Why do you need to reduce your plastic footprint and embrace sustainable travel?
According to the research, the total production of plastic in 2018 was around 359 million metric tons worldwide.
Plastic is slowly replacing every other material in the industry. Industries are now using plastic instead of wood, metal, and glass in their products.
Not only is plastic dominating the industries, but also it is dominating our lives. Just have a look around yourself and count the plastic products you can see. I know they are a lot. We tend to consume more plastic when traveling because of the basic need of life ‘Water’ even comes in plastic packaging.
Most of the plastic produced in the last 70 years has either ended up in landfills or the oceans. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a perfect example I can give here. This is an area of 1.6 million km2, which holds ocean plastic concentrations ranging from 10’s to 100’s kg per km2. So, it is requisite to reduce plastic footprint while traveling.
Top tips to reduce plastic waste while traveling
Make eco-conscious choices
Ditching single-use plastic is a great way to reduce plastic usage, but it is not the only necessary step. You need to make some eco-conscious decisions from the moment you decide on your destination. It will not be easy, but as a responsible traveler and a human, we must combat this crisis together.
1. Choose your destination, hotel/restaurant, and travel company wisely
Choose a destination with a strong waste management system. There are so many countries and cities are there who have banned single-use plastic. For example, Kenya, Zimbabwe, New York, Morocco, and so on. However, it is not possible for a country or a city to completely ban plastic but to support those who are striving to make a change.
Similarly, don’t look for the cheapest hotel and restaurant; instead, try to find a responsible company having a strong waste management system.
Plus, don’t use those little shampoo and conditioner bottles from the hotel bathrooms. They are packed in single-use plastic containers. If you find something dis-satisfying about their recycling culture, then you can also add a review on their website.
Before you choose any travel operators or agents, ask them about their company’s environmental and responsible tourism policies. Choose only those who support responsible tourism.
2. Reduce plastic footprint while air traveling
Flying is one of the most damaging things to the planet. The airline industry produces a massive amount of plastic footprint because most of its services use a staggering amount of plastic. To carry some alternatives, while air traveling is the best way to reduce plastic footprint.
- Pack your own food
There is more plastic on your plate than food when you order it on the flight. They use plastic utensils to serve the meal, and also, the food comes in plastic packaging.
To fly plastic-free, it is essential to carry some snacks with you. Use non-plastic reusable containers to pack your snacks so you can also use them later.
- Don’t forget to carry your headset
What will you do when you plan to watch a movie during the flight and forgot your headset at home?
You must be thinking, what’s the big deal in this? Most probably, you will buy a new headset from the airport.
But wait for a minute before you buy them. The headset you were going to buy comes in plastic packaging, and itself is plastic. This cheap, low-quality headset is destined for the trash as it will not last you for a long time. So, stick to the plan, and don’t forget to carry your headset.
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- Invest in a nice travel pillow
This small decision can help you a lot in reducing your plastic consumption. Airline pillows and blankets again have plastic packaging. Plus, it takes energy to transport them. So, using your own pillow will help you to reduce your plastic footprint.
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- Say no to gift bags
Those cute little gifts you get during a flight look so attractive. Right? But think again before you take them. Do you really need it? They are not even useful but contain a lot of plastic. So, say a big NO to those gifts and enjoy your plastic-free flight.
3. Packing reusable items is a great way to reduce plastic footprint on your trip
Invest in a full set of good quality reusable items as they will play a significant role in reducing your plastic consumption.
Also, try to purchase some endurable items so you can use them for a long time. Some of these are even going to become your best friend and will be traveling with you to many of your other destinations.
- Carry a reusable water bottle and coffee cup
You might not know plastic bottles take 450 years to decompose.
Studies have also shown that people around the world buy about one million plastic bottles every minute. It means we are creating nearly the same amount of plastic waste. It’s appalling.
To reduce this waste, you need to switch to a refillable water bottle with a filtration system. These water bottles come with a filtration system that purifies the water.
Carrying a reusable coffee cup is another great way to reduce the plastic footprint. Refuse coffee in a plastic cup and use your own.
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- Carry an eco-friendly straw
It is well known that in the US, 500 million straws are being used daily. Can you imagine how implacably it is damaging to the planet?
There are so many alternatives available in the market, so why not use them. Straws made up of glass, bamboo, and metal are more polite to the planet.
The most amazing fact is you can reuse these straws. So, the next time, do not forget to carry a reusable straw with you.
- Reduce plastic bag usage
You cannot imagine how many plastic bags are being used worldwide and how badly it is damaging to the planet.
To avoid it, you can choose some destinations that have banned plastic bags. On the other hand, you can also use some fabric shopping bags. You can carry cotton or jute bags with you.
