Five Sustainable Destinations for 2021 That Might Inspire You

We all want to do something to help the environment and reduce our carbon footprint. However, this year has also emphasised how much we miss travel and exploring this gorgeous planet of ours! 

So, how can we balance these two passions in our lives? This is the year to really start thinking about the way we travel (if you haven’t already). I’ve pulled together five destinations you may not have thought of to draw some inspiration from. These examples show how we can hope for a more sustainable future, without compromising our sense of fun and adventure.

We all know Costa Rica is the shining beacon of eco-travel, but have you ever considered visiting any of these...?

My ‘half-home’ country (my mum originates from the land of Abba and pickled herring), Sweden has been a pioneer of environmentalism for decades. No, it didn’t all start with Greta Thunberg! 

Sweden was the first country in the world to pass an environmental protection act in 1967, and even hosted the first UN conference on the global environment in 1972. It still ranks as one of the global leaders in air and water quality, in the top ten for over a decade. 

I remember as a child in the 80s (when it wasn’t the done thing here), separating out the recycling from the rubbish. My grandma (or Mormor) gave me a stern warning - we had to be extra careful in case we were fined for putting something recyclable in the wrong bin! 

Sweden is larger than you think and has a huge variety of outdoorsy activities to take part in, letting you breathe in the gloriously fresh air or appreciate the amazingly clean water. From sailing around the beautiful archipelagos of the coastline to hiking the pristine forests, taking a dip in one of its crystal clear lakes to enjoying a husky ride in Lapland, it really does have something for all.

Read more about Sweden’s fight to save the climate here.

Think eco-holiday and to some this gives the impression of tie-dye and yoga retreats. However, this old-fashioned stereotype is by no means accurate in this day and age - you can combine eco-tourism with a five-star experience. This lux resort has been a pioneering example of sustainability without compromising on comfort since its opening in 2014 and is now one of the most eco-friendly island resorts on the planet.

You might wonder about the name - yes this island was in fact bought by Hollywood legend Marlon Brando in the 1960s. In 1999 Brando put into place his vision of building a carbon-neutral, self-sustaining resort that would act as a ‘University of the Sea’. In 2014, a decade after his death, the resort opened its doors (or perhaps docks/beaches would be more accurate!) to the public. 

The resort plays host to a world-class climate research facility, where guests can talk to visiting academics about the pioneering work they’re undertaking. They use a mixture of high-tech and simple methods to reach their carbon-neutral goals, from a seawater air conditioning system, coconut oil generators, and a recycled water system using reverse osmosis, to simple actions such as banning all plastic and loaning out bicycles to use on-site.

One thing I particularly love about the resort's ethos is the focus on Polynesian Culture as something to cherish, in addition to the incredible natural heritage of Tetiaroa. 

Learn more about the Brando Resort’s stewardship scheme here.

This home of the hipster’s motto is ‘Keep Portland Weird’. Well, if being eco-conscious is weird, sign me up! 

Many cities in the US are trying to become more environmentally friendly. However, when I visited in 2018 I was particularly struck by how this city, especially with its industrial heritage, has weaved sustainability and community values into its everyday life. From its forward-thinking public renewable energy plans, its legendary food cart pods, to its abundance of Co-ops, Portland is the sustainability-conscious city-dwellers’ dream.

Walking its streets you are always aware that Portland was ‘dropped into’ nature. Many metropolises’ urban sprawl wipes out any sense of what came before or what surrounds them. However, this Pacific North West city takes great pride in its connection with the natural world - it’s not called the City of Roses for nothing (although to be fair this is more to do with the horticultural interests of its Victorian residents - more on that another time!). 

Portland was one of the first cities worldwide to develop a master plan with cycling and pedestrianisation at its core, and now has the highest rate of cycling to work of any US city. It has an impressive 92,000 acres of green space and a connected system of trails and hiking routes, aided by the adoption of an urban growth boundary in 1979. This allowed for a dense urban centre, within an easy bike ride or light rail journey to the 5,000 acre Forest Park nature reserve.

Portlanders also take great pride in the awe-inspiring nature which is easily reachable outside of town, with many spending their weekends camping in the reserves which line the beautiful Columbia River Gorge or skiing at Mount Hood.

Read more about Portland’s climate planning and action here.

One of my favourite destinations to visit for its culture and vibrancy, Singapore gets extra brownie points for being at the cutting edge of water management. 

Being an island nation, Singapore has struggled with limited natural water sources and a lack of landmass for storage. Its heavy reliance on rainfall means it has become one of the most ‘water-stressed’ countries in the world and is forced to import water from Malaysia. To meet this challenge, Singapore has come up with some incredibly ingenious methods to ease the stress and lessen the reliance on outside imports, with an eventual aim of becoming self-sufficient.

Two-thirds of Singapore’s landmass is classed as a protected drainage area, and this relatively small nation has an impressive nineteen freshwater reservoirs, nine water treatment plants and seventeen reservoirs for purified water. 30% of Singapore city’s water supply comes from recycled water, thanks to an entirely new technique for recycling wastewater developed here. This four-stage treatment process culminates in a product called ‘NEWater’ which is, in fact, safe to drink, although it’s mostly used in industry. In 2005 it also opened its first desalination plant, one of the largest in the world and now providing 10% of the city’s water supply.

Whether it comes from the sky, from the sea, or from recycling, Singapore makes sure it doesn’t waste a single drop of precious water. If you want to see some of this in action, make sure you add a visit to the ‘Gardens by the Bay’ to your agenda. Here the famous ‘super trees’ (pictures in the header) not only collect rainwater but also act as vertical gardens for a myriad of plants, generate solar power and act as exhaust air towers for nearby conservatories.

Read more about Singapore’s ‘water story’ here.

Now here’s a curve-ball - have you considered exploring more of this beautiful country of ours as an alternative to travelling further afield? 

One of the benefits of staying local is exactly that - you’re staying local. This means fewer air miles and fewer carbon emissions (extra brownie points if you travel by public transport). It also means you get to support the local tourist economy, at a time they might be suffering from a lack of overseas visitors. Perhaps best of all, you can even take your pets!

Having been lucky enough to travel the world, I can honestly say Britain has some of the best variety and most beautiful scenery out there. Why not put on your hiking boots and explore The Lake District, get on a train to see the sights of the Scottish Highlands, take a dip and go fossil hunting on the Jurassic coast, visit the beautiful villages of The Cotswolds, get inspired at Cornwall’s Eden Project or learn about our heritage at one of the countless historic sites available to us - I could go on and on. 

Do yourself a favour and get to know more about what we have on our doorstep - just pack a raincoat in case!

For some local inspiration, click here.

If you’re interested in exploring any of these destinations, get in touch! I’d be more than happy to help.