Living abroad as an expat or a digital nomad offers you a unique opportunity to experience a different culture, widen your network, and contribute towards a new community. When you relocate, you can bring a fresh perspective and experiences to your destination that helps foster positive impact on the wider environment. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the ways you can lead a more sustainable lifestyle in your host country and play your part towards a greener planet.
Research your new location
The first step to becoming a greener expat is choosing your destination carefully. If you have free reign over where you’re settling down, choosing a destination that’s already encouraging of sustainable practices can make all the difference.
Europe has been at the forefront of sustainability efforts for many years now, so it’s a fantastic place to start your search. Spain, for example, is a leader in renewable energy use and encourages sustainable accommodations, especially in areas like Marbella, Estepona, and La Cala de Mijas. The Spanish government encourages sustainable tourism and local businesses that prioritise environmental responsibility.
Copenhagen is renowned for its commitment to becoming completely carbon-neutral, with a strong focus on a comprehensive cycling network, green rooftops, and clean energy. Amsterdam is another excellent choice if you’re looking for a sustainable city. It boasts famously extensive bike lanes, eco-conscious public transport, and numerous urban farming initiatives. Berlin is a hub for green innovation, too. It has a thriving zero-waste movement, eco-friendly coworking spaces that are perfect for digital nomads, and a government that prioritises renewable energy and energy-efficient buildings.
Living in a destination that aligns with your sustainable values will make it much easier for you to reduce your personal environmental impact and immerse yourself in a community that supports and encourages green living. Research local policies, green initiatives, and environmental rankings before moving if you can, to ensure that your new home supports your commitment to an eco-friendly lifestyle. 
Choose used over new
You might need to purchase new items when you relocate or declutter in your current home in preparation for your life abroad. There are several trustworthy sites for buying and selling used items which means you can make money on items you no longer need and reintroduce items into your life in a sustainable way. This not only saves you money, but it also prevents unnecessary waste. If you’re trading or borrowing items rather than buying new each time you need something, it also gives you a chance to get to know your new neighbours.
One of the best ways to do this is by kicking the fast fashion habit and choosing thrifted items instead. The fashion industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gases and water pollution, so any changes we can collectively make to reduce our reliance on fast fashion, the better it is for the environment. Starting with buying less and choosing high-quality, timeless items when you do need to buy something can help to keep your wardrobe functional without funding fast fashion businesses. 
Engage with local initiatives
A fantastic way to contribute positively to your new hometown or city is by participating in environment initiatives that are already underway. When you’re settled in, research some local sustainability groups, community gardens, or conservation organisations that welcome volunteers.
It’s not only a way to do your part for the environment and advance important environmental work, but it can also be a great way to make new friends and meaningful connections with like-minded people. Seek out opportunities with local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that focus on specific issues like protecting the native wildlife, restoring habitats, or climate resilience, or community events like beach clean-ups and awareness campaigns.
Support sustainable businesses
As the saying goes, we vote with our wallets. So, your economic choices as an expat go a long way to influencing sustainability efforts. In supporting eco-minded companies and local businesses, you’re encouraging craftsmanship, artisanal techniques, and ecological farming practices. Your patronage goes a long way to keeping these local businesses alive, and prevents pollution that comes from shipping items from around the world.
See if there are farmers' markets, food cooperatives, and restaurants close to you that source their ingredients locally and sustainably, reducing food miles while supporting ecological farming practices. Understanding what constitutes ethical consumption in your new location is also worthwhile. Products considered sustainable in your home country might have different environmental implications locally, so research certification systems that are relevant to your host country and learn which local brands prioritise environmental responsibility. 
Switch up your food habits
Small changes in your diet can make a massive long-term impact. Take a look at your fridge and cupboards to see what changes you can make to not only reduce air miles for your food but also support local producers. If you’re moving to a Mediterranean country, for example, you might have more access to fresh fruit and vegetables that will make it easier to shop locally and in season—a great way to reduce the carbon footprint of what’s on your plate.
You can also choose items that are wrapped in paper or loose, rather than wrapped in plastic, to minimise waste. If you really want to make a difference and reduce plastic packaging, see if there are any zero-waste stores nearby that you can bring your own containers to and fill up with what you need, such as pasta or rice.
Another change you might be interested in making in your host country is switching to a vegan or vegetarian diet once or twice a week. Reducing meat and dairy consumption can really help the planet, and it’s a fun way to try new local plant-based dishes. Cities like Berlin and Lisbon make it incredibly easy to eat plant-based, so you don’t need to feel like you’re missing out on exploring the local area. 
Share knowledge and build connections
As an expat, you might be in a unique position to facilitate a cross-cultural exchange of knowledge and ways of doing things that differ in your host country. You’ll likely have experienced different approaches to climate challenges and that knowledge and experience is incredibly valuable elsewhere.
Respectfully introduce ideas and techniques from your home country that might be beneficial, while still remaining open to learning more from local residents too. Your outsider perspective might help to identify blind spots or opportunities that have been overlooked by those deeply immersed in the local systems.
Collaborative projects like community gardens, repair cafés, or upcycling workshops are tangible examples of how blended approaches can yield positive outcomes. When sharing your knowledge, maintain cultural sensitivity by presenting ideas as options to consider rather than superior alternatives to existing practices.
Building these bridges between environmental approaches fosters innovation through diversity of thought while demonstrating respect for local expertise. The most effective sustainability solutions often emerge from this thoughtful integration of traditional wisdom with contemporary practices, creating approaches uniquely suited to local conditions. 
Rethink your transportation
For most expats, life involves a lot of travelling, whether it’s visiting family or moving between countries to experience new cultures. But air travel, as we all know, is a huge contributor to the climate crisis. While the aviation industry makes claims about being responsible for just 2% of global carbon emissions, the reality is that the percentage is much higher. This means that when it’s possible to get to where you need to go via a different mode of transport, it’s worth doing.
Trains, buses, and trams are all great options and makes your travel more affordable, or you might even ditch vehicles altogether and switch to walking or cycling if your new town or city is navigable on foot. If forgoing plane travel completely isn’t an option, you might also consider offsetting your carbon emissions to a worthy environmental cause. 
Update your usual routine
There are many things we do in a day that are out of habit and could be greener and more environmentally friendly with just a few tweaks. For example, you might already be used to bringing reusable bags with you when you go grocery shopping, but why not get into the habit of bringing a reusable cup with you when you pick up your morning coffee or taking lunch with you to work each day rather than relying on the local fast food outlets. Taking shorter showers helps to reduce water waste, and turning the thermostat down by just a few degrees in the winter or opening windows instead of relying on air conditioning in the summer can all add up to make a huge difference.
The sustainability practices you develop when starting a new life abroad can completely transform your lifestyle and result in greater environmental awareness. Living a greener life has its challenges regardless of where you live, but take the opportunity as an expat to rethink how you do things and see if you can find ways to live more sustainably and in support of local businesses and cultural practices.
