Zero waste travel tips
Although travelling far isn’t really an option at present, if you’re anything like me you’re still dreaming about it and taking short trips close to home whenever possible! While researching or taking mini-breaks, it makes sense to learn about about zero waste travel so that international travel opens up again, we can do it better than before.
With more than 91% of the world population exposed to some kind of pollution, it’s important that we all reduce our carbon footprint, both at home and during travel. You probably already know what is zero waste at home, but what does it entail on the road? Here are our best zero waste travel tips.
Packing for zero waste travel
Firstly, you need to pack items that won’t end up in landfills. There’s already far too much plastic and cardboard out there; you really don’t need to add any more.
So wherever you can, avoid plastic and cardboard packaging. That’s easy enough for some products, but others, like toothpaste, mostly come in non-reusable or recyclable packs. The same goes for a lot of liquid skincare and hair products. Luckily, there are ways you can go about avoiding plastic packaging when you pack for a trip.
Rethink your bathroom items
Our personal care items can be quite wasteful, especially when we can’t rely on recycling facilities to exist, or recyclable plastic to actually be recycled.
Similarly to creating a zero waste bathroom at home, you can also travel with compostable, reusable and plastic free items as you travel.
Toothbrushes
You can get a compostable corn starch or bamboo toothbrush rather than a plastic one. Using manual ones also saves you needing to take a charger for an electric one! To dispose of them simply remove the bristles and then compost the handle.
Solid is the way to go
Solid bars of soap are quite common and I’m sure you’d take one to replace a bottle of body wash. But have you ever tried shampoo bars? Moreover, there are also toothpaste tablets and even mouthwash tabs to consider!
Solid products take up less room, don’t spill, and don’t have flight limits like liquids do. And as an added benefit, these often come in vegan, all-natural options which reduce the amount of chemical pollution in the process, too.
Reusable packaging
If you prefer liquid shampoo and conditioner you can refill from a bulk store or larger pack. Travel sized bottles made of silicon or aluminium are durable, practical, and don’t take up a lot of room in your travel bag. Also, because of their safety caps you won’t have to worry about any spills.
Reusable food and drink items
It goes without saying to take your reusable water bottle with you. You can refill it at airports and in many places along the way, or buy a large container for your room and fill your water bottles each day for exploring. These are our favourite water bottles as they’re insulated, so they keep our water cold all day, and they’re leak-proof: very handy for travelling!
I suggest going with bamboo or Tritan rather than plastic cutlery, as they’re lightweight yet sturdy, and reusable straws made of silicon if you’re worried about the safety of stainless steel while travelling. Cloth napkins are useful in many situations, and reusable coffee cups are a must! They can be used for hot or cold drinks and don’t use much effort to carry and maintain.
Depending on how much room you have and what your plans are, you can also bring foldable or lightweight bowls, smoothie cups and washable wraps or even reusable containers. There are many options perfect for zero waste travel available, and most establishments are happy to use your BYO gear. You can see what we used on our Adelaide to Uluru road tip for some ideas.
Reusable menstrual gear and nappies/diapers
Find out before you leave whether you prefer a menstrual cup, period-proof underwear or washable pads. I personally love menstrual underwear and have travelled with mine across long distances in comfort, and without worry of leaks. In addition it’s helpful to pack a nappy bag/waterproof bag to store rinsed or unwashed products until you can launder them.
If you’re travelling with young kids it might seem overwhelming to pack washable diapers, but it can also save you the worry of finding the right disposables in different places. Here are 10 tips for using cloth nappies while travelling from a fellow sustainable family travel writer.
Reusable bags
One final thing to pack is some foldable reusable tote bags and produce bags if you plan to buy fresh fruit and veg. Large polyester bags are strong yet fold down to almost nothing, and they’re surprisingly eco-friendly considering how long they last. I’ve had mine for over 11 years and they’re still going strong! In addition to carrying shopping they can be used for laundry runs and even makeshift seat covers if necessary.
Check out my detailed comparison of 11 different bags to find out more about the best reusable bags for any situation.
You might also like to take a foldable backpack for day outings.
Traveling zero waste
Packing is just the first step, of course. There are lots of things you can do during the trip itself that can help preserve the environment. It comes down to thinking in advance and taking advantage of modern technology.
