What is sustainable luxury and how to change the way you travel?

In recent years , luxury and exclusive tourism and sustainability have almost become synonymous. Luxury travel agencies include an environmental section in most of their proposals, seeking to provide differential value that adds responsibility to the playful and leisure aspect of any of their proposals.

The so-called rule of the three Rs (reduce, recycle and reuse) is increasingly taken into account. Gone are the days when luxury was synonymous with waste. Now it’s more about taking care of the wealth we have.

And it is that the current technological development allows you to enjoy the best luxury travel experiences while being environmentally responsible. We can avoid plastics, reduce water use, offset our carbon footprint or have a tastier and zero kilometer diet .

Next, we are going to tell you about the most important sustainable luxury trends today and how you can incorporate them into your trip.

Zero plastic policy

One of the most common elements in luxury today is the zero plastic policy . It is not so common in urban destinations, but it is very common in beach and nature places.

Especially common in nature hotels in Natural Parks, by not using plastic they reduce the amount of waste and allow a much more ecological experience for customers.

It is true that the pandemic meant that many of these destinations had to use plastic temporarily, as they needed disposable items, but fortunately this zero plastic policy is being reinstated with washable and recyclable items.

In urban destinations this policy is also common in places beyond hotels and restaurants. For example, in the bottles of water that they give us for trips by private car, which become glass or metal instead of plastic.

Things as simple as swapping out cocktail straws for bamboo or metal options can do a lot for the environment.

Self-management with renewable energy

Another aspect that we have to talk about is energy. Very common in hotels on private islands and in National Parks, energy self -management avoids the construction of large infrastructures that could have an environmental impact .

The most normal is the use of solar panels , although depending on the destination, other types of energy such as tidal or geothermal energy are also used in Iceland . These destinations become 100% fossil fuel-free hotels , with what this means for the environment.

We will be able to have the electricity we need with the peace of mind that we are not contributing to climate change but promoting sustainable development.

Carbon footprint compensation

Carbon footprint compensation is becoming increasingly important. Especially with regard to aviation, since together with cruises, these are highly polluting methods of transport and often do not have a sustainable alternative .

You can go by train or by electric car for a medium or short journey, but if, for example, you want to travel to the Maldives or simply to the Canary Islands or Madeira, you will have no choice but to take a plane.

For these cases there are compensation programs for the carbon footprint of your trip. These programs cost extra, but the cost is worth it. For that cost, you invest in an environmental project that covers the pollution caused by your trip.

Very common, for example, are reforestation projects . In other words, imagine that your trip generates X amount of Co2 into the atmosphere. Well, thanks to the compensation project, x trees will be planted that will emit enough oxygen so that the capacity of that Co2 to worsen the situation of the planet is nullified.

Although at the moment these carbon footprint offset projects are only a matter of luxury, the trend is for them to become more widespread and there will come a time when no one can travel without offsetting their carbon footprint .

Zero impact on carbon footprint

One step beyond compensation are zero impact policies . In this case we are not talking about displacements but about the stays in the accommodations and the activities that we carry out in them.

A trend that has been in vogue for some time in sustainable luxury and that allows varied sustainable activities and zero pollutants. For example, you have the possibility to kayak, sail or horseback ride but not to use motorized vehicles.

There are even luxury hotels that take it to the maximum exponent. We find options between hotels in the jungle or in the savannah without electricity, for example. This means that we will have to adapt to the natural cycles of nature . We repeat that we are talking about luxury hotels, that is to say that you will have all the possible comforts, but you will have to give up turning on a lamp at dawn, for example.

This trend has even reached Spain with options like Basoa Suites in Navarra.

Use of recycled elements

Recycling is also a trend within sustainable luxury . Part of the three R’s, it is common to find that all the elements of a lodge or a luxury camp come from recycling.

When we say all the elements we are talking about both the furniture and aspects such as paper. In the end, there are a lot of everyday items that can be used from recycled material without affecting the quality in the least.

Recycling or reusing gives new life to materials that would otherwise end up in landfills and makes the fight against climate change more complicated.

Luxury train travel

The use of more sustainable means of transport is another unstoppable trend. We have already talked more than once about luxury train travel with companies such as Rovos Rail , the Blue Train South Africa or the different Belmond routes for it.

You can see different incredible destinations without having to take internal flights or rent vehicles, generating much less pollution. Also, we all know that traveling by train is the most comfortable way to travel. You can see unique landscapes, enjoy the company and even enjoy first class gastronomic proposals.

When we talk about train travel in Spain we also mention other possibilities beyond the luxury train . The premium wagons allow an even more comfortable trip than the plane and connect the main Spanish cities.

It is not surprising that more and more people travel by train.

One of the aspects that generates a greater consumption of water and pollution in hotels is the washing of towels and/or sheets. For this reason, many luxury and lower category hotels are creating different initiatives to avoid this unnecessary expense.

Because let’s be honest, no matter how much money we have, at home we don’t change towels or sheets daily. When you think about it, it sounds even a little ridiculous.

Of course, the hotels know what is expected of them, so they are doing their own compensation program as well . In places like Tokyo or Stockholm it is very common that for every day you decide not to wash your towels, they give you a free drink at the hotel bar.

It may not be as impressive as staying in a hotel without electricity, but it is one of those little things that not only makes a difference, but also benefits the client because they get an extra experience for their trip.

Do activities that improve local communities

Another aspect that for Nuevos Destinos by Mara is fundamental in their trips is the responsibility towards the communities of the places that are visited. That is why we always try to include experiences of both visiting and seeing how local people live and how they can improve their lives or the natural environment.

For example, volunteering to protect nesting turtles, helping in a reforestation plan or caring for an endangered animal. Depending on the destination, there are a lot of different options that we can make and that help us make a difference.

Today all luxury hotels, especially those located in developing countries , have initiatives of this type so that the impact of tourism is also positive for the local population and the environment .

Organic and ecological food

Finally, we cannot forget the importance of food . Transporting food from one continent to another has a large ecological footprint , as well as eating meat from intensive and non-extensive livestock, etc…

For this reason, kilometer zero and ecological and organic food is increasingly important in luxury hotels and restaurants . Also getting in touch with the land itself that provides food, with places with their own orchards and farms to guarantee a balanced diet for us and a sustainable diet for nature.

Something that is not only noticeable in the environment, but also in the flavor of each bite.