15 Realistic Tips for Traveling with Less Waste – from Basic to Mind-Blowing
Want to create less waste during your travels? I have several really easy swaps you can implement in this short guide. A few are gadgets, but some are things you don’t even have to buy.
Most of the waste we create on our travels comes from single-use plastics – and we can avoid most of those with just a little planning! (And that’s coming from someone who loves to pack light and is pretty fast and loose with travel planning, so trust me when I say these tips are not too complicated.)
This low-waste travel guide will help you stop buying cheap, plastic junk on the fly, and take a big bite out of your travel footprint when it comes to plastic. And you’ll probably even find you can apply a lot of this advice to your life at home, too!
Note: I started writing this low-waste travel guide as a section on sustainable travel for a friend’s book – but it just kept growing beyond the space allowed, so I want to share the full version with you here!
1. Keep your own silverware in your daypack.
Hear me out: this does not have to be a fancy reusable bamboo or metal cutlery set… Have you ever noticed how all silverware is reusable?
I have a particularly sturdy plastic set from a Delta airlines flight about 4 years ago that I couldn’t bear to throw away, and have been carrying around in my purse ever since. So I say no to single-use forks, knives, and everything else, because I’ve always got my own.
Another option? Pick a light-weight fork from your kitchen drawer and throw it in your bag.
2. Pack a (light-weight) reusable mug (that you’ll actually use).
Normally, this wouldn’t be something I’d recommend buying new – after all, you probably already have a travel mug that you use in the car, right? I have more than I need, and I love my stainless steel mug from Klean Kanteen for road trips. It’s well insulated, and it doesn’t leak.
(And Klean Kanteen is my favorite because it’s an employee–owned company that’s carbon neutral, a B Corp, and a member of 1% For the Planet.)
But even I tend to leave that mug at home when I travel – it’s too heavy and bulky for how light I like to pack.
So I have a collapsible silicone mug from Hunu that’s small enough to fit in even my favorite tiny travel purse. I love it and – even more importantly – it’s convenient enough that I actually use it to avoid waste while traveling.
Hydaway is another option that makes collapsible mugs, water bottles and dishes. I bought mugs from both brands, and I prefer the Hunu cup because it’s much lighter (no metal). Since weight will probably make the difference between your travel cup actually getting used or getting left at home because you don’t want to carry it all day, the extra few ounces matter.
3. Bring reusable containers for leftovers (OR skip to the next strategy on this list).
At home, when I’m going out, I sometimes do bring my own containers to put leftovers in. Not all the time – if I’m going to a fancy place, I might succumb to the peer pressure and skip it. But for casual neighborhood restaurants, I always try to remember. (Hey, I’m not perfect, but it’s pretty much become part of the wallet-cell-phone-purse check before leaving the house.)
Even though I have collapsible containers that are easy to carry, I usually don’t pack them on international trips. What I do instead is order with food waste in mind.
4. Order with food waste in mind.
Since “waste” means more than just packaging, keep food waste in mind, too. And if you don’t want to pack reusable containers for restaurant leftovers everywhere you go, this is an easier option: Order less. (It’s good for your budget and waistline, too.)
Ask the servers how big the dishes are.
Look around at other diners’ plates.
Wait for your appetizer to arrive before deciding on the main course. (Or the next courses, if you’re in Italy.)
This way you can avoid both the disposable take-out containers, and the leftovers you probably won’t eat.
I know it sounds basic, but simply being more mindful of how much food you’re ordering (and whether you’ll truly be able to finish it all in one sitting) can have a big impact.
Why? About 30 to 40% of food in the US goes to waste. (Let that sink in a bit – I found it shocking.) So this is a valuable exercise for life at home, too. (And speaking of life at home, if you don’t have access to compost – or don’t feel like dealing with it, as I don’t – this kitchen composter could be a good solution to reduce the climate impact of food scraps. I’ve been using one for years and reviewed it here.)
