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10 easy ideas to travel with less plastic
Have you ever been to a paradise beach, one of those from a magazine, but full of plastics in the sand? We do, on many occasions, such as in the Maldives or Malay Borneo. And it is a terrible shame to think that we all contribute to it…. that's why we are writing these easy ideas to travel with less plastic.
Although we get the feeling that it's getting a little less, nowadays there are single-use plastics everywhere and they are part of the daily lives of billions of people. That is why As a traveler, many times it will be difficult, or almost impossible, for you to avoid plastic, but many other times it is easy. And although it may seem like a lie, every gesture makes a difference. I like to think that it's not about doing it perfect, it's about doing it as much as possible, some days it will be more and other days it will be less, but everything counts.
- HOW TO TRAVEL WITH LESS PLASTIC
- 1. Start using solid hygiene products
- 2. Carry a cloth bag with you
- 3. Avoid using disposable cutlery
- 4. Buy a folding tupperware for takeaways
- 5. Think about whether you need that coffee to go
- 6. Use a reusable bottle
- 7. Switch to reusable menstrual products
- 8. Avoid using hotel bottles. Something simple to travel with less plastic
- 9. Replace plastic with metal, wood or bamboo
- 10.Pick up trash when you see and can. Last idea to travel with less plastic
HOW TO TRAVEL WITH LESS PLASTIC
1. Start using solid hygiene products
This is a great first step to traveling with less plastic, because Once you get used to using solid soap and shampoo it is very practical. They take up much less space than traditional containers and can be carried in a handbag. Although everything is said, making this transition may not be easy, your hair needs a few weeks to adapt and it may not look good on everyone, it's a bit of a matter of trying and, above all, giving it a few washes to spare.
Another great advantage is that they last a long time, with a bar of solid soap you will have enough for your entire trip. We have used the same solid shampoo for two months.
Plastics can take centuries to decompose. For example, PET plastic bottles can take up to 400 years decompose in the environment. Source: WEF
2. Carry a cloth bag with you
Saying no to bags is something very easy that can greatly reduce your plastic consumption. Choose a thin fabric bag that doesn't take up anything and always have it on hand in your backpack or bag. When you have to buy something or see that they are going to give you a plastic bag, take it out..
You will have to be aware because in many countries they are experts in putting plastic bags on everything, even a mini bag to hold take-out drinks.
3. Avoid using disposable cutlery
Eating at street stalls is something you are sure to do on your trips, it is cheap, local and delicious, what more could you ask for? The negative part is that In many stalls they put you covered in plastic or disposable toothpicks wrapped in plastic. If you stop to do a quick calculation, the amount of single-use plastic that is generated in just a few hours is brutal.
One option is to carry a small pack of cutlery for traveling. There are those that fold, that weigh nothing or even that are a spoon on one side and a fork on the other. Keep in mind that if you travel with a carry-on suitcase you cannot bring a knife, but you can always buy a small knife at the destination to eat luxury fruit.
4. Buy a folding tupperware for takeaways
This is closely related to the previous point, and that is that in some street stalls They use plastic or polystyrene plates to serve food, and of course you order takeout because they will also put everything in plastic containers. To avoid this you can carry a foldable tupperware and ask them to put your food in it. Or what is even simpler (or rather complementary) is to check before sitting down if they use real dishes. Most stalls serve very similar food so one of the reasons for choosing one or the other may be this.
It is estimated that at least 100,000 marine mammals die every year due to ingestion of plastics or entanglement in plastic waste. Source: WWF
5. Think about whether you need that coffee to go
It is another small gesture as simple as thinking if you really want/need that coffee or drink to go. Sometimes we instinctively ask for it, they ask us and we say yes. Or you see how they're going to give it to you to go without you even asking. Well, listen, if you're going to eat it in the place or you don't care where you eat it, opt for a specific order.car that you want it in a mug. The day you want to take it, or if you're at a stall that only serves takeawaysWell, that's okay, because other days will come when you can avoid plastic. But those of you who don't need it to carry will be making a small gesture to travel with less plastic.
6. Use a reusable bottle
This is one of the easiest ways to travel with less plastic. There are many places where you can refill your bottle. The clearest example is the airport, practically all of them have sources of good, fresh water. I can't imagine that there are people who pay €3 for a bottle...
Although in European countries it is very easy to fill it with good water, in other areas of the world it is not so easy. Under our experience in Southeast Asia it is relatively simple because it is common in restaurants and accommodations to have filtered water. Even in Thailand There are some filtered water machines on the street where a liter costs nothing or less and they refill your bottle. Come on, if you are looking there are options.
On the other hand, in other areas such as Central America or Egypt it has been much more difficult for us to get drinking water that tastes good. For those occasions we carry a water filter that makes it drinkable and there are also super practical bottles that have it incorporated. We have drunk liters and liters in places where the water was not drinkable and it has not made us feel bad, but I understand that it is an option that a priori gives more trouble.
7. Switch to reusable menstrual products
Menstrual products are a real nightmare for the environment. A single woman who uses tampons and pads can generate 65kg of plastic per year.
Luckily, in recent years many sustainable alternatives have been emerging. Like the cup, panties menstrual pads, reusable pads. If you didn't know about it, now there are even menstrual bikinis, a great idea to take with you on a trip.
8. Avoid using hotel bottles. Something simple to travel with less plastic
Almost all of us like arriving at your hotel and having some cute little bottles well placed ready to be used, but let's be honest, ecologically speaking it is a horror. Whenever you can, use your hygiene products so they won't need to put new ones for the next guest.. The good news is that more and more hotels are choosing to use dispensers, much better than mini shampoos!
9. Replace plastic with metal, wood or bamboo
There are many everyday products that are easy to replace to try to live and travel with less plastic. Yes indeed, don't take it and go buy everything new, Better wait for it to break down or have to change the one you already have.
Some ideas are;
- Hair brush bamboo
- Razor steel with interchangeable heads
- bamboo sticks
- Toothbrush
It may seem totally irrelevant that products like your toothbrush are made of plastic because it is something that is changed every few months. But, do the math... in Spain alone there are already 48 million people, if we change our toothbrush 3 times a year we are using almost 3.000kg of plastic.
10.Pick up trash when you see and can. Last idea to travel with less plastic
Once you get into the habit it doesn't cost anything, in fact, you just have to see something in the mountains and put it in your backpack pocket. Besides, usually generates collective consciousnessIf you go along the beach collecting small pieces of plastic or walking with what you have already collected in your hands, you will see how more than one person begins to do it.
There are paradise countries like Maldives You can't understand how their beaches can be filled with plastic, but it is tremendously difficult to manage. The best way to recycle will always be to not produce waste.
It is estimated that every year, around 8 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans. This is equivalent to dumping a garbage truck full of plastic into the ocean every minute. Source: UN
Also, of these 10 ways to travel with less plastic on your trips, another tip is to buy as local as possible. A clear example is in souvenirs, if you go to Costa Rica and you bring your mother a hand-painted wooden magnet as a small gift. Not only will you be supporting the local community with your purchase more than if you buy her a magnet that comes from China, but you will also be helping to prevent her from traveling half the world. wrapped in plastic. Because that magnet is already there, but the lower the demand, the fewer purchases will be made in the future.
Thanks for getting here! I hope I have helped you a little on your path to traveling with less plastic, and given you some ideas to implement in your next destination.
