Traveling can often be a wonderful experience for many of us. There are beautiful sights to see and new people to meet. But when we travel we must also be conscious of the environmental impact we leave on this planet. This is why I was very excited to collaborate with a fellow blogger on this week’s post. Sienna will be sharing with us 5 great ways to minimize plastic footprint when you travel. I’m already becoming very conscious of how plastic affects us physically. But it’s very important to not leave too much behind when we travel. That’s why I feel this post is very timely as more of us embark on summer vacation.

More About Sienna

Sienna Walker is an avid traveler who enjoys visiting both the well-known and famous as well as the uncharted places this world has to offer. She writes out of passion but also to support online knowledge libraries like Aubiz. Personally she’s a huge fan of self-improvement literature.

*This post contains affiliate links for which we may earn commission at no additional cost to you.

Beginning of Guest Post

5 Great Ways To Minimize Plastic Footprint When You Travel!

The travel industry is huge, and the profits come from more than just vacation packages. People take special things with them for travel, mostly due to the convenience they provide. Single use products dominate in travel, and many of them are made of plastic.

Fortunately, if you want to explore the world without leaving a sea of garbage in your wake, it’s absolutely possible. It all starts with wiser decision-making while packing and ends with the choices you make when you arrive at your destination. It is therefore possible to minimize plastic footprint when you travel.

1. Minimize Plastic Footprint – Bring Your Reusables With You

The best way to minimize plastic footprint when you travel is to bring all of your reusables with you. Opt for refillable toiletry bottles to carry your shampoo, soap, and even toothpaste. Switch to a bamboo travel sized toothbrush, and ditch cotton swabs with plastic wands. You can also carry your refillable cups and bottles like this gorgeous stainless steel S’well bottle, as well as your food containers. Restaurants and other establishments will gladly serve you food and drinks in your own containers. You can also bring your reusable shopping bags with you.

It may be a little bulkier to travel with your reusable cups and dishes in tow, but efficiently organizing your luggage can offset some of that bulk. You can store smaller items inside of your plastic food containers. Or use your reusable shopping bags to separate clothing from other things you’ve bringing with you, like electronics or grooming items. Pack as lightly as possible – you can always wash clothes while you’re away. Wear your bulkiest shoes and coats on the plane to free up the extra space in your bags.

2. Minimize Plastic Footprint – Buy Local

Buying local saves more than just plastic – it also reduces harmful emissions. If you go to the local farmers market at your destination, you’re sampling the flavors that make your destination unique. Because a surplus of fuel wasn’t required to get the food to the market, you’re also making an eco-friendly purchasing decision.

Things are often sold in bulk at farmers markets. They aren’t packaged in plastic or processed wastefully. One of the best things about local markets is that a lot of the food is healthy. Fresh, locally grown tropical fruits are the best you’ll ever taste. Street food sold on bamboo skewers won’t generate a lot of waste, and it’s a fun way to indulge in the less healthy snacks that locals love. That’s a great way to minimize plastic footprint especially when you travel.

3. Minimize Plastic Footprint – Avoid Major Hotels

The hotel industry is notoriously wasteful. Everything is provided in single serve or single use packaging. Whether or not you use these single serve items, they’re likely discarded and replaced anyway for sanitary reasons. Even hotel breakfast and room service snacks are usually served in single use containers or heated up from frozen plastic cartons. The only way to avoid the excess paper and plastic is to avoid hotels.

A great idea to minimize plastic footprint is to try renting a room from a local instead. If you’re staying with a helpful local, he or she may be able to provide you with some great ideas and suggestions that will enrich your trip. If you can use the kitchen, you can prepare your own healthy meals instead of relying on takeout. You might even have access to laundry. If the person you’re renting from is also environmentally conscious, you might find that it’s just as easy to make green choices away as it is at home.

4. Minimize Plastic Footprint – Pick More Meaningful Souvenirs

Plastic keychains with your name on them and novelty toys that will soon break aren’t the best memories of a wonderful trip. Locally crafted goods or naturally sourced souvenirs tell more about the essence of a place and evoke stronger memories. Skip the cheap souvenirs from the tourist shops and participate in the local economy by purchasing your souvenirs from artisans.

If you’re travelling on a budget, keep in mind that photos and videos also count as souvenirs. You’ll be able to relive the things you did and saw through your documentation, and that won’t cost you a thing. The best thing? It doesn’t generate any waste either! What a wonderful way to minimize plastic footprint while still having great memories.

5. Minimize Plastic Footprint – Recycle While You’re Away

If you can’t avoid plastic, don’t despair. Every first world country recycles, as do some developing countries. European countries are great with their recycling rates, and they’ll want you to recycle while you’re visiting. Many businesses offer recycling in conjunction with their normal rubbish bins. All you need to do is follow the same instincts that you’d follow in your own home.

In areas where recycling is scarce, you might have to hold on to your plastics for a little longer than usual. Carry them in your backpack until you find a receptacle. If you feel so inclined and you’re comfortable doing so, you can also pick up litter or plastic bottles from garbage cans and relocate them to a recycling bin.

The desire to reduce dependence on plastic is something that’s circling the globe. You can go almost anywhere in the world, and you’ll be able to find people who share your passion. The planet supports you in your eco-friendly travels. You’ll also feel great about traveling when you’re able to minimize plastic footprint while doing so.

End of Guest Post

Guest Posting on The Savvy Dreamer

Thank you so much Sienna for sharing your knowledge about ways to minimize plastic footprint when we travel. Those are wonderful tips. I know I need to be more conscious when I travel because I want this beautiful planet to keep thriving.

If you want to guest post on The Savvy Dreamer don’t hesitate and get in touch with us via the Contact Form. We would love to hear your pitch.

What do you think of Sienna’s tips for ways to minimize plastic footprint when we travel? Do you already do that when you travel? Share with me in the comments below. I would love to hear your thoughts.

And make sure you sign up for our newsletter to get more tips like this and get dibs on future contests and giveaways. You can also get our Free ‘How To Rock Social Media‘ guide when you sign up.