5. Choose your coffee shops for their cups.
When scouting for a good coffee shop while traveling, Google maps reviews are your friend – and not just for the star ratings. Look at the photos other customers have uploaded: Do they show reusable coffee mugs and plates, or just to-go cups and plastic clamshell boxes? Choose one that has a reusable option, and make sure to request it when you’re ordering.
In my experience, in most parts of Europe, if you ask for a drink “for here,” the staff will automatically put it in a real, reusable cup.
In the US, though, not so much. So when ordering, I always say, “Can I please have it in a reusable mug for here?” while pointing at the mug. Otherwise, baristas are often on autopilot and it ends up in a disposable cup even if I say “for here.”
(Side note: My general tip for reading review stars is to be picky. You want 4.5+ if you can find it. 3.8 is a no-go.)
I think this is an important way to vote with your wallet by supporting businesses that offer more sustainable choices, even if you did bring your own cup.
Bonus: The coffee is guaranteed to be better at a coffee shop with real mugs! Ask any knowledgeable barista, and they’ll tell you that a paper cup (which, by the way, is likely lined with plastic) changes the taste of the coffee, and not for the better.
6. Pack shampoo, conditioner and soap bars.
If you’ve tried shampoo bars before and not been impressed, please hear me out. They’ve gotten better! Shampoo bars with salon quality ingredients – and no plastic packaging – are absolutely a thing now. So get yourself some!
That way, next time you see those annoying mini shampoo bottles in your hotel, you can just put them in a corner and ignore them. Plus, you’ll be using much higher quality ingredients than what brands can afford to package in those cheap minis.
I’ve tested dozens of brands for my sustainable toiletry reviews, and am happy to make recommendations if you get in touch. (Signing up here and replying to an email is the best way. Plus, when you sign up, I’ll send you my very useful list of plastic-free travel toiletries!)
Quick tip: These bars from Viori are some of my favorites. They’ve worked well for all the friends and family members I’ve asked to test them, and they have an amazing travel story behind them! Check out my Viori review here.
Details: Here’s my master-list of plastic-free travel toiletries, or my list of discount codes for the best sustainable and plastic-free brands I’ve tested.
Bar Packing Strategy: This doesn’t need to be overcomplicated and you probably don’t need a special “shampoo bar travel container.” An old washcloth to wrap them in and a lightweight, well-drained soap dishes to keep them from getting soggy are my two tips. (Yes, the dish is plastic, but not single-use. Mine have been going strong for years, as plastic was intended to do.)
7. Pack toothpaste tablets.
Toothpaste tubes are not even recyclable, due to the layers of different materials they’re made of, so traditional toothpaste is one of the first toiletries I recommend replacing with a lower-waste version.
And again, I promise they do not have to suck!
Same deal as what I said about the shampoo bars – there’s a huge range in quality and consistency among different toothpaste tablet brands, so if you’ve tried some and not liked them, try another brand! My go-to is Bite, one of the original brands, but I’ve tested many others.
Alternatives: Two others I’ve tested and recommend are Canary for tablets that create more foam, and Duo for tablets that double as vitamin supplements. (You absorb the vitamins through your gums as you brush! How’s that for multipurpose packing?)
Advanced Level: Pack refillable floss. I love the floss from by Humankind, but I have friends who prefer Bite’s floss.
Bite Toothpaste Bits
Bite is one of the inventors of plastic-free toothpaste tablets, and they're still one of the best. (Trust me, I've tried them all.) They're tablets are compact (great if you look at even those tiny details for packing light, like I do), foamy but not too foamy, and they make both fluoride and fluoride-free versions.
Canary Clean Co.
I love Canary's very foamy toothpaste tablets, which also come in surprisingly good flavors like watermelon and wintergreen. They also make refills for foaming soap dispensers, which work well in my Blueland dispenser.
