Ultimate Guide

to Becoming A
Sustainable
Roamer

Sustainable Co-living Worldwide

 How eco friendly
are you in
your travels?
Digital nomads live and work on
the run.

They lead a lifestyle that’s not tied to a location,
job, or home. Instead, they roam at will,
working, eating, and enjoying life on the go.
1
As far back as 1985, people have been living a
digitally nomadic lifestyle and it has only
become more popular over the years. In the US
alone, it was recorded that about 3.9 million
Americans already have part time remote
works in 2017, a 115 percent increase from the
1.8 million recorded in 2005. Further, a survey
from 1,000 US hiring managers indicates that
by 2028, 73 percent of all departments will have
remote workers..
But what does this growth
mean for the environment?
The average office worker is estimated to
annually use 10,000 sheets of paper and by
2022, the increased increased reliance on
remote workers is projected to reduce this
usage by 32 percent.
However, the increasing ease of travel and
number of tourist trips also have some
drawbacks if not managed properly. For
instance, World Economic Forum reports
that 8 million metric tons of plastic end
up in our oceans every year and
40% of these come from
single-use packaging
commonly used
by travellers.

First, let’s look at the positive effects attributed

to this way of life. In 2013, fuel consumption
dropped by 680-million gallons. We have also
seen a decrease in the consumption of natural
resources such as trees.
 Positive and
negative effects?
Now that we have seen some of the
positive and negative effects, the next
important question to ask is this:

How can we then make sure that our digital nomadic

or globetrotting lifestyle brings just as any good to
the planet as it does to our personal lives?

There are actually quite a few.

2 Whether you travel in Chiangmai, Bali or Lisbon, there are ways that you can
lessen the impact you make on the environment, support sustainable compa-
nies, and engage in practices that help the planet rather than harm it.

We have listed some suggestions below to help you identify potential areas of
improvement in your travels. From selecting the right transportation to packing
the right multipurpose items, your choices impact the world around you. Read
further for additional ways to make your travels more sustainable.
 “Believe you
can, and you’re
halfway there.”
- T. Roosevelt

Decrease Your Carbon Footprint by Being Wise

About Transportation

Public transportation is among the best options available for traveling. The ability to carry
multiple people to their intended destinations at once is a great way to lessen carbon
footprint. You can also look for options that use alternative power sources such as wind, solar,
and foot power to get travelers from point A to point B. If possible, you might also want to
check other sustainable options such as riding a bicycle or walking, especially for short
distances, and enjoy the views in an earth-friendly style.

Average CO2 (kg) per km per passenger

Muscle Public
Wheeled Other
Powered Transport

Foot 0 Car Electric 0.043 Trolley Bus 0.042 Snowmobile 0.094

Bicycle 0 Mini Bus 0.055 Diesel Train 0.060 Ferry 0.115

Rickshaw 0 Auto Rickshaw 0.061 Electric Train 0.065 Express Boat 0.530

Animal Transport 0 Moped 0.073 Underground 0.065

Short Flights 0.220
Car Hybrid 0.084 Bus 0.069 (around 500km)

Motorcycle 0.094
Long Flights 0.100
(over 1500km)
Car Small 0.110

Car Medium 0.133

Taxi 0.170

Car Large 0.183

We have borrowed this calculations of emissions from Co2nnect to paint a clearer picture of the potential
impact one can have by using various forms of transportation. We have also added the
CO2 emissions for airplanes.
 Adopt a
Waste-Free
Lifestyle
“As much as I can, I always make it a point to walk or
bicycle whenever I travel places. It doesn’t only allow me to
lessen my carbon footprint, but it also gives me the chance to
appreciate my surroundings more.”
- Dana, 29 (Freelance Writer)

When in doubt, do without.

4

Adopting a waste-free lifestyle is among the smartest and most

impactful things you can do as a sustainable roamer. By creating as
little waste possible while on your journey, you’re doing your part to
protect the planet from unnecessary destruction.

Did you know?

In 2018, Earth Day Network reported that about

one trillion single-use plastic bags are used
annually around the globe. That accounts for
nearly 2 million plastic bags every minute.

When possible, choose to use products made from reusable or compostable

products. Even then, you’ll want to go with the most natural option possible.
For example, bamboo and hemp are excellent choices when shopping for
sustainable materials.
 Tips for going
waste-free or
zero-waste:
Invest in items that are multipurpose.

For example, a bandana is much more than a neckerchief or head scarf. It

can be used to lay out food or even as a napkin. You can use it to wrap up
items and even as a makeshift washcloth to wash your face and hands.

Nix the packaging.

Only buy products that have no packaging. For example, a single apple in its
natural form is better than a bag of apples. If you carry your own reusable
5 produce bags and shopping bags, you’ll always have an easy way to carry the
items that you’ve purchased while traveling.

