Sustainable Sailing Holidays: How to Be a More Eco-Friendly Traveller at Sea
By Ryan Brown published on 22 April 2026
Sustainable travel doesn't have to mean overthinking every decision or giving up the trip you've been planning since January. It just means making a few better choices — and on a sailing holiday, those choices are actually pretty easy. To make it even easier and give you more of that feel-good energy for travelling sustainably, we have plenty of eco-initiatives underway with MedSailors.
Whether you're island-hopping in Greece, sailing the coast of Croatia, or heading out with us for the first time, this is everything you need to know about travelling more sustainably at sea. Practical, honest, and nothing preachy.
Here are 9 easy ways to be a more sustainable traveller on your sailing trip. Let's dive in!
1. Bring a reusable water bottle — it's the simplest win going
A single sailing holiday can rack up 20 to 30 single-use plastic bottles if you're not thinking about it. We provide the drinking water on your yacht, so it's no dramas to top up your water bottle as you're exploring the islands. So as you're packing, throw a decent reusable bottle in your bag before you leave home, and you've already sorted one of the biggest sources of boat waste before you've even boarded.
2. Go reef-safe and low-waste with your toiletries
Aerosol sunscreens, single-serve sachets, and excessive packaging all add up fast on a boat. Reef-safe sunscreen formulas are better for the marine ecosystems you're swimming through — the Protect Land + Sea certification is a solid guide for what to look for. Pack products you'll actually use, consolidate where you can, and skip the stuff you won't finish. Plus, it's mad expensive once you get to the islands for this type of thing.
3. Recycle your floaties instead of binning them
End-of-trip inflatables are one of the most common sources of marine plastic waste in the Med. That's why we've built floatie recycling into how MedSailors trips work. Instead of flying all that plastic over with you from home, and ditching it after, rent a floatie at check-in and you're sorted for the week!
Better yet, that small donation goes toward supporting sustainability initiatives around the world with our partner UOCEAN. It's an organisation doing serious work on ocean conservation, cleaner waterways, and coastline protection across the Mediterranean. Less plastic coming in. Real funding going out to the people working on the problem.
4. Shop local in every port for produce or presents
We're big on supporting local, and we think this is a great way to give back to the islands and places you visit. Fresh produce from a harbour market, dinner at a family-run taverna, a bottle of local wine instead of something shipped from the other side of the world — this is both better travel and better sustainability. Money spent locally stays in the community. It also, without exception, tastes better.
5. Use your MedSailors tote bag for everything
Market runs, bakery stops, take-away tins for the hike, beach days, souvenir hauls — the MedSailors tote handles all of it. Every plastic bag you skip at a local shop is one less that ends up in the water. It's also just a better bag. Use it daily, not just when you remember, and take it home to keep using it after!
6. Skip the throwaway beach and boat gear
Cheap inflatables, single-use goggles, flimsy jandals/flip-flops/thongs that will blow out during the week, plastic trinkets bought and abandoned at the end — this is one of the quieter problems in travel tourism. Pack quality stuff you'll actually reuse, or go without. The islands don't need more plastic waste washing up on them, and this is an easy one to avoid!
7. Join a MedSailors beach clean if one comes up
Beach cleans happen throughout the summer season across Greece and Croatia, usually when we're in a bay and spot one needing some love! Getting involved for even a couple of hours makes a real difference to local coastlines and marine ecosystems, especially remote bays we anchor in. We actively encourage our crew and guests to take part when one's happening — it's also genuinely one of the more memorable things you can do on a trip.
8. Treat natural spaces like they actually matter
Sustainable travel isn't only about what's in your bag. It's about not leaving rubbish on beaches, not blasting music through every protected bay, and not treating extraordinary natural places like a backdrop for content while leaving them worse than you found them. The Mediterranean is genuinely one of the most beautiful places on earth. Let's take care of it and leave it better than it was.
9. Say no to straws, choose cone over cup for gelato
Even though plastic straws are banned across most of the EU, along with most single-use plastics, plenty of places still throw them at you relentlessly. Cocktail with 3 colourful plastic straws? Why?! Another culprit is gelato stands...each port you'll find delicious and refreshing places to grab a scoop or two on a hot day, but choose a cup and you'll likely get a plastic spoon. Choose cone to go the extra distance.
Book with a tour operator that's actually doing something
A lot of travel companies now have sustainability language in their marketing. Fewer have specific, verifiable initiatives tied to real partners. It's worth asking what those commitments actually are before you book. When you're looking for travel companies now and in the future, know what their stance is.
At MedSailors, our answer is floatie recycling, UOCEAN funding, tote bags on every trip, and actively encouraging beach clean participation — not just talking about it. We're not trying to toot our horn, we're just proud of the sustainable initiatives we have in place. It's not just a tagline; it's ingrained in our way of business and part of our B Corp accountability as well.
Want to know more about sustainable travel? Check these resources out!
- UOCEAN — MedSailors' sustainability partner working on ocean conservation and Mediterranean coastline protection
- Protect Land + Sea certification — how to find reef-safe sunscreen that won't damage the marine life you're swimming with
- Ocean Conservancy — coastal clean-up finder — find a beach clean happening near your sailing route this summer
- Sustainable Travel International — what to actually look for when booking with a sustainable operator
- UNEP — Beat Plastic Pollution — the numbers behind plastic waste in the world's oceans and what's being done about it
Sustainable Sailing Holiday FAQS:
How can I be a more sustainable traveller on a sailing holiday?
The easiest wins are a reusable water bottle, skipping single-use plastics, shopping local in ports and markets, and participating in beach cleans. Booking with an operator that has real sustainability initiatives — like floatie recycling or partnerships with ocean conservation organisations — makes an even bigger difference.
Is sailing an eco-friendly way to travel?
Sailing has a significantly lower carbon footprint than flying for equivalent distances, particularly on wind-powered legs. Combined with responsible onboard habits — reduced plastic consumption, reef-safe products, waste reduction — it's one of the more environmentally conscious ways to explore the Mediterranean.
What should I pack for a sustainable sailing trip?
We have a full packing list with a lot of recommendations for a sailing tour, but for sustainability: A reusable water bottle, reef-safe sunscreen (look for the Protect Land + Sea certification), a reusable tote bag, solid or low-waste toiletries, and only gear you'll genuinely reuse. Leave the cheap throwaway beach stuff at home.
What is UOCEAN and what does MedSailors' partnership involve?
UOCEAN is an ocean conservation organisation focused on waterway health, marine advocacy, and coastline protection across the Mediterranean. MedSailors raises money for their work through our floatie recycling programme — every inflatable that gets recycled at the end of a trip contributes directly to their conservation projects. We also join in on their local canal and river cleanups in London!
Can I join a beach clean in Greece or Croatia?
Yes — beach cleans run throughout the summer season in both countries. MedSailors actively encourages crew and guests to take part when one's happening near the route.
What should I do if I spot something floating out at sea?
Let your skipper know while sailing, and if it's safe to turn around and go back for it, we will try! During storms and high-wind days, you may spot more plastic floating in the sea, or even a floatie. Make a game of it and try to retrieve it!
How do I reduce plastic waste on a boat trip?
Start before you board: bring a reusable bottle, skip aerosol products, pack a tote bag, and avoid buying single-use beach gear. On the trip itself, dispose of waste properly, skip plastic bags at every port stop, and participate in any recycling your tour offers.
