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7 Easy Ways to Travel Plastic Free

26/9/2018

5 Comments

 
7 easy ways to travel plastic free, say no to plastic, plastic free travel tips, Feet Do Travel
Plastic Free travel is easier than you think.

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the past couple of years, you will know our world has a plastic problem.

Sadly plastic pollution is everywhere. No country, no matter how remote has been spared.

When we travel, it’s so easy to forget that many countries don’t have the same facilities we are used to, and consumption of single use plastic creeps into our travel. Despite our well-meaning intentions back home, when we travel, it’s so easy to end up using far more plastic than we would like or need to.

But it’s possible to do something about it. I am here to tell you that it is possible to reduce our single use plastics when we travel.
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Next time you pack, remember these 7 plastic free travel tips.
7 easy ways to travel plastic free, say no to plastic, plastic free travel tips, Feet Do Travel
When we lived in the UK, “in the Western World”, there were many recycling facilities. Every week we would diligently separate our food for composting, and recyclable materials from our rubbish. As much as our intentions were well-meaning, we never really saw with our own eyes the affect plastic has on our oceans.

Having lived on the small 2km wide island of Gili Air in Indonesia for 15 months, we know the harm plastic causes. Living so close to the ocean, and diving all over Indonesia, we have seen for ourselves the devastating impact single use plastic has.
7 easy ways to travel plastic free, say no to plastic, plastic free travel tips, Feet Do Travel
7 easy ways to travel plastic free, say no to plastic, plastic free travel tips, Feet Do Travel
But we can do something about it.
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Yes it’s true, plastic is absolutely everywhere. Almost every single daily product in households all over the world are made from plastic. This is a whole other issue, but if we each do our bit and focus on reducing our own single use plastic usage, this will help tremendously.
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​Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, it won't cost you any extra, the small commission we may earn will help support the FeetDoTravel community.
7 easy ways to travel plastic free, say no to plastic, plastic free travel tips, Feet Do Travel
​1. Refuse the Straw
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Seriously for me, this is the biggest issue. On beach cleans, straws are everywhere and to be honest, they are unnecessary most of the time. Bars and restaurants hand out straws with cans of drink, I mean whaaaaaaaat?

Admittedly, cocktails are better with straws, and you do need them for a fresh coconut otherwise its darn near impossible to drink one!
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Solution: Carry a straw with you! We have bamboo but you can use aluminium or paper straws.
Click to buy box paper straws
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Click to buy 2 bamboo straws
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Click to buy 4 aluminium straws
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2. Say no to the plastic bag​
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I have been doing this about 10 years now, if not more. When I went shopping, I would put my groceries in a “bag for life”, and it’s just as easy to do this when you are away from home. 

It’s all about adapting the way you think, and being prepared.

Solution: We always carry a canvas bag with us wherever we go. I do take things to the extreme, and I have a few different sizes, but this means I never leave home without one. Even when we’re going for sunset drinks, I still have a small bag folded inside my handbag.
7 easy ways to travel plastic free, say no to plastic, plastic free travel tips, Feet Do Travel
Click to buy pink canvas bag
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Click to buy black canvas bag
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Click to buy 6 patterned bags
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3. Refill your bottle
7 easy ways to travel plastic free, say no to plastic, plastic free travel tips, Feet Do Travel
7 easy ways to travel plastic free, say no to plastic, plastic free travel tips, Feet Do Travel
In a lot of countries around the world, especially the places we have been visiting in Asia, you cannot drink the tap water. This means buying bottled water, and with no recycling facilities, these just end up in a huge pile either for landfill, or blowing into the ocean.

Many places offer refill stations. At airports, hotels, in restaurants, and all over the GIli Islands, there are many establishments offering you to refill your bottle for less than the cost of buying a new one.

Solution: Carry a water bottle with you. We both have an aluminium bottle, mine is 750ml, Sy has 1 litre so you can get different sizes to suit. There are many excellent bottles to choose from, some are plastic which for some people is fine as it’s still reducing single use plastic. For me personally, I didn’t feel right having a plastic bottle to refill when I bleat on about reducing plastic, but that’s just me. I would rather people have a plastic refillable bottle, than buy a new bottle every time.
Cleaning tip: To keep your bottle clean and sterile, buy any denture cleaning tablets such as Polident/Efferdent or baby sterilising tablets like/similar to Milton.
Click to buy purple Mountain Warehouse bottle
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Click to buy red Sigg bottle
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Click to buy Milton sterilising tablets
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Click to buy Polident sterilising tablets
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4. Fingers … chopsticks … or a Spork?
7 easy ways to travel plastic free, say no to plastic, plastic free travel tips, Feet Do Travel
If you like to eat street food, the chances are you will be given a set of plastic cutlery to eat with. In Chinatown, instead of reaching for the cutlery, learn to use chopsticks! It’s fun and a great way of being a part of a culture. Some Asian countries use their fingers, why not give that a go? When we found ourselves at a Muslim wedding in Malaysia, we joined in with the guests and ate like the locals.

