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For many people, sustainability has become a priority in recent years in order to minimize waste and their carbon footprint. While there are a lot of sustainable options out there, figuring out where to start can be hard. However, one easy place to start is with travel.
From your travel essentials to transportation, here are 5 simple ways to become a more sustainable traveler.
Bring a Reusable Water Bottle
When you travel, it’s easy to work up a thirst. However, that also means that you’ll likely be stopping at a lot of places to purchase water. That can add up to several plastic water bottles getting thrown away each day.
Instead, bring a reusable water bottle and find opportunities to fill up when you can, like when you stop for lunch at a restaurant. Not only will you be helping to cut down on plastic waste, but you’ll be more likely to stay hydrated and feel your best if you have water on you at all times.
If you have room, also consider packing other reusables like:
- A foldable metal straw
- Washable cutlery
- A linen tote bag
Rethink Your Toiletries
Another major source of plastic waste for travelers is toiletries. While many hotels across the world provide miniature bottles of products, these often end up in the garbage only partially used. Instead, let the hotel know you don’t want them ahead of time and bring your own.
However, you don’t want to buy those travel-size products from the store, that’s just as much plastic waste. In the same section of the store, you should see reusable travel-size bottles that you can pour your toiletries into. That way, you can just use the shampoo you already have at home.
Pro Tip: In addition to your typical toiletries and medications, if you suffer from stress or flight anxiety, you should also consider bringing along a vape pen, which can be refilled with vegan, organic CBD vape juice.
Walk Everywhere You Can
One of the biggest polluters of our planet is emissions. One way you can reduce your carbon footprint while traveling is making the conscious effort to walk whenever you can.
With tight schedules and trying to see as much as possible, it can be tempting to hail a ride from place to place. However, automobiles are a huge source of emissions, so try to limit how many rides you take during your trip. You could set a goal to only take rides to your first stop and from your last stop of the day, planning the rest of your day with a walking tour of local sights.
Just remember to bring comfortable walking shoes, so you’re not limping home at the end of the day.
Pack Light
Overpacking makes it harder to get around. In order to stick to your goal of walking more, it’s important to make sure you pack light—an organized packing list is a good way to make sure you only bring what you need. That way, it’ll be easier to move from place to place. For example, if your hotel is near the train station, it’s simple to throw a backpack on and walk the short distance, but it’s not so easy with large luggage.
When it comes to packing, you also want to consider bringing clothing that can easily be washed and hung to dry in your hotel room. Having to use the hotel’s laundry services contributes to water and energy waste.
Shop Local
There are some international chain stores that get a lot of hype for their great styles and low prices, but a lot of them also contribute to large amounts of waste, promote labor exploitation, and take away from the local economy. While it can be tempting to score these deals, you should try to shop at small, local businesses if you really want to be more sustainable.
Pro Tip: To further cut down on waste, bring your own reusable linen tote so you can carry all your goods without having to get a plastic bag from each retailer. In some places, they don’t even offer them, so it’s a good idea to always bring yours along in your backpack.
Now that you have some ideas, you can see how easy and fabulous it is to become a more sustainable traveler, no matter where you’re headed. If you have other eco-friendly travel tips, leave a comment below to help your fellow nomads out! The more people who jump on the environmentally conscious train, the better.
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