Are you hoping to green up your vacation this year? Yes, you can count on us! The standard eco-friendly travel gear, such as refillable water bottles and tote bags, may already be in your possession. Still, we’re here to help you take it to the next level. Here are nine of the greatest eco-friendly travel gear, from backpacks and packing cubes to reef-safe sunscreen, that will lessen your environmental impact and make your trips more convenient.
Collapsible Water Bottle
Reusable water bottles are vital for eco-friendly travel, but carrying a big metal bottle (looking at you, Frank Green) can be taxing. Valourgo’s collapsible water bottle reduces plastic and space. It folds up for storage in a bag or other tiny area. BPA-free silicone makes the bottle light and leakproof. This flexible bottle makes it easy to maneuver under small sinks!
Water Filter Bottle
You should get a water filter bottle if you go to a place where the tap water is unsafe to drink, camping, or to an isolated location. You won’t need to purchase plastic bottled water when you have a portable water filtration device like this. One of the top water filter bottles available is LifeStraw. It eliminates 999.9999% of all waterborne pathogens, including bacteria, parasites, microplastics, dirt, chemicals, viruses, and unpleasant odor. Additionally, it has no shelf life, is BPA-free, and is remarkably resilient.
Bags & Backpacks
If you spend money on quality baggage, you want it to last. Fortunately, the most eco-friendly bags on the market are also highly durable. Osprey is one of the top brands. All bags are vegan, and some are constructed of recycled materials, such as the Archeon backpack, which is also PFC-free. Under their ‘All Mighty Guarantee,’ Osprey is known for their outstanding quality and mending rather than replacing bags.
Another excellent sustainable luggage brand is Paravel. It was one of the first 100% sustainable travel brands and will be certified as Climate Neutral in July 2021. Their bags are created from recycled vegan leather and reused water bottles. They’re also carbon-neutral since Paravel balances the CO2 emissions from the bags’ manufacturing, distribution, and initial trip to the consumer.
Packing Cubes
It is one thing to purchase eco-friendly, high-quality luggage. It’s quite another to pack it well! Travel packing cubes are a simple and convenient way to organize and prepare your bags, as countless travelers attest. Cotopaxi is a Climate Neutral Certified company that makes its packing cubes (and other containers) from repurposed and recycled materials. In contrast, there are dozens of options for packing cubes on the market. Their Cubos Travel Cubes are manufactured from 100 percent remnant materials. They are available in three sizes to make packing easy and environmentally friendly.
Reusable Quart-Sized Bag
We’ve all tried to fill our Ziploc bags to the brim with 100ml bottles of drink before going through security at an airport. But it’s time to stop using these dangerous plastics that can only be used once. Instead, please choose one of our favorite eco-friendly travel items: a quart-sized reusable bag made of solid material that won’t break or leak. The Stasher Quart Bag is made of BPA-free, food-grade silicone and can be cleaned in the machine or microwave. You can also use it to store food when you’re not traveling.
Green Hygiene Products
Changing up your toiletries is a simple way to reduce the environmental impact of your trip. Switch to eco-friendly shampoo, deodorant bars, and toothpaste tabs instead of bringing plastic bottles that will end up in a landfill. By packing solid toiletries, you can avoid the hassle of the airport’s bothersome liquid ban.
Many companies, like By Human Kind, sell high-quality environmental hygiene products. Their bundles of eco-friendly, cruelty-free, and carbon-neutral travel essentials are a steal. Win-win!
Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Traveling requires sunscreen, but not all sunscreens are equal. Oxybenzone harms coral reefs and marine life. Travelers should apply zinc oxide or titanium oxide mineral sunscreens. Hawaii bans oxybenzone-containing sunscreens.
Ultra Violette and Neutrogena make reef-safe mineral sunscreens. Green People, another excellent company, works with the Marine Conservation Society to promote awareness of chemical sunscreens’ harmful effects on coral and marine life. Green People’s sunscreen is organic and recyclable.
Recycled Cup
Whether you prefer tea or coffee, purchase a KeepCup at home and while traveling. Utilizing a reusable coffee cup may lower the number of takeout coffee cups in landfills yearly. KeepCups are available in various colors and sizes and built from responsibly supplied materials. One more compelling argument is to purchase one for yourself before your next trip.
E-Reader
We all know that nothing beats the feel and smell of a paper book. But believe us that e-readers are a fantastic environmentally responsible alternative! You can store hundreds of books on these devices, whether you choose a Kindle or a Kobo, and you won’t have to haul about a bunch of big books on your travels. They provide infinite amusement, from airport delays to long train rides.
Travel guides, maps, and language books are all the same. You may eliminate all that paper waste by downloading any guide, map, or language learning program directly to your smartphone. You can also download maps to your phone before your journey so you can use them even if you don’t have access to the internet.
What are your favorite eco-friendly travel products? Please let us know in the comments!
