🌍Travelling ethically isn’t just a buzzword for modern adventurers — it’s an essential part of protecting the places we love. As a global community of travellers and hostels, we at Hostelling International (HI), believe that exploring the world should go hand‑in‑hand with caring for it. With a global network of more than 2,300 hostels across 58 destinations, we’ve spent decades championing responsible, respectful, and eco‑minded travel that genuinely benefits local people and the planet.
Our mission is simple: to make ethical travel accessible to everyone. Whether it’s choosing greener ways to stay, reducing waste on the road, or connecting meaningfully with local cultures, we’re here to guide and inspire travellers who want their journeys to have a positive impact. This commitment is reflected in our work as a proud signatory of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI), a programme led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, reinforcing our dedication to reducing plastic pollution across the travel sector.
Ethical travel matters now more than ever, and together, we can keep shaping a world where every adventure helps, rather than harms.
The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI) brings the tourism community together around a shared mission, tackling plastic pollution at its source and rethinking the way our industry uses plastics.
By encouraging a shift towards circular systems, it empowers organisations and destinations to lead by example — proving that meaningful change is possible when we work collectively.
We continue — alongside countless partners worldwide — to stay true to our goal of eliminating unnecessary plastics across tourism, especially within our network of hostels.
Back in 2018, two crucial motions were passed at the Hostelling International Conference, reaffirming HI’s commitment to contributing to a more sustainable world. The first focused on minimising, and where possible banning, single‑use plastics across all HI Hostels. The second aimed at reducing the overall “foodprint” — the food‑related environmental impact — in all HI hostels that offer food products. These motions enabled HI to develop a global strategy to help hostels reduce plastic and food waste through practical solutions, monitoring and target setting.
As a signatory of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI), HI commits to encouraging its Member Associations to eliminate unnecessary plastics, innovate with sustainable alternatives, and circulate reusable materials. HI continues to advise and support hostels in following up on the “Say HI to a world without single-use plastics” motion.
♻️ Travel with less plastic
- Bring a refillable water bottle.
- Use a reusable shopping bag.
- Carry your own cutlery or travel utensil set.
- Avoid plastic containers when buying street food.
- Refuse single‑use items like straws, lids, and stirrers.
- Opt for solid toiletries (shampoo bars, soap bars, etc.).
- Bring a reusable coffee cup or collapsible mug.
- Carry a reusable food container for takeaways or leftovers.
- Choose plastic‑free hygiene items like bamboo toothbrushes.
- Buy snacks in bulk to avoid individual wrapping.
- Use beeswax wraps or fabric wraps instead of cling film.
- Bring reusable laundry sheets instead of bottled detergents.
🥗 Reduce your foodprint while travelling
Small choices can make a big difference in reducing food waste and your environmental footprint.
🍴 Smart eating habits
Order only what you can finish — avoid oversized portions.
Share dishes when you want to try multiple foods.
Bring a reusable container for leftovers to avoid waste.
🥕 Choose better foods
- Opt for plant‑based or low-meat meals when possible.
- Choose local and seasonal foods with lower transport impact.
- Support local markets instead of large packaged supermarket goods.
🍽 Reduce waste where you stay
- Label any food you store in shared hostel fridges.
- Use communal kitchen leftovers shelves responsibly.
- Plan meals to avoid buying more than needed.
🛒 Smart purchasing
- Avoid buying items in large plastic packaging.
- Choose naked produce (vegetables or fruit sold unpackaged).
- Bring your own cloth bags for loose items.
🙌 Be a responsible guest
- Respect portion guidelines at buffet breakfasts.
- Avoid overfilling your plate — you can always go back for more.
By learning about and embracing ethical travel, we can make sure that every journey we take leaves the world a little better than we found it. When we choose to travel thoughtfully — respecting cultures, caring for nature, and supporting local communities — our adventures become part of something much bigger. As you plan your next escape with Hostelling International, look forward to exploring the world in a way that truly celebrates it. Every step you take, every choice you make, helps protect the incredible places that inspire us to travel in the first place. Here’s to meaningful journeys and memories that make a positive impact. Happy travels! 🌍
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