Want to make your next trip a more sustainable one? There are a few easy ways that you can be a “responsible traveller”. The easiest one is to be prepared by bringing eco friendly travel products. With more and more single-use plastic in circulation, it is imperative that we choose plastic alternatives. Here are some of the best eco products to help you travel greener!
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Why Eco Travel Products Are Essential
Travel can have a big impact on the environment and the cultures that tourists interact with. Eco travel is all about minimising those impacts & where possible, actually having a positive impact.
Travelling is (for most) a temporary activity. This often results in a temporary mindset. Unintentionally travellers can often disregard the longevity of their decisions while exploring new places. These decisions are often small (and can seem insignificant) but the sheer volume of tourists worldwide means that things can really add up.
In the world of travel, temporary often means single use.
- Stay in a hotel – they provide small shampoo or conditioner bottles for single use (or single stay)
- Served food on a plane – the containers and cutlery are designed for single use
- Exploring destinations during the day – you get thirsty and buy a bottle of water instead of drinking from your tap/filter as you might at home. Again a single use product.
It’s not our fault as tourists. Products have just developed their way to be effective and cheap for us, the user. The ramifications of these products though are having hugely negative impacts on our environment.
Plastic Pollution is getting out of control
There are some horrifying plastic pollution statistics and examples out there. We as the consumer have a responsibility (as responsible travellers) to make better decisions when travelling.
We all have to get into the habit of saying no to plastic (specifically single use plastic).
How To Prepare For Travel
It might sound trivial, but it really is the best way to travel responsibly. Having the right gear can enhance your experience on a range of travel types.
Just imagine for a second:
- A ski trip without thermal underwear and gloves.
- Hiking through the mountains of South America without boots or a decent pair of socks
- A tropical island getaway without a bathing suit
It is the same principle for eco friendly travel/responsible travel/green travel.
Without the right gear (eco friendly travel products) it makes travelling responsibly realistically unachievable.
Choosing Eco Friendly Travel Products
As more companies and brands shift towards sustainability and ethical practices, how do you find or pick the best eco friendly travel products?
There are a few things to consider when choosing eco friendly travel products.
The same principle applies to the examples above. There are hiking boots and then there are “hiking boots”. Prices and quality can vary significantly.
A few things to consider before buying eco friendly products include:
- Ingredients: Are they made from natural ingredients or fibers? Is it vegan? Do they contain Palm Oil (learn more here)
- Cruelty Free – has the product been involved with animal testing
- Zero Waste/ Eco Friendly Packaging – what kind of packaging has been used? Do they minimise plastic and waste?
- Ethically Sourced / Made – where the product was made and how it was made counts for a lot when looking for the “best” product out there
- Cost – are expensive products really better?
For the purpose of ease, we’ve selected products to highlight based on our experience in the field of responsible travel. The following products have been chosen and reviewed based on their product quality and brand practices.
Eco friendly Products For Eating Out:
1. Reusable Water Bottle
Plastic water bottles are creating a global pollution crisis. Around the world, approximately 1 million plastic water bottles are bought every minute.
That’s a huge volume. Far too big too for communities and the environment to handle. The results of the plastic bottle epidemic are showing up all over the world’s coastlines. Plastic bottles pile up on beautiful shorelines and often get broken into smaller pieces called microplastics.
Reusable water bottles are one of the easiest and best eco friendly travel products to add to your eco friendly product kit.
Products We Love:
Hydroflask Stainless Steel Water Bottle
What Is It?
Double insulated water bottle with a large open screw top.
Why It’s Good
There are water bottles, then there’s the Hydroflask. For a temperature controlled product, this one is hard to beat. We spend a lot of time in tropical places where the temperatures are high. The Hydroflask with its double insulation keeps our iced water iced all day and even overnight (even if it sits on the beach in the sun).
The large open top makes it easy to fill (with ice and water/cocktails/coffee/ any kind of drink).
It is also easy to clean out so our flavoured drinks don’t taint our plain water days.
Tips/ Things to Consider
- Because it’s made out of stainless steel you might think that it is indestructible. And for the most part, it is very sturdy (enough that you could throw it into a backpack, drop it on the ground OK).