Canvas bags are also a fantastic choice. Plus, it’s so easy to fit these bags in your backpack because they don’t require a lot of space. And you can easily help to reduce plastic pollution by refusing plastic bags.
- Carry your own utensils and cutleries
Plastic utensils and cutleries are not only devastating for the planet but even not healthy for your body.
Studies have proved that using plastic items for cooking and eating causes a lot of diseases. That’s why you and the planet must avoid these utensils.
Using bamboo, steel, or wooden made items is a healthy choice for both the planet and you. So be ready with your master kit and proudly refuse plastic utensils and cutleries.
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4. Make your toiletries plastic-free
Toiletries come in single-use plastic packaging, and the majority of it is not recyclable. Most travel-size toiletries are around 50ml to 70ml, which is again a major factor in refusing them.
Because of their size, they carry a negligible amount of product in them. So, you are going to end up buying a lot of new products. Travel-size toiletries are nothing but a great way to generate massive plastic waste.
There are a lot of alternatives available to plastic toiletries. Have a look.
- Use a bamboo toothbrush
It is a healthy choice for you and the planet because bamboo toothbrushes are readily biodegradable.
- Use conditioner and shampoo in bar form
Bar forms of shampoo and conditioner packed in a non-plastic container are way better for the planet than plastic bottle ones. These bars will not only reduce your plastic usage, but they are also never going to leak in your bag.
It would be best if you also used bar soaps instead of liquid hand washes because they come in plastic packaging again. If you want to be a little bit more creative, you can try to make these bars at home and stow them in a steel or glass jar.
- Do not use a disposable razor
If you are looking to reduce plastic from your toiletries, then disposable razors are the most important item to remove. You can buy metal razors. I know metal razors are more costly than plastic ones but trust me, it’s a worthy investment you’re ever going to make.
- Use a menstrual cup
Studies have shown that one sanitary pad could take 500-800 years to decompose. Sanitary pads use plastic, which is not biodegradable and even harmful to health. Therefore, the menstrual cup is not only suitable for the planet but also good for health.
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- Reduce plastic from makeup products
When it comes to makeup products, you cannot separate it from plastic. Every single product, literally every single product, has wrapped in plastic.
You must need to stop buying these products as much as you can and let the companies know that you will not buy their products until they are in plastic packaging.
5. Shop local – an easy way to reduce plastic usage
Buying a souvenir from the local shops will cherish the memories of that place. It will give you the chance to interact with local people and help you reduce your overall plastic footprint count. Make sure to buy only plastic-free items.
To identify any product’s manufacturing area, do some research about the signs and logos that reflects the area where a particular product was made. It will help you quickly identify the local products to reduce your plastic consumption by purchasing them easily.
6. Make a checklist before you go out.
You might be wondering why I am talking about such a familiar concept. But it is essential to discuss this topic here as your whole sustainable traveling will depend on it.
Tell me one thing, what you did when you forgot something important at your home/hotel room? You will probably buy a new one. Right? But what if the product you forgot was your reusable water bottle or your shopping bag. The whole idea of sustainable traveling went out of the window when you forgot to carry even only one thing from the all.
So, make a plan before you go out. Think about what you are going to need on that trip and make a checklist. It will be a lot easier for you to reduce your plastic usage if you have already planned upcoming situations.
7. Pick up trash wherever you go and reduce plastic pollution.
Every country is now taking its waste management programs more seriously, but it will not be easy to implement those plans without our support.
It doesn’t matter you are in your own country or anywhere else in the world. As long as you are on the earth, it’s your responsibility to reduce plastic waste wherever you go.
To do so, firstly do a little bit of research about the local recycling methods. Carry a fabric bag with you and try to pick up trash as much as you can.
Dump this collected waste to the right place according to your research. Repeat this process everywhere you go. It will leave the place cleaner than before, and who knows that anyone around you gets inspired by you and decide to adopt this habit for the rest of their traveling.
Conclusion
Reducing plastic consumption while traveling is not an easy task. But remember we are the one who needs fresh air, a pollution-free environment, clean water, healthy food, and healthy life.
So, at the end of the day, all these efforts are to save OUR life. So, don’t forget to do your research about the destination, hotels, and restaurants. Chose more sustainable areas to visit.
Do not buy anything packed in plastic. The more sustainable alternatives to plastic packaging are to buy things packed in paper, cardboard, wood, and glass containers. Carry reusable items with you.
Remember, everything you use has an environmental footprint, so make sure to reuse as much as you can. Shop at local shops and pick up trash wherever you can, are some easy ways to reduce your plastic footprint. Start with some small steps and gradually try to make it as plastic-free as you can.
“Outright bans on plastic may not be the best solution, but education and incentives to get people to stop using them are necessary.”
David Suzuki
If you’re reading this, I plead with you to eliminate plastic from your life.
Happy Traveling!