With a covid vaccine on the horizon, it’s looking like travel is back on the cards for 2021. However, with a year preoccupied by a global pandemic, many will have forgotten about one of the biggest challenges we face in our lifetime – climate change.

With that being said, we’ve put together a handy guide focused on sustainable products you can take with you on your next trip.

Image via Unsplash

Vegan Leather Backpack

When travelling in a different country, it’s always a good idea to take a day-to-day backpack for your water, food and to keep your valuables safe. A vegan leather backpack is not only ideal for this but it’s also a great eco-alternative.

Made out of washable kraft paper and recycled polyester, it has all the hallmarks of leather without the pollution and animal cruelty.

Bamboo Toothbrushes

With trillions of pieces of plastic currently in our seas and oceans, it’s little wonder that people are flocking away from using plastic toothbrushes. Toothbrushes made from bamboo are in high demand due to the fact that they can be composted.

That’s not to mention the fact that they will biodegrade in a considerably shorter amount of time than their plastic counterparts.

If you’re packing a toothbrush for your next trip – make sure it’s bamboo.

Shampoo Bars and Soap

Over the years plastic has been used in almost every product we see in our bathrooms. Soaps and shampoo are no exception.

But what you might not know is that the plastic packaging not only ends up in our oceans if it’s not recycled properly but it takes up to 20 times the amount of energy as cardboard packaging to produce.

Packing some travel soap and shampoo bars for whilst you’re away is an ideal choice – especially as it means there’s no chance of a shampoo explosion in your bag!

Reusable Coffee Cup

For those of us fueled by coffee (guilty), part of the joy of travelling can be experiencing the different coffees found around the world.

When we dig a little deeper however we find that coffee cups are a huge source of carbon emissions and ocean pollution.

For example, in the UK it’s estimated that we throw away over 2 billion disposable cups EVERY YEAR. These cups all take energy and water to create just to be disposed of after a single use.

The solution? By investing in a reusable coffee cup like this one from goBambu, you can limit the need for using disposable cups – especially if you’re travelling and drinking your coffee on the go.

Bonus Tip to Travel More Sustainably

Apart from packing your eco-essentials there is another way to help you travel sustainably.

Flights: If you’re flying and are concerned about the carbon footprint from your journeys, consider donating to tree planting organisations. These tree planting organisations will plant trees on your behalf, offsetting your carbon emissions for a small fee.