Over the past several months, I have been looking to reduce my single-use items to the bare minimum. For at-home efforts, trying to make sure everything is more sustainable can be quite a challenge. I am definitely figuring out what works best.
So far, I have changed a lot about my lifestyle and how much I dispose of when I am living my everyday life, but what about when I travel? The need to bring those single-use items on a trip is so much greater than at home, it feels.
But I’ve been taking small steps, looking at my toiletries to see where I can be more efficient with my bathroom items while traveling.
Obviously, we don’t just use our toiletries when we travel. Depending on where we’re going and what we’re doing, we may need ideas for staying eco-friendly when we’re camping or even when we’re staying in hotels. And what if we’re doing road trips cross country? Should we be stopping at restaurants along the way or bringing our own food with? My thoughts on this are below.
So below are my trips for successful eco-friendly travel!
1. Eco-Friendly Bathroom Kit
I think the biggest item that is most difficult for eco-friendly travel are razors. I have recently switched over to a safety razor so that I can properly dispose of metal rather than toss a plastic one away every three months. Safety razors can be taken anywhere if you’re not going on a plane. However, if you really insist on taking your safety razor in your carryon, you can do so, but you have to leave the blade at home or put it in your checked baggage.
Read more about what you can take on the plane here.
For other items in your bathroom kit, I suggest getting containers that you can refill, or trying to avoid them at all. Some things you can absolutely avoid putting in plastic bottles, avoid throwing away, or feel good about throwing away are below.
Things to Bring:
- Shampoo Bar
- Body Bar
- Lotion Bar in a Tin
- Reusable Face Swabs
- Bamboo Toothbrush
- Eco-Friendly Floss
Things to Avoid:
- Single-use bottles
- Wipes
- Basically anything in plastic
2. Eco-Friendly Camping Kit
You can get away with carrying very little with you and producing absolutely no waste on camping trips if you really pay attention. One of my biggest pet peeves on hiking trails was seeing people leave campfires full of stuff that doesn’t burn out of sheer carelessness.
One of my favorite items to taking with me when camping is my BioLite Campstove. It’s perfect for eco-friendly because you don’t have to bring propane with you to get your fire started. In fact, you only use twigs and branches near you to keep your fire going. PLUS, when you burn fuel, you charge a power bank that can keep your devices full of life.
Otherwise, below are some things I recommend for eco-friendly travel when camping that will help you reduce your waste.
Things to Bring:
- Washcloths for cleaning any dishes
- Dishwashing bar
- Stainless steel bottles for liquids wine or water
- Reusable utensils and cookware
- Compostable toilet paper
- Beeswax wraps or tinfoil for bringing food
Things to Avoid:
- Plastic Bags
- Paper towels
- Propane
- Tupperware containers
3. Eco-Friendly Road Trip Kit
My bestie and I went on a trip to the Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, which was about a 5 hour trip from where we lived. She created this GORGEOUS spread of delicious lunch to bring on the trip so that we didn’t have to 1) stop for unhealthy fast food and 2) so we were not having to throw anything away.
On road trips, I find it more acceptable to bring glass items like tumblers, containers, etc. because you’re not in too much danger of breaking anything. You can usually wash everything out in a sink as rest stops, gas stations, and in hotel rooms if that’s your jam for your road trips.
I’ve also seen parents win at road trip snacks for their kids using tackle boxes. Such a genius idea and a fun way for kids to eat their snacks. There are so many benefits for packing your food for the trip there and the trip home. Below are some things I suggest bringing with on road trips.
Things to Bring:
- Glass or metal containers
- Cloth Napkins
- Reusable water bottles
- Washcloths for cleaning up messes
- Reusable Utensils
Things to Avoid:
- Fast food stops where you have to throw away items
- Throwaway wipes
- Single-use containers or items
4. Eco-Friendly Companies to Buy From
Some websites you might enjoy getting products that are minimal to zero waste, I suggest the following:
If you have some methods for eco-friendly travel that you know and love, share them in the comments below! What are your favorite companies to buy from and what are some of your methods for helping the planet while you explore it?
