ZERO WASTE TRAVEL: PACKING YOUR ECO-CONSCIOUS ESSENTIALS
When you’re traveling for business or vacation, packing for an eco-friendly trip is important for maintaining a zero-waste lifestyle even when you’re on the go. Hotels, airports, and coffee shops are filled with wasteful single-use products. By choosing zero-waste alternatives when we travel, we can enjoy our time away from home without having to worry about generating waste and clogging the landfills in the places we vacation. Here are five ways to maintain a zero-waste lifestyle while traveling:
BRING REUSABLE TOILETRY CONTAINERS
It can often be difficult to pack soaps, shampoos, and toothpaste that are small enough to fit within the TSA guidelines for travel. Instead of cluttering your suitcase and landfills with plastic travel-sized toiletries, opt for small and reusable glass bottles and jars. Not only do zero-travel containers reduce plastic waste and help the environment, they also allow us to pack our preferred brands of toiletry products instead of having to settle for whatever the hotel provides.
It can often be difficult to pack soaps, shampoos, and toothpaste that are small enough to fit within the TSA guidelines for travel. Instead of cluttering your suitcase and landfills with plastic travel-sized toiletries, opt for small and reusable glass bottles and jars. Not only do zero-travel containers reduce plastic waste and help the environment, they also allow us to pack our preferred brands of toiletry products instead of having to settle for whatever the hotel provides.
USE COMPACT, SOLID BARS INSTEAD OF LIQUID PRODUCTS
Maintain a zero-waste and zero-headache lifestyle by ditching the plastic containers and choosing solid, compact alternatives. We all know that plastic bottles take up space in landfills – but when traveling, they also take up valuable space in our luggage. Pick zero-waste bars of shampoo, soap and deodorant, which can easily be stacked and aren’t subject to TSA liquid limitations. And because these products are water-free, you won’t have to worry about them leaking in your bags and ruining your clothes.
Maintain a zero-waste and zero-headache lifestyle by ditching the plastic containers and choosing solid, compact alternatives. We all know that plastic bottles take up space in landfills – but when traveling, they also take up valuable space in our luggage. Pick zero-waste bars of shampoo, soap and deodorant, which can easily be stacked and aren’t subject to TSA liquid limitations. And because these products are water-free, you won’t have to worry about them leaking in your bags and ruining your clothes.
TAKE A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE AND COFFEE MUG
You can reduce plastic-waste (and save money) by bringing an empty, reusable water bottle and coffee mug on your trip. Don’t drain your wallet and harm the environment by paying $5 for a plastic water bottle at the airport. Most terminals have water refill stations after the TSA checkpoint where you can fill a reusable bottle for free before bringing it on your flight.
TAKE REUSABLE BAGS FOR FOOD AND LAUNDRY
It can be difficult to avoid single-use plastic containers and bags on vacation, especially when eating out and storing wet and dirty laundry. However, there are plenty of reusable products you can take on your trip to maintain an environmentally-friendly lifestyle away from home. To save leftover food, bring reusable silicone bags, which come in a variety of sizes and are far safer for the environment than styrofoam or plastic take out containers. And when hauling dirty laundry, ditch the single-use plastic bags hotels usually provide and opt for a linen wet bag, which you can hang in your hotel room and wash when you get home.
You can reduce plastic-waste (and save money) by bringing an empty, reusable water bottle and coffee mug on your trip. Don’t drain your wallet and harm the environment by paying $5 for a plastic water bottle at the airport. Most terminals have water refill stations after the TSA checkpoint where you can fill a reusable bottle for free before bringing it on your flight.
TAKE REUSABLE BAGS FOR FOOD AND LAUNDRY
It can be difficult to avoid single-use plastic containers and bags on vacation, especially when eating out and storing wet and dirty laundry. However, there are plenty of reusable products you can take on your trip to maintain an environmentally-friendly lifestyle away from home. To save leftover food, bring reusable silicone bags, which come in a variety of sizes and are far safer for the environment than styrofoam or plastic take out containers. And when hauling dirty laundry, ditch the single-use plastic bags hotels usually provide and opt for a linen wet bag, which you can hang in your hotel room and wash when you get home.
USE ZERO-WASTE, REEF-FRIENDLY SUNSCREEN
Protect your skin and the environment by packing zero-waste, reef-friendly sunscreens. Traditional sunscreens are often laden with chemicals like oxybenzone, which can cause skin reactions for some people. And when oxybenzone washes off the skin, it harms marine life by bleaching coral and inhibiting its growth. Oxybenzone has been so damaging to the oceans that it’s been banned in Hawaii and in multiple countries. Pick zero-waste, oxybenzone-free sunscreen to protect your skin and the environment.