Sustainable travel: How to avoid plastic while traveling

“Hate how much waste I can produce on a daily basis. Going to college normally means hitting a drive-thru on your way to school OR grabbing something from an on-campus vendor, and then stopping somewhere to eat on your way home, especially if you have work after class. Between plastic straws (no thanks), plastic forks, spoons, and knives, and the amount of chopsticks I, a Panda Express lover, go through every day, that's a lot of trash. I ordered this and I feel a lot better about my impact now. The ONLY complaint I have is that the chopsticks are a bit harder to use than I'm used to, but I think with practice, that will stop being an issue. I love this & have plans to buy more sets for my friends and siblings to use.”

A reusable, lightweight and travel-size 8-piece cutlery set that includes a fork, knife, spoon, two reusable metal straws (plus a cleaning brush), and a pair of chopsticks. Oh, and did we mention that it comes with its own super sleek carrying case — so you don’t have to worry about losing anything on the road.

This set is ideal for anyone who wants to avoid using disposable plastic cutlery while on the road or camping off the grid. And all of the stainless steel cutlery can be cleaned in a dishwasher, making this set especially easy to clean.

Ideal for everyday use, this cutlery set is perfect to bring into the office, or throw into your bag, to avoid wasting plastic wherever you are  — as satisfied customer Robyn will tell you:

“We go through at least two teapots per year. They always get broken. So when I saw this 40 ounce thermos, I thought it might be a good solution. We love it. Holds enough tea or whatever, for the whole family, and it stays hot a long time. I can fill it up after lunch and by mid morning the next day, if the top has been put back on properly, it is still a good drinking temp. Not to mention it is nearly indestructible.”

When far from home, it’s easy to continually purchase plastic bottles of water — which is why you want to come prepared with a container you can reuse over and over again.

The Thermos Stainless King 40 Ounce Beverage Bottle is ideal for bringing along on most of your trips, though you may also want to consider a reusable water bottle that includes a filter if you’re unsure of what quality of water you’ll have access to during your travels. 

This thermos is made with patented vacuum insulation that keeps whatever liquid you put into it, whether it’s iced tea or a piping hot soup, ice cold or boiling hot for a full 24 hours. No matter what the temperature of its insides are, this thermos always stays cool to the touch and free of condensation. 

The lid doubles as a serving cup, so you don’t have to worry about mishandling this 40-ounce thermos while drinking from it. And it’s super easy to use, just twist off the lid to fill it with a beverage or liquid or your choice and you’re ready to go. Perfect for long trips on buses and trains, or long camping trips. 

With over 6,000 positive reviews, it’s easy to see why so many people are purchasing this roomy and affordable thermos. Just take it from this Amazon customer:

Instead of buying tiny toiletry bottles, switch over to packaging-free toiletry outfits, like solid shampoo bars, soaps, and lotions, that take plastic completely out of the equation.

Lush has tons of package-free options, just like its Coconut Rice Cake Shampoo Bar, to help you reduce your plastic usage while traveling. 

And while Lush has a variety of shampoo bars to choose from, we like this one in particular for its use of organic coconut milk, creamed coconut, and fair trade organic cocoa butter that will seriously hydrate and cleanse your hair. Plus, its bright colors and yellow rose petals make it look good enough to eat — but please resist the temptation to do so.

Ideal for those of us who have dyed or heat-styled their locks a little too frequently as of late and are in need of a little extra love.

And these shampoo bars are crazy easy to use, just add water and lather up your shampoo bar like you would a bar of soap, and massage into your hair and scalp. 

“I've tried a LOT of reusable bags as there are a lot of options out there all using a variety of materials. The fabric ones just get gross over time. The vinyl ones are hard to clean and aren't usually dishwasher safe. There are other silicone one that need a separate rod to close them that you can easily lose. This one is the most simple and easy to use. No separate pieces to lose. Can withstand any temperature/microwave/dishwasher/whatever. And if they get gunky they are very easy to clean and I trust that they aren't hiding gross crumbs in any of the crevices. My only complaint is the cost - they are the most expensive and I wish they offered a bulk discount. If they were cheaper I would use them for EVERYTHING (open cheese in cheese drawer, all snacks on the go, etc)”

It’s more than likely that you’ll find yourself reaching for a snack every now and again while on a trip, whether you’re backpacking in the Adirondack mountains or you’re avoiding the usual plane fare on a flight. Instead of stashing snacks or anything else you can think of in a plastic baggie (that you’re bound to throw out), why not reach for a reusable alternative.

Consider, Stasher’s stylish, mod, reusable silicone food bags that make transporting everything from snacks to seashells easier than ever. These reusable and resealable bags are made out of 100% pure non-toxic silicone, free of BPA, PVC, and latex, so you know that your food will be free of toxic contaminants. 

Your food will stay nice and fresh, thanks to Stasher’s pinch-lock seal, which keeps your food sealed in an airtight container. This reusable bag can be put in the freezer, microwave, and can withstand up to 400 degree-heat in the oven. And when you’re ready to clean your Stasher, just throw it in the dishwasher. 

Here’s what Megan had to say about how Stasher compares to other reusable bags:

“I love the print, the large size of the bags that allow me to put a few loads of bread and 2-3 bags chips it it without squishing them. Plenty of room in the handle area to put over my forearm to carry, or my shoulder if the bad isn't overly full. I bought other smaller ones as well but I plan to buy more this size to use as easy over night bags or day trips. Highly recommend.”

While traveling, it is inevitable that you’ll end up shopping at one point or another, so why not come prepared with a bag you can reuse over and over throughout your travels?

Gophra’s extra large, reusable grocery bags are roomy enough to pack up all of your groceries and can hold up to 42 pounds, with extra long handles made to comfortably wear over your shoulder. But they’re also super lightweight and can be folded up into a neat little pouch, making them easy to bring with you, no matter where you go.

Here’s what this Amazon customer had to say about how easy it is to use Gophra’s reusable grocery bag:

Gophra’s bags come in a number of eclectic patterns that make use of advanced color print technology that keeps Gophra’s bags from fading after numerous washes — which brings us to our next point: these bags are totally washable! And they’re completely water resistant, which keeps them cleaner for longer.

Instead of buying a toothbrush for your travels that you may or may not leave behind, go for a bamboo-made toothbrush instead of a traditional plastic one.

The Bamboo Organic Wood Toothbrush’s soft bristles are BPA-free and made out of quality charcoal. They’re also vegan, 100% biodegradable, and made out of recycled materials, so you can feel good about taking these abroad, without worrying about what you’re leaving behind.

These toothbrushes are perfect for the whole family, safe and easy for children and adults to handle and use. Their soft bristles also make these toothbrushes ideal for people who have sensitive gums.

Here’s what Oksana had to say about their toothbrush purchase:

“I liked my new toothbrushes, it cleans really well and looks very good, you can smell real bamboo. Also being very conscious about environment, I like the fact that its good for the nature. My kids love them too, they even want it more than those princess ones!”