If you’re trying to reduce your plastic use while traveling on a cruise, flying or staying in a hotel, there are several easy and effective ways to do so.
Here are some great ways to reduce the use of plastic when traveling, so you can have a great trip while being more environmentally-friendly, too!
Reusable Water Bottles
One of the easiest and most impactful ways to reduce your plastic use when traveling is by bringing a refillable water bottle with you wherever you go. Most cruise lines and hotels now offer water stations where you can refill your water bottle for free. This will help cut down on single-use plastic bottles, as well as likely saving you a lot of money buying expensive bottled waters. Be sure to buy a bottle with a strong-sealing cap, so you don’t have to worry about spills when it’s packed away in your bag.
Stainless Steel Straws
Most cruise lines don’t allow plastic straws on board anyway, so getting in the habit of traveling with a stainless steel straw is a great way to reduce single-use plastic or paper products while traveling. Paper straws or reusable silicone straws are also an option to reduce your plastic use when traveling.
Single-use Plastics
We all know those cute miniature bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste, and you-name-it that cruises and hotel rooms come stocked with. But those single-use plastics can be wasteful because they are thrown away after use. If you really want to reduce your plastic-use when traveling, bring your own bottles with the amount that you need for your trip. Also, travel size toothpaste and deodorants don’t last very long and you pay much more per ounce. You will have less to recycle if you stick to regular size products.
Plastic-free Toiletries
Another great way to reduce the use of plastic when traveling is to bypass the use of plastic at all for certain products. There is a range of plastic-free toiletries such as shampoo bars and conditioner bars, as well as deodorants, shaving products, and dental care items. You can also replace body wash with bar soap to reduce your plastic use.
Biodegradable Wipes
Rather than plastic bottles of hand sanitizer, or conventional wet wipes that take years to break down, try using biodegradable wipes made from natural fibers. Biodegradable wipes come in handy when you need to quickly clean up but don’t have access to soap and water, and the natural fibers are more environmentally-friendly.
Reusable Tote Bags
Who doesn’t love a good shopping spree while on vacation?! Just be sure to bring a reusable shopping bag (or two!) for any souvenirs you get while traveling, so you don’t have to take a plastic bag to carry your goodies back with you. The last thing you want is a bunch of plastic bags accumulated at the end of your trip.
Recycle
If you are unable to avoid the use of plastic bottles while traveling, then at the very least please make sure you dispose of them in recycle bins vs. the trash.
Avoid Airline Food
Airlines use plastic for their cutlery, serving trays and often cups. If you pack your own meals & snacks, you can turn down that airline meal. Besides, in most cases the food they serve is not very good anyway. (Check out our blog on Best Food to Pack for Long flights.)
Supports Companies That Donate to Protect the Environment
For example earlier this year we posted a blog about the sustainable travel initiatives for Royal Caribbean cruises & Celebrity cruises 2021. NCL Cruises 2021 has done away with plastic water bottles and converted to boxed water. NCL has also focused efforts on increasing water production on board with sophisticated plants that use seawater as the source, which reduces the need for the bunkering of fresh water. This is particularly important in countries where fresh water is limited and best reserved for local communities. Holland America cruises has a sustainable seafood program.
Tauck tours and Collette tours each take their staff on volunteer trips. Globus Tours 2021 is donating to Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organization focused on ridding the world’s oceans of plastics. Trafalgar Tours supports the TreadRight Foundation is non-for-profit that works to help ensure the preservation of the environment & communities for generations to come.
Traveling the world is an amazing experience. We each have a responsibility to help protect it, and these small changes can have a big impact.
