We are producing 300 million tons of plastic each year and only a small percentage is recycled. Nowadays, plastic litter can be found in all ecosystems. It’s in the soil and it’s in the oceans. Microplastics have been discovered even in the Arctic ice. It’s an issue that is impacting the lives of thousands of species, harming or killing them. We all the power to reduce the plastic pollution problem by being eco-friendly. Even when we travel. Because we are not citizens of a certain country. We are citizens of the world and we must take care of it. Each and every one of us. Together.
More than 8 million tons of plastic find their way into our oceans each year and this is affecting all kinds of life forms, from the giant whales to the smallest living creatures, like plankton. If we don’t act fast, this piece of dark humor will become our dark future:
I’m sure you have already seen tons of articles and campaigns against the use of plastic. I’m not going to mention again all the everyday objects that you can replace to become eco-friendly. Instead, I’ll focus on those that impact your life as a traveler. Even better, I tried to make a list of things you can do with a minimum of effort. I’m mentioning the effort because there are two types of good people in this world. The first type is the hardcore ecologist. This guy books a hotel only after he emailed them, asking what’s their recycle policy. He spends hours on end trying to find restaurants that don’t use plastic for takeaway food. And so on. You get the point. This guy has a mission and he goes all the way with it. Nothing wrong with this approach, but we can’t expect everyone to do the same. I’ve heard some people respond with: “Ain’t nobody got time for that” when they heard about the high-flown process of being plastic free. These people fall in the second category. The “I want to help, but please make it simple” kind of people. You probably don’t want to admit it, but chances are you’re one of them. Hell, even I am one of them. So the following ideas are for you and for me. For all our well-intentioned, but lazy asses. If you’re ready to make a change, let’s dive right in!
1. Choose your toiletries wisely
First of all, don’t count on your hotel’s toiletries. They most likely consist of single-use plastic bottles of shampoo/shower gel and plastic toothbrush wrapped in… more plastic. Bring your own. But don’t buy mini-sized bottles every time you travel. You can either go for hygiene products in solid form or you can buy travel kits that have mini-containers for your favorite liquid/gel/cream products. Because you refill them from bulk quantities, this second alternative is also cheaper. Yes, those travel kits are usually made of plastic too, but you can use them for many, many years and at the end of their life cycle, just make sure you recycle them. As for the toothbrush, just switch to one made of bamboo. If you want to take things even further, buy a wooden hairbrush or a bone comb. They are a better choice for the health of your hair, too.
2. Find alternatives to plastic souvenirs
This one really isn’t hard. There are many souvenirs made of plastic or with plastic wrapping out there, but the alternatives are even more numerous. You can easily opt out for fridge magnets, cardboard or textile bookmarks, wood or ceramic masks, and so on.
Speaking of souvenirs, I can’t help to not raise awareness of something that came to my attention recently. Apparently, in some regions of China, you can buy live animal souvenirs. The poor creatures (lizards, turtles, fish) are sealed in plastic bags filled with an oxygenated and nutritious fluid that keeps them alive for a maximum of two or three months. This is wrong on so many levels. If you happen to see something like this anywhere in the world (there is a chance that similar cases exist in other places too), please don’t support the vendors in ANY way. If there is no demand, there is no supply and hopefully, these kinds of barbaric acts will cease as soon as possible.
3. Choose food that is healthier for both you and the planet
Some of you might like to cook their own food even when you’re traveling. Some might do so because they’re on a budget and can’t afford to eat out every single day. Some don’t even want to hear about cooking on their vacation days, but want to enjoy a fresh fruit every few hours. Either way, you’re prone to walk into a supermarket and quench your appetite. Problem is, usually, the products you find in the big stores are not very healthy (contain chemical substances like preservatives and poisonous treatments against pests) and they are packed in a lot of unnecessary plastic. The solution is simple: local food markets or corner street stores. Depending on the country or region that you visit, you can find there all kinds of fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese, condiments and so on. Because they are usually produced in nearby areas, you will find there fresh, tasty, non-GMO products. Long story short, healthier.
Of course, you’ll notice a lot less or no plastic at all for the packaging. Moreover, visiting food markets are a great way to get a real feel of the local culture and interact directly with the people living there. Also, try to plastic bags for carrying your items, instead ask for a paper or textile alternative or bring your own.
