6 Ways to be Eco Friendly While Traveling (or Any Day Really)
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Plastic bottles, plastic utensils, plastic bags, plastic plastic plastic. I know, we hear about how bad plastic is all. the. time. but that's because it's true! That stuff never goes away! We live in a place that, for the most part, has access to recycling and to plastic alternatives. Ultimately, we are fortunate enough to live in a place where we always have a choice, be it between what type of water we buy, what kind of shampoo we use, or where we dispose of our trash. Many places are not that fortunate, so hey why not use our privilege of choice in a responsible way!
Being responsible while traveling is so important. You should always want to leave a place a little bit more beautiful than you found it. I've put together a list of some easy ways to be a little bit more eco friendly the next time you travel (most of these are pretty applicable in your everyday life too!)
AmazonSmile
If you are like me, there is always a decent list of things you find yourself needing before heading off on a vacation. I always find myself getting a bulk of my needs from Amazon because who doesn't love being able to get everything from one place? Well, Amazon has a great way to give back while shopping, AmazonSmile. So what is it? Well, if you go to smile.amazon.com instead of just the regular Amazon site you can sign up to have a small percentage of your purchases donated to a charity of your choice (at no extra cost to you) and there are tons to choose from! I personally have my account set to donate to Surfrider Foundation!
Pack Your Reusables
It may not always feel like the most convenient thing to do but, packing all of your reusables, even when traveling, is such an easy way to stay eco friendly on the road!
-Reusable water bottle: This is one of the easiest ways to cut back on plastic. Pack your favorite reusable bottle and fill it at the airport, your hotel, or public drinking fountains! My favorite water bottle is my Hyrdo Flask, it keeps everything nice and cold and I don't go anywhere without it.
-Utensil set and straw: Light weight, compact and an easy thing to add to your day bag! I personally love this set and have added a stainless steel straw to it so that I always have it with me and ready to go!
-Light weight, reusable tote: Keeping an extra tote with you can come in very handy, like when you stumble upon a cute market and buy just a few more things than planned. I like to keep one with me that is really light weight and can fold up small so I can stuff it away in my bag when not being use. Personally, I love this one from Package Free Shop. It's functional and cute!
Use Responsible Tour Guides
Do your research! Especially when it comes to tours or attractions with animals! Too often a guide company may seem ethical but behind closed doors treat their animals inhumanly. A little extra research can help to assure that your are working with a company that treats the animals, local community, and local lands in an ethical and respectable manor. Vote with your dollar, support good people!
Join a Beach Clean
Social media is a beautiful thing! Facebook and Instagram make it so easy to find beach cleans in an area you are visiting! Can't seem to find one? Set out on your own with a bag (like that nice reusable tote that we talked about!) Beach cleans are such a great way to do some good while also enjoying the scenery!
Shampoo Bars
I discovered these neat little things before my last trip and let me tell you, they are a game changer. No packaging, small, light weight, you don't have to worry about any spilling in your luggage and because they are a solid they free up a little more space in your carry on, quart sized, liquids bag. Personally, I got the "Jason and the Argan Oil" bar from lush and loved it!
Car Pool
Car pooling not only helps to reduce emissions but can also be great on your pocket! Some places offer shared taxis and Uber offers Uber pool! You can catch a ride for cheaper than if you went alone, help the environment a bit, and who knows maybe you will make a new friend!
Helping Mama Earth doesn't have to be complicated, just keep it simple! Every little thing you do helps make an impact!