Everyone can help reduce our impact on the world by making a few positive choices

At The Irish Experience we feel it’s fine if you embrace your inner hippy, however we don’t expect that of everyone. If you are on holiday with us or even at home all we ask is that you think a little more about your choices and take a few easy steps to a more sustainable life.

 

Respect your environmentLeavenoTrace

Maintain the landscape; leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photographs, kill nothing but time. Take all rubbish home with you and make sure to follow the countryside
code. www. mountaineering.ie/accessandenvironment/EnvironmentalPolicy/default.aspx

www.leavenotraceireland.org

Live like a local

Fresh Food
Fresh Food

Good local food and crafts helps to enhance the holiday and create a sense of place. Look out for farmers markets, shops and restaurants that are selling local crafts, meat, fish, fruit, cheeses, and preserves. This will help out local producers as well as enhance your holiday.

Hire a bike
Hire a bike

Use public transport

Roads are getting busier and busier so taking at least a day per week without the car can reduce congestion and emissions. Bargains can be made on public transport by booking in advance while the journey can be more relaxing, comfortable and scenic for long journeys. If you are using a car, consider donating to a carbon offset scheme.

Minimise waste

When on holiday relaxing you deserve more luxury and perhaps a few more bottles of wine than usual. Take a minute to find out how the recycling system works in the destination. It will likely be slightly different to what you are used to, however spending an extra few moments can help to reduce landfill in the area.

Be efficient

 ‘Turning off and turning down’. Think about your energy and water use wherever you go. If you don’t need it turn it off, if the flow is too high turn it down. Resources are scarce in every destination and everyone thinking a little more responsibly can ultimately keep holiday costs down and ensure there is plenty to go around for everyone.

 

Give something backIWT

Many destinations offer a Visitor Payback Scheme where your donation can directly improve conservation in the area, such as maintain important plant and animal species or pathway improvement works.

The Irish Experience is a proud member of the Irish Wildlife Trust. The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) aims to conserve wildlife and the habitats they depend on throughout Ireland, while encouraging a greater understanding and appreciation of the natural world and the need to protect it.  We highly recommend a small donation to the IWT to allow their stellar work to continue.

Enjoy responsibly
Enjoy responsibly

 

GTBS genericLook out for Green Tourism businesses

There are a wide range of business types throughout the country, each graded BRONZE, SILVER or GOLD. Each one has made a commitment to sustainable practices and has been verified by a Green Tourism assessor. Visiting these businesses is a good way to support the businesses that are having less of an impact on the destination.

This Information was provided by www.green-tourism.com