8 tips for eco-friendly travel
- Nithya Sharma
- Jun 14, 2019
- 5 min read
**NOTE: all products and resources reviewed here are based on the author's own honest experiences with NO sponsorship or contributions from any company mentioned in this post**
One of our main goals when we're traveling is to be as sustainable as possible, taking in the beauty of the places we visit while leaving as little a footprint as we can. Climate change is an absolutely critical issue that all nations (but particularly developing nations) are grappling with - this is our way of doing a small part to preserve these places for generations to come.
(And let's face it...nobody likes to see horrifying pictures of poor turtles with straws through their noses or whales with plastic in their bellies!)
Here are a few quick tips on how we try to stay sustainable on the road! [Note, these tips can be used even at home to be sustainable all year round!]
Say NO to single-use plastics
Water bottles, straws, plastic bags...you name it, it's around us ALL the time. One single-use plastic bottle takes thousands of years to decompose...and 91% of plastic is not even recycled properly! Yes, using plastic is convenient and easy ...but, with a little bit of effort it's totally avoidable, and the easiest step towards a more sustainable lifestyle!
1. Plastic bottles - Even in countries with poor water quality, it IS possible to avoid using plastic water bottles! We carry around collapsible water bottles that are sturdy and easy to toss into your bag when you're done. Simply fill up at your AirBNB, filtered water fountains / water stations, restaurant or hotel (most restaurants and hotels will have filtered water available if you ask, particularly in countries where tap water is NOT OK to drink!). We have all but eliminated plastic bottles from our routine, which is a great feeling (and great on the wallet too!)
My personal favorite is the HYDAWAY that comes with a cute carrying case convenient for traveling!
Pro tip: There are apps that you can use to find water-filling stations when you travel - I haven't tried these yet, but I'm going to try this out on my next trip so stay tuned!
2. Plastic bags - We avoid using plastic shopping bags as much as possible on a daily basis, so why not while traveling? We bring along a (collapsible) tote so we can carry stuff when we're doing any shopping on the road. When we're done, it's simple to roll it up and toss into our suitcase.
Pro Tip: Carrying an extra tote can be SUPER helpful if you buy too many souvenirs and need an extra bag on the way back! :)
3. Plastic straws and plastic-ware - To avoid using plastic utensils or (the horror!!) plastic straws, I carry around a small set of steelware that includes a spoon, fork, knife, chopsticks, and, of course, a steel straw! Simply rinse after the meal and toss back into your bag and wash when you get home.
My personal favorite is the TIMGOU bento box - great look and compact enough to pack in your handbag - and I DO like the plastic case to keep used utensils contained until I can wash them!
Pro Tip: You don't need to go out and buy a new set - just grab utensils you have in your kitchen drawer, a cloth to wrap them up and you're all set!
4. Avoid plastic toiletries- We were definitely guilty of buying the "travel sized" toiletries at the drug store every time we traveled - but quickly realized that this is HIGHLY unsustainable and, frankly, we prefer the products that we use on a daily basis. SO, now we use reusable containers that we refill with our usual brands of shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, facewash, lotion, sunscreen and anything else we may need!
My personal favorite is the Silicone Travel Bottles - I love that you can twist the dial on the lid to indicate the contents of each container - no more mixing your conditioner with your lotion!
Pro Tip: Silicone is less prone to breaking / leaking than glass or plastic, but packing these in smaller container that fits in your larger toiletries / makeup bag makes it easier to split your shower items from your post-shower items AND avoid any nasty leaks!
5. Feminine hygiene products- OK ladies, this one is for you! Your period is (mostly) unavoidable, but single-use feminine hygiene products totally are! There are so many different products today (menstrual cups, period underwear, reusable tampon applicator, etc.) that help you avoid the single-use tampons and pads that pollute our environment (and, frankly, save a TON of money since some countries still have a ridiculous "luxury" tax on feminine hygiene products!! C'mon people, periods are definitely NOT a luxury!)
My personal favorite is THINX Underwear - I started using this nearly 3 years ago and haven't looked back since! You can customize your "set" for your period flow, and they work (and feel) like regular underwear - simply wear, rinse & air dry for easy packing, and then throw in the regular wash on laundry day! This has totally been a game-changer - and I've used them everywhere, from 14+ hour airplane rides to trekking temples in Cambodia to exploring ruins in Greece to the daily grind in New York City (that subway ride though...).
Pro Tip: Carry a small waterproof laundry bag (like for wet bathing suits) so you can separate wet clothes from the rest of your laundry when on the move!
Conserve Water
6. Inquire about your hotel's sustainability program- When staying in hotels, we look for hotels that have sustainability programs to avoid changing bed linens and towels every day - hotels wash thousands of sheets and towels every day and these are HUGE drain on our precious water and energy resources. Since we certainly don't change sheets and towels every day at home, why demand it when we travel?
Pro Tip: If the hotel doesn't have an eco-friendly program (BOO!), and we're only staying a few nights, we simply leave the "do not disturb" sign on!
Bonus Pro Tip: Lately, we've been staying at AirBnBs more often - we find it provides a more intimate, "homey" experience and we control when we do laundry!
Say NO to CO2 emissions
7. Use public transportation...or walk!
As New Yorkers (can we call ourselves that yet?), public transportation is a part of our daily lives - we don't own a car (and are quite happy without one!). So why change that when we travel? From trains, trams, buses, ferries, the occasional ride share (GoJek, anyone?) to the power of our own two feet, we love exploring new places on foot or public transportation - it's a GREAT way to get familiar (or get wonderfully lost!) with your new surroundings, and experience life like a local...and, of course, avoid emitting CO2 emissions from cars! (and, let's face it...we all know that cab ride costs WAAAAY more than it should!)
Pro Tip: The Rome2Rio app is my absolute Go-To to plan longer-distance routes - you can even book directly through them sometimes!!
Bonus Pro Tip: Familiarize yourself with your destination's local transportation app for local bus / train schedules before you go!
8. Offset flight C02 emissions - TBC
This is something I personally grapple with - I have an intense desire to travel, and giving up air travel is not an option (even just to visit family in far away locations, or traveling for work), but feel so guilty about all the CO2 emissions!
In full disclosure, we have not done this yet and are still researching the best options for carbon offset. However, starting in 2019, we do commit to offsetting all our flight (and other) emissions through dedicated programs to help the environment - stay tuned for more on this!
So tell us, how do YOU stay sustainable on the road?
Happy Wanderlusting!
Nithya and Arvind
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