I recently arrived home from the dreamiest holiday in Portugal and Italy. It was such a beautiful holiday, with everywhere corner drenched in history, mouth-watering food, and heavenly wines!
Having done a fair bit of travelling I'm well aware that the whole process involves A LOT of plastic waste, with flight attendants forcing an unprecedented amount of single-use plastic on you. Plastic cups, peanuts, cutlery, plastic-encased headphones and blankets, and the list goes on...
According to the International Air Transport Association, airline passengers generated 5.2 million tonnes of waste in 2016, which is roughly equivalent to 43,000 Boeing 787's. It shocked me to learn that the majority of waste generated from a flight is not recycled due to quarantine regulations, which prevent the recycling of waste on many international flights.
Unfortunately, the waste doesn't stop there. As soon as you arrive to your hotel you are faced with irresistible lavender soaps, luxurious shower gels and tempting haircare products. But, the reality is that for such a short period of use, it's effect lasts a hundred lifetimes. It's worth remembering that most plastic created still exists today because Earth finds it almost impossible to digest this poisonous material. So, what happens to these half-empty plastic toiletries? Most of them get thrown in a black bin bag by hotel staff and sent to landfill! It's an environmental travesty.
It's worth mentioning here that there are a couple of amazing charities called Clean Conscience and Clean the World who work to recycle hotel toiletries to provide hygiene products to those who cannot afford it in an effort to improve global sanitation. However, the majority of hotel toiletries are still sent to landfill to sit for thousands of years.
In light of this I've collated just a few simple tips for your travels, as well as some eco-friendly products I have tried and tested, so that you can holiday without harming mother nature too much! Above all this just takes some good planning and preparation so that you are equipped with alternatives when faced with plastic.
1. Use a reef-safe sunscreen
Most shop-bought sunscreens contain chemicals that science has shown damages coral reefs by causing a phenomenon known as 'coral bleaching'. Coral bleaching is where the algae - which provide corals with nutrients - is expelled, starving it to death. The algae give corals their exotic colours, so the term 'bleaching' was coined as they turn white upon expulsion.
Research suggests the largest chemical offenders are oxybenzone and octinoxate. So much so that Hawaii are considering banning sunscreens containing those chemicals altogether. It's not just the corals that are at risk. These chemicals have been known to cause genetic damage to other marine life too.
What's more is that there is research to suggest that these chemicals are responsible for damage to humans too. In a recent study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention it was found that Oxybenzone was found in 96% of the population! As oxybenzone is considered an endocrine disruptor some scientists believe these can harm our healthy physiological functioning. In short: natural sunscreens are better for the environment and your health!
I'm picky with what I put on my skin and in my opinion, plastic free reef-safe sunscreens with reliable protection that aren't like an oil slick on my skin are few and far between. Although not plastic-free, JĀSÖN make the amazing reef-safe natural sunscreens that are not only really comfortable on the skin, but they also smell amazing, are cruelty free, vegan and give great protection from the sun. I buy mine from Better Food but they have many stockists.
Some zero waste alternatives that I am yet to try but have been recommended by friends are Shade Sunscreen by Not the Norm Ltd, Skin food, and U.S. based Avasol.
2. Lush products
I love Lush. They not only have a great selection of zero waste beauty products, but if you return your empty plastic pots to the store they actually recycle them into new pots and, in return, give you a free face mask for every 5! Considering their size, it's reassuring to see a large corporation remaining so robust with its ethos. They believe in ethically sourced, natural, handmade products and every decision is made with the environment and animals in mind. That is one company I can get behind!
Their tea tree oil toner is an absolute lifesaver if you are travelling somewhere hot. Leave it in the fridge for a refreshing spritz when you get back to your room after a long day exploring. You can thank me later, it's honestly the perfect thing and helps keep those pesky plane pimples at bay!
With all the sunshine and swimming drying out my skin, body moisturiser is a must for me. I usually use the Happy Holistics body butter which is great because it's handmade in Bristol and is packaged in biodegradable packaging, but it's made from essential oils and fruit butter which does not withstand heat, I learned that the hard way! My suitcase smelt great but not the best way to start your holiday.
As a holiday alternative I love using Lush's charity pot. It's a decent body moisturiser that smells beautiful, and you can pat yourself on the back for supporting a charity! Their Charity Pot has donated more than $27,000,000 to 1850+ grassroots charities in 42 countries. I think that's pretty amazing.
3. Bars of soap
By bringing a bar of plastic-free soap with you, you will be saving so much plastic waste from those little hotel disposable shower gels. Why we are even still using soap packaged in plastic is beyond me, but it's such an easy switch! I bought my little tin from Lush who, again, have an incredible selection of soaps. My favourite is their super silky Argan Oil soap whose argan oil is hand-harvested by Berber women’s village co-operatives in Agadir, Morocco. Alternatively, if you do decide to use the hotel toiletries, keep the little bottles because they are great to reuse for weekends away.
4. Eating and drinking on the plane
Let's face it, plane food is pretty rancid. Bringing your own plane food is not only tastier and healthier, but also significantly reduces the waste you produce on your travels!
The Transportation Security Administration prohibits all liquids and gels in containers larger than 100 millilitres (just over 3 ounces) in carry-on baggage, so that means avoiding bringing less than 100ml of the following items; soups, peanut butter, jam, frosting, hummus, applesauce, cream cheese, ketchup, dips, and other soft or pourable food items. Things like sandwiches, wraps, salads, pasta, granola bars, and chocolate are all absolutely fine. If you need cutlery just make sure you bring a blunt edge, non-serrated knife on the plane.
If you are on an international flight, make sure you eat or discard all meats, vegetables, and fruits you have before you land as most countries will not allow these past customs.
I always find myself so dehydrated on aeroplanes, so I ensure I never forget my stainless steel water bottle which is filled right to the top with water. Obviously you can't get >100ml of water through security so I empty it before security and either use a water fountain if there is one, or I kindly ask someone behind the counter of a restaurant or cafe to fill it back up. I'd recommend getting a double walled water bottle as this keeps water cold for up to 12 hours, perfect if you are going somewhere warm!
5. Pack your zero waste essentials with you!
If you use these things at home, it goes without saying that you will need these on holiday too! I always pack my safety razor, Keep Cup for coffee on-the-go, my canvas tote bags for plastic-free holiday shopping.
Finally, enjoy yourself! Remember that some societies haven't come as far when it comes to plastic use, and in some cases, like areas where it is unsafe to drink tap water, plastic use is unavoidable. In these instances, don't let the 'green guilt' ruin your day and remember that all you can do is your best.
Happy travels! Love, Maggie x
