13 eco-friendly packing tips for your next vacation

Your journey is environmental Your footprint begins to form before you leave the house. If you pack wisely, there’s a lot you can do to reduce the negative impact travel can have on the planet. Here’s a short list of eco-friendly tips to get you going.

1. Use refillable toiletries

Travel-sized single-use cosmetics make traveling convenient, but they are among the most wasteful products on the market. Replace them with reusable containers that you can refill at home – it is less wasteful and more economical anyway. Or try solid products: Soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and other products are available in bar form.

2. Going to the beach? Take an eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen

Of the sunscreens available in the United States, mineral sunscreens are the only reef-safe option. Chemical sunscreens rely on oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone, octisalate, and other ingredients that leach into the water and harm coral reefs — and can cause coral bleaching, DNA damage, and abnormalities in coral growth. Stick to mineral sunscreen.

Outside the United States, keep an eye on pemotrizinol. It has been approved for use in many areas of the world, but not in the United States, although the Food and Drug Administration is now considering approval. There is less research on its effect on coral than mineral sunscreens, but it is widely considered safer than chemical sunscreen standards in the United States.

3. Ward off critters with the best bug spray

If you’re heading off the grid or to places with a high incidence of insects, you can still be safe without Det. This substance, often considered the most effective insect repellent, has been linked to negative impacts on human health and the environment, and can also break down plastics and damage clothing made from synthetic fibers. Natural repellents such as lemon oil and eucalyptus can work for shorter periods. But a new entrant to the market, from a California startup called Mimikai, has proven to be as effective as DEET. However, this is normal, the active ingredient is called undecanone, a compound found in wild tomatoes that scientists have identified as the reason why insects leave the plant alone.

4. Stay dry in rain or snow PFAS-free

The so-called chemicals have been around forever in anything labeled as waterproof. Things have changed radically in the past couple of years, with New York and California banning perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in textiles early last year. However, they haven’t completely gone away, so make sure you’re looking for products specifically labeled as PFAS-free, says Marty Mulvihill, managing partner at Safer Made, a venture capital firm that invests in companies and technologies that reduce human exposure to harmful chemicals. He also co-founded the Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry, an interdisciplinary program based at the University of California, Berkeley, that develops “Greener solutions“For a range of toxic exposures, from cleaning products to shoe soles.

Brands don’t need to tell you what chemicals they use in their products, but if they go through the trouble of removing PFAS, they’ll likely tell you so on the label. You can also consult PFAS Central, a website run by the non-profit Green Science Policy Institute that maintains… List of PFAS-free productsamong other resources.

5. Shop for sustainable (non-plastic) fibers

Storing weather-specific clothing? Whether it’s linen or cotton for hot climates or wool for the cold, choose organic fibers — bonus points for renewable organic, since conventional farming has a heavier carbon and water footprint. Petroleum-based fibers are made from plastic, so if you want to be environmentally friendly, it’s best to avoid them as much as possible; Polyester is the worst culprit of all, as it is the main culprit in the microplastic problem and is so cheap that it has directly contributed to the world’s mounting textile waste problem. Once you’re on the alert about polyester, you may be frustrated by how difficult it is to avoid; You may also persist precisely because of this frustration. Planet-friendly challenge accepted.

6. Shop in person – or at least be more aware online

If you’re shopping online, don’t buy three sizes of something just to see what fits you and then return the rest. A large percentage of returned clothing is not restocked on store shelves; They are buried or sold in bulk to buyers who often export them abroad. Returns also require additional packaging and shipping, which increases your carbon footprint as well. Try the age-old practice of shopping in person, or at least look for the correct product and size and buy only what you need.

7. Carry a travel mug…

You will be surprised how much benefit you will get from holding a mug. You can avoid using disposable cups on the plane and in hotel rooms. Take it with you to your café stops when you’re out and about; Disposable cups add up quickly. If bag space is limited, foldable versions can go a long way.

8. …and a bottle of water

It may be obvious, but it is a must. You’re bound to need water, and water stations are now ubiquitous in many places. Skip single-use plastic, not only will you save money, you’ll also save exposure to microplastics! Folding versions are available for this category as well.

9. Put travel cutlery in your bag

You can buy a set of bamboo cutlery to travel with, but if that’s a step too far, get what you already have. “If you have a box of disposable cutlery from a delivery order sitting in a drawer, now is a good time to bring it with you to the airport food court,” says Anna Sachs, a New York-based waste expert who goes by the nickname “Trash Walker” on social media. She frequently posts dumpster dives and curbside scavenger hunts where she’s found companies sending perfectly usable products to a landfill — food waste outside Starbucks stores, for example — and knows, better than many, that we all have items lying around that can be reused with a little effort.

10. Prepare some snacks and containers to put them in

If you pack your own snacks for flights or train rides, you can save some money on the front end, and then get containers to carry the snacks throughout the rest of your trip, too. You can also use them to store restaurant leftovers, which are often difficult to manage while traveling; Having your own containers can mean being able to lock them up to carry them securely in your backpack until you get back to the hotel – where you’ll then have treats ready late at night.

11. A small towel or two. Thank you, Douglas Adams

Because it has limitless uses, and one or two of them will go a long way. In the hotel room, use cloths instead of disposable makeup wipes. If you’re going camping or even to an Airbnb, a reusable dish cloth or hand towel can replace the need for paper towels. Also, store a separate resealable bag somewhere. It can hold towels, shoes, dirty clothes or anything else, so you can avoid using extra plastic bags, even a hotel laundry bag, when you are out and about.

12. Bring reusable menstrual products with you

Replace disposable products with a menstrual cup or menstrual underwear. If you choose underwear, make sure it’s PFAS-free, for your health and the health of the planet. Hand wash and hang to dry in hotel room.

13. Put a bag in your bag

You never know when you’ll be tempted by souvenirs or snacks you don’t want to eat until later. A reusable bag can also come in handy on the trip home – for carrying suitcase leftovers or tchotchkes that are too delicate to pack in your suitcase.

None of this will eliminate the carbon footprint of a trip somewhere, but it does add up. A little advance planning can go a long way.