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Being green when flying

Initially published on 12/05/11


Yes, I know that if you really want to "be green", the best you can do is to not fly.

Of course you can compensate your carbon emissions (also said "carbon offset") by giving money to an association that will plant trees for you (or will set up solar panels in an african village) but this does not solve the problem; especially since it will take about ten years to your tree to actually absorb your carbon. 

A way of getting a clean, not environment but conscience? Maybe, but it may be better than doing nothing at all; let's call it the "less worse solution".

Some links from Grønn Hverdag:
http://etiskforbruk.no/Mitt%20klima
http://www.co2.klif.no/

So no, I do not have miracle solution to turn plane into an ecological transport means, but this article is mostly about not make it worse, and to adopt a responsible behavior in an airport.

First of all, you don't need to print your electronic tickets!!! Especially when flying with Norwegian or SAS (but it might work with any airline machine you are using): when you check in at the machine, you can either use your credit card (if you used it when booking your tickets online, before the payment step) or the reference number. This, you can write on your mobile phone for example ? so you are sure not to lose it ? and it works also when you check in at a regular desk.

You don't need to buy a plastic bottle each time you take a new flight: just use the same again and again (or even better and probably safer: a flask). You just need it to be empty when you go through security; then you can refill it in the toilets. If the water is hot (an evil trick to force you to buy a bottle), check if there no cold water bottom, try the disabled restroom (they do not have always the same tapes), or fill it with warm water and wait until it gets cold. I think that so much water is used in a short time that it does not have time to stagnate.

If you are lucky enough to get free food on your flight, try not to throw it. Many plastics items will be thrown for nothing, and the carbon print of thrown food is even more important (waste of water and CO2).
-        do not accept it if you think you won't eat it
-        share with your neighbors
-        save it for later (with SAS's bread, cheese and ham breakfast I made a sandwich for lunch).

If food is not for free, homemade sandwiches in a reusable box are cheaper and more environmental-friendly.

Duty free shops? Because it is cheap, you do not have to buy everything! But mostly, try to avoid over wrapped candies.

Any other tips I did not think about?
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