How to Reduce Plastic Waste While Traveling – 14 Useful Tips

I am well aware of the fact that traveling and living a sustainable life do not always align – especially if you are flying a lot. And while I believe that slow travel is one of the best ways to make travel more sustainable, there is so much more one can and should do. Reducing plastic waste while traveling is one of the easiest ways to make your adventures more sustainable.

This post may contain affiliate links(*), which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through a link. Please see the full disclosure for further information.

If you are wondering why you should reduce plastic waste while traveling, the answer is very simple.

Aside from being an easy thing to do, reducing plastic waste while traveling is also one of the most important things we can do. After all, we already live in a world where plastic waste can be found everywhere from oceans to rainforests and beaches.

And while it will take a massive effort on an international level to get rid of the world’s massive plastic problem, this does not mean that there is nothing you can do to improve the situation.

For one, we can protect nature by properly discarding any trash we come across during outdoor adventures. And of course, we can also help protect nature by following the tips below in order to reduce plastic waste while traveling.

Bring your own reusable items

1. Bring your own water bottle

One of the best and easiest ways to reduce plastic waste while traveling, or to even travel completely plastic-free, is to bring your own reusable water bottle. Doing so helps reduce the need for single-use plastic bottles.

Nowadays, many bigger cities including Palma, Sydney, and Rome have at least some free water stations or fountains, so having a reusable water bottle can even be a travel hack that helps you save money.

I recommend getting an insulated stainless steel water bottle as it will keep your water cold. And if you have to buy a water jug, a small water jug pump is quite useful.

2. Bring your own coffee travel mug

Whether you are a coffee junkie, a tea lover, or are one of those weirdos that love drinking hot vanilla milk at the airport like me – if you regularly buy drinks to get at coffee shops, you will be using a lot of cups that end up on the landfill.

And while not all of these cups are made of plastic, it is a good practice to bring your own travel mug so you do not have to use a single-use cup.

3. Say ‘no’ to plastic straws & use a metal straw instead

A few countries have already banned them, but sadly, many places still provide plastic straws. Therefore, it is up to you and your travel buddies to speak up and ask for no straw.

4. Avoid single-use cutlery & bring your own utensils

5. Bring your own shopping bag

Whether you travel long-time or are only planning a short trip – at one point you will end up buying in a supermarket. And oftentimes, we as travelers end up buying more than we planned as we spotted some tasty looking local snacks, and therefore need a shopping bag.

In order to avoid having to use single-use plastic bags, or having to carry your items, it is ideal if you have your own reusable shopping bag. For many years, I used the same drawstring cotton bag, and now that it had reached the end of its lifecycle as a bag, I bought a bigger one.

In addition to reducing plastic waste while traveling and in your everyday life, bringing your own reusable bag also helps you save money. After all, many places charge shoppers a small fee for using plastic bags. Therefore, it’s a win-win situation for your wallet and the planet.

Replace plastic toiletries

6. Use solid shampoo and soap bars

7. Use a bamboo or wooden toothbrush

Making the switch to a bamboo toothbrush is a great way to reduce plastic waste while traveling. Bamboo toothbrushes are made from sustainable and biodegradable materials, which makes them a far more sustainable option than traditional toothbrushes.

8. Use toothpaste tablets 

If you want to reduce plastic waste while traveling, using sustainable toothpaste alternatives is another easy thing to do. Toothpaste tablets or toothpaste powers are made from natural ingredients and are often packed in glass bottles. It is best to buy them before you start traveling, as it can be hard to find plastic-free toothpaste while traveling.

9. Use a natural deodorant

Refillable natural deodorants are another way to reduce plastic waste while traveling. These deodorants do not contain harmful substances such as aluminum and are made of natural products. Therefore, they are a great way to be more eco-friendly while traveling.

10. Use paper or bamboo cotton buds

11. Try to use plastic-free makeup

Everyone needs different beauty products, which makes this swap rather hard, but when possible, it is good to switch to plastic-free makeup. There are a few ways you can attempt to do this, and one of the easiest is to switch to reusable cotton pads when removing your makeup.

Ensure that your replacement products have not been tested on animals, so they are actually sustainable and ethical products.

More Tips on how to reduce plastic waste while traveling

12. Choose eco-friendly and biodegradable products when possible

While it’s not always an option, you should consider getting eco-friendly and biodegradable products, such as reef-safe sunscreen or insect repellent. While some of these sadly still come in plastic packaging, there are some brands that use metal or wood packaging.

As a passionate scuba diver, I can only emphasize how important it is to use reef-safe sunscreen, so please get some in order to help protect the corals.

What else can you do to reduce the plastic pollution

13. Recycle your plastic items

If you do end up with plastic items, such as water bottles or food packaging, be sure to recycle them when possible. Many cities offer recycling programs, so check what you can do to properly dispose of the plastic products you do use. This way, they will hopefully not end up polluting the oceans.

Doing so might not be possible everywhere, but it is good to give it your best shot.

14. Pick up plastic at beaches or elsewhere

Another way to help reduce plastic pollution is to pick up any plastic you find in nature. It might not seem like a big deal, but every little bit counts. Any trash you pick up, will help keep our oceans cleaner.

Roundup: Reducing Plastic Waste While Traveling

As you can see, reducing plastic waste while traveling is not difficult. After all, it just requires being mindful of your daily habits and making simple changes such as opting for reusables whenever possible, avoiding single-use toiletries, and looking for local recycling options.

By following these tips for reducing plastic while traveling, we can make traveling more sustainable, while simultaneously helping protect our planet from becoming even more polluted.