Carry-on travel
Carry-on travel has been popular with minimalists and eco-conscious people for decades now, and for good reason. If you can condense your items into a small bag or backpack that you can carry-on, your reduce your weight on the plane and therefore your carbon footprint, and you’re saving yourself the trouble of checking your bags and waiting around for them.
Bag checks waste paper, which ends up in landfills. And speaking of paper…
Avoiding paper and disposable items
If possible, avoid paper products whenever you can. You can purchase e-tickets and sometimes show show digital variants of your documents (passports, ID cards, etc.) instead of carrying paper documents with you. In addition, avoid taking a paper receipt whenever someone offers it to you.
And it’s not just about the paper. While on a plane, you’ll probably be offered a variety of disposable items, although some airlines like Qantas are making the switch to compostable food containers.
Taking your own snacks and/or utensils can help avoid food waste on your journey, and if you’re on a long flight consider taking your own earbuds, too.
Choose conscious tours, activities & accommodation
Many accommodation providers and tour companies are updating their products and practices to reduce their waste and impact. Supporting these businesses encourages them to continue and reduces the impact of your travels, too.
For some examples from our travels:
- Our eco guesthouse in Siem Reap is amazing with waste, and has their own refill shop on the premises.
- Our tour company in Langkawi is very conscious of their waste and collects rubbish that washes in on the beaches.
- Our trek to see elephants in the forest of Northern Thailand included a zero waste lunch and homestay program that supported the local community.
- Our fun with making paper from a large waste product: elephant poo!
Just be mindful of greenwashing: if a business makes empty claims to hook into the eco-movement, they probably aren’t making any meaningful changes.
Image credit: Dev’s Adventure Tours.
Dining green and waste-free
Zero-waste dining isn’t difficult, but it does require a bit of effort on your part.
The place
Lots of fast food restaurants pack their meals in styrofoam or cardboard, and they provide disposable plastic utensils. Try to avoid these spots and eat at a sit-in restaurant, with proper utensils and plates.
We love finding ethical restaurants and cafes to support on our travels, which work to improve communities and are usually very conscious of their waste and impact, too.
Also, try local street vendors who sell fresh food with very little packaging. And while there are meals that require at least a napkin, you can always refuse to take it and use your own washable cloth napkin or handkerchief.
The tools
When shopping for food, remember to use your own reusable bags instead of single-use plastic. If you aim to carry snacks, use a small mason jar or Tupperware instead of buying products with disposable packs.
The aftermath
Some meals will inevitably produce leftovers. But don’t just throw them away at a nearby bin. Instead, do a bit of research on the spot you’re visiting. If it has a recycling or composting facility, take your waste there and let the professionals handle it the right way. In addition, if you can’t avoid using plastic, cardboard, or tin, look for nearby recycling containers, or keep them with you if you can.
Some zero waste travel no-nos
As noble as a zero waste lifestyle can be, there are a few things you need to consider, especially if you’re abroad. The following list of things to avoid when going zero waste is universal to any traveler, anywhere.
Don’t buy tons of new stuff
Be vigilant with your purchases while travelling. It can be very tempting to buy a lot of items to take home if they’re much cheaper than you’re used to, or very beautiful souvenirs are on offer. But be honest with yourself: what do you really need, and what will you really use? Do you need a souvenir from every town, or will it just become clutter at home?
Don’t be hard on yourself
There are many things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, and nobody will fault you if you can’t do them all. You’re not superhuman! Instead, try to do as much as you can given your situation and budget. Remember, even the smallest of efforts will help.
Don’t force your beliefs on others
I’ve seen many articles that state something like ‘educate others on going zero-waste’ or ‘if the restaurant or vendor serves food in styrofoam, make your opinion heard and let them know you don’t appreciate that.’ Honestly, even a devoted zero-waste adherent would tell you to sod off if you started preaching at them.
By all means, talk about reducing waste but don’t be incessant or indignant about it. That way you only end up hurting your own cause, especially if you’re in a different country with people who have customs and values different from your own.
Final thoughts
Thus we conclude our handy guide of zero-waste travel tips. Hopefully, it’s helped you learn something new and prepare for your next trip, whenever that may be! Remember, you can have fun and save the planet at the same time, and every little bit helps.
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