After all, travel is among the most rewarding experiences we have – a chance to discover new cultures, landscapes and foods. Nevertheless, the increase in pollution (especially with plastic) due to tourism has become a worrisome issue. Even when it comes to such simple things as the plastic bottles or single-use cutlery, which we already have banned in our free walking tours so far), there is an enormous impact of travel and tourism on global plastic waste. This exhaustive responsible travel guide is a piece written with the purpose of giving other travelers some practical advice and tips on how to reduce the amount of plastic waste you produce when exploring.
Realizing the Plastic Plight
The problem with Single-Use Plastic waste/global environmental issue Every year, more than 8 million tons of plastic are thrown into the oceans, affecting aquatic animals and ecosystems as a whole according to data from WWF. Hotels, restaurants and transport operate a throwaway culture with single-use plastics warfare taking place right across the travel industry.
Statistics and Facts
- Over 300 million tons of plastic are produced every year across the planet and more than half is for single use.
- Oceans: If we continue to use plastic at the rate we are currently doing so, by 2050 there could be more mass of plastic in our oceans than fish.
- Tourist Impact: Peak tourist seasons can leave popular tourism regions with 40% more waste than usual, much of it plastic.
Chapter 2: Pre-Trip Preparation— Future Forward
Avoiding plastic waste begins before you even take your first step out the door. Enough planning and packing will ensure that you have lower dependence on single use plastic.
Research Your Destination
- Stay in Eco-Friendly Accommodations: Find hotels and hostels with environmentally-friendly practices, such as refillable toiletries or recycling.
- Waste Disposal Rules in Your Area: Get to know the waste disposal methods and regulations applicable in your area. Bans on certain plastics in some countries can help inform your packing choices.
Packing Essentials
- Water Bottle: Purchase a high-quality water bottle with filter that is reusable. LifeStraw and Grayl make bottles that are capable of filtering tap water so you don’t have to use bottled water.
- Reusable Utensils: Carry your own set of travel cutlery, which can be bamboo or stainless steel. Simple and travel-friendly options are available from companies like To-Go Ware.
- Reusable shopping bags: Bring a couple to use for groceries and souvenirs. They can even be used for your laundry or carry on luggage!
- Solid Toiletries: A shampoo bar, conditioner and soaps will help cut the terrible plastic packaging. Toiletries – Lush and Ethique for great eco-friendly toiletries.
- Liquid Toiletries (silicone travel bottles)
SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL TIPS // FOOTLOOSE AND ON THE ROAD.
After you start, the dedication of avoiding plastic waste also calls daily on conscious choices.
Water Consumption
- Tap Water Clean & Safe: While in a place with safe tap water, recycle your container frequently using the filling of his. Where tap water is not safe, it can be purified with tablets or portable filters.
- Water Refill Stations: Make use of water refill stations in airports, hotels, and tourist spots. Use apps such as RefillMyBottle if you want to find refill stations all over the world.
Dining and Food Choices
- Say No to Single-Use Plastics: Do not use plastic straws, cutlery and plates In these days a lot of restaurants also provide biodegradable or reusable solutions.
- Stuff a few collapsible food containers in your bag just in case you place an order for takeout or have leftovers. This requires less plastic packaging.
- Opt for Sustainable Restaurants: Use your wallet to support restaurants that place importance on sustainability, whether it be by incorporating locally-sourced ingredients or striving to reduce waste in their operations.
Where to Stay: Green Choices in the Turkish Riviera
The choice of accommodation can be the most major influence on your plastic footprint.
Selecting Green Hotels
- Certifications and Ratings: Seek hotels that boast eco-friendly certifications such as LEED, Green Key or EarthCheck.
- Eco Friendly Practices: Please see whether the hotel has any type of programs focussing on bulk toiletries, recycling tasks or plastic-free breakfast menu.
Reduce the plastic waste from hotels
- Opt Out of Housekeeping: declining daily housekeeping so plastic trash bags and toiletry use are reduced.
