Zero Waste Travel Tips for the Environmentally Conscious Traveller
- Rachelle Darr
- Dec 21, 2018
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 7, 2019
We love to travel and enjoy the beauty of our world. However, pollution is a key contributor to the degradation of so much of our planet. We see once pristine beaches littered with trash and wildlife harmed to the point of endangerment. So what can we do to preserve our natural wonders? Here are some zero waste and plastic free ideas to try!
In an industry that is all about convenience, its seems impossible to go completely zero waste when travelling. With so much single-use plastic around, you can see why it is a problem. But can't we just recycle it? No. It's not as readily recyclable as we think. The plastic we use today will outlive us. A possible solution? Zero waste - reducing the amount of trash we produce to zero or close to.
The idea is based on the 5 R's: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse (and Repair), Recycle, Rot (and in this order).
Of course no one is perfect, but we owe it to the planet to try to undo the damage we have done. Here are a few tips and a few items to pack to help you become a zero waste traveller.
Refuse
The first step is to refuse single-use plastic and unnecessary packaging. Say NO to plastic straws, cups, utensils boxes and even paper bags! Sounds pretty alarming at first, but the hardest thing is REMEMBERING to say no. Here are a few tools to make this a little easier.
These are my go-tos:
I love these babies! I first used them camping and now they are a constant in my handbag. When exploring cities or on the road, these are the ready to go. They even come with chopsticks for those days you just want sushi. They clean up well and the good thing is, once you are done with them (in about 10 years) they will be compostable. They also come in a cute pack with a little carabiner.
I purchased the former (with a little cleaning brush) at a vegan fair, but after my first use at a restaurant, the waiter took my finished drink away along with the straw! Since bamboo is sustainable and compostable, I wasn't too worried. If you are less forgetful than me, try one of the stainless steel ones out. My mum (bless her!) gave me a pair of these and they are yet to have their maiden voyage (still using the SECOND bamboo straw I bought), although they are in my bag and ready to roll when needed.
Great for a morning coffee or a tea on the hop! They come in a range of cute colours and keep your beverage extra warm while keeping unnecessary waste out of the landfill. Mine doubles as a storage container while I'm travelling or I get my hot drinks put in it while flying.
These were another gift from my mum and they have been so versatile throughout my travels so far. Great for produce as well as bulk buying things like lentils, nuts and even pasta!
Refillable Water Bottle
I had a beautiful metal water bottle that I had bought and taken with me everywhere. Unfortunately I am forgetful and left it at an information stand in Tasmania, only yo realise too late to go back. Not wanting to purchase a new one, I took to thrifting! Now I have a newly thrifted recyclable plastic reusable bottle AND I just found an aluminium one complete with carabiner clip!
Cloth napkin
This I don't have yet but it makes so much sense! Fancy restaurants use cloth napkins so why can't a bring the fanciness to every meal. They are also great for getting take away items, such as vegan pastries and donuts, by asking for them to leave the bag and put them in the napkin! Win!
Another one on my "want to get" list. Too many times have I had leftovers at restaurants and the take away option is plastic and more plastic. I intend to take these with me and have my leftovers put right in! They are also good for storing our softer snacks, such as fruit, that can get a bit mangled in a daypack after exploring.
This thing is great! Not only does it take my makeup off and leave my face squeaky clean, but it also reduces the amount of products I need! Thats a double win in my books!
FREE STUFFDon't do it! Goodie bags, pamphlets, guides and all the "free" stuff on planes. Think about how much you need it. Remember you can simply take a photo of the information on your phone (I'm less likely to lose that!). Utilise your zero waste kit on the plane. Say NO to the plastic cup (you have your full water bottle anyway and who says a coffee cup can't hold wine?) BE STRONG! Same goes with hotel freebies.
Reduce
Reducing the amount of things we have and simplifying our travel can have many benefits.
Flying not the most environmentally friendly way to travel, so consider reducing your need for doing so by travelling to one area for longer. Checking a bag can cause so many problems and creates more weight (meaning more fuel) when travelling. Try packing carry on only and you'll find you save yourself so much time too.
If you aren't checking a bag, this means you will have liquid restrictions. Another chance to switch some of your toiletries for zero waste ones!
I've been using LUSH shampoo and conditioner bars for the last month or so and I love them! They have a whole naked range so no waste there! The shop assistants may try to wrap your new zero waste purchases to go ahead and give them your cloth napkin or bento container to use instead!
Another security friendly item to try is tooth powder with an eco toothbrush. Find one that comes in a glass jar (less plastic). The toothbrushes are also compostable after removing the bristles.
Reuse (and repair)
Say it with me... Thrifting! This is my new love and I set myself a challenge - a full year of only buying thrifted (or gifted) clothing, excluding underwear. Nothing beats the feeling of finding that piece that works with your whole wardrobe at a bargain price. With so much fast fashion around and the knowledge of the impact this has on the people in the developing countries in which our clothes are made, it also makes you smile when that clothing is being reloved! Second hand clothing can be found around the world so its a nice souvenir to take back with you too.
I also have a travel sewing kit that I bring on all my trips. When any of my clothes get a loose button, broken strap or a little bit worn I just whip it out! If any of your new pieces found along the way need some adjustments, this kit is also helpful to customise them.
Mason jars are all the rage, however, a cheaper and more zero waste option is to just reuse one from something you've bought previously.
Recycle
Plastic is not the easiest of things to recycle (there's just so many damn types!). Choose aluminium, glass or paper when shopping because they are infinitely more recyclable than plastic and more countries have the facilities to do so. Even better, find naked stuff or places that bulk buy so you can bring your own reusable packaging. When glass and aluminium are recycled, they can be made into glass and aluminium products again and retain their integrity. Plastic, on the other hand, loses it's integrity so only lower qualities of plastic can be made.
Wet wipes, a staple for many travellers are NOT recyclable! They are made up of synthetic fibres and end up in landfill.
Rot
This is for EVERYTHING thats left over. Compost it! Any food scraps or biodegradable items (like bamboo toothbrushes) can be composted and some companies are even creating packing that looks and feels like plastic, but is completely biodegradable. How do you do this on the road? I still don't have the answer to that one. Unless you are staying somewhere that composts, its a tricky one! Let me know if you have any ideas!
What zero waste tips do YOU have? Share your ideas in the comments section.
Travelling may be one of the hardest areas to incorporate a zero waste philosophy, although we can certainly give it a try! Consider it a challenge 😉.
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