Environmentally friendly travel: Seven steps to travelling (almost) plastic free

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 5 years ago

Environmentally friendly travel: Seven steps to travelling (almost) plastic free

By Ben Groundwater
Updated
If you're travelling through countries with drinkable tap water, then you should definitely be carrying your own reusable bottle.

If you're travelling through countries with drinkable tap water, then you should definitely be carrying your own reusable bottle.Credit: Shutterstock

The whole plastic bag thing has been a bit of a schmozzle in Australia. Some states have banned single-use shopping bags, some have not. In NSW we had plastic bags, and then they were phased out, and then they were phased back in, and now I'm not even sure what's happening.

Still, it does show that Australians – or at least, some Australians – are aware of the fact that we use too much plastic. Too much of it is being wasted, clogging up landfill, never to degrade, turning up in our oceans, floating around in a garbage island out in the Pacific that's at least the size of Texas.

Plastic use is an issue, and it's particularly an issue for travellers. We're visiting places with fragile ecosystems that often already have problems with plastic being dumped, and we're adding to the problem. You can't go to tourist attractions in developing countries and shake your head at all the rubbish on the ground and not acknowledge that your presence has had something to do with all that mess.

Avoid using plastic straws by carrying your own reusable straw.

Avoid using plastic straws by carrying your own reusable straw.Credit: Alamy

Fortunately, there are solutions. There are simple measures every traveller can take to reduce the amount of single-use plastic they're running through – which, hopefully, will make the world a cleaner place.

Ditch the drinking straws

This idea is rapidly catching on, whether you actually want it to or not. Virgin Australia has recently phased out plastic straws on its flights. Hilton will do the same in its hotels by the end of the year. Other travel companies are following suit. Travellers can take the lead on this by carrying their own reusable straws – you can pick up stainless steel or even bamboo straws very cheaply, and they take up almost no room in your bag.

Carry your own shopping bags

Take the idea that Australians are beginning to accept is reasonable – the ban on single-use shopping bags – and apply it to yourself overseas. Don't be lazy. (And better yet, don't be the person rustling through plastic bags in the middle of the night in a shared dorm room.) Save on plastic and save on your roomies' sanity by carrying your own (non-plastic) reusable shopping bags. Stuff them in your day pack. You'll never know they're there.

Advertisement

Take a water bottle (and a purifier)

This is a tough one. If you're travelling through countries with drinkable tap water, then you should definitely be carrying your own reusable bottle. No plastic needed. In the developing world, however, you're obviously not going to drink from the tap, which means you have two choices: buy clean water in large, 2L bottles, rather than multiple smaller ones, and fill your own bottle from them every day; or invest in a good portable water purifier.

See also: You should think twice before drinking bottled water overseas

Dine-in at restaurants and cafes

Every take-out coffee you order uses plastic. Every take-out food container you carry away, every piece of disposable cutlery you use, every piece of wrapping and every bag you're handed: they use plastic. Ordering takeaway is a massive waste, particularly when you're on holiday. You have time to enjoy your meal inside the restaurant. You have the opportunity to drink that coffee from a real cup. Take it.

Carry your own toiletries

Most hotels have them: the little bottles of shampoo and conditioner, the moisturiser, the hand soap. They're all neatly packaged up in plastic that will be chucked out the minute you check out of your room. So, don't use them. Bring your own toiletries, and buy small reusable containers so you can take them on planes.

See also: Why you should definitely steal hotel room toiletries

Stay in hotels that cut down on plastic

If you're really keen on reducing your footprint, try to stay in hotel chains that have a similar attitude towards single-use plastic. Marriott and the InterContinental group are working towards replacing all of their small amenities bottles with bulk dispensers. Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts will be single-use plastic free by April next year. Tour operators such as World Expeditions, Contiki and Intrepid Travel are all working on cutting down on single-use plastics.

Stop and think

This is probably the most important one of all. So much of our plastic use (and waste) is done out of habit, without a thought. You use something, you throw it away. And repeat. When you're travelling, you need to break out of that mindset and consider whether things are really necessary. Do you need to buy fruit that's wrapped in plastic? Do you need that takeaway container? Do you need that small bottle of water? Could you just drink from that glass without the straw? Every small decision counts.

Do you try to limit your plastic use when you travel? How do you approach it? Or do you think the problem isn't worth worrying about?

Email: b.groundwater@fairfaxmedia.com.au

Instagram: Instagram.com/bengroundwater

Sign up for the Traveller newsletter

The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.

Most viewed on Traveller

Loading