I am always late. Ask anyone who knows me. I have been late to my own birthday not once, not twice, but three separate times. So the irony is not lost on me when I say we are running out of time.

But we are not late yet.

There is still time to protect the planet and adapt to a sustainable way of living. Lowering your carbon emissions while traveling helps minimize your ecological footprint. The lower your footprint, the better you use and preserve resources. If you are curious about your current environmental impact, check out the eco-education quizzes on my sustainable travel page.

In this blog post, we’ll explore a variety of eco-friendly alternatives that empower you to embark on eco-adventures without compromising on the thrill and joy of exploration. Making these few simple swaps can start our transformation from vacationers to eco-explorers.

1. Use Reef-Safe Sunscreen – Mama Kuleana
   • When we think of sunscreen, we think of it as a protector; however, sunscreen often has chemicals that have been proven to bleach and kill coral reefs. By avoiding oxybenzone and octinoxate ingredients in your sunscreen, you can help protect coral reefs. Learn more about reef-safe sunscreens and what ingredients to avoid with Save the Reef.
2. Try a Bamboo Toothbrush – Brush with Bamboo
   • Traditional plastic toothbrushes get thrown away and take over 500 years to fully decompose. Bamboo toothbrushes, on the other hand, are fully biodegradable, compostable, and antimicrobial while still performing just as well as a traditional toothbrushes.
3. Refill Reusable Water Bottles – Hydroflasks
   • Ditch the plastic in exchange for a reusable water bottle. These are more sustainable, fashionable, and durable. Plus, they’ll keep your water cooler for longer.
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4. Bring a Reusable Bag – Toiletries Bag
   • Bringing a reusable bag that can double as your carry-on item and a bag for if you go shopping. It’s a fashion statement and a statement that you care.
   • Use reusable bags to package up your toiletries too! Then when you are back from vacation, these little bags can be makeup bags, used as small prep kits, or even pencil cases.
5. Invest in a Sustainable Wardrobe – Good on You
   • Buying more clothing for a vacation can be tempting, but try not to buy things purely for the aesthetic. Instead, invest in pieces you really love and want to wear again and again. Create a capsule wardrobe and resist the toxic overconsumption trend heavy mindset fashion (learn about how harmful it is in my previous blog, Shop Consciously, Travel Confidently).
   • By investing in sustainably made clothing, you are helping the environment, the climate, and the workers at these ethical companies. Be sure to represent your values with ethically made and produced clothing. If you want to find sustainable companies you can trust, look at brand ratings on Good On You or visit sites like ShopZero, which has an intense vetting process. Consider renting clothes for the vacation and then returning them through a service like Rent the Runway.
6. Reusable Makeup Remover Pads – Reusable Cotton Pads, Paulas Choice
   • This is a quick and easy change will save you a lot of money in the long run. When partnered with micellar water, these pads have the same cleaning effect while being gentler on your skin than wipes. Purchasing reusable makeup pads that will be cleaned with one wash is an easy way to reduce the waste you produce.
7. Experiment with Toothpaste Tablets – Bite Toothpaste
   • Plastic free and often in refillable containers, toothpaste tablets are an innovative solution to get rid of some of the plastic you are responsible for. It comes in different flavors, and degrees of foaminess, while maintaining the same freshness as traditional toothpaste.
8. Stay at Eco-friendly Accommodations – Alight Travel
   • Alight Travel is an amazing service that allows you to book a night at a hotel and pay to offset the emissions from your stay while purchasing the room. It also gives hotels with a sustainability rating according to their energy and water usage, waste, and other factors, which you can check out on their website.
9. Walk and take Public Transport instead of Ubering
   • This is the easiest swap depending on where you are. Opting to walk to your next destination instead of ordering an Uber means you are getting some exercise while producing zero carbon emissions. Besides, hot girl walks are even better when exploring a new place.
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10. Say NO to Overconsumption
    • It is easy to want to buy a thousand and one souvenirs, but saying no to overconsumption helps the environment and your bank account. If you buy a memento, try to make sure it is from a local business instead of a big corporation to ensure the people in the community you’re visiting can profit.

Going green can be easy when you start small, making little swaps, while still enjoying your travels. So hop on the sustainability train, and don’t be late.

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