Sustainable travel tech: Eco-friendly gadgets on the go

It may sound fancy to some, but sustainable tourism is more than a trend today. People are realizing how their trips harm the environment. This has led to a growing focus on the sustainable tourism market.

If we speak numbers, with 75 percent of Indian travellers believing that sustainable travel encourages positive change, the market for sustainable tourism in India is projected to grow at a CAGR of 19.3 percent between 2024 and 2034, reaching an estimated USD 216.7 million by 2034. This demand has driven innovations in travel gear that prioritize renewable energy, waste reduction, and eco-friendly experiences.

Rikant Pittie, CEO and co-founder of EaseMyTrip, says, “Technology is transforming the way we travel and how we care for the planet while doing so. Nowadays, sustainable travel technologies and gadgets are empowering eco-conscious explorers to minimise their environmental impact without compromising on comfort or convenience.”

Solar-powered gadgets for travel

Harnessing India’s abundant sunlight, solar-powered gadgets are perfect for reducing reliance on disposable batteries and fossil fuels.  Brands have now come up with portable solar chargers for off-grid adventures in Ladakh or the Western Ghats. Apart from that, travellers now use backpacks with solar panels integrated into them, making charging devices on the go effortless.

Vapika Malik, 29, a travel influencer from Delhi, who is an eco-conscious traveller, shared that whenever she prefers taking portable solar-powered gadgets on her trips. “I have been using solar fans on my trips to hot and humid places. Oh! Solar-powered flashlights have worked wonders during my adventurous hikes in Gokarna recently.”

Sustainable hydration for eco-conscious travellers

One of the major concerns for travellers in India has been the accessibility to clean drinking water. Not everyone can afford to buy mineral water from tourist places as prices may vary. To solve this problem, now brands have come up with eco-friendly alternatives to plastic bottles. Devices like LifeStraw and Sawyer Mini claim to filter out contaminants, making river or tap water safe to drink. At the same time, self-cleaning water bottles which use UV-C light to purify water in minutes and silicone bottles are also being used by travellers.

Rohini Ahluwalia, COO, Blaupunkt Audio, says, “One of the most damaging parts of travel was the need to buy water bottles. Even those who wanted to recycle the bottles could not because clean water was not available for refills. So we bought drank and then hoped the empty plastic bottle was recycled properly. Now we have so many solutions to this problem.” Ahluwalia says she uses LifeStraw to make water from streams drinkable. "Fill your bottle and suck on the straw. Nanofiltration does the rest,” she says.

Accessibility to clean drinking water: Inexpensive, portable water filters and self-cleaning bottles that use UV-C are alternatives to single-use plastic bottles. (Image credit: Pixabay/Pexels)

Smart and sustainable travel comfort gadgets

Well, sustainability is not just about reducing waste, but it is also about efficiency and energy conservation. In today’s day and age, people want to travel in comfort. So, they carry devices such as pillows, mugs, earphones, speakers in their travel bag. It’s astonishing that brands are coming up that provide noise-cancelling solar powered headphones, solar-powered bluetooth speakers for eco-conscious travellers. In fact, now you can buy memory foam pillows made from recycled materials. Ankit Choudhary, 30, a data scientist and adventure enthusiast from Mumbai, says, “One of the things I carry while traveling is my own temperature regulated mug. It may sound simple. But it is my way of not using the plastic cups out there and contributing towards the environment.”

Green cooking on the go

For travellers who love cooking outdoors while reducing their carbon footprint, efficient cookstoves are a game-changer. Ankit Mathur, co-founder and CEO, Greenway Grameen, says: "Clean cookstove is a good choice for people looking to enhance their nature travel experience. The portability combined with the stove efficiency is helpful when one wants to rustle up a quick meal while enjoying the beauty of the nature. Whether one is staying in an eco-lodge or glamping in the jungle, clean cookstove is a great companion.”

Ahluwalia says, “I remember on treks we had to collect firewood to make our meals. This was not only polluting but also dangerous for the environment. Now small stoves that run on tiny gas tanks are way more efficient. A jet stove is a great piece of equipment. A tiny motor powers a fan to increase the efficiency. So you get a hot cup of tea in minutes, saving fuel and also keeping pollution to a minimum.”

Green energy-powered transport options like electric bikes and scooters provide a more sustainable way to explore urban areas. (Image credit: Cottonbro via Pexels)

Apps for responsible travelling

Innovative apps are helping travelers track and minimize their environmental impact. Smart travel apps like Google Flights' CO₂ emissions tracker, nurture technology-driven travel. There are apps that provides travellers with personalized insights for eco-friendly choices.

Anup Garg, founder and director, World of Circular Economy (WOCE), shares their app called ‘Carbon Book’ allows travellers to measure, monitor, and offset their travel-related emissions. “By offering real-time insights and actionable recommendations, Carbon Book enables travelers to reduce their emissions by 20-30 percent annually,” Garg says.

Sustainable stays, transport solutions and more

If we talk about sustainable tourism as a whole, then it is not just about gadgets but also about sustainable stays, eco-friendly bikes, and much more. Anil Kumar Lohia, COO, TripXL, says, “As more travellers are actively seeking green accommodation options that use renewable energy, water conservation systems, and eco-friendly materials like Nimmu House in Ladakh, La Maison De Ananda in Assam, and Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, the awareness of such innovative ideas is continually on the rise. As a result, we see that such innovative ideas limit the reliance on fossil fuels and reduce their environmental footprint.”

Pranav Dangi, founder and CEO, The Hosteller, says tech-integrated travel and hospitality is shaping up to be one of the most transformative trends, with consumers demanding faster, more seamless solutions at their fingertips. “Our primary audience is Gen Z and Millennials which paved our way to create a digital concierge app - Glu... our aim is to make their travel and stay experience hassle-free and super easy,” he says.

Meanwhile, green energy-powered transport options like electric bikes and scooters provide an efficient and sustainable way to explore urban areas, while portable evaporative coolers deliver energy-efficient comfort for warmer climates.

So, the next time you plan your travel, make sure you pack your eco-conscious gadgets on the go along!