4. Be one of the cool kids with a reusable cup or bottle
When you travel, you’re out all day exploring. You walk a lot, you take bike rides, go on tours and explore museums. When the thirst kicks in or the desire for a sip of coffee, you can be tempted to go to the closest store and buy a bottle of water, which will generate unnecessary plastic waste. You can address the issue with a reusable cup or bottle. You don’t need both. Make a choice and stick with it. Personally, I prefer to carry around only a reusable bamboo cup. And yeah, I know that cup is intended for coffee, but who are you to judge if I choose to pour in any liquid my heart desires? Water, milk, soda, orange juice, you name it, every single one of these has been in my bamboo cup at least once. Of course, depending on your preference, you can opt for reusable bottles too. Oh, and did I mention that you can find such recipients with different colorful and adorable designs?
Also, I don’t think it’s just me when I say that the people carrying them look cool. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the power of being an awesome, responsible person wink wink.
5. Accede to the No Straw Movement
Straws are the Internet’s latest obsession. Everyone is talking about them, making challenges against them, blaming them for all the evil in the world. And you probably don’t understand what justifies this hype, just like I didn’t understand in the beginning. Let me explain. Sure, a straw is made of a small amount of plastic, but they are meant for single use, so the amount of straws that are thrown away daily is tremendous. Because of their small size, straws were ignored and overlooked for so long. Of course, straws are not bio-degradable, but after they are thrown away they can break in little pieces that can be easily swallowed by animals. Being a part of the No Straw Movement doesn’t necessarily mean you need to give up straws forever. There are reusable options on the market, made of materials like bamboo, metal or glass. What would it be for you?
6. Collecting trash could be your cup of tea (or coffee)
Over the past two years, I’ve seen some businesses, mainly located in beach areas, that give free products, like coffee, for anyone who fills up a small bucket of trash and brings it to them to recycle. Aside from being a great way of promotion, this also makes a positive impact on the environment. I know what you’re going to say: “Oh, Elena, you promised to deliver lazy ways to be eco-friendly. Now you’re forcing us… to do actual stuff”. Ok, let’s be honest, it’s just a small bucket. You can fill one in less than 5 minutes, while you take a walk on the beach. Not so bad. And you get something in return, so I’d say it’s a pretty good deal.
7. Ditch the floaties
Let’s be real. Instagram has ruined us. We’ve all seen those sun-kissed Insta models in infinity pools, sipping cocktails on pink flamingo floaties and suddenly everyone wants to copy the trend. But what if I told you that almost all flotation devices are made of PVC, the material that is most guilty for the plastic pollution? Nothing glam about that. The worst part is that floaties have almost NO eco-friendly alternatives. Or at least I couldn’t find any. raising eyebrow Manufacturers in the pool and beach products industry, I’m looking at you! Don’t you think it’s time to change things a bit?
By the way, if you have ideas for alternative flotation devices, please share. I’m sure for many it would be a life saver. Pun intended.
8. Glitter isn’t as fabulous as you might think
Glitter is another trend of the moment. We see glittery clothes and glittery makeup on Instagram a lot, especially on those who go at music festivals. (Flip) sequins sewn on backpacks, cosmetic bags, pillowcases, shoe wear and clothes are also extremely popular. It’s obvious we like shiny things. We are like the Blue Jays of the 21st century. But what you should know is that glitter and sequins are both micro plastics and are very, very dangerous for the environment, because they are made of teeny-tiny pieces of non-biodegradable plastic. These pieces easily get into the soil and the oceans and are often ingested by animals, harming them. The best way to help in this case is to just stop buying products that use them. Go for a neon eye shadow or a pink dress instead and you’ll catch the eye just as much.
9. Bio-plastics are the new trend
I first heard about bio-plastics a few years back. It was when a well-known brand of bottled water from my country started to advertise their product as eco-friendly, for having their bottle, which seemed to be plastic, actually being made of… plants. Then starch became common for making bio-plastic, but the substance was extracted from potatoes. Later, I found out about the 16 year old Turkish girl that had the idea for a better source of starch: banana peels. Why better? Because it uses organic waste material. I became more and more hooked on finding plastic alternatives. For more insight, I started to go to conferences, fairs and events that covered the subject. First to Brain Bar in Budapest, then to Pack Expo in Bucharest and some other smaller ones in between. Recently, another great idea came to my attention: bags. They look like plastic, but they’re also made of starch. Moreover, these bags dissolve in warm water, leaving no toxic residues behind.
What I’m trying to say is that more and more alternatives to plastic are discovered as time goes by. Follow the news to keep you up to date with the latest discoveries. That way you will know what choices you have and you can educate others, too.
I’m looking to expand this article and add more ideas, but I need your help. Do you know any other easy ways to deal this the plastic pollution problem? If so, don’t keep it to yourself, share your thoughts down below. Also, if you found the article helpful, don’t forget to share it with your friends. Spread the word to make the world a better place!