- But the middle of the bottle can dent if you drop it on a corner or bang it into a corner. This can cause the insulation to significantly reduce
Lifestraw
What is it?
A built-in water filter in a bottle.
Why is it good?
The filter is perfect for traveling when you have to refill your bottle with water that you might be concerned about.
The company also donates money to provide clean drinking water for school kids. One bottle purchase provides clean drinking water for one kid for a whole school year.
How good is the filter?
Sourced from Lifestraw
- Removes minimum 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria (E. Coli, etc.)
- Removes minimum 99.9% protozoan parasites (Giardia, Cryptosporidium, etc.)
- Removes 99.999% of microplastics
- Reduces chlorine, bad odor, and taste, as well as organic chemical matter
- Removes turbidity (silt, sand, and cloudiness)
Tips/ Things to Consider
- You can literally drink river water if you need to. Remember there is a 0.01% chance that something nasty pass through (pretty low odds though).
- Remember “to clean out the filter” after each use. This can be done by blowing back into the filter itself to blow out excess water
- The filter can be used for approx 4,000 litres after that you will have to replace the filter part
Steripen
What is it?
A rechargeable, handheld UV light, water treatment device. This eco friendly travel product will ensure you have clean drinking water which is vital in reducing plastic bottles.
Why is it good?
It is small and light to carry around and can be recharged through your laptop or solar changer. The UV treatment also can filter 99.99% of waterborne bacteria.
Tips/ Things to Consider
- Unlike the Lifestraw the Steripen gets placed into a glass of water to sterilize it.
- Need a power source to use it
- Effective if you want to sterilize multiple drinks
2. Reusable Cutlery Set & Straw
Eating out or ‘on the go’ when travelling is a common occurrence.
This often leads to single use cutlery. Even if you don’t eat out, there’s inevitably somewhere during your travels that you will be served some kind of single use cutlery (airlines, trains, etc).
Bringing your own cutlery set might not sound like something that would make a difference, but it really does.
Some people might even give you strange looks when you whip out your reusable cutlery. But, knowing that you are doing something positive for the environment is going to make it taste all the better.
Products We Love:
Senda Essentials
What is it?
Beechwood carved cutlery set in an organic cotton container/bag.
Why it’s good
The smooth, hand-carved wood makes eating off these cutlery a pleasure.
They are lightweight and look beautiful.
Things to consider
- The knife is still a wooden knife, so don’t expect to carve through a turkey with it
>> Get your eco friendly travel product – Senda Essentials Here
Ever Eco
What is it?
Beautiful, hand-carved bamboo cutlery.
Why it’s good
They are super light (which is great for travel).
Things to consider
- The bamboo needs to be cleaned thoroughly (as it does absorb slightly)
- Be sure to hand wash only
>> Get your Ever Eco Cutlery Here
3. Reusable Bags
More places around the world are starting to ban plastic bags! But for the majority, plastic bags are still very much a thing. A great eco friendly travel product is a plastic bag alternative.
Don’t add to the billion plastic bags that get used around the world annually, here are some eco friendly travel alternatives.
Fold Up Bags
What is it?
These are reusable bags that can actually fold into itself to take up very little space (perfect for travel).
Why they are good
- They actually “fold up”! So they take up hardly any space in your handbag/pocket when you are walking to the shop
- They are lightweight yet heavy-duty
- They last a long time
- Have various colours to choose from to match your “look”
>> Get your eco friendly travel “fold up bags” here today!
Cotton Mesh Bags
What are they?
Made from organic cotton, these mesh bags actually fold/roll up into a very small area which is great for travelling.
Why they’re good
- The mesh folds up smaller than the cotton bags! (Less space mean travel friendly)
- They can be washed
- Look great
- Great alternative for plastic grocery bags
>> Get your eco friendly travel “cotton mesh bags” here today!
4. Reusable Cup (Wine & Coffee Tumblr)
Being on the move often requires some kind of coffee on the go or in best cases wine!
Having a reusable cup on your travels can significantly reduce your single use waste. One of our favourite eco friendly travel products is our insulated travel cup.
Hydroflask Insulated Cup
What is is?
This insulated stainless tell cup comes in a range of colours and has a lid with a sipping opening.
Why is it good?
