12 concrete tips for travelling responsibly

Before you go

Travelling responsibly is all about making informed choices. Choose your destination and what time to travel carefully from an environmental, social and economic perspective. Plan your trip well in advance to be able to travel more sustainably.

Tip: Travel & Climate is a Swedish platform that makes it easier for consumers to choose low-carbon by calculating trip footprints. It was initiated by a network affiliated with the Centre for Tourism at the University of Gothenburg.

Why Sweden

Sweden is not only known for its accessible natural wonders, well-preserved UNESCO World Heritage Sites and progressive lifestyle. Besides being the world’s most sustainable travel destination, Sweden…

• …is a democracy with the right of freedom of expression and information, freedom of demonstration and freedom of assembly, which are central to democracy.
• …is firm on laws to prevent ill health and accidents at work to create a good working environment and favourable conditions in most companies in the hospitality industry.
• …has also been ranked the number one country in the Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index for the last six years (2016-2022).

Eco-conscious travel to Sweden

Travellers from Europe can advantageously choose to travel to Sweden by train, rent an electric car or book a climate-smart bus trip.

For long-distance visitors, flying may be the only option. If you travel by air, use the acronym NERD (New, Economy, Regular, Direct) to guide you in your choice of flight. Newer, more energy-efficient aircraft and non-stop flights minimise your carbon footprint, as well as travelling in economy and packing light.

Most airlines allow travellers to carbon offset their journey. With some airlines, you can also buy biofuel. By investing in the development of renewable fuels, you can contribute to the development of aviation.

Tip: Fly Green Fund is a Swedish non-profit organisation that helps you reduce your flight carbon footprint by replacing fossil jet fuel with sustainable aviation fuels.

Take your time

This applies in particular to travellers arriving by air. Avoid multiple short trips to various places and opt to discover more in the local area of your chosen destination. Why not stay for a workcation or take the opportunity to visit another Nordic country? Just imagine having the Northern Lights as your office view or, for any night owls, to work in the light of the Midnight Sun for a month or two…

When to travel

There are several benefits of travelling during the low season. By avoiding destinations during high season, you won’t contribute to mass tourism that damages the environment. You’ll help local companies to stay open all year round, which is socially and economically sustainable. An additional bonus for you will be that the prices are generally lower, and you’ll get to enjoy your destination without the crowds.

Example: Instead of visiting the west coast during the busy summer months, come in autumn and experience the lobster season. Or skip the ski resorts during the Christmas peak and throw yourself down the slopes on a downhill mountain bike during summer.

Green accommodations

Sweden generally has very good working conditions. Whichever hotel you choose, you can be sure that employees have positive working environments. And for those longing for unique accommodations close to nature, you’ve come to the right place. The Swedish forests are scattered with sustainable eco-lodges and glamping tents.

Sweden does not have a national labelling program regarding sustainability in the hospitality industry. Instead, there are many certifications and labels for hotels, including ISO, Swedish Welcome, Green Key, Nordic Swan Ecolabel and Krav.

Also, Swedish hotel chains are at the forefront of communicating their sustainability efforts.

• Strawberry (former Nordic Choice Hotels) has six sustainability focus areas, including ethical trade and diversity, and all hotels are ISO 14001 certified.
• All Swedish Scandic Hotels carry the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and continually work to improve their sustainable solutions in everything from emissions to waste.
• Elite Hotels’ environmental work permeates everything from consumables to water consumption, and all hotels are certified by Green Key.

Eco-friendly things to see and do

To get the most out of your holiday with the least possible impact, turn to local operators and guides. Not only will you support the local economy and employment, but you’ll also get those expert tips and hidden gems that will make your trip memorable.

Different labels in different parts of the country gather companies with high quality and sustainability standards within ecotourism. Here are a few:

• Nature’s Best is Sweden’s only sustainability label for nature-based experiences. It relies on six ecotourism principles and gathers everything from accommodation and Sámi experiences to dog sledding and archipelago cruises – in total about 35 companies all over the country.
• Västerbotten Experience is an initiative where companies in Västerbotten county work together for more sustainable experiences. It’s based on sustainability criteria set by GSTC and gathers more than 80 companies within accommodation, nature, culture and food.
• ‘Hållbarhetsklivet’ (Stepping up Sustainability) is a joint initiative for a sustainable tourism industry in West Sweden. It gathers some 60 companies in Gothenburg city and the provinces of Bohuslän, Dalsland and Västergötland, many of them the most acclaimed businesses in the region.
• Sustainable Plejs is an EU project from Sweden’s largest island, Gotland. It gathers companies from all over the island – including a range of hotels and restaurants – and the idea is to work locally and organically to make Gotland a living and sustainable place year-round.

Did you know? The vital Swedish startup scene has gained considerable international attention. Still, Sweden has a long history of innovation and is ranked as the third most innovative country in the world, according to the Global Innovation Index 2022. One extraordinary Swedish tech innovation is the eco-friendly shower Orbital, installed at several hotels in Sweden, including Treehotel.

