Our mission at Thrifty Traveler is to make travel cheap and accessible to everyone.
That's why we post domestic flight deals here daily, send dirt-cheap international fares to Thrifty Traveler Premium subscribers, explain the world of points and miles, and share every tip and trick to help make your travels as good and cheap as they can be. But even when you're using points and miles, travel isn't free – there's another cost.
As more of the world travels, we feel a responsibility to protect these amazing experiences for future generations of travelers. And a big piece of that is countering the environmental impact of stepping on a plane.
What Are Carbon Offsets?
Almost everything we do creates carbon emissions.
Driving a car, heating our home, and buying anything from a T-shirt to a steak has some toll. Collectively, these acts produce some carbon emissions. And flying is among the least environmentally friendly modes of transportation.
In order to reduce this impact, you can purchase carbon offsets. It's money that goes toward a project designed to balance out the carbon emissions. Think planting trees or investing in alternatives to carbon-emitting sources like green energy: solar, wind, hydroelectricity.
What Thrifty Traveler is Doing
Thrifty Traveler is offsetting every flight each member our team makes. We're passionate about our natural resources and did a lot of research to find a well-run, transparent, and highly effective organization to donate to.
The National Forest Foundation is a perfect fit. We have become a Small Business Partner and have started donating quarterly to offset our carbon footprint. Every dollar we donate will plant one tree in our National Forests.
Want to do the same? Check out the calculator in our guide to carbon offsets to put a number on your carbon footprint, then find a way to offset it.
Bottom Line
Traveling can take a toll on the very places we are going to see. We need to ensure that these beautiful destinations survive by doing our part. Offsetting our flight carbon footprint is just the start.