5 Ways to Reduce Plastic Waste On the Go

The beauty of nature is unmatched - each location more breathtaking than the last.  Travel can take a toll on the environment, and even getting to your destination can be the brunt of the impact.  Here are a few ideas for every budget to help every traveler walk a little lighter.

put down the plastic

Plastics have flooded the world in the past 70 years they have been available, particularly depending on location.  You may have seen the news of cities like London and San Francisco banning bags, then straws, with cotton swabs and more on the horizon. Single-use plastics are the common thread - if you're using it once, it's more likely to be improperly disposed of, adding to the 6.3 billion tons of plastic waste currently in the ocean.  Thankfully, there are some simple ways to reduce the your plastic diet.

1. Remember Reusable water bottles

This Earth Day, the Telegraph reported that 20,000 plastic, single-use water bottles are purchased every minute, featuring a dizzying counter that lists how many bottles have been purchased since you've been reading the article.  Bringing your own bottle can massively alleviate this impact and save money.  Many cities and airports have potable water fountains throughout, prime for quick refills. In Paris, travelers can even view a map of fountains, rate quality, and hunt down the rare sparkling water fountain if you're so inclined!

Our favorite: Contigo's AUTOSEAL® Chill, which offers a lifetime guarantee, spill-proof travel, and keeps drinks cool for up to 28 hours.  After two water-related laptop fatalities, we swear by their foolproof design!

2. SUB Single-USe Straws

Suppressing the reflex to twist open the disposable straw your waiter dropped off will pay off - disposable straws can't be recycled and take 200 years to decompose.  Reusable straw options exist, for straw aficionados, from glass to metal with keychain-sized travel options popping up online.  Dropping the straw altogether also comes with the added benefit of reducing repetitive-movement aging, as everyone develops lip lines over the years.  Whatever your reason, a small reduction in straw waste can have a global impact.

FinalStraw / Suck Responsibly

3. Upgrade your liquids bag

Whether you're the type to cram every last inch of your carry-on liquids bag or tend to have loads of space while somehow always forgetting toothpaste or shampoo, we all have to use compliant, see-through bags.  While it's easy to reach for the nearest quart-size baggie, upgrading to a reusable TSA-compliant travel bag can reduce waste and eliminate spillage.  

One (re)zip bag replaces 300 disposable baggies - more than enough to justify the reasonable price tag!  Their Zippered TSA-Compliant Travel Quart Reusable Storage Bag compresses flat, is made of all the plastics you want, none you don't, and is machine washable!  

4. Ditch the altiTudinal gum addiction

Grabbing a pack of gum pre-flight is a knee-jerk reaction for many of us seeking to avoid the discomfort associated with rapidly ascending or descending.  However, modern gums have ditched the centuries-old resin, Chicle, in favor of a combination of plastics that result in a "better" chewing experience and cheaper mass production.  Chewing gum containing plastic causes 100,000 tons of pollution each year, with few recyclable options available.  

Trying reusable earplugs such as Earplanes to mediate air pressure change can stop pain before it happens and cut harsh noises, helping us to be kinder to the travelers with babies and small children. If your ears aren't on the sensitive side, simply drinking water, sucking on a candy, yawning or using the doctor-approved Valsalva maneuver will relax your muscles and alleviate inner-ear pressure.  

5. Reach for Responsible razors

Classic disposable razors are plastic-heavy and limiting in their flimsiness. Eco-expert Diane MacEachern, author of Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World, recommends rechargeable and safety razors when not traveling, as these two options are not TSA-approved to carry on.  

When traveling light while still wanting a clean shave, try out her top pick - Preserve's recyclable option, made from recycled yogurt cups.  Offering 3 and 5 blade options, users can select comfort, replace blades easily, and recycle handles after use.

Happy Plastic-Purging!

Which tips will you incorporate into your on-the-go routine?  Let us know in the comments!

Sources: Big Green Purse, CNN, Good On You, Huffington Post, Just One Ocean, Marine Conservation Society, Polka Dot Passport, Slate, Spoon University, Sustainable Brands, The Telegraph, TSA