How to reduce plastic waste while travelling?

While it is easy to get into good habits at home, it can seem much harder to reduce your use of plastic when travelling. But to prove how easy it can be, here’s eight handy tips to help you reduce plastic waste while travelling.

• Carry a reusable water bottle or buy a filtered one!!!

Instead of constantly buying bottled water, why not save yourself the time, money & effort with a reusable water bottle? Hard plastic or steel water bottles can be reused for years and are very affordable. You can also bring empty bottles through airport security & refill them on the other side.

Many choose to buy bottled water when travelling to areas where the water isn’t safe to drink. But it seems there’s now a solution. ‘Eureka Forbes; Aquaguard personal purifier bottles’ is an example of filter bottle that ensure you can have safe water no matter where you are in the world. These bottles are fitted with filter systems that push clean water through to the main part of the bottle. An excellent alternative to buying bottled water.

• Bringing tupperware

If you’re taking food for a day trip, trekking adventure or long distance journey, pack your lunch and snacks in tupperware rather than disposable plastic food bags. They’re great for saving leftovers, either from a restaurant meal or from cooking you own dinner in a hotel.

Tupperware is also very cheap & can be found in all shapes & sizes in numerous stores. If you’re worried about it fitting in your backpack, then simply use it to store other items while it’s empty or invest in collapsible tupperware. Just remember to choose containers with clip-top lid to avoid any leaks.

• Say no to disposable straws & cutlery

Alongside plastic bags, straws are a huge source of plastic waste and one of the top 10 items found in beach clean ups. So if you are ordering a drink, avoid asking for a straw or invest in a reusable one. You can buy bamboo or stainless steel straws which are far better for the environment.

Likewise, you can easily reduce your plastic waste by turning down disposable cutlery. Instead, carry a spork or purchase lightweight travel utensils to take with you.

• Use re-usable bottles for toiletries

Sadly, nearly all our favorite toiletries are packaged in plastic. So rather than buying new products for each trip, simply purchase a few travel size reusable bottles to fill with yous shampoos, conditioners & suncreams instead. You will not only reduce your plastic waste, but save yourself money too.

Other great plastic-saving idea include buying soap bars instead of shower gel and shampoo bars. Satliva for example, produce a variety of shampoo bars that you can store in a reusable tin. Just one of these might last upto 50 washes, far longer than the liquid equivalent, and they’re also packed with essential oils to keep your hair look shiny.

• Shop at local markets

While on your travel, its also a great idea to shop at local markets rather than supermarket chains. There you can purchase ripe & tasty fruits & vegetables without the excessive plastic packaging found in larger stores.

Besides reducing your plastic waste, there are pleanty of other reasons to shop at local markets. You’ll also be supporting local economies & enjoying some of the freshest produce around. While supermarket fruits & vegetables are normally a few days old before they hit the shelves, local market produce may have only been picked that morning.

• Pack a reusable shopping bag

While on the road, it’s easy to have a reusable shopping bag rolled up in your backpack or day bag. They take up very little space, are light weight and easy to store. These bags are ideal for carrying food shoppings or for any spontaneous purchases you may make while sightseeing.

100% cotton or canvas bags are much more sustainable alternative to plastic bags. You can also find fair trade reusable bags or those with fun designs that can be personalized. Approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used every year, so by packing a reusabke one you are helping reduce this huge number.

• Invest in eco-friendly version of your product

Just like our toiletries, many other beauty products are also huge source of plastic waste. Luckly however, there are plenty of eco-friendly alternatives out there that are well worth investing in. Bamboo toothbrush are a great start, with an estimated 3.6 billion plastic toothbrushes used every year.

Recycled razors are also a good investment & companies such as Gillette are making razors from recycled plastic rather than selling cheap disposables.

• Pickup wherever you can

Being mindful of reducing plastic waste doesn’t only apply to your own. Whether you are relaxing on a beach, sightseeing around a city or hiking through the wilderness, if you see any plastic rubbish- pick it up. You’ll ensure it doesn’t reach rivers & oceans as well as preventing it from harming wildlife.

It is also hugely important to spread the word. If you are travelling to far-flung corner of the earth, chanves are that the fight against plastic isn’t anywhere near as broadcast as it is in the developed world. So if anyone offers you a plastic bag, straw, plate, cup or bottle, polietly decline and explain why you are trying to use less plastic.