8 Ways To Travel Sustainably
Written by: Shannon Sweeny
Summer is here, which means it’s time to set your out of office message and to hit the road. No matter where you’re going, you’re destined to have a long packing list — and you want to make sure all your bases are covered. There’s nothing worse than showing up to realize that you forgot your hairbrush, your favorite bathing suit, or your phone charger.
When it comes to packing, it might be easy to hit the store and buy travel-sized products — but are you thinking about how much of an environmental impact this has? A lot of travel products can be horrible for sustainability, but we’re here to help.
No matter if you’re hitting the beach this summer or spending some time camping under the stars, here are seven eco-friendly products that are a must-have on your packing list.
Take a look at Green Globe
This website and its app are essential for traveling sustainably — it finds sustainable hotels, resorts, cruise ships, tours, conference centers, and more. It helps you plan your trip in the greenest way possible. Note: You have to have an iPhone or iPad to use this app.
Find out more about Green Globe here.
Reef friendly sunscreen
If you’re going to the beach this year, this is a must. Traditional sunblock is terrible for the ocean because of its chemical compounds, and it’s part of the reason why coral reefs have been bleaching and dying. Some beaches have even banned sunblock and swimming because of this reason. Two chemicals in traditional sunblock — oxybenzone and octinoxate — are the culprit. Reef friendly sunscreen, though, doesn’t have these ingredients.
Reef-safe sunblock brands include Stream2Sea Sunscreen, Thinksport SPF 50 Sunscreen, and All Good SPF 30 Sport Sunscreen Lotion.
Reusable water bottle
Instead of hitting up the airport convenience store or buying a 30-pack of water bottles for your road trip, invest in a reusable water bottle. Most reusable water bottles store much more water, and it’ll keep it cold for hours on end. This 64-ounce water bottle and its double wall vacuum insulation keeps water ice cold all day long.
Check out Highland Peak’s Insulated Water bottle here.
Bamboo toothbrush set
Most people go through toothbrushes every 6 months — resulting in a lot of wasted plastic. Instead, switch to a bamboo toothbrush set with organically grown bristles. They work just as well, and you can take them anywhere! If you forget yours somewhere, you don’t have to feel guilty about it ending up in a landfill — it’s completely biodegradable.
Get a travel kit and four toothbrushes on Amazon here.
Natural toothpaste
To go with your bamboo toothbrush set, try activated charcoal teeth whitening toothpaste that is fluoride free. It’s vegan, never tested on animals, and made in the United States. It’s also SLS free, which is a chemical found in some toothpastes.
Find natural toothpaste here.
Shampoo and soap bars
Soap and shampoo bars are way more environmentally friendly than buying soap in plastic bottles. Most shampoo bars are so extra environmentally friendly because they are made without harsh chemicals that could contaminate water sources.
Find natural shampoo on Amazon here.
Natural deodorant
Natural aluminum free deodorants work just as well as storebrand deodorants. Natural deodorants detox your body from chemicals, and do not include aluminum, chlorohydrate, or zirconium. They also don’t contain SLS or other harsh chemicals.
Take a look at this natural deodorant from Underarmed.
Go to the library
Instead of buying multiple magazines, books, and newspapers in the store, hit up your local library to stock up on books for your trip. Going to the library not only supports your community, but it supports reusing books instead of buying newly printed ones!
These are only some of the amazing products out there that you can take on your trip with you. Which of these eco-friendly products will you bring with you?