The allure of travel depends partly on choice and partly on chance. You select your destination and plan your activities, but the most memorable moments usually take you by surprise.
To reduce waste, however, you shouldn’t test your luck. Unexpected sources of the trash can and will find you. This is especially true when you’re venturing outside of your comfort zone to a new country.
Travel with some forethought to avoid the flood of individually wrapped goods that awaits you. Here’s how to travel with a zero-waste mindset.
1. Think like a backpacker
“Leave no trace behind” is the ethical code of backpackers who hike in nature. When you travel for leisure, apply the same principle. What if you had to pack your own trash home with you? You’d probably waste a lot less. Having this principle in mind will help you achieve a zero-waste experience.
2. Bring portable containers, supplies, and utensils
Your containers can also be used to tote snacks around with you during the day, which will eliminate the unknown variables of street food waste.
3. Pack light
Packing light can actually be a fun challenge. You’ll also feel more spontaneous when you don’t have a lot of luggage to worry about. The benefit of packing light for reducing waste is that you’ll have less laundry and you can avoid checking bags and accumulating packing slips and stickers.
4. Create a minimal toiletry kit
- Reusable TSA bag
- Refillable travel-sized containers
- Ethical or homemade products
- Bamboo toothbrush
- Reef safe sunblock
- Small cloth make-up removing towel
5. Choose sit down restaurants and cafes with purpose
6. Reduce your carbon footprint
- Choose low-emissions transportation (electric vehicles or trains)
- Choose shared transportation (public transport, tour buses or group travel)
- Choose to bike or walk
8. Go paperless
Whenever possible use digital receipts, boarding passes, and tickets. In addition, use digital apps for your reading material, maps, planners and travel journals. That said, don’t forget your chargers at home!
9. Take away more waste than you create
Remember that wherever you travel, you’re a guest. You wouldn’t leave behind a lot of trash in the home of a gracious host, would you? In fact, you may even try to leave your host’s home looking even better than when you came by tidying up or doing the dishes. You can do the same when you travel. If you see trash on the street or in a park, consider picking it up and recycling it. If those options aren’t available, then at least dispose of it properly.
