Plastic’s devastating effect on the environment is making ever bigger headlines, yet our pledge of plastic-free living is often forgotten on holiday when convenience can be particularly tempting.
Packing a reusable water bottle and carry bag is a step in a more sustainable direction; however, there are many more ways to reduce plastic pollution as a traveler. Here’s how.
Opt for Sustainable Hotels and Eco-Friendly Accommodation
Hotels committed to sustainability make it easier for you to avoid plastic by providing filtered water for your own bottle, with some also providing reusable bottles if you forget your own, and offering an alternative to plastic straws at the bar. To combat the waste created by single-use shampoo bottles, an increasing number of hotels are providing products in reusable dispensers.
Pack a Plastic-Free Travel Kit
With an estimated one billion plastic toothbrushes ending up in landfill in the US every year, biodegradable bamboo toothbrushes are a brilliant alternative. Furthermore, cotton buds with plastic stems are extremely destructive, leading to billions ending up in landfills globally, and millions more flushed down toilets, eventually traveling to the ocean. If you’re in the habit of storing your hiking boots and dirty clothes in plastic bags when you travel, consider reusable packing cubes instead – many outdoor clothing brands sell them.
Fly Smart
The environmental cost of flying is damaging enough, and many airlines use unnecessary plastic during in-flight services. Ask the crew to refill your reusable bottle during the drinks service, refuse individually wrapped refresher towels, and request drinks without plastic stirrers. If you forget your bottle, hang on to the same cup for the duration of your flight. You may also wish to support airlines working to limit their use of plastic, such as Qantas, which has pledged to be plastic-free, while budget European carrier Ryanair has set a similar plastic-free goal.
Choose Responsible Tour Operators
With the right tour operator, you can feel confident that your provider is committed to minimizing any negative impact a trip might have on the destinations you visit. This includes helping to reduce your use of plastic, from supplying reusable bags and potable water to serving boxed lunches in reusable or compostable packaging.
Invest in a Water Purification Device
A lack of clean drinking water in your destination is no longer an excuse to rely on plastic bottles. There are numerous water purification options available, from filtration bottles, which can purify several liters of water with every cartridge, to devices using ultraviolet rays to safely clean a liter of water in seconds. The harsh taste of water purification tablets can be masked by vitamin C effervescent tablets.
Overhaul Your Menstrual Products
With the average woman using around 10,000 individual menstrual products throughout her lifetime, the effect on the planet is significant. Organic cotton tampons are the most eco-friendly option; however, if you prefer pads, try to avoid individually wrapped items. Reusable menstrual cups are even more sustainable, as they can be rinsed and reused for over a year until they need replacement.
Wear Good Quality, Low-Impact Travel Gear
Technical travel clothing often contains harmful plastic microfibres that end up in the ocean after laundry. Fortunately, many companies now produce gear from sustainable, eco-friendly fibers. Well-made garments tend to last longer, minimizing plastic use. Always read your favorite brand’s sustainability policy on their website before your next purchase; if it doesn’t have one, chances are the company is not aligned with sustainability principles.
Start Plastic-Free Conversations with Local Businesses
Instead of just ordering your holiday cocktail without a plastic straw, talk to the bar manager or owner, and suggest they consider biodegradable alternatives such as paper or bamboo straws. They might not even be aware of the environmental benefits. Where possible, support businesses that are making an effort to reduce plastic waste.
BYO Reusable Utensils
If you enjoy eating at markets or grabbing takeaways, you’ve likely contributed to a fair amount of waste. Limit your waste by investing in a reusable cup, bowl, and cutlery set, keeping them in your daypack. Many brands sell lightweight and compressible options. You’ll still need to wash them, but if you have purified water available, it’s a minor inconvenience.
Join a Local Clean-Up
Give back to the communities you visit by participating in a beach or wilderness clean-up, or take the initiative and rally fellow travelers to perform your own. Local organizations often host clean-ups, especially in popular tourist destinations — search Facebook Events for opportunities in your area.
Shop Locally
Supermarkets often use unnecessary plastic packaging. You can avoid some of this by shopping at fresh produce markets (don’t forget your reusable carry bag). The same applies to handicrafts; purchasing plastic-free goods directly from artists eliminates the packaging typically used for transport and supports the local economy.
Article originally published in August 2018 and updated in May 2019.
