Almost everyone is caught in the green wave. And because it's so difficult to change old habits, you might find yourself "greenwashed".

GoTravel24 is constantly trying to find ways for you to travel without putting unnecessary strain on the environment. And it's a difficult process.

Watch out for the pacifier

Green washing is when organisations claim to be green when they actually aren't doing enough to warrant the label. Because there really aren't any set standards in terms of what's green in many industries, including travel.

"Everyone just does it for themselves, so it can be difficult to judge," says Jeunesse Park of Trees for Africa. There are some operators who ride on the guilt of consumers who are trying to be green.

So, while it might be tempting to look for an easy solution when it comes to committing to a greener lifestyle, there really isn't a quick, free for all way to do it.

The only way to do it is to get serious about it. Be your own advocate, so to speak. "People are becoming aware that they can't just blindly trust someone who says they're green without anything to show for it," Park says.

"Green is a big buzzword now."

Ask the difficult questions

If an operator (hotel, tour group, restaurant) claims to be green and you'd like to know if it's not just greenwashing, you should ask some heavy questions so that you're not being conned and lulled.

Ask for certification. Who proclaimed them to be green? It's easy for people to claim they are green but what really qualifies this claim? It's unlikely that you will find many operators with some kind of certification. But ask, if they produce one at least you know you’re not being pacified. If there's no certification there are other ways of finding out.

Generally companies and service providers who call themselves green are self-governed. So before committing to anything find out what is it that they do to regulate themselves when it comes to being eco-friendly. "It's not enough for someone to call themselves green just because they recycle, they have to do more," Park says.

Important questions can centre on issues of electricity. How do they use it? Remember a smart card that switches off the lights when you leave the room is not enough. Do they use an alternative source of power; solar or wind? What is their carbon footprint? What do they do to offset? It's your prerogative to ask.

Recycling also plays a part. And here's it’s not just the reuse of towels and such. But the materials that are used to build up the establishments you patronise.

This is not a full blown trend yet as most green buildings are only being built. But certainly in the near future if someone tells you their building is green, find out which materials they used to assert that classification.

Is a significant percentage of the materials recycled and is the rest of the building safe for the environment?

If your travel arrangements include working with big companies (and they usually do) find out what the company you’re supporting has done for green support.

Questions to ask in this instance would include, " What has the company done to reduce carbon emissions and waste, how does it support the local community, and how does it conserve energy and water."

Park points out. "A company like Kulula asks its customers to pay an additional R10 to contribute to their travel offset."

These same questions should be posed to the restaurants you visit or tour operators you'd like to use during your travels.

It's hard work going green (not the same as making your own soap though) when there isn't any overall governing group that ensures everyone who claims to be green really is.

But the effort beats being greenwashed, just because you wanted it to be easy.

Have any green tips to share?

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