Duo: Toothpaste Tablets with Vitamins
Duo is the only plastic-free toothpaste I've found (and I've tested a lot) that integrates vitamins in the formula. (They pass all my other tests – plastic-free, vegan, SLS-free, etc. They don't make a formula with fluoride, so I still recommend Bite for that.)
I've tried Duo's Immunity and Sleep formulas, and they're really pleasant! Lots of thick foam, compared with most other toothpaste tablet brands.
8. Drink the tap water – even where you “can’t.”
In many places around the world, what comes out of the tap is not safe to drink – and that means locals and travelers alike create literal tons of plastic waste from plastic water bottles. But it only takes a little planning to be able to skip the plastic.
If you’re traveling with a tour company, ask before you book whether they’ll provide filtered water in bulk (not in plastic trash), so you can refill any bottle and can skip my system below. (UnCruise is a great example of a sustainable travel company that does this! I traveled with them in Baja California and had one of the most memorable trips of my life.)
If you’re traveling on your own, here’s my two-step system:
- First, I press tap water through a bottle with an activated carbon filter to remove heavy metals, viruses, bacteria, microplastics, and any other floating nasties.
- Then I pour from that bottle into a second bottle, which has a UV-C light in the lid. (The same system used to sterilize equipment in hospitals.) A one-minute blast of light kills anything that the filter didn’t remove.
Details: I tested this system while traveling in El Salvador (a place where the water is definitely not potable), and my husband and I both stayed perfectly healthy the entire time!
9. Don’t build your travel wardrobe out of plastic.
The idea of traditional “travel clothing” is one I’d like to forget – I’m talking about those super lightweight items with tons of pockets and mesh panels to make a breeze? Yes, they tend to be quite ugly (but I’m not here to be the fashion police).
The bigger issue is that they’re 100% polyester – which is literally made out of the same PET plastic as a disposable water bottle. It’s toxic, it’s not good for you, and at the end of its life, it’s heading for a landfill or washing up on beaches as more plastic waste.
Instead, if you read this blog, you probably already know I’m a big fan of these merino wool travel clothes. They’re pretty much all I wear at this point, aside from a few snazzier items I find at consignment shops to jazz up my travel wardrobe. That’s because their clothes are all designed to be chic, simple, easy to mix and match, and really high quality.
And since merino wool is naturally antimicrobial and quick-drying, I can wear them many, many times between washes without getting stinky. They’re seriously the ideal travel clothes.
Details: I reviewed Unbound Merino in-depth on the blog, and even have a video review with some helpful try-ons. Or check out these other sustainable clothing brands (and what makes them better).
Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more review and travel videos! Thanks for your support!
10. Keep a basic packing checklist.
Those “obvious” plastic things that you have to pack for every trip – like charging cables and plug adapters? Keep a checklist, so you don’t forget them and end up having to buy them again at your destination.
For international trips, here’s my basic packing list to reduce waste:
- Electrical plug adaptors (double-check what kind of plugs are used in the destination first! I’ve messed this up more than once.)
- Charging cord and wall plug for all devices
- Airpod adapter for flights (this is my little bluetooth device that keeps me from needing those single-use airplane headphones)
- Reusable water bottle
- Reusable coffee cup
- Reusable straw – for tropical destinations! (See below)
- Basic medications I already have at home (I’m not packing the entire medicine cabinet, but anything I take semi-regularly, like ibuprofen for a headache, goes in a small pill container so I don’t end up buying a whole new bottle on the road)
- Tote bag (my most compact cotton bag is always in my small travel purse for any purchases)
- Sun glasses (so you don’t buy the crappy ones people sell outside train stations! I always pack this light-weight pair as a backup. They’re sturdy, high-quality, and designed by a friend of mine! )
11. Reusable straw?
I rarely use straws, so I never felt the need to buy a metal one – until I spent some time in destinations like Puerto Rico, where smoothies and fruit juices are flowing! (And paper straws are still rare.)
