Traveling Eco
- Meera Naveen
- Dec 30, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 24, 2024
When thinking of traveling, many people think the only way they can be eco-friendly when traveling internationally or domestically is by ditching the airplane. But, in reality, there's a variety of ways to be eco in this context, one of them being knowing how to pack your suitcase.
So let me walk you through some of the best ideas for items that make up your suitcase: the modern, environmental style.
The suitcase. To pack your things, you need something to pack them in. And let me tell you right away that a small, compact suitcase is the way to go. This is because smaller suitcases not only encourage travelers to pack less, but they take up less weight and space on the airplane. This way, less fuel is spent on transporting your luggage from one place to the other. Here are some examples of companies that produce sustainable suitcases:
But always remember that before buying a new suitcase, even if it's from a sustainable brand, if the smallest of your suitcases work properly, then it's better to stick to them: reusing and reducing is the way to go!
2. The other bags. Most people have carry-ons as well as their suitcases. So how do we make these sustainable?
If you're packing a quick lunch or snack, skip the Ziploc bag and go for a zero-plastic option. Consider using a compostable If You Care Paper Sandwich bag, or even better, use one of your own reusable lunch tins and containers.
If you decide to bring a backpack, use a backpack that is vegan and doesn't use any animal product like leather or fur. Also, try to use compact backpacks that are made from sustainably sourced material and have a low/zero carbon footprint. This also means looking for environmentally certified companies and at the same time using what you have.
Totes and Handbags: If you don't need these, don't use them at all because reducing is one of the most effective methods in sustainability. But, if you need at least one, there are a few ideas on how to manage these. These include making your own bags from reused fabrics. If there's no time for that, then you can also consider buying upcycled, lightweight bags made from vegan fabrics (NO silk or leather) and bags that don't harm the ecosystem in the production process (ex. although a bag might be made from cotton, a vegan fabric, what if part of the forest was cleared to grow the cotton plants in making this?) Again, make it just big enough so you can pack your essentials and minimize unnecessary packing and more emissions. Here are some companies you may want to consider in overall:
Other bag options can be found in the companies mentioned earlier for suitcases.
3. Food and drinks. This is where a lot of people mess up when trying to be sustainable while traveling. Too many times does it happen that someone needs food or water and the only thing they can do is buy food and water to go - in disposable boxes and plastic water bottles. Which is why bringing it from home is the best way to go. If you want your food or water to be hot when you eat or drink it or vice versa, start thinking of buying one of those compact, aesthetic and eco-friendly insulated cups and thermal boxes. That way, you can easily bring your smoothie, coffee, noodles, or almost anything you want to eat or drink without worrying about the effects of it. If someone makes a mess, consider packing some reusable paper towels or some simple washable cloth towels to clean it up. If you have nothing else on hand, compostable napkins can work, but make sure to recycle or compost them later.
Also, with those thermal lunchboxes, consider buying sustainable utensils in that same package, like a lunch set. If you can't, then pack some reusable utensils from home to eat your food. Adding a reusable straw to that set is even better: if you happen to eat out on your trip, you can skip the single-use straw given to you and use your own straw instead.
Here are some companies you can consider:
4. Clothes and Essentials. For clothes, pack only what you need: maybe two sets of comfy clothes, one for during your travel and the other for your pajamas to cozy up one time, seven sets of socks for seven days a week, two pairs of shoes and around 5 sets of clothes for seven days a week unless you don't have access to a laundry where you're staying.
For essentials, search your house if you already have things to bring. For example, if you have an unopened bar soap, bring that for your hand soap instead of using the hotel's provided soap. Bring your own brushes and a pack of flosses, and make sure to bring a pack of reusable paper towels and bamboo wipes. If you want to bring liquid soap, toothpaste, lotion, or any other similar product but you only have big containers, squirt some of it into a smaller portable, reusable container to bring with you instead of immediately buying a travel-size pack from the store.
In case of emergency, make your own lightweight first-aid kit with tools such as band-aids lying around your house.
5. Remember to stay organized! One of the key strategies to be sustainable while on-the-go is knowing how to be organized, compact, and neat while packing. That's why you need to plan ahead of time so you can consider all the factors of sustainability without rush or stress. Only take the things you need (if packing devices, set a maximum based on weight) and keep in mind that you'll probably be returning with a heavier suitcase because of souvenirs and other such items. Also, a really good idea is to keep an "Essential Kit" (see A Zero Waste Kit — A Considered Life - link down below as well) even when you're not traveling so you can spend less time planning out what to bring and still have a compact, sustainable result.
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