Sustainability in travel, I believe, fosters within us a sense of resourcefulness and encourages us to be creative in the different actions we can take to support our planet. It forces us to make conscious choices about what we are consuming, how we are moving, and the footprint we are leaving behind. I carry this mindset throughout the process of preparing for my study abroad year, not only in the big decisions but in small, everyday ones that compound.
To reduce my carbon footprint, I opted for an eight hour nonstop flight from Chicago to London instead of a multi‑leg itinerary. I am living in shared accommodations and traveling with two suitcases, reusable tote bags, and items I already own. Sustainability has stayed at the center of my decisions for my exchange year at LSE. I have tried to follow UN SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production by using what I have, avoiding unnecessary purchases, and being mindful about how I prepare for travel. Even packing became a moment to pause and think of the tradeoffs between what I needed and what would create waste.
When I arrive at LSE, I plan to commute by train from my accommodation and walk whenever feasible in pedestrian friendly areas. For any travel within the UK, I plan to choose trains over short flights and explore local, less crowded areas. For food, I want to shop from local businesses and use products made in the community, which supports UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. I packed enough clothing from home and avoided buying new items for the trip. For winter clothing, I went to the Share Shop, our campus thrift store, and thrifted items secondhand. For stationery, I used our school supplies closet instead of buying new notebooks or pens. I packed compostable spoons and forks so I do not have to rely on cheap plastic utensils while traveling. Most of my items are organized in cloth bins and reusable zip bags instead of disposable packaging. I am carrying a reusable water bottle with intentions to refill it at fountains instead of buying bottled water. I am intentional about food waste and plan to cook in small batches, use leftovers, and compost when possible.
I aim to travel lightly in digital ways as well. I download what I need offline, reduce unnecessary cloud storage, and limit screen time to conserve energy. Academically, I will use my iPad for digital notes and borrow books from the library instead of buying new ones. To support these habits, I plan to use Citymapper for efficient public transport routes, Too Good To Go and OLIO to reduce food waste, Recycle Now to understand UK recycling norms, Trainline for low‑emission travel, and Saily for sustainable access to data through an e‑sim without relying on disposable SIM cards. Incorporating these small, but actionable and conscientious choices has proved for me to be not only sustainable, but also economical and grounding as I prepare for this experience.
