How to reduce your single use waste when travelling

The Canadian government has been talking about banning single use plastics as early as 2021 to help save the environment, but there is already lots we can do today to minimize single use plastics while traveling. It is estimated that currently less than 10% of the single use plastic gets recycled in Canada, and this is the same or worse for most other countries in the world. Continue reading to find out how you can help save the environment in ways that don’t negatively influence your holiday experience. 

Boarding passes

When e-tickets were first introduced in the late nineties one of the main arguments was that it would help reduce paper waste. In reality many people still print their boarding passes at home, which are often two pages.Most airlines nowadays give you the option to receive a digital boarding pass on your phone. This enables you to simply show the bar code on your screen at the airport security and at the gate when boarding the airplane.

Hotel Towels

Many hotels now encourage guests to use their bath towels more than once. You will often find a small information sheet in the bathroom of your hotel explaining the towel policy. Leaving your towels on the floor or in the bath tub means you like to receive new towels, while hanging your towels on the rack means you are okay to use them again. Most people don’t wash their towel at home every day, and reusing your hotel towel will reduce the water, electricity and laundry detergent use, all benefiting the environment.

Toiletries

It’s convenient to use the little shampoo, body wash and lotion bottles provided in each bathroom, but it generates a lot of plastic waste. Bringing your own larger) bottles of shampoo, body wash and lotion will significantly reduce the single use plastic during your trip.

Plastic utensils

Single use plastic cutlery and straws are a major polluter, and rank in the top 10 of most found items in oceans, beaches and on the streets. Those items are often used for 10-15 minutes during a quick meal and then thrown out again. Bringing your own reusable cutlery will help you cut back on plastic waste at food courts and fast food restaurants. Many travel stores sell special travel sets with reusable cutlery, as well as reusable straws. You can also find various options on Amazon.

Water bottles

In many countries in the Western world, including Canada, it is safe to drink the tap water. In addition to that many hotels nowadays feature water filling stations in public areas of the hotel to refill your own water bottle. Some major tour operators, including Trafalgar and Insight Vacations, have recently moved away from offering (complimentary) bottles of water on the coach. Assuming every passenger on the tour drinks one bottle of water per day, using a reusable water bottle will eliminate 480 single-use water bottles on a 12-day tour with 40 passengers.

Brochures

In many countries in the Western world, including Canada, it is safe to drink the tap water. In addition to that many hotels nowadays feature water filling stations in public areas of the hotel to refill your own water bottle. Some major tour operators, including Trafalgar and Insight Vacations, have recently moved away from offering (complimentary) bottles of water on the coach. Assuming every passenger on the tour drinks one bottle of water per day, using a reusable water bottle will eliminate 480 single-use water bottles on a 12-day tour with 40 passengers.

Recommended products

Bamboo cutlery

This lightweight bamboo travel set contains a fork, spoon, soup spoon, chopsticks, a straw with cleaning brush, and a tooth brush, all packed in a durable travel pouch. It easily fits in your bag and can help you eleminate plastic waste at food courts and other food stops while traveling.

Water bottle

Liquid bottles

Thermos mug

Further reading