Zero Waste Action #5: Travel
Image from Unsplash
Traveling sustainable can be a challenge, but as long as you plan for certain situations it can be done. I travel about two to three times a month so I have had some time to refine my approach and try to make more sustainable decisions. I used to think it was better to take the little mini shampoo and conditioners home with me to finish using, instead of leaving them behind to be tossed in the garbage. I also brought my water bottle on flights to fill after making it through security, but it never occurred to me to do the same with a coffee mug. The more I thought about reducing waste in my day to day, the more I scrutinized my travel habits and found that I was not being all that sustainable.
The first change was an easy one. I started bringing my own coffee mug with me instead of getting the non-recyclable cups every morning I was away. When at hotels I like to run in the morning, then grab my breakfast on the way to my room so I started bringing my mug with me to the hotel gym. I would to fill up downstairs at the large carafe because in the room the single serve coffee maker forces you to use a paper cup.
The second change should have been obvious, but it took me decluttering my bathroom this January to realize how wasteful I had actually been. Every time I traveled I brought back two mini bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Only one brand was actually marked for recycling, meaning I threw away about 30 little bottles into the trash after consolidating all the liquids into one large bottle. So I have stopped using any hotel products and instead bring my own refillable travel bottles.
The third change is one I have yet to make, but I would like to think its possible. My family and friends know me as a snacker, so it makes sense that I would accept the airline snacks on each flight. Which is four per trip. Which means four little plastic bags that are thrown away. My last trip I remedied this by bringing all the little plastic bags home with me to throw in the energy bag, saving them from the landfill. But to really be zero waste I should say no to the tiny pretzels or the delicious stroopwaffle and bring a snack from home in a reusable bag. Which is also an approach I need to refine. My current method is to reuse a plastic bag over and over until holes develop, then I toss it in the energy bag. I recently found reusable bags that can be washed and used over and over just like Tupperware. Amazon has a 10 pack for just $16, but you can also pick them up at a local zero waste store or I have seen something similar at Target.
If I had just chosen a bowl of oatmeal I could have avoided half the waste
The fourth change is more difficult, especially if traveling by air, because you cannot bring all your meals with you and you do not always have control of where you eat. Yesterday I was a little appalled at my breakfast when I realized just how much waste I had created at the hotel. I had eggs, a piece of toast, and some yogurt which resulted in five items of garbage. There was the plastic fork and paper plate, the container with the yogurt and the jelly, and my napkin. I did save one item from the landfill by using my fork to spread the jelly, but I could not help but think how at home I would have had jelly and yogurt from a large jar and plates and utensils that I could wash. So many hotels take the easy path of single serving and disposable items. I cannot imagine how many tiny paper cups are thrown away each day just from people making their individual waffles. I know there are probably health code regulations, but how hard would it be to offer a large jelly container instead of individual ones the same way you get your oatmeal or eggs out of a larger bin? Until something changes I will just adopt a new rule that breakfast will be decided based upon what I can grab without creating more than two items of waste - one utensil and a bowl or plate.
While these are not ground breaking or ingenious ideas, they are some really easy ways to cut down on our waste. And with American’s taking 1.8 billion trips just for leisure in 2018, we can make a serious impact just by what we choose to do while traveling. Some other minor travel tips that avoid waste and are more sustainable include:
Download mobile boarding passes instead of printing them out
Chose sit down restaurants instead of fast food. Or if you get fast food, ask for less packaging (ex: at Subway there isn’t any reason to put the wrapped sandwich into a plastic bag)
If the hotel has the option to unlock your door with a mobile app opt for that instead of using a room key stuffed into a little paper card
Reuse your towels if you stay more than one night
Try to book extended stay hotels where reusable dishes are available
Try to use local transit or rent a more efficient vehicle
