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10 Sustainable Travel Essentials
Whether you’re jetting off abroad or enjoying a staycation this Summer, your sustainable efforts don’t have to stop when you travel. There are small changes that you can make to your luggage that will have a big impact on the environment. By adopting a more conscious approach to travel, we can make a significant difference in preserving natural resources, preventing plastic pollution, protecting wildlife and human health, and supporting local economies. In this article, we share our top 10 sustainable travel essentials to help get you started.
1. Solid Toiletries
From shampoo bars to perfume balms, solid toiletries are a simple and convenient way to reduce waste when you’re on your travels. These no-waste and space-saving solutions take up very little room in your toiletries bag, which means more room for the other essentials on this list! Plus, you can often bypass the liquid restrictions that airlines enforce as solid toiletries shouldn't contain liquid.
Our Recommendation: Lush for your solid toiletries.
2. Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Protecting your skin from the sun is crucial, but lots of popular sunscreens contain chemicals that are harmful to marine life and coral reefs. Instead, choose reef-safe sunscreens made from mineral-based ingredients, such asnon-nano zinc oxide, which protect the skin and the environment.
Our Recommendation: UpCircle Sunscreen.
3. Natural Deodorant
Lots of mainstream antiperspirants contain toxic ingredients, such as parabens and aluminium, that are bad for our health. In addition to this, more than 15 million pounds of plastic waste is created by the deodorant industry each year. To help combat this, swap your regular deodorant for a natural alternative that is zero-waste and made from natural ingredients.
Our Recommendation: Wild’s Natural Deodorant.
4. Plant-Based Insect Repellent
Some insect repellents contain ingredients that can have adverse effects on the environment and wildlife. Choose plant-based repellents made from natural ingredients like citronella, eucalyptus, lemongrass or peppermint oil, instead of DEET-based chemical repellents.
Our Recommendation: DIY! Mix 1 part oil of lemon eucalyptus or lavender essential oil with 10 parts witch hazel in a spray bottle.
5. Reusable Makeup Remover
Disposable makeup wipes are one of the leading contributors to landfills around the world with an estimated 11 billion wet wipes flushed or binned every year, which can take up to 100 years to biodegrade. Instead, invest in sustainable makeup remover solutions, such as reusable pads and cleansing bars. These are as effective at removing makeup as disposables, but without the waste.
Our Recommendation: Wild & Stone’s Reusable Makeup Remover Pads.
6. Reusable Razor
Most disposable razors last for just 5-10 shaves before ending up in our bins. For a more sustainable shave, invest in a safety razor with refillable blades that can be recycled after use in a blade bin at your local eligible recycling point. You might even find that you can achieve a cleaner shave, as the sharp blade is flush against your skin, and you're less likely to get razor burn.
Our Recommendation: Wild & Stone's Reusable Safety Razor.
7. Beeswax Wraps
Beeswax wraps are a plastic-free cling film alternative that can be used to wrap food when you're on-the-go, with the exception of raw meat and fish. As well as helping to prevent the 1.2 billion metres (745,000 miles) of cling film that ends up in landfill every year, beeswax wraps are more breathable which means your food is kept fresher for longer. You can also use beeswax wraps to cover soaps or other solid toiletries.
Our Recommendation: Wild & Stone's Reusable Beeswax Wraps.
8. Bamboo Cutlery Reusable Straws
Reusable utensils and straws can be used over and over again, instead of being disposed of after one use. This helps prevent plastic from ending up in our landfills, waterways and oceans, and from harmful toxins leaching into our food and drink.
Our Recommendation: Wild & Stone's Bamboo Cutlery Set and Drinking Straws.
9. Reusable Bottle and Coffee Cup
Stay hydrated and caffeinated with a reusable water bottle and coffee cup, instead of relying on disposable ones. You should look for insulated options that keep your beverages hot or cold for longer and, if you’re going somewhere where the tap water is undrinkable, don’t forget to bring a filtration device (or purifying water bottle).
Our Recommendation: Chilly's Water Bottles and Wild & Stone's Glass Coffee Cup.
10. Reusable Shopping Bags
Finally, don't forget to take a reusable shopping bag with you! Compact and lightweight enough to carry in your backpack or purse, a reusable bag is convenient for storing your shopping and souvenirs, but also reduces your reliance on plastic bags which are harmful for the environment.
Our Recommendation: Wild & Stone's Blue Crochet Bag.
And there you have it! Our top picks for your sustainable travel essentials. Wherever you're heading off, we hope you enjoy your trip with these planet-conscious picks.
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Wild & Stone's mission is to create stylish, easy to adopt and usable alternatives to common plastic products around the home. We source all our products sustainably, from raw material to final delivery. Shop our sustainable home & lifestyle products on our website, or discover our full on-the-go collection.
Share your plastic-free swaps with us at hello@wildandstone.com or tag us on Instagram #wildandstone.
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