Eco-Friendly Travel: Pack Lighter, Pack Better, and Travel Easier

Using eco-friendly travel products can also make your travel easier!

As a frequent traveler who used to take the maximum amount of free baggage at all times (yes, that includes two giant suitcases for my international trips), I wanted to find an easier way to travel. Dragging two 50 lb (23 kg) suitcases around town while wearing a heavy backpack is not the most relaxing way to start and end any vacation.

So, what are some ways I decided to lighten my load AND become more eco-friendly? Let's find out!

Tip #1 - How much do you actually need?

The hardest part for me is always deciding what to leave behind. Pick a few outfits that you can mix and match and wear more than once. You might think an outfit each day is a good idea, but that's way more than you need! It can be such a relief to pack less because it's less to carry, and less weight=less carbon emissions!

This is me in St. Croix with the 28 liter backpack I used to pack everything I needed for a week.

Tip #2 - Buy less

It is tempting to go out and buy all new everything in eco-friendly versions, but wait! Use that plastic toothbrush you already have! Don't throw it out before its time just to buy a new one and look more eco friendly. Wear the clothes you have until you are ready to buy something new. Even then, stick to a few key pieces that you can wear while you travel and when you're home.

Tip #3 - Try merino wool

If you are looking for your next travel outfit, try one made from merino wool. Not only are the fibers natural, unlike synthetic materials that are basically just plastic, but they also have many other benefits! Merino wool is odor resistant, which means you have to wash it less. Pick a basic outfit made from merino wool, and just add a few accessories to change the look a bit. Nobody cares if you wear the same black shirt and jeans every day, and Steve Jobs would be proud!

Tip #4 - Ditch the liquids!

I don't carry any liquids when I travel, but how? Shampoo and conditioner bars are great ways to reduce plastic waste because they don't come in big plastic bottles. Plus, the bars take up much less space than the liquid amount you would need for the same amount of washes. Even better, you don't have to worry about wrapping anything up in plastic bags because there is no liquid to leak all over your stuff! Try out a few different brands to see which ones you like the best. It took me a while to find one that worked with my hair, especially the conditioner bar, but now those are all I use, even at home!

If you're interested, I used this shampoo and this conditioner by Naples. These are paid links for me from Amazon, but you can also shop directly from their website as well. I honestly just love their stuff!

These are my shampoo (left) and conditioner (right) bars that I carry in a little tin.

Tip #5 - Try toothpaste tabs

In the same vein as my previous tip, stop messing with toothpaste! I'm not sayin you should stop brushing your teeth; I'm just saying there's a better way than that paste that comes in plastic tubes! Toothpaste tablets were weird for me to use at first, but now that I got used to them, I love them! I have been using them for a few months now, and I've had no dental problems whatsoever. While I am not a dental professional, I did tell my dental hygienist about my switch at my last dental visit. I asked if she noticed anything that would be a reason to switch back, and she said my teeth looked great, and that I should be fine to keep doing what I was doing! There are many brands, and they have kinds with and without fluoride, so be sure to read about the ingredients before you order to make sure you get what you want. These are the exact ones I use from Hello. (again, this is a paid link, but feel free to search independently as well)

Tip #6 - Bamboo or wooden toothbrushes

Plastic toothbrushes can spend over 500 years in a landfill. What a waste! As I said in tip #2, don't throw away your plastic toothbrush you just opened last week just to get a new one that looks more eco friendly. I still have a plastic travel toothbrush that I was given as a gift, but when it has lived its life, I have a bamboo one waiting to replace it. The nice thing about the one I just bought is that it comes with one handle and replaceable brush heads, thereby wasting a little bit less.

On the left is my old travel toothbrush, which was plastic and folded into itself. On the right, is my new bamboo toothbrush handle with 4 replacement heads. #ad Though I can't wait to use my new toothbrush, I'll wait until my old one needs replaced. It's already made and in my care, so I will at least get some use out of it before getting rid of it.

Tip #7 - Pack laundry sheets

Again, we're avoiding unnecessary liquids. When you pack laundry detergent (or buy it at your destination), you can pack fewer clothes because you're washing the ones you already have. However, when you pack laundry sheets, you also get the bonus of saving space and plastic! Most of the laundry sheets I've seen advertised come in small carboard envelopes with no plastic packaging. I use these in my daily life now, not just for travel!

Tip #8 - Freeze water in a reusable bottle

Did you know that the TSA allows you to take ice through security? I take a water bottle filled with ice on every trip. Depending on where you go, you can refill your bottle if the water is safe to drink at your destination. Taking your own bottle means buying fewer disposable water bottles on the other side of security, which also saves you money!

Tip #9 - Use packing cubes

They can keep you more organized, and some of them even help you compress your clothes to take up less space. Packing cubes are reusable and mine have lasted much longer than the plastic compression bags I used to use. I've had these compression packing cubes (#ad) since 2019, and I still use them on occasion if I'm really trying to pack tightly! Below, you can see my new Cotopaxi packing cubes, which I've been using more often lately.

Here is how neatly I packed everything into my 35 liter backpack with packing cubes.

These were the things that were in my bag on my way back from a trip to Mexico. All of it, including the blue backpack on the left (I bought it at a stopover in Denver on my way back; I'm OBSESSED with Cotopaxi and had to stop at the store there) fit into the bigger backpack on the right, as shown in the top picture!

Tip #10 - For my friends who menstruate...

Try using a menstrual cup instead of tampons, and try using reusable pads instead of the disposable ones. I have been using menstrual cups for over a decade now, and I've never looked back. They might take some time to get used to, but they make traveling so much easier now. Not all countries have tampons readily available, and if you're going to pack pads and/or tampons for your trip, they take up a ton of space! If you're going on a short trip, that might not be too bad, but if you're backpacking for three months, that's a lot of menstrual products to pack! Over the course of your lifetime, using a menstrual cup can save so much waste! #ad This one is available on amazon, and when you buy one for yourself, the company also donates one to someone in need. This is a set of two, and is a more budget friendly option as well. I also really enjoy the June cup, which I recommend getting directly from their website. I don't get anything from them, but I absolutely love mine and just want to share with you because it's just that great!

Start somewhere today!

Take baby steps if you have to, but do what you can to be a little bit more eco friendly, both when you're traveling, and when you're at home. I have noticed a huge difference in my travels since I started packing lighter. I still have a long way to go to be more environmentally friendly myself, but we all need to start somewhere. Our little steps together add up to hopefully make the future a better place for the next generations.