It is an amazing eco friendly travel product because of its ability to maintain temperature. Whether you are exploring the cold waterfalls of Iceland or tropical beaches of The Caribbean having a hot/cold drink can turn an experience into a memorable one.
Tips/ Things to Consider
- The stainless still inner lining is very easy to clean so you can have a variety of drinks in there without having to worry about tainting one another
>> Get your eco friendly travel mug here
5. Reusable food container
Similar to the above-mentioned cup. Traveling and being on the go often means the meals are take away. Having a reusable container can save huge amounts of waste on your travels.
Add this eco frenzy travel product to your kit and help reduce the waste from the food industry. It can also be a great sustainable gift for a friend (be sure to find eco friendly ways to wrap it!)
Senda Essential Reusable Container
What is is?
A bamboo topped cornstarch-based box with an elastic strap to close it.
Why is it good?
Bamboo is a great product for eco friendly travel products due to its quick growing time.
This container is lightweight and fits a great amount of food for perfect use at a street market or product market.
Tips/ Things to Consider
- Be sure to wash the bamboo top by hand
>> Get your eco friendly travel container here
Eco Friendly Toiletries
Eco friendly toiletries are better for you and the environment.
In the mainstream toiletries industry, there are a lot of chemicals and plastic packaging used. This is neither good for your skin/hair or the environment. Making the switch to eco friendly travel products like toiletries will have a positive impact on your responsible travels.
Here are some of the best eco friendly toiletries to start with.
6. Shampoo Bar
80 billion plastic shampoo & conditioner bottles are disposed of every year – and a lot of them will end up in the ocean.
By switching to shampoo bars you will reduce the need for single use plastic containers that you have to carry around with you (or worse, the small bottles given in hotels).
Ethique
What is it?
A great brand made with 100% naturally derived ingredients.
Why is it good?
They have a large variety of different products but they all come in plastic free packaging.
The shampoo bar is a great alternative to traditional shampoo as it lasts much longer!
Things to consider
- There is a transitional process to go from standard, chemical-based shampoo to natural products
>> Get your eco friendly travel shampoo by Ethique here
Learn more about natural zero waste shampoo products (with more options) and how to make the transition.
7. Plastic Free Toothpaste
It is estimated that every year 1.5 billion plastic toothpaste tubes end up in landfills, where they will virtually never break down.
Switching to an eco friendly travel product like plastic free toothpaste is a great way to make a difference.
Here are the Top 5 Zero Waste Toothpastes out there to choose from.
8. Bamboo Toothbrush
Plastic toothbrushes add to the ever-growing plastic pollution problem. Switching to an eco friendly travel product like bamboo toothbrushes is a great way to be a responsible traveller. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing natural materials and is easily available.
Isshah
What is it?
Bamboo toothbrushes with charcoal bristles in cardboard packaging.
Why they’re good
Charcoal bristles are great for whitening your teeth and reducing plaque! The plastic free packaging is also a great addition to reduce your waste while travelling.
>> Get your eco friendly travel bamboo toothbrush today!
9. Plastic Free deodorant
Natural deodorant might not be your thing (yet). But think about all the plastic packaging that gets used on traditional deodorants. Switch to plastic free (often in glass jars) is a great eco friendly travel product.
Your sensitive lymph nodes are right under the skin! They don’t want to absorb those preservative chemicals.
Little Seed Farm Natural Deodorant
What is it?
A deodorant in a glass container with organic and natural ingredients like Activated Charcoal and coconut oil.
Why is it good?
The container is plastic free and the natural ingredients are great for pulling out your pit toxins.
>> Get your eco friendly travel deodorant jar here!
10. Wooden comb
Let’s face it. When we travel, things get lost often on a beach or somewhere remote. In this case, it’s better to lose a wooden comb on a beach than a plastic one!
>> Get your eco friendly travel bamboo comb here!
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Aaron is one of the co-founders of The Dharma Trails. His background in marine eco tourism and writing have blended together to create the eco travel platform read by users around the world.
Hey guys! We’re so happy to have found your work/blog! We couldn’t be any more supportive of everything you’re doing, especially with providing everyone a list of eco-friendly and sustainable products! Keep up the amazing work!
Thanks so much for your comment! Really appreciate it. So great to have people interested in supporting sustainable ideals. Cheers