Solution: If none of the above is for you, buy yourself a spork – half spoon, half fork. They are small, light, fit easily into your pocket or handbag, and if you enjoy camping, they are perfect for weekend trips! Since we purchased ours which is (sadly) plastic, we have found a stainless steel option yaaaaay.
Click to buy 1 titanium spork
Click to buy 2 titanium sporks
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Click to buy 4 coloured sporks
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5. Invest in an electric shaver/razor
7 easy ways to travel plastic free, say no to plastic, plastic free travel tips, Feet Do Travel
Over 2 billion disposable razors are thrown away each year in the US alone, and millions more in the UK. When you buy a disposable razor, you are literally throwing your money away. Used only a few times then discarded, these lightweight razors mainly end up in our ocean.

Solution: If you buy yourself an electric shaver/razor, not only will you be reducing your single use plastic, but you will be saving money. An electric razor can last years, and you can buy one that can be used wet or dry to suit your preference.
Click to buy ladies shaver
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Click to buy mens shaver
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6. Switch the Toothbrush
7 easy ways to travel plastic free, say no to plastic, plastic free travel tips, Feet Do Travel
Toothbrushes are the second largest waste generator after plastic bags. It is estimated that 3.6 billion plastic toothbrushes are used worldwide each year. Admittedly a toothbrush is used more than once, but if there is an easy alternative to buying plastic, it’s worth doing right?

Bamboo toothbrushes are:
  • Usually sustainably sourced.
  • All natural bamboo.
  • Made out of biodegradable material.
  • Typically come in compostable packaging (aka plastic-free! Woohoo).
  • Full-out eco-friendly.

Solution: Buy a bamboo one instead. Simples. Bamboo grows very fast which makes it a sustainable resource. 
Click to buy 2 toothbrushes
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Click to buy 4 toothbrushes
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7 easy ways to travel plastic free, say no to plastic, plastic free travel tips, Feet Do Travel
7. Take-away the take-away container
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This suggestion is more for you to use when you are at home, or for people living long term in another country.

This idea is to reduce polystyrene/plastic. If you are buying a take-away, it will be given to you in a polystyrene or polystyrene container which you will never use again.

Solution: Buy a re-usable food container. When you know you are getting a take away, carry your food container with you and ask for the food to be placed in there. This also works in your home country, if you are going to the supermarket to buy meat, veg or whatever, pop it into the food container instead of a plastic bag. Recently the UK supermarket Morrison’s started allowing customers to provide their own container for purchased deli goods. Hopefully more supermarkets will follow this example soon.

As you can see, these items are small and easy to pack. With a small change of mindset in your preparation process, you can easily be an eco-friendly, guilt-free traveller.

Do you carry any of these items with you when you travel? Has this post given you any inspiration? Have we missed anything - educate us! Talk to us in the comment section below! If you want more plastic-free alternatives, please visit our Travel Shop which is packed with suggestions.
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Plastic free travel is easier than you think. However, to say no to plastic, you need to travel with a few items. With just a small amount of pre-planning, Feet Do Travel show you 7 easy ways to travel plastic free. #SayNoToPlastic #PlasticFree #TravelTips #Ecofriendly #SustainableTravel #EnvironmentallyFriendly #GreenTravel #DitchPlastic #GoGreen #BeatPlasticPollution #marineconservation #plasticpollution #OceanConservation #travel #travelblog #travelblogger #traveltips
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5 Comments
Emese link
5/10/2018 09:27:08 pm

Thanks for posting this! In the US, too often I feel like the only one who cares... in the stores they still give you single-use plastic bags, which I always refuse, and people look at me funny,
Great idea about the toothbrushes, we need to switch that one; but other than that we've been doing everything you're suggesting here. All great ideas, easy to follow.

Reply
California Globetrotter link
18/10/2018 06:11:41 am

This year, it has been my mission to reduce plastic like crazy. We now rewash our plastic baggies and trying like crazy not to use plastic where we can. Luckily, in Germany you don't often get straws, and I have been thinking about toothbrushes. Nice to know thye make bamboo toothbrushes! Will have to get some! :)

Reply
Jenn | By Land and Sea
3/11/2018 01:38:04 pm

This is an issue so close to both of our hearts and I'm so glad you finally wrote about it. The tips you've provided here are so easy. If everyone picked even just one thing, we could make a vast difference! Personally, I never thought much about toothbrushes! This proves we all have something to learn and to improve upon. Great post!!

Reply
Sharon link
7/11/2018 02:57:16 am

You are an inspiration, Angie! I had not heard of a bamboo toothbrush but that's a great idea. And I need to look for paper straws. That's an easy change. Thanks for all these ideas!

Reply
Lauren link
8/11/2018 07:38:56 pm

I love finding new ways to live a green lifestyle, when you’re travelling sometimes it’s hard to be green in the moment! It’s all about planning

Reply

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