If you wanted to minimise your carbon footprint as much as possible, you’d probably forego flying entirely.
But when you’ve got kids who want to holiday outwith the UK and family abroad too, travelling by aeroplane is pretty much the only practical option.
However, there are a few small yet significant steps you can take to minimise the damage and maximise your Green credentials.
With that in mind, here are five eco-friendly hacks for Birmingham Airport flyers.
1. Flying green
Some carriers are making genuine efforts to reduce their carbon footprints — either by using aircraft which are more environmentally-friendly, flying at certain times or switching up the way the serve customers so that there’s less waste.
For instance, you can fly reasonably Green with Etihad from Birmingham to Abu Dhabi, because the airline launched one of the first single-use plastic free flight to celebrate Earth Day on 22nd April 2019 and has committed to reduce single-use plastic across all its operations by 80 per cent by 2022.
2. Fly during the day
If you have a choice, flying during the day is less damaging to the environment than taking to the skies at night.
According to a study at the University of Leeds, the global warming effect of planes is greater by night – the condensation trails they leave trap heat in the same way a cloud does. Whereas during daylight, the sun bounces off the same trails and reflects back into space.
3. Recycle
BHX is a busy airport and with all that activity comes mountains of passenger and commercial waste.
But you can be sure that Birmingham recycles as much waste as possible by separating it at source to save materials that can be repurposed, incinerating non-recyclable waste instead of dropping it in landfills and replacing toxic materials used in various processes with eco-friendly alternatives.
You can play your part by ensuring any rubbish resulting from your visit is disposed of responsibly.
4. Eat ethically
Filling your family’s bellies with a wholesome pre-flight meal is a holiday tradition for many travellers – it saves anyone complaining if the in-flight food leaves a lot to be desired.
And believe it or not, the airport JD Weatherspoon is one of the best choices for those concerned about the environment because the huge pub chain incorporates a range of energy-saving measures in its operations, such as using LED lighting, Lossnay heat recovery systems and solar power.
5. Green airport travel
Getting to Birmingham airport via public transport is probably more environmentally-friendly than travelling in your own car, but if you’ve got young kids or elderly relatives in tow, it might be impractical.
However, by pre-booking Birmingham Airport parking on a site like Looking4.com, you’ll at least reduce the exhaust emissions you might otherwise have pumped into the atmosphere by circling around in frustration to find a suitable space.
Follow our five eco-friendly hacks for Birmingham flyers and you’ll have the peace of mind that comes from contributing in some way to saving the planet – every little helps.
Do you have eco-friendly tips for BHX travellers? Share them in the comments section.