Sustainable Dive Travel – Don’t let yourself be Greenwashed
As many divers are aware, our impact, along with pollution, poor fishing practices, toxic waste, and other environmental issues can have an adverse affect on the ocean. Thankfully, there is a growing number of travel agencies and vendors who are choosing to “go green.” While this may be a welcome change to those of us who want to lessen our environmental impact, we also need to keep our eyes open to determine the truth behind the claim. Is this company really green or are we being greenwashed?
In an article in the Miami herald, Hugh Hough, president of Green Team, says “‘Greenwashing is undeniably present in the travel business.”
There’s a wide variety of schemes designed to make a company look really green. For instance, Virgin Atlantic recently promoted a test flight of an aircraft burning a mixture of standard jet fuel and biofuel. Truth is, experts say that a real alternative to jet fuel is more than a decade away. Hotels may claim eco-friendly status for telling you to re-use your towels when they stock the min-bar with plastic bottles on their way to becoming landfill.
It will take some research to ensure that your travel plans are eco friendly but thankfully, there are companies that are doing the work for you. Sustainabletravelinternational.com chooses companies who have proven commitment to sustainable tourism. Companies marked with the stamp of Eco-Certification Approval have met rigorous requirements in Sustainable Policy and Performance, Environment Impacts, Socio-Cultural Impacts, Economic Impacts, and Innovative Best Practices. You can find these companies by going to the Eco-Directory and performing a search for Beachs/Dive and the destination of your choice.
For more information contact Wet Cat Scuba.