According to ConservingNow.com, on average, for every 200 plastic bags we

use, we only recycle one. Meanwhile, The Balance Small Business reports
that if we are able to recycle even just one ton of plastics, we will be able to
save about 1,000-2,000 gallons of gasoline. Just imagine the impact a simple
reusing or recycling can create!

Don’t use single-serve anything.

Individually packaged items are common in the travel world. It allows busi-
nesses to control portion size in an attempt to keep costs low. Using these
products comes at a much bigger price, however, as it creates even more
waste. Say no to single packets of coffee creamer and sugar. Ask that the
hotel staff stop delivering mini bottles of toiletries and bars of soap. Your voice
is your greatest instrument in igniting change, so make sure that you use it.
 The food and beverage product wastes amounting to 800,000 tons can cover
the whole of Greater London up to a depth of 2.5cm.

“One of my practices is to always bring my own bag everytime I do some shopping

or visit the markets. By doing this, I no longer have to ask for plastic bags from
vendors which I know will just be thrown in the garbage eventually.”
- John, 32 (Video Blogger)

Shop Locally and Support Small Businesses.

Whenever possible, shop small businesses, boutiques, marketplaces, and farmer’s

markets. Show support for the local business owners by buying their goods and
services. That way, you’re able to help them put food on the table and strengthen
their local economy.

Start A Water-Sensible Diet

Yes, you read it right. A water-sensible diet. According to studies, the water we
consume from our homes or hotels is just a small part of how much we consume
6 in total. The invisible and in fact, bigger part, is the water used for the production
of the common food we eat which amounts to a whopping 3,496 litres per day.

92% of our water consumption is hidden in our food.

Check out this list of food products (per kilo) and the corresponding amount of
water (per liter) needed to produce them.

Drinks Meats Grains Other

Coffee 18,900 L Beef 15,400 L Rice 2,500 L Cheese 3,180 L

Sheep 10,400 L Soybeans 2,145 L Sugar 1,780 L

Fruit Pork 6,000 L Wheat 1,830 L

Goat 4,300 L Barley 1,425 L

Apple 822 L Chicken 4,300 L Maize 1,220 L

However, by choosing a more nutritious food menu, we can actually help reduce the world’s
“water footprint.” For example, as listed above, the production of just 1 kilo of beef requires
15,400 litre of water. So by scaling down on our consumption of meat, and of course avoiding
wasting food, we can help the world become a little more water secure.
 “Start where you are.
Use what you have.
Do what you can.”
- Arthur Ashe

Respect Local Culture and Traditions

The world is a big place with a lot of history, ideals,

religions, culture, and traditions. Learning “I have been to a lot of countries
something about the place you’re traveling will in the past years and I learned
allow you to respect the land and its people. That that it always pays to read
way, you’re not doing something accidentally that about the culture and people of
could be considered threatening or disrespectful. the places you visit. It allows you
to be more appreciative and
helps you adapt better to the

Support Sustainable Tourism Practices different ways of life too.”

7 Invest in eco-tourism practices by booking responsible tour - Sophie, 35 (Entrepreneur)

operators as well as staying in eco-lodges and green
hotels. Further, select facilities that implement sustainable
solutions through self-generation of clean energy, proper
waste management and water harvesting.
By supporting businesses and companies that share your
same core values, you’re making your money count.

By using solar panels and energy storage at our

E-Co spaces, we will be able to save 13 tons of CO2
emissions per year that is equivalent to planting 590 trees.
Imagine 100 resorts are using solar power generation. That
means 1300t of CO2 emissions are avoided every year which
is akin to planting a 600He forest.

Further, by implementing water harvesting and waste

water management techniques, an average sized hotel
could save up to 60-70% of water consumption that is
equivalent to an olympic pool.
 “Whatever is not
happening,
make it happen.”
- Unknown Digi Nomad

Share Your Experience with Your Community

Blog about what you’ve seen, done, and experienced. Allow others to feel what you feel.
Post photos of the places you’ve seen, the people you’ve met, the foods you’ve eaten, the
beautiful landscapes you’ve visited, and the sustainable ways in which you have traveled.
As the saying goes, “Take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footprints.”
Sustainable footprints, that is!

There are better ways to travel going forward. As a digital nomad or globetrotter, you have a
responsibility not only for yourself and the remote work you have committed to, but also to
8 the places you will be visiting and to the environment in general.

By adopting a sustainable roamer lifestyle, you’ll be able to visit all the wonderful places you
dreamed of going without contributing to the planet’s environmental problems. Instead,
you’ll be achieving your own personal goals as a traveler and making the world a cleaner
and better place in the meantime.

“The future depends

on what you do
today.”
- Ghandi

Check out what we’re doing at our E-Co Spaces to inspire environmental & social
ideas to help change the world.