The Climate Change Collective is an initiative where the blogging community unites behind a common goal. In the eighth post in the series, I explore the environmental cost of the experiences that have replaced material goods for many of us. Read on to learn why we can’t ignore the impact, and for ways to reduce the environmental cost of experiences.

The environmental cost of our experiences

In an earlier Climate Change Collective post, I considered the impact of shopping on the planet, but our experiences also come at an environmental cost.

We’ve been hearing for years that younger generations prefer experiences to material possessions. Fuelled by FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and YOLO (You Only Live Once), millennials in particular show a definite thirst for experiences. Newer research, however, reveals it’s not just millennials who feel that way. A global study by market research firm GfK shows the preference for experiences crosses generations and international boundaries.

Having spent the last few years decluttering, this shift away from material goods is a philosophy I admire and one I wish I had adopted sooner.  

Reasons to love experiences

There are many reasons to love experiences. First, there’s no better way to build shared memories with friends and family. Plus, you won’t find yourself wanting to declutter an experience a few years down the line.

We’ve all felt the initial buzz we get from a new outfit, car, computer or mobile phone quickly fade when a newer model hits the market mere days or weeks after the purchase. After the initial newness wears off, material goods quickly become part of our landscape and we no longer notice them.

On the other hand, research from Dr. Thomas Gilovich at Cornell University shows that experiences deliver longer-lasting joy. The joy of anticipation starts during the planning phase and continues in the period of time leading up to the event. Then, after the joy of the experience itself, the memories you take away will last a lifetime and you’ll feel joy and happiness every time you remember or talk about the experience.

Experiences do have an impact

Shared memories. Less clutter. Long-lasting joy. What’s not to love about experiences? They don’t come with a physical object, so it’s easy to overlook their environmental impact.

In reality, there are environmental costs associated with both goods and services. In some cases, replacing physical goods with experiences may increase our carbon footprint.

For many of us, experiences involve travel. Here are some impacts of tourism:

• The global tourism industry accounts for about 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. (Source: World Economic Forum)

• A single cruise ship deposits around 210,000 gallons of human sewage into the ocean during a week’s voyage, disrupting the ecosystem and putting marine life at risk. (Source: MarineInsight.com)

• Development to support tourism leads to destruction of natural resources. This forces animals out of their habitats and contributes to coastline erosion.

Even many of the experiences we enjoy closer to home aren’t guilt free.

• Have you ever looked around when leaving a large concert, music festival or sporting event? If you did, I’m sure you saw a lot of waste strewn about. This problem has been exacerbated by security restrictions on bags in most venues, leaving you with no option than overpriced bottled water and other beverages.

• While a trip to a movie theatre might feel like an innocent outing, stop and consider the impact of film production. Between transportation costs, fuel for generators to keep trailers and equipment running, and food waste from feeding large crews, filmmaking is not without impact.

It’s clear that everything we do has an impact. But as someone who loves travel and other outings, I’m not suggesting we resign ourselves to sitting on our front porch watching the grass grow.

Ways to reduce the environmental cost of experiences

As with all things, it pays to be a conscious consumer. Here are six things you can do to reduce your impact.  

Keep it simple

If the goal is to spend time and make happy memories, why overcomplicate things? Instead of planning an elaborate activity, keep it simple. A day at the beach, a hike on a local trail, a potluck dinner, or a games night, can create great memories at a fraction of the cost—all while reducing the environmental impact.

As the saying goes, sometimes less is more. There’s a lot to be said for simple experiences.

(Check out this post for experience gift ideas to fit any budget.)

Think local

Transportation is a huge contributor to carbon emissions. When planning any type of experience, the best thing you can do is think local.

Are there places you can explore in your own community during a staycation instead of jetting off to faraway places? Last year, we bought a membership to our local conservation authority and explored some hiking trails in our region on our summer vacation instead of travelling.

Similarly, look into local theatre or musical productions instead of travelling to the big city. Smaller theatre groups often put on excellent shows at a lower cost than big city productions. You might even find some fabulous productions at your local high school, college or university. Factor in lower transportation costs and the time you’ll save, and it’s win-win.