Eat and drink with low impact

The Michelin Guide’s Green Star highlights restaurants at the forefront of the industry regarding their sustainable practices, which currently includeds eight Swedish restaurants scattered across the country. Similarly, the 360°Eat Guide ranks restaurants by sustainability, social and environmental, and gastronomy and awarded 35 restaurants in Sweden in 2022.

Besides the high climate impact of meat, food waste is a significant challenge in the hospitality industry. Many Swedish restaurants are engaged in reducing them and improving their sustainability practices. As a restaurant guest, you can make a difference through small means, too.

• At buffets, choose more vegetables and don’t take more food than you can eat.
• Choose local and seasonal food. Not only will you get fresher produce and learn about the destination’s culinary heritage – you’ll also leave a positive impact on both the environment and the local economy.
• If you’ve booked a table and can’t come, cancel the booking in good time so the restaurant can adapt.

Did you know? Swedish tap water is of high quality and perfectly safe to drink. In fact, Sweden is consistently ranked as one of the top countries in the world with the best drinking water. Drinking water straight from the tap is the norm, even at restaurants. So, there is no need to buy water in single-use plastic bottles.

Sustainable shopping

While shopping and consuming aren’t directly compatible with sustainability, many visitors want to buy souvenirs to take home with them. Then, some choices are better than others. First, avoid mass-produced items made on the other side of the world. Buy products made in Sweden that have been manufactured with sustainability in mind.

Sweden is scattered with farm shops selling local and small-scale produce. A day trip in the countryside is an experience in itself. And while shopping for typical Swedish food products such as flatbread, lingonberry jam, Kalix Caviar, candy canes (‘polkagrisar’) and dried reindeer meat, you can take the opportunity to enjoy a classic Swedish ‘fika’.

Swedish fashion is made to last, and Swedish design is made to be used. Go for a design object that is functional, sustainable and of good quality, made to be used over and over. Or select a garment that symbolises what Swedish fashion is all about – sustainability, timelessness, and minimalism. And, not to forget: Swedes are good at reuse, which means there are many high-quality vintage and second-hand shops in the cities selling pre-loved clothes and furnishing.

Carbon-neutral travel within the country

Walk and cycle whenever possible. Swedish cities are designed for pedestrians and cyclists. Streets have pavements and cycle paths, and cycle racks are on almost every corner.

Use public transportation. Sweden has an extensive public transport system with subway, tram and bus, and you can usually pay with your card.

If you need a taxi or rental car, choose an electric vehicle if possible. Taxi Stockholm, the largest taxi company in Stockholm, is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified and aims for all cars to be emission-free by 2030. Taxi Kurir, which operates in several Swedish cities, is ISO 14001 certified and seeks to have a fossil-free vehicle fleet by 2025.

Train journeys in Sweden are the most climate-friendly in all of Europe. Travelling by train with Sweden’s largest railway company, SJ, is virtually emission-free, as most electricity comes from renewable energy sources. Beautiful views are a bonus!

For years, Swedish domestic aviation has allowed travellers to fly with sustainably produced biofuel. Several Swedish airlines also offset emissions that cannot be minimised.

Tip: In June 2023, the world’s first self-driving electric ferry set sail in Stockholm. The ferry, named MF Estelle after Princess Estelle, takes passengers (and their bikes) between the islands of Kungsholmen and Södermalm in just six minutes. The ferry is largely charged by solar panels on the roof, and the self-driving makes the journey both more punctual and more energy efficient.

If you can’t find info about sustainability…. Ask!

Sustainability is so integrated into the Swedish lifestyle, and things like good working conditions and organic produce are so natural that we don’t even reflect on it or talk about it. Some local producers have high sustainable standards but can’t afford a certification, making communication even more critical. And if a company can’t meet your requests, your questions can contribute to raising awareness and actualising the issue. So, in the long run, you contribute to driving development.

Leave without a trace

Everyone is free to roam the Swedish nature thanks to the Right of Public Access (‘Allemansrätten’). The guiding principle for this unique right – which lets you camp in forests, swim in lakes and pick as many berries as you can carry – is “don’t disturb and don’t destroy”.

Recycling is natural to Swedes; you will see trash bins with different containers for plastic, paper, glass, metal, food waste, etc., wherever you go.

…or do good with your mere presence

At some destinations, visitors are crucial for a sustainable ecosystem. One example is Stora Karlsö, an island outside Gotland. The whole island is certified by Nature’s Best and is the second oldest conservation area in the world, widely known for its abundant bird life. Stora Karlsö is a vital site for the endangered Baltic Sea guillemots, which nest on the steep cliffs. During the coronavirus pandemic, when the island was closed to visitors, large groups of sea eagles arrived instead and frightened and disturbed the guillemots to the extent that the number of hatchlings decreased by at least 25 per cent. Scientists monitored the situation and found that the visitors to Stora Karlsö acted like “seabird guardians”, according to an article in Biological Conservation. The conclusion was that, in some cases, human presence can be used to protect sensitive animal populations.

By travelling consciously, you will create lasting values not only for yourself but for society and the planet.