{"id":27127,"date":"2023-05-12T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thegreenlist.nl\/?p=27127"},"modified":"2025-01-14T08:46:46","modified_gmt":"2025-01-14T07:46:46","slug":"taking-sustainable-souvenirs-as-souvenirs-this-is-how-to-choose-responsibly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thegreenlist.nl\/en\/duurzame-souvenirs-meenemen-als-herinnering-zo-kies-je-verantwoord\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking sustainable souvenirs as souvenirs? This is how to choose responsibly"},"content":{"rendered":"
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You're on holiday and strolling through those narrow streets of that quaint little town. Smells, colours and everywhere you look, you see souvenir shops. Almost all of them sell exactly the same thing: fridge magnets, shot glasses, coffee mugs, pens, T-shirts with \u2018I love Rome\u2019 on them. Wearing your pink holiday glasses, of course you take something with you as a souvenir, but once back home your treasure often ends up in the back of the drawer. A super shame really, right? We wondered about the negative impact of this urge to take a souvenir with you. And what are really nice and sustainable souvenirs to take home from your trip without feeling guilty?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, most souvenirs are not that durable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Of course, buying a souvenir is not all bad: you are taking home a happy memory! By choosing sustainable souvenirs and buying them in the right location, you even support the local economy. And by looking just that little bit better for that unique sustainable souvenir, the chances that your memory does get a nice spot on the cupboard are even higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest negative impact of souvenirs is in the process of producing and transporting stuff. That's about 85% according to Babette Porcelijn of the book The hidden impact<\/em><\/a>. This book clearly defines the impact of stuff. Many of the standard souvenirs are made in low-wage countries where their production is associated with poor working conditions and poor environmental laws. Raw materials and components for a souvenir have often gone through quite a journey before they reach the factory at all. Besides raw materials, you also have the effects of transport, packaging, offices, factories, use and final disposal. Can you imagine all that has to happen before your fridge magnet is in that Paris souvenir shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides all those scarce resources needed to make your souvenir, there is another important reason to think carefully about which tangible souvenir you bring home: many countries sell souvenirs that are banned in our country. And not without reason, read on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Forbidden souvenirs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Banned souvenirs are on the market in many countries. They sometimes look harmless - or far from it! These are often souvenirs made from endangered plant and animal species. Some examples include: shark teeth, snakes, crocodiles, lizards, butterflies, turtles, ivory, corals, as well as beautiful large shells. In many countries, these animals are killed simply to sell to tourists. It is therefore important that we all stop buying these kinds of souvenirs. Indeed, it is forbidden to bring souvenirs of endangered plant and animal species into the Netherlands. Customs hands out hefty fines as soon as they come across such a souvenir in your luggage. Do you doubt whether a souvenir is made of an endangered plant and animal species? Then better not buy it. Want to be sure? Then you can check the Foreign Affairs and Customs travel app<\/a> download. In it, you can see exactly which sustainable souvenirs you can and cannot take back to the Netherlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Souvenir<\/figure><\/div>
\"Sustainable<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sustainable and local souvenirs on Terschelling. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Which souvenirs are not allowed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n