I have some big news from this little travel and sustainability blog: Tilted Map is declaring a climate emergency. What does that even mean? I’m joining (so far) 324 other travel businesses (including a few other travel writers) in a community called Tourism Declares. It’s an initiative that helps travel businesses talk about climate change […]
Blog
The Lazy Guide to More Sustainable Travel: Being Greener Doesn’t Have to Be Hard
Approachable tips for making any kind of travel (not just “eco-travel”) more sustainable through small mindset changes and knowing what to look for. Let’s play a game: What do you picture in your mind when you read the words “eco-travel,” or “sustainable travel”? Does it involve gorillas, kayaks, or thatched roofs? Maybe a tree house […]
TerraCycle: What It Is, What It Isn’t & Why Going Low-Waste Matters More Than Recycling
I’ve briefly mentioned TerraCycle before in some of my sustainable product reviews, but there is so much more that needs to be said about them. So I wanted to explain here what TerraCycle is (including its legitimate criticisms and limitations), how to use their recycling programs, and some long-term solutions that are even better. I […]
Earthling Co. vs HiBAR Review: the Winner of my Year-long Shampoo Bar Quest
It’s been exactly one year since I published my first shampoo bar review. (Actually the first of all my sustainable product reviews!) While I’ve learned a lot in that year, and added a few brands to my original review, none had swayed me from my favorite – until this spring. So I’m declaring a new […]
Thinx Review & Alternatives [7 Styles Compared + A Forever Discount]
A detailed review of my latest sustainability upgrade on the slow road to zero-waste: Underwear that absorbs your menstrual flow, from NYC-based Thinx. What are period underwear? It’s the same concept as a pad – except washable, reusable and better in every way. I know, it sounds weird and unlikely to be effective, but after a […]
Alaska Stories from the Before Times (& Covid-Safe Travel Ideas with UnCruise)
This post is sponsored by UnCruise – a name on my short list of sustainable travel companies that I’m looking forward to adventuring with! My first and, so far, my only visit to Alaska was a long, winding road trip just a few months before travel went on hiatus. My husband and I flew into […]
PAPR & byHumankind Deodorant Reviews [Why They Beat Other “Zero-Waste” Brands]
A short list of reviews of two natural, plastic-free deodorant brands: PAPR and byHumankind. (And why they’re more sustainable and – I think – just better options than Dove, Native, Myro and Ethique!) If I’m being honest, here’s how most of my other sustainable product reviews have worked: I tested pretty much every plastic-free brand I […]
What It Was Really Like Visiting Maui During COVID-19
This is my personal experience of visiting Maui during the COVID-19 pandemic, in December, 2020, including testing options and requirements, mask rules vs. reality, and what we can learn from Hawaii about travel during a pandemic. At the end of a year mostly spent in quarantine in the cold climates of Chicago and Montana, two […]
Review: Bite vs Everyone (All the Plastic-Free Toothpaste Options Compared)
Toothpaste tablets are a fairly new, very travel-friendly and eco-friendly alternative to standard, non-recyclable tubes of toothpaste. Here, I’ve reviewed the top plastic-free, sustainable brands in detail: Bite Toothpaste Bits, Crush & Brush (from Nelson Naturals), byHumankind, UnPaste (AKA DentTabs), Mouthful, and Georganics. I’ve already mentioned my favorite brand of plastic-free toothpaste tablets in my […]
Pasta With Broccoli: A Recipe Stolen from My Italian In-Laws
This is one of my favorite Italian family recipes – Pasta with Broccoli. It’s healthy, easy, meat-free, and can be vegan or vegetarian if you want it to be! When the pandemic started, and everyone started cooking at home for the first time, and realizing they didn’t know how to make anything that was both […]
How Hard Is It to Go to Hawaii Right Now? (And Should You?)
This is a timeline of my experience traveling to Hawaii from the mainland US in December, 2020, plus current COVID-19 restrictions for Hawaii, the pre-travel test I took in the airport, and whether the trip makes sense during a pandemic – ethically or otherwise. A long, long time ago, I wrote a pair of posts […]
Sustainable Toiletries: The Best Low-Waste Brands [That TSA Won’t Steal]
My travel-friendly, less-waste, and mostly plastic-free toiletry routine: After lots of trial and error (which I’ve covered in other product reviews over more than a year of testing!) this list contains only the best brands in each toiletry category! Look no further for plastic-free toiletries that are mostly gender-neutral and feel like a treat to […]
