MY TRIP TO EUROPE AND A BIT OF SUSTAINABILITY
Europe has so many amazing cities, good foods, and attractions to see.
Last month I spent 10 days visiting some cities in Belgium, Spain, and Holland. Spring was coming, the sunset was at 9 pm and there were many people in the streets. The cities I’ve been were Brussels, Gent and Brugge in Belgium, Seville and Madrid in Spain and I even managed to make a stop in Amsterdam.
And as I am always aware of news and trends some things caught my attention on this trip.
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in Europe, and many cities and countries are taking steps to promote sustainable practices and reduce their carbon footprint.
It’s not news to anyone that public transport in Europe works very well, but I was fascinated by people’s awareness of making this habit a collective effort to support the use of this transport. I’ve met people who, even though they have a car, choose to use public transport whenever possible for the greater good of the planet.
I was also impressed with the amount of bikes Amsterdam has. in addition to making the landscape beautiful, people also promote well-being by practicing physical activity with this means of transport.
Many European cities have extensive public transportation systems, including buses, trains, and subways. By using public transportation instead of renting a car or taking taxis, you can reduce your carbon footprint and support sustainable travel.
Another common practice I saw there was the sustainability present in hotels. Many hotels and hostels in Europe are adopting sustainable practices, such as using renewable energy sources, recycling, and reducing water usage.
In the rooms I stayed, I found some actions such as packaging made of paper for hygiene and cosmetic items such as shampoo and conditioner filled by refill.
Some hotels are also adhering to an action called “skip the clean”. You can choose not to receive your room cleaning and thus avoid wasting water and energy for this cleaning that sometimes is unnecessary when you stay for a few days.
In most places, establishments do not provide bags. When provided, they are paid. That’s why it’s important to always have an ecobag available when you go shopping.
On my train trip to Brugge, I drank water where the PET bottle cap remained attached to the packaging. Some companies are making this change and that means a gain in the efficiency of recycling these caps.
Caps alone are more difficult to reach the destination to be recycled, so keeping them with the bottle at the time of disposal is important.
These were some of the sustainable actions I noticed during the trip, in addition to seeing many recycled PET plastic packaging, correct indication for garbage disposal, among others.
We still have a long way to go when it comes to sustainability, but it is rewarding to see some actions taking place.
Carol Bizi