Plastic has recently become a hot news topic, and rightly so. By all accounts, our love affair with it is destroying the environment.
Idyllic paradises are being overrun with mounds of the stuff washing up onto their shores. It’s well established in the food stream of both animals and humans. Landfills are bursting at the seams with non-biodegradable mountains of it. And some reports suggest it won’t be too long until there’s more of it in the sea than fish. So if like us, you think all of this is quite scary, check out these 5 simple ways to use less plastic when you travel.
Buy a Filter Water Bottle
In many countries, it’s not advisable to drink the tap water, but that doesn’t mean the bottled stuff should be your go to. Drinks bottles are one of the most common single-use plastics, but they’re completely unnecessary.
Invest in a good quality filter water bottle instead. The best ones get rid of 99.9% of harmful bacteria and also make the water taste better as well. This means you can drink from virtually any source and never have to buy bottled water again.
Tailor Your Toiletries
The stuff we carry in our washbags is often encased in or made from plastic. This includes everything from shampoo and moisturiser to toothbrushes and cotton buds. And when we travel we tend to rely on the little travel sized products that hotels provide as standard.
A great alternative is to plan ahead and take your own plastic-free toiletries. Swap shower gel for a bar of soap, shampoo bottles for shampoo bars, and plastic toothbrushes and cotton buds for wooden alternatives.
Use Your Own Utensils
Many of us love trying out the new and exotic cuisine that’s on offer when we’re travelling. Often it’s one of the most exciting things about exploring a new destination. But if you’re a street food fan you’ll know it’s regularly served with disposable plastic cutlery.
By carrying your own set of reusable knives and forks you’ll have no need to take them. You can invest in a lightweight wooden set that you can carry around in its own pouch for whenever you need them.
Carry a Canvas
Plastic bags have been under the spotlight for a good few years now. Thankfully many countries have introduced charges for the single-use variety, so you’re probably used to taking your own bags to the supermarket already.
Don’t let that stop when you travel overseas. Making sure you’ve got a canvas tote bag with you wherever you go will mean you don’t have to accept the plastic bags that still come as standard in many destinations whether it’s in supermarkets or souvenir stores.
Say No to Straws
Straws are the scourge of the bar and restaurant scene and one of the ultimate wastes of plastic. It’s for this reason that so many establishments have taken the initiative to switch to paper ones instead.
If you want to make sure you stay straw free then the easiest way to do so is to simply ask for your drink without one. But if you enjoy drinking through a straw then you can always carry your own. You can get reusable ones made out of metal, glass, or even bamboo.
Even more from UNiDAYS
We bring the best discounts from the best brands to college and uni students, as well as exclusive videos, articles and loads of tips and advice to make your student life even better - all for free!
- Join now or log in to start saving on everything from food comas and fashion to (finally) getting fitter.
- Verify now to start saving on everything from food comas and fashion to (finally) getting fitter.
- Got a lot to say? We're always looking for awesome guest bloggers. Get in touch with your ideas!