The concept of being eco-conscious is rapidly moving from a niche trend among Gen Z to a global necessity, reflecting a profound shift in how we view our relationship with the planet. This awareness is especially important in the hospitality sector, where innovative eco-conscious hotel solutions are crucial.
For example, Equipoise, a top-rated eco-conscious resort in Ubud, is built entirely upon this philosophy, integrating eco-friendly solutions into every aspect of its design and operations. Understanding the true eco-conscious definition allows us to make better decisions every day. Below is a guide to the philosophy behind being eco-conscious.
What is Eco-conscious?
Environmental issues have become a global concern, which is why the United Nations has created an eco-consciousness definition as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (quoted from Southern New Hampshire University). Eco-conscious is often referred to as environmentally conscious, both rooted in the sustainability movement.
Mike Weinstein, PhD, director of sustainability at SNHU and founder of the university’s internationally accredited Arboretum, has stated that this concept challenges individuals to consider their fundamental needs. These include clean water, healthy food, and stable housing, while recognizing that billions of people globally currently lack access to these necessities.
As highlighted by Pamela Beckvagni, environmental sustainability requires the “responsible and balanced use of natural resources” to address current needs without negatively impacting the future. The ultimate goal of this approach is “ensuring long-term ecological stability and life” by maintaining an environmental balance.
The Benefits of Eco-conscious
Adopting an eco-conscious living approach offers significant benefits that extend far beyond the immediate environment. These benefits are cited by organizations focused on measurable global outcomes:
1. Significant Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions (CO2)
The UN emphasizes that shifts in transport and diet are among the fastest ways to reduce your environmental impact. For example, switching to renewable home energy can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 1.5 tons of CO2 per year.
Living car-free can reduce a footprint by up to 2 tons of CO2 per year, while shifting from a mixed to a vegetarian diet can reduce a footprint
2. Preservation of Natural Capital
Robert Goodland, a former Lead Environmental Scientist at the World Bank, defined environmental sustainability as the “maintenance of natural capital.” This involves protecting ecosystem services such as air and water purification, pollination, and nutrient cycling, which are essential for human life.
3. Poverty Eradication
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) stresses that environmental sustainability is a “prerequisite for sustained and irreversible socioeconomic development and poverty eradication.”
Eco-Conscious Habits and Daily Steps to Protect the Environment
Integrating eco-conscious principles into daily life is achievable through simple yet impactful steps. Here are ten actions to help protect the environment curated by the United Nations:
1. Consider your travel
Consider making eco-friendly choices when you travel. Choose sustainable hotels, reduce waste, and support businesses that care about the environment. Bring reusable items and avoid single-use plastics. Small changes in how you travel can help protect the planet while you enjoy your trip.
2. Save energy at home
Reduce your energy use by adjusting heating and cooling, switching to LED bulbs and efficient appliances, and washing laundry with cold water or line-drying. Improving your home’s efficiency, such as with better insulation, can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 900 kilograms of CO2 annually.
3. Change your home’s source of energy
Ask your utility company about your energy source and switch to renewable options like wind or solar if possible, or install solar panels on your roof. This transition from fossil fuels to renewables can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 1.5 tons of CO2 per year.
For travelers, consider staying at an eco-conscious hotel that has features like environmentally friendly energy sources to support sustainable practices during your vacation.
4. Walk, bike, or take public transport
Choosing to walk, bike, or use public transport instead of driving reduces greenhouse gas emissions while benefiting your health. Living car-free can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 2 tons of CO2 annually compared to a car-dependent lifestyle.
5. Switch to an electric vehicle
Consider buying an electric vehicle (EV) to replace gas or diesel cars, as EVs typically cause fewer greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. Switching to an EV can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 2 tons of CO2 per year.
For those who travel in Bali, gladly now there are many hotels that offer eco-conscious EV features to support your sustainability movement.
6. Reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle
To combat the emissions caused by production, prioritize buying fewer items, shopping second-hand, and repairing what you already own. This addresses the massive environmental burden of plastics and textiles, where less than 10 percent of plastic is recycled.
7. Eat more vegetables
Shifting your diet to include more plants, such as vegetables, fruits, and legumes, while reducing meat and dairy, significantly lowers your environmental impact. This dietary change can reduce up to 500 kilograms of CO2 annually for a vegetarian diet.
8. Throw away less food
Discarding food wastes the resources used in its production and creates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, when it rots in landfills. Only purchase what you need, ensure you use what you buy, and compost any leftovers to reduce your carbon footprint by up to 300 kilograms of CO2 per year.
9. Plant native species
Check your garden for native plant species and replace non-natives or invasives, as local ecosystems depend on native plants for food and shelter. Even a single tree can offer refuge, and avoiding insecticides helps preserve biodiversity.
10. Clean up your environment
Improperly discarded garbage contaminates land and water, harming humans, animals, and plants. Always dispose of your trash properly, educate others, and participate in local clean-up efforts for parks and beaches.
11. Make your money count
Since all spending impacts the planet, choose products from companies committed to responsible resource use and emissions reduction. Also, ensure your investments, such as pension funds, support environmentally sustainable businesses instead of fossil fuels or deforestation.
12. Speak up
Communicating and organizing others to take climate action is one of the fastest and most effective ways to make a difference. Talk to your community, support businesses making bold changes, and appeal to local and world leaders because climate action requires everyone’s collective effort.
Experience an Eco-Conscious Hotel Stay at Equipoise Resort in Bali
For a truly immersive experience in eco-conscious living, consider staying at Equipoise Resort in Ubud. This new boutique resort exemplifies the philosophy by integrating sustainable practices from its architecture to its daily operations, offering a luxurious yet eco-conscious stay.
Equipoise Resort features natural designs, locally sourced bamboo materials, eco-conscious furniture, and minimal waste policies, allowing you to enjoy your vacation with peace of mind. Experience the future of ethical luxury and make eco-conscious choices on your next trip to Bali.