If you’re a fan of those tropical treats, then consider buying a metal smoothie straw so you can say no to all the plastic ones you’ll be offered. (It’s called a “boba” straw here; it’s a little wider than a normal straw, for thick beverages.)
The Strategy: Think about what’s special about your destination, pack accordingly. This research can be as simple as searching for the place you’re going on Instagram and noticing what you see in the pictures. Lots of coconuts and smoothies? Might want a reusable straw. Lots of rain or waterfalls? See my rain jacket rec below.
PIC – K with tropical drink
12. Always pack an umbrella or rain jacket.
A compact umbrella is something that just lives in the outside pocket of my long-time favorite carry-on suitcase, because I hate the idea of having to buy a cheap umbrella or one of those plastic ponchos outside a train station. (Because cheap is cheap, and I know I’m just buying garbage.)
The Packing Strategy:
The suitcase is what I bring for city trips, where I’d rather have an umbrella than a rain jacket. (It’s a quality bag that I’ve used about 10 times a year for nearly 10 years, and it’s still going strong after replacing the wheels. The world doesn’t need more cheap luggage.) For outdoorsy trips or more rustic destinations, I usually go with my Tortuga travel backpack, and keep a dependable rain jacket packed under everything else.
Details: Don’t forget to study up on my entire strategy for packing light. It’s one I’m pretty proud of.
13. Bring plastic-free laundry detergent strips.
Whenever I know I’ll be staying in an Airbnb (or any kind of vacation rental), I bring a few thin sheets of laundry detergent inside a ziplock.
(Or my bioplastic version of a ziplock, rather. They’re resealable sandwich bags that are compostable and not made from petroleum!)
That way, even if the rental home has laundry detergent, I don’t use it if it’s in plastic, and that I’m contributing to them buying more of it in plastic. Yes, it’s a small thing, but it’s easy to do, and doesn’t take up any space in my luggage.
Details: For more on plastic-free laundry and cleaning, check out my review of Earth Breeze vs TruEarth (for why I prefer Earth Breeze), and other sustainable cleaning product reviews.
The “Build a Habit” Strategy:
Beyond being pretty easy, there’s a bigger reason I avoid using items in plastic, even when they’re provided for me: This kind of “small” practice is part of how I get in the habit of looking for ways to replace plastics. It’s the kind of thing that gets easier and less burdensome the more you do it, like going to the gym or bringing your own bag to the grocery store. It’s hard at first, but eventually it becomes second-nature.
So I practice low-waste living wherever I see an opportunity, without worrying about whether the action is “worth” the amount of plastic avoided – and then I start to see opportunities more and more.
PIC – laundry drying somewhere?
14. Think you’ll need band-aids?
If you’re prone to cuts and scrapes (or you have kids who are) pack these plastic-free bandaids. They’re made with bamboo instead of (you guessed) petroleum, and the brand is a small company and certified B Corp!
We’ve had a pack of them for a couple of years, and I’m really impressed! They do the job and don’t fall off. And bandaids are a super light-weight, easy-to-pack item that you can stash a few of in your purse or daypack and not even notice they’re there.
You can order Patch bandages from Earth Hero and save 10% with my discount code below. (Earth Hero is also a great small company that only carries sustainability focused brands.)
PATCH Bamboo Bandages - ALL
Plastic-free, bamboo bandages that are compostable – unlike regular Band-Aids, which are made of petroleum.
I've used these for a couple of years and they WORK. They stay on well, and get the job done. Plus, PATCH is a small company and certified B Corp.
They’re also available on Amazon, but I always recommend supporting small businesses, instead. (That’s why I usually use Amazon links only when they’re the only option. For more on that, here’s my story about Amazon and other affiliate links, and how blogs make money.)
15. What do you think?
Tell me, what’s missing from this list? I’m sure you’ve got lots of ideas, and I’d love to hear them – drop a comment below to share your own tips for lower-waste travel! (Or ask a question and I’ll get back to you!)
