There are plenty of things you can do to be a more sustainable traveler, but one of the easiest is to reduce your waste. Think about how much stuff you throw out while traveling: complimentary water bottles from your hotel, disposable plastic utensils, and travel-size toothpaste tubes.
Here are 9 cheap travel accessories to add to your carry-on bag so you can reduce your personal waste during your next trip.
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Refillable Coffee Mug
There’s no better way to start your morning in a new destination than with a cup of fresh coffee. Whether you are filling up in the airport lounge or brewing a cup in your hotel room, using a refillable mug instead of a disposable cup will cut down on your personal waste.
I personally use this Contigo travel mug because it is bulletproof and easy to clean, but any insulated travel mug will work well.
Refillable Water Bottle
We can talk about sustainable travel without mentioning that over a billion plastic water bottles are used every single day. That is an overwhelmingly large number, but it’s important to realize just how much plastic waste we consume as part of our daily lives.
The easiest way to break that cycle is to reduce consumer demand for single-use plastic bottles. Eliminate your need to use bottled water by carrying a refillable water bottle (like the ever-popular Hydro Flask Water Bottle) on your next flight.
Reusable Makeup Remover Pads
Do you wear makeup when you travel? Eliminating single-use items from your travel kit will get you closer to the goal of being zero waste. Disposable cotton makeup pads can easily be replaced by reusable bamboo pads.
This set of Lunelle pads are made of charcoal bamboo and can be thrown in the washing machine when you are ready to clean them. Each pad will last you long enough to divert hundreds of single-use cotton pads during its lifetime.
Reusable Travel Utensils
If you travel like I do, you probably spend more time than not eating out while on the road. How often are you handed a set of disposable utensils to eat your food?
Carrying your own set of reusable travel utensils is an easy way to cut down on waste. When shopping for a reusable set, make sure that they are TSA-compliant. My first set was confiscated because it featured a serrated butter knife (serrated objects are strictly prohibited from being carried through a TSA security checkpoint).
This set of Gobites travel utensils are a portable option to help you avoid using single-use utensils during your travels.
Toothpaste Tabs
Did you know that toothpaste tubes are incredibly difficult to recycle? The various plastics & metals used to construct tubes are notoriously challenging to deal with.
Thankfully, a number of zero-waste alternatives are now available. While larger paste tubs can be a hassle to bring through TSA’s checkpoints, toothpaste tabs are the ideal travel companion.
These Denttabs (125-piece jar) may look like simple breath mints, but they will break down in your mouth into a paste-like consistency to allow you to brush your teeth like normal.
Bamboo Toothbrushes
Speaking of teeth, bamboo toothbrushes are the ideal alternative to disposable plastic toothbrushes.
Bamboo is an environmentally-friendly material that is being used more & more in many different industries. Opt for bamboo toothbrushes (like this SmartLifeEco set) the next time you stock your dopp kit for an easy way to reduce your plastic consumption.
Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
I’m sure you have used a bar of soap before, but have you used a bar of shampoo or conditioner? Virtually all soap & shampoo bottles are made of plastic, so you can imagine just how many plastic bottles are thrown away by travelers.
Opt for a plastic-free option by switching to shampoo & conditioner bars. Here are a couple options that have received great reviews:
Grown Ass Man Co. Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
Garnier Whole Blends Shampoo Bar
Bar Soap Holders
The main reason why I didn’t switch to soap & shampoo bars earlier in my career was because I didn’t realize there were good ways to travel with them. Carrying wet bar soap in ziploc bags was a nightmare, so I gave up on that idea very quickly..
Enter these little gadgets. Simple bar soap holders with vents & channels allow you to transport your bars without them getting slimy. Reusable holders like Portineer’s Carry-Dri MAX give me the peace of mind to say goodbye to bottled soap forever.
Reusable Snack Bags
Disposable Ziploc bags are cheap & convenient tools for travelers, but is there a better way to carry things around?
Washable & reusable bags like these are a simple way to cut down on the amount of trash you throw away. Reduce waste without sacrificing convenience by putting these bags to good use on your next trip.
Stasher sandwich bags is the gold-standard when it comes to reusable bags, but there are plenty of alternatives available online.
