5 tips to reduce waste whilst you travel
Planning a trip can be a laborious process. Making sure you find the right dates that won’t interfere with your work and commitments, organising the route, getting tickets, finding accommodation, booking day trips, packing, saving money, etc. When it comes to living more sustainably and zero-waste, the planning process can be a game-changer in achieving your minimal waste goals. This is why; we want to share with you these six tips that you can use to avoid waste whilst you travel.
1. Make your check-in online
Nowadays, it’s very common that airlines provide you with the option of checking in online. This will not only avoid printing a ticket when you get to the airport, but it also saves you time.
2. Pack your reusables
Think about your trip day to day and pack what you think you will need to avoid purchasing unnecessary items that might generate waste. It might be worth bringing the following items: a reusable water bottle, a reusable coffee cup, reusable cutlery, straw and a tote bag if you are planning to do groceries.
3. Prepare snacks
Take some snacks in your reusable containers; this will not only save you money but it will also help you avoid temptations when you stop at the petrol station or in the airport. We all love snacking during trips, but it can be hard to find plastic-free options in these places, and you can make healthier choices when you make your own snacks too! Think about homemade cookies, sandwiches, fruit, hummus, dried fruits, salads or cheeky chocolates.
4. Don’t stay in a hotel
Hotels are big waste generators. Single-use toiletries, room card keys, regular cleaning which means more plastic bags being used, etc. Nowadays, there are so many different accommodation options, from Airbnb, couch surfing, camping, renting a house, etc, which will provide you with better options to travel with minimal waste. You can also use your own bathroom products, cook something fresh, reuse towels, and those places tend to be more flexible to adapt to your travelling experience.
5. Enjoy the experience, forget about souvenirs!
When we travel we tend to be tempted to purchase anything that can remind us of the place we are visiting. When I was younger, I was obsessed with buying little souvenirs for my friends from every single place I visited. The reality is, those little souvenirs are often useless and will end up in landfill sooner than you think. Instead of this, choose to take pictures, try the local cuisine, visit museums, meet local people, etc. There is no better souvenir than telling your friends back home about the crazy experiences you had during your trip.
I am sure there are many more things you can do to avoid waste whilst travelling, but hopefully these 5 tips are a good starting point for a positive environmental impact. It’s all about changing habits and finding better ways to do things that can suit us, and the environment around us.
We hope you can apply some of those tips on your next travels.
Happy travelling (within Australia)!
Photo credit shout out to Presley Roozenburg