Sustainable holidays: Why shouldn't everything travel with us 

“ Qconsidering sustainable holidays, we tend to associate this concept with visible choices, such as reducing the use of plastic, respecting local resources, opting for less polluting means of transport or looking for more conscious experiences and aligned with environmental preservation. However, there is a dimension to the journeys that we hardly talk about and that, although it seems simple, also deserves our attention: the “invisible risk” that we can carry with us when we return home. 

During the journeys, we often contact plant species, local products and natural elements different from those we are used to in everyday life. Between markets, walks through natural spaces or shopping during the stay, there may be a temptation to transport fruits, plants, seeds or other materials of plant origin, often without awareness of the implications that this gesture can have when crossing borders.

As international travel increases during the warmer months, so does the importance of looking at certain behaviors with greater awareness. Plants, seeds, fruits, flowers or other materials of plant origin may, in some cases, transport organisms harmful to plants, whose presence is not always noticeable, but which may affect ecosystems, natural habitats and agricultural crops when introduced into new environmental contexts.

We may not always make this association, but plant health is directly linked to our daily lives. Food availability, environmental quality, landscape biodiversity and ecosystem balance depend largely on healthy and protected plants. When pests and diseases settle in new contexts, impacts can be reflected in agriculture, natural habitats and the sustainability of food systems.

That is precisely why there are strict rules and mechanisms of plant health control. Within the European Union, there is common regulation and monitoring systems that help reduce the risks associated with the transport of certain plant materials, although this does not completely eliminate the need for informed and responsible behaviour. On journeys from countries outside the EU, care must be redoubled, as these types of products are often subject to specific restrictions or require phytosanitary certification, given the distinct nature of biological risks. 

Traveling in a sustainable way therefore implies understanding that protecting a destination is not only about minimizing the carbon footprint, but also about avoiding behaviors that contribute to the introduction of biological threats. Small gestures, such as looking for information before putting a fruit in the bag or reflecting whether that seed is really necessary, make all the difference.

This change of mindset is at the heart of the European campaign #PlantHealth4Life, promoted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Commission, and implemented in Portugal by the Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary (DGAV), which seeks to bring the issue of health closer to the everyday life of citizens and encourage more conscious and responsible behaviors.

Perhaps one of the most genuine ways to travel in a sustainable way is to recognize that some memories must remain where they belong. Protecting a destination also means helping to preserve the ecosystems that make it unique.”.