ‘fair exchange’ 
If it is not possible for you to volunteer or fundraise whilst travelling, consider how you can ensure a fair exchange i.e. Is somebody getting something in return for what I am receiving? Is it of equal value? Is it a fair exchange? This applies to everything from buying a local product to taking a surfing lesson on Newquay beach. Think about how you can give back to the local economy and help create a sustainable service. 
 
Offset your carbon emissions 
How can you minimize the impact of your carbon emissions from any travel, energy use and waste you create throughout the summer holiday season? Consider purchasing high-quality carbon credits – starting at about £20 a tonne. These can be purchased to compensate for your CO₂ emissions. Research companies such as C Level​ ​who can help you take positive action to balance your impact and offset your carbon emissions.  
 
We hope this has given you a few ideas of how you can create value for people and the planet as we go into the summer holiday season. Feel free to add your tips and tricks in the comments too and help us make earth day an everyday reality!