Tips for ecologically sustainable travel

DW (English)

Travelling means massive carbon footprints. But does it have to? Local Melling Balloo checks out eco-friendly travel tips for you on her beautiful island of Mauritius.

Transcript

00:00How do we balance our love for exploration with the responsibility to protect our planet

00:06when we all dream of escaping to paradise?

00:10For the eco-conscious traveller, flying across the world to a faraway island comes with a

00:16heavy heart.

00:17But today, I'm going to show you how, starting right here in my country, Mauritius, the island

00:23of the extinct dodo.

00:25The journey to becoming a more eco-conscious traveller doesn't begin at the airport.

00:29It starts before you pack.

00:33For instance, by packing light, you're already making a difference.

00:37Reducing the weight of your luggage means less fuel consumption on flights and that's

00:41a step toward minimising your carbon footprint.

00:44It's a matter of understanding the impact of your choices.

00:48Secondly, the fashion industry is one of the largest polluters globally, so instead of

00:52buying new, opt for pre-owned from shops like Double Life that proposes outfits at discounted

00:58prices.

00:59By choosing pre-owned clothing, you're contributing to the slow fashion movement, keeping garments

01:04in circulation longer and reducing waste.

01:07Voila!

01:08How can I help you, Mélanie?

01:10Oh wow, yes, help me, help me.

01:11I've got so many amazing things here.

01:14I'm overwhelmed.

01:15But first, how do you attract eco-conscious tourists here?

01:18In fact, we've got a great success with our local market.

01:21We are now very established.

01:23Our next focus will be on attracting eco-tourism to come here with their empty suitcase to

01:29shop what they need, to enjoy, and then after the holidays, to come back here and resell it.

01:35How do you do it?

01:36Let me go and show you behind this curtain.

01:38Oh my word!

01:41Wow, I didn't expect this.

01:43Where are we now?

01:44So, we are at the back office, so here is all the drop-off, where the consignors come

01:49and drop their items.

01:52And that's on a daily basis?

01:53Yeah, every day.

01:54We have approximately five to six persons per day, every day.

01:59And then, this section is the unselected items, because we are really picky with all the items

02:05we select.

02:06Can you show us some items, maybe, because I can see some bright, colourful...

02:12This is the Diwali special collection.

02:15How does the process work here?

02:17We resell the items for a period of one month, and after the reselling period, they get 50%

02:23on each item which is sold.

02:25Which is great.

02:26Yeah, it's really great.

02:27That's a key argument for them to come here and to visit Diwali.

02:30After the holiday, I'm going to come back and resell my items.

02:33Of course.

02:34Maybe I'm going to try this in a bit?

02:35Yeah.

02:36There is also the choli that goes with it.

02:38Over a million tourists visit our island, Iccha, for its crystal clear waters, white

02:44sandy beaches, and vibrant culture.

02:47To protect these treasures, locals are embracing eco-friendly ways to explore the island, focusing

02:53on artisan craftsmanship, upcycling, and one-of-a-kind pieces.

02:58This shift is creating a new awareness, moving away from mass production, to celebrate sustainability

03:04and preserve our environment.

03:13Alexander Oxenham's Takamaka Winery takes such a sustainable approach to winemaking.

03:19Forget about traditional chateaus or ancient vineyards, Alexander and his dedicated team

03:25bottle limited editions of lychee wine.

03:27Each bottle is a celebration of creativity, sustainability, and craftsmanship.

03:34Which is completely bold, because people have never imagined that we could make wine to

03:39this level without grapes.

03:42So this is our touch, specific touch, and we are very lucky because the lychee is perfectly

03:48adapted to our climate.

03:50And the aromatic profile of a muscat grape and a lychee, similar aromatic profile.

03:56So there's no reason why we can't make decent wine out of lychees.

04:02Consuming local products reduces the carbon footprint associated with importing goods.

04:07Importantly, it supports local businesses.

04:10It took me about 15 years to make trials in my laboratory to try to understand the scenetics

04:17of the alcoholic fermentation with this particular food.

04:21And even some tell me that in the blind tasting they wouldn't be able to say it's made from

04:26something else than grape.

04:27Very challenging, of course, but it's a lot of fun.

04:30But what is most gratifying is that people, they are having fun as well with discovering

04:36why this is my wine.

04:38And I'm not the only one on this journey, and that is great.

04:44This island, once home to the now extinct dodo, is a living reminder of the consequences

04:50of human impact on the environment.

04:53So as you plan your next trip, remember, it's not just about where you go, but how you choose

04:59to travel, making a difference, one journey at a time.

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