If you’re a sports fan, local sports teams can also fuel your need for excitement. We have a Junior A hockey team here in town, and they’re a great alternative to travelling to Toronto for an NHL game. And, some of these players will be future NHL stars!

Quality over quantity

Even the most eco-conscious among us enjoys a vacation getaway and the opportunity to explore new places. If you just can’t resist the appeal of travelling to faraway destinations, think quality over quantity.

Instead of two one-week trips to different destinations, plan one two-week trip to cut down on air travel. You can also reduce your impact by flying non-stop instead of connecting and choosing airlines with modern fleets and good environmental policies.

(For more tips on reducing the impact of travel, see Green travel tips to reduce your carbon impact)

Respect nature

Whether you travel to the other side of the world, or stay closer to home, respect the land and leave things as you found them.  

I’ve often seen this sign in many natural areas I’ve visited. It’s an important reminder of the impact we can have.

Take only pictures. Leave only footprints.

Resist taking home shells, rocks, plants or other elements as souvenirs. While it may seem insignificant, it can contribute to erosion, and introduce diseases and pests into your home ecosystem. And, clean up after yourself and dispose of your garbage properly.

One last word on nature, show respect for wildlife by staying on marked trails, and don’t EVER feed wild animals. It can cause you harm and it never ends well for the animals.

Consider eco-tourism…but do your homework

As people become more environmentally conscious, eco-tourism is one way to reduce the impact of travel. Eco-tourism has turned into a multi-billion dollar business, with the global market estimated at $185 billion USD in 2021. (Source: Grandview Research)

It’s wonderful to see tourists and companies offering sustainable options but, like all environmental claims, do your homework. Greenwashing is alive and well even in eco-tourism experiences. Take time to educate yourself and investigate the track record before booking.

Act as you would at home

My last tip is to act like you would at home. While that may seem like a strange thing to say about an experience or vacation, hear me out. If you’re a person who cares about the environment, you’ll feel better about the experience if you hold true to those values.

Here are some ideas on how to do that.  

• Consider preparing your own food. When travelling, look for accommodations with kitchenettes to reduce the impact of eating out. If you’re planning a day at the beach, pack a picnic lunch.
• Take your reusable water bottle with you when you travel. Filtered water refill stations are popping up at airports and in many public places.
• Save water and energy by saying no to daily housekeeping services in hotels. You don’t wash your sheets and towels every day at home, so why expect it when you travel?

I hope these tips and ideas will come in handy for you when you plan your next experience or getaway. If you have additional thoughts and ideas, drop me a comment below.

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About the Climate Change Collective

The Climate Change Collective was born out of an exchange that took place when I left a comment on a blog post by Jamie Ad Stories. Jamie and I wanted to find a way to keep the climate change message top of mind for everyone, so I put out a tweet to see what kind of interest there would be in a climate-change-related blogging collaboration. The Climate Change Collective was born!

The members of the collective take turns writing a monthly blog post sharing their unique perspective about climate change. After the post is published, the rest of the group keeps the conversation going by sharing a link to the post on their blogs along with their thoughts and ideas.

If you’re a like-minded blogger and would like to join our collective, please get in touch. More voices joining the conversation means more attention to the problems plaguing our planet!

Previous Climate Change Collective posts

If you missed the earlier posts in the series, you’ll find them here:

How climate change impacts your health…and your wallet

Understanding how climate action redefines our future – Molly, Transatlantic Notes

Travel with climate change – Jamie, JamieAdStories

How climate change impacts animals – Caroline, Enviroline Blog

How our need to shop is ruining our planet – A Sustainably Simple Life

How you can reduce your energy consumption and save money by saving the planet – Crisbie Coach

Residential solar panels: 2022 year in review – A Sustainably Simple Life

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I’d love to hear your thoughts on ways to reduce the environmental cost of experiences. Drop me a comment below and join the conversation.