Holidays are back, baby!
As our thoughts turn towards a summer on the beach, or skiing in the Alps, we can also think about how to make our travelling in 2024 the greenest ever.
From eco-friendly travel essentials to carbon offsetting we've got you covered to make your next holiday as sustainable as possible.
Let's Go!
10 Eco-Friendly Travel Essentials
- Carbon Offsetting Tool by Atmosfair
- Packing Cubes by Travel Dude
- Travel Bags by Solgaard
- T-Shirts by Organic Basics
- Bamboo Travel Toothbrush by The Humble Co.
- Solid Toiletries by Ethique
- Elephant Dung Notebook by Paper High
- Filter Bottle by Water to Go
- Solar Charger by SunJack
- Mineral Sunscreen by Suntribe
1. Carbon Offsetting Tool by Atmosfair
It’s no secret that air travel is a major contributor to the carbon emissions polluting the earth’s atmosphere. Each passenger on a return flight from London to Singapore accounts for around three tonnes of CO2. That’s the equivalent of heating a family home for a year. One of the best ways we can still travel the world but limit our harmful environmental impact, is by carbon offsetting our flights. Companies such as Atmosfair have created tools which calculate how much carbon your journey generates. You can then offset or counteract these emissions by paying them to remove the same quantity of carbon from the earth’s atmosphere. They do this by investing in schemes such as tree planting or wind farms. We consider using a carbon offsetting tool before you fly to be one of the most crucial things you can do for eco-friendly travel.
2. Packing Cubes by Travel Dude
Packing cubes are a helpful addition to your eco-friendly travel essentials. They are designed to help organise luggage as well as to compress clothes so you can get the most out of your case space. Travel Dude make 100% vegan packing cubes from recycled PET-bottles. They are waterproof, have multiple compartments so you can separate wet and dry clothes, and they are adaptable for backpacks, canvas bags and suitcases. What’s more, Travel Dude use sustainable shipping methods and biodegradable packaging.
3. Travel Bags by Solgaard
When it comes to sustainable luggage, Solgaard is revolutionising the industry. They go beyond being plastic-free and call themselves a plastic-negative company. Solgaard collect plastic from beaches and waterways, and turn this into fabric which is then used to create their bags. The company has partnered with four different initiatives around the world and so far have cleaned 30,000,896 plastic bottles from the oceans. For bag parts that can’t be made from recycled plastic, Solgaard use other eco-friendly materials such as recyclable polycarbonate and aluminium. From carry-on-friendly cases, to functional backpacks, Solgaard is the place to shop for eco-friendly travel bags. Tropicfeel is another climate friendly company and their shell backpacks with built-in wardrobe systems are truly exceptional.
4. T-Shirts by Organic Basics
You only have limited space whilst packing, so make sure to take one (or two!) of Organic Basic’s eco-friendly t-shirts. A great sustainable fashion brand, Organic Basics makes durable and long lasting clothes from ethically sourced and certified materials. The t-shirts are especially great for travel as they are antimicrobial and anti-odour. This has two main benefits. Firstly, these t-shirts don’t need to be washed as much which reduces water usage for the environment and saves you the hassle of doing laundry whilst abroad. Secondly, they should help you say goodbye to smelly sweat whilst travelling!
5. Bamboo Travel Toothbrush by The Humble Co.
For most of us, a toothbrush is the one thing we absolutely can’t travel without. However, an estimated two billion plastic toothbrushes end up in landfill every year. Buying an eco-friendly travel toothbrush can help to counter this wastage. We recommend trying the Humble Co.’s toothbrush travel kit. Instead of being made with plastic, these products are made from bamboo which is considered to be more sustainable. The Humble Co. has an eco-friendly manufacturing process and packaging policy to make their environmental footprint as small as possible. They also have the Humble Smile Foundation which brings oral care to vulnerable children around the world.
6. Solid Toiletries by Ethique
Solid toiletries are a game-changer for travel. Not only can solid toiletries help you avoid liquid limits in carry-on luggage but also, they are lighter than lugging around bottles of spillable liquids. Ethique is one of our favourite slow beauty brands and they make everything from shampoos and conditioners to moisturisers all in solid bar form. Solid products are thought to be more environmentally friendly because they contain little to no water which means they can be packaged in compostable materials instead of plastic. Ethique products are the perfect eco-friendly travel essentials for a little pamper on the road. Plus, don’t forget a soap travel box from Friendly Soap! These completely compostable boxes are the perfect way to transport your eco-friendly soap, conditioner or solid shampoo bar and make packing a breeze.
7. Elephant Dung Notebook by Paper High
Yes you read that correctly, these notebooks are handmade from elephant dung! Paper High are a Fair Trade company and they work with a Sri Lankan elephant conservation trust called EcoMaximus to create their notebooks. Not only are they conserving nature by recycling waste, they are also helping to look after elderly and sick elephants. Both beautiful and sustainable, these notebooks are fantastic for journaling holiday adventures. They make for excellent eco-friendly travel gifts or you can always keep them for yourself!
8. Filter Bottle by Water to Go
A good way to limit your environmental impact whilst travelling is to have your own filter water bottle. In new places, worrying about safe drinking water and not being able to drink the tap water can mean that you end up relying on single-use plastic bottled water. Instead, invest in one of Water-to-Go’s filter bottles. They claim that their reusable, BPA free water bottles contain a 3-in-1 filtration technology that can effectively provide clean safe drinking water from any non-salt water source around the world. Wherever your adventures take you, having one of these water bottles with you will come in handy. Water-to-Go also work with multiple charities including Just a Drop who provide sustainable safe water, sanitation and hygiene projects to communities across the globe.
9. Solar Charger by SunJack
A fantastic addition to your eco-friendly travel essentials is a solar charger. Nowadays, we are more dependent on our devices than ever. Electronic tickets, taking photos, and digital maps are just a few of the examples of how our devices can be integral whilst travelling. A solar charger is a simple way to turn holiday sun into free energy and keep your devices juiced up. The sun is a renewable energy source so by using SunJack’s portable solar charger you can charge your devices without growing your carbon footprint. Lightweight, with carabiners to attach to your backpack and technology that even works in cloudy conditions, this is a dependable eco-friendly travel gadget you’ll never want to be without again!
10. Mineral Sunscreen by Suntribe
From beach holidays in Antigua to ski holidays in France and virtually everything in between, eco-friendly sunscreen is a must-have. Conventional sunscreens can contain environmentally damaging ingredients. An estimated 14,000 tonnes of sunscreen are deposited into the ocean annually. This has been linked with harm to sea life and adverse effects on coral reefs. Besides providing a home for hundreds of species, coral reefs also help prevent coastal erosion and regulate carbon dioxide levels in the ocean. Make the swap to an eco-friendly sunscreen so you can bask in the sun worry free. Suntribe have a whole range of natural sunscreens which are free from synthetic chemicals and other questionable ingredients. Their products are packaged in recyclable cardboard or sustainable sugar-cane packaging.
Eco-Friendly Travel Essentials for the Future
These eco-friendly travel essentials are making it easier to explore the earth and protect it at the same time. By being more conscious consumers and shopping sustainably, we can help ensure there is a healthy planet left to be travelled. Whether you're journeying to the nearby Netherlands or far off to undiscovered US National Parks, take your eco-friendly travel essentials with you!