Want to make your next trip a more sustainable one? There are a few easy ways that you can be a “responsible traveller”. The easiest one is to be prepared by bringing eco friendly travel products. With more and more single-use plastic in circulation, it is imperative that we choose plastic alternatives. Here are some of the best eco products to help you travel greener!
Why Eco Travel Products Are Essential
Travel can have a big impact on the environment and the cultures that tourists interact with. Eco travel is all about minimising those impacts & where possible, actually having a positive impact.
Travelling is (for most) a temporary activity. This often results in a temporary mindset. Unintentionally travellers can often disregard the longevity of their decisions while exploring new places. These decisions are often small (and can seem insignificant) but the sheer volume of tourists worldwide means that things can really add up.
In the world of travel, temporary often means single use.
Stay in a hotel – they provide small shampoo or conditioner bottles for single use (or single stay)
Served food on a plane – the containers and cutlery are designed for single use
Exploring destinations during the day – you get thirsty and buy a bottle of water instead of drinking from your tap/filter as you might at home. Again a single use product.
It’s not our fault as tourists. Products have just developed their way to be effective and cheap for us, the user. The ramifications of these products though are having hugely negative impacts on our environment.
Plastic Pollution is getting out of control
There are some horrifying plastic pollution statistics and examples out there. We as the consumer have a responsibility (as responsible travellers) to make better decisions when travelling.
We all have to get into the habit of saying no to plastic(specifically single use plastic).
How To Prepare For Travel
It might sound trivial, but it really is the best way to travel responsibly. Having the right gear can enhance your experience on a range of travel types.
Just imagine for a second:
A ski trip without thermal underwear and gloves.
Hiking through the mountains of South America without boots or a decent pair of socks
A tropical island getaway without a bathing suit
It is the same principle for eco friendly travel/responsible travel/green travel.
Without the right gear (eco friendly travel products) it makes travelling responsibly realistically unachievable.
Choosing Eco Friendly Travel Products
As more companies and brands shift towards sustainability and ethical practices, how do you find or pick the best eco friendly travel products?
There are a few things to consider when choosing eco friendly travel products.
The same principle applies to the examples above. There are hiking boots and then there are “hiking boots”. Prices and quality can vary significantly.
A few things to consider before buying eco friendly products include:
Ingredients: Are they made from natural ingredients or fibers? Is it vegan? Do they contain Palm Oil (learn more here)
Cruelty Free – has the product been involved with animal testing
Zero Waste/ Eco Friendly Packaging – what kind of packaging has been used? Do they minimise plastic and waste?
Ethically Sourced / Made – where the product was made and how it was made counts for a lot when looking for the “best” product out there
Cost – are expensive products really better?
For the purpose of ease, we’ve selected products to highlight based on our experience in the field of responsible travel. The following products have been chosen and reviewed based on their product quality and brand practices.
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