- BYO Travel-Size Shampoos: Bring small, refillable bottles with you in your checked luggage.
- Hotel bathroom amenities: Take your own to avoid using disposables in plastic packaging.
Activities: Making the Best Of a Plastic-Free Adventure
As we head out on plenty of outdoor activities and excursions, dangerous little bits plastic waste needs to be considered as well. They share innocent enjoyment but in moderation.
Beach and Outdoor Activities
- Backyard Picnics, or a Spotlight on Zero-Waste (just pack your own picnic and use reusable containers etc). Use beeswax wraps instead of plastic setHidden area 10.
- Eco-Friendly Sunscreen: Instead of purchasing sunscreen in plastic containers, get reef-safe sun screen that is eco-friendly. With brands like Raw Elements that have an environment-friendly flair.
- Leave No Trace: Be sure to follow the Leave No Trace principles which means packing out all trash (even microplastics like bottle caps and cigarette butts).
Shopping and Souvenirs
- Plastic-Free Buys: Shop for only items that are made of natural materials or recycled. Opt against plastic or bubble wrap-wrapped items.
- Local Stores: You can find store in local market as a good chose becouse the items sold on such stores are often not packed with plastic. Unfortunately there were no shopping bags – you had to bring your own.
Getting Around: Driving Down Plastics
Another area where you can reduce plastic use is transportation.
Flights and Airports
- Pack Your Own Snacks: Airport and in-flight snacks usually come wrapped in plastic. Bring your own snacks with you, in containers that can be re-used.
- Refilling Before Boarding: Carry your reusable water bottle through airport security empty and refill at an airstation rather than getting a bottled one.
- On Board Plastic – Refuse plastic-wrapped items and Bring your own reusable options as much as you can.
Long drives and Inter-city Train traveling in Japan.
Think About Zero-Waste Road Trips when planning your road trip, reducing waste on the go. Employ reusable snack or meal containers.
If you have no option but to use public transport at least bring your own coffee cup, water bottle or cutlery with you to avoid single-use plastic drink bottles and meal utensils.
Post-Trip: Reflection & Dissemination
That being said, your work should not stop when you finish traveling. Your commitment to reducing the plastic waste in our world is an on-going pledge that does not know boundaries of distance and space. You never know who you may inspire just by speaking your experience and knowledge.
Evaluate Your Impact
- Audit on Plastic Waste: Perform a waste audit to know the amount of plastic used and areas you can improve in your coming trips.
- Hotels | Restaurants | Tour Operators Hotels: Give Feedback to Hotel on their plastic usage. Change may be driven by positive reinforcement and constructive criticism.
Share Your Experience
- Share: Share your travel tips and experiences on plastic-free travel. On social_media crossorigin=anonymous Hash-tag #PlasticFreeTravel and Hash-tag #SustainableTravel to reach more people.
- Travel Blogs / Reviews – Encourage other tourism businesses to act responsibly by reviewing them on travel platforms. Write articles offering advice and help steer fellow travelers in the right direction.
- Local engagement: Engage travel communities and forums to discuss various ideas for reducing plastic waste that are beneficial FT players.
Conclusion
The good new is: it’s possible and its more than necessary! Come and check out how easy can be to do your next adventure without generating plastic waste. Prepare in advance, travel consciously and follow it with a reflection check can really help you reduce your plastic footprint. Each small step counts, and together they make a huge difference in fighting plastic pollution.
Additional Resources
Resources and further reading:
- Plastic Free July: an annual challenge to minimize plastic waste.
- Trash Hero: International clean-up organization that also promotes zero-waste living.
- The Ocean Cleanup – a non-profit organization that is developing advanced technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic.
- RefillMyBottle: A network of free water refill stations.
Go on your next adventure by being Eco-Friendly and let others follow the footprints of plastic-freedom. Safe travels!
