Travel, in general, is usually not very sustainable. You obviously travel a lot from place to place where emissions can be high. Still, it is important to make green choices in order to travel longer and enjoy the world. That’s why we use a number of sustainable travel products that are nice for ourselves and for the world.
Content of this blog:
1. Lifestraw
The Lifestraw bottle ranks No. 1 by a wide margin. In the Netherlands, we can all easily drink water from the tap. In many other countries, unfortunately, this is not possible. Lifestraw keeps you from having to buy endless plastic water bottles. In fact, the filter included in the Lifestraw bottle automatically filters 99.99% of bacteria from the water. So you can refill and drink your water bottle anywhere: from the tap in Thailand or at a waterfall in Borneo. One Lifestraw water bottle filters up to 1,000 liters of water. This will save you a lot of plastic bottles as well as money. We have been traveling with a Lifestraw for years and it has become an integral part of our travel products.
2. Shampoo bar and conditioner bar
Nothing more annoying than a huge toiletry bag while traveling. To take up as little space and weight as possible, we always use shampoo and conditioner bars. They are lightweight, small and you can easily take them anywhere. In addition, you do an average of 3 times as long with a bar as with a plastic bottle. This also makes you cheaper and you don’t use plastic. So a win-win-win!
3. Reef-proof sunscreen
Sunscreen contains harmful chemicals to the coral. When you go snorkeling or swimming with sunscreen on your body, these chemicals enter the reef system. The chemicals eliminate algae, which is important for coral health, from the coral. This causes the coral to fade. Eventually, the coral turns completely white, breaks down and dies. The most common chemicals in sunscreen that are bad for coral are:
- Oxybenzone
- Octinoxate
- Enzacamene
- Butylparaben
So fortunately, reef-proof sunscreen exists these days. Some types of sunscreen claim to be reef-proof because they do not have Oxybenzone in them, but the other harmful substances still do. The types of sunscreen listed below are proven reef-proof and are fine to apply before going into the sea.
- Pai Sensitive Sunscreen – Especially for people with eczema and sensitive skin, very expensive but a really good sunscreen.
- Naïf Natural Sun Baby & Kids – Especially for children and even babies!
- Level Sun Mineral face
- Skalaris Sun lotion – Made from all-natural ingredients.
- Alphanova Sunscreen Spray
Tip: read this article for more information on how to make swimming and snorkeling in the sea as sustainable as possible.
4. Durable toothbrush and toothpaste
It is incredible how many washed-up toothbrushes we have already seen on beaches in Asia. Because the toothbrushes are made of plastic, they cannot be broken down and litter the sea and beaches for years. To avoid this, you can use a bamboo toothbrush. Bamboo toothbrushes are almost 100% biodegradable. Nowadays, you even have long-lasting electric toothbrushes that last for years. This durable electric toothbrush is ideal for traveling. Combined with this sustainable toothpaste, it’s a golden pair: eco-friendly and good for your teeth.
5. Sustainable deodorant
These deodorants smell great and provide as much freshness as regular deodorants. The only difference is that these are plastic-free, eco-friendly and completely natural. A fine product in hot countries. Happy Earth and We Love Planet’s sustainable deodorant are our favorites.
Check out the rest of our articles on sustainable travel.
