A lot of nice readers have emailed asking for tips on how to travel green and although I am not totally education on this matter, there are some products I use because I know they either won’t harm the environment or because they save on plastic. I thought I’d share my favorite eco-friendly travel products so you can possibly try to switch over to them on your next trip.
Eco-Friendly Travel Products You Will Love
LUSH toiletries
If you’ve been in a [easyazon_link keywords=”LUSH” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]LUSH[/easyazon_link] store then you know that they don’t use much packaging. Everything is sitting out in little baskets. They take going green seriously and their very famous [easyazon_link identifier=”B00V4IQ3TY” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]solid shampoo[/easyazon_link] is evidence of that. I have a bar that I take on short trips and it seems to never get smaller. It suds up like normal shampoo although the conditioner didn’t work for me. You can buy a [easyazon_link identifier=”B0016OB1UC” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]LUSH tin[/easyazon_link] to hold the shampoo which is re-usable. No plastic packaging to throw away and they are luxurious bath products from the face washes to [easyazon_link identifier=”B0016OCU3O” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]body butter[/easyazon_link] lotion bars for which you can also find tins.
“We prefer to use ingredients that are produced in a sustainable way and avoid those that aren’t. Palm oil, for example, went into our “little black book” and was replaced by more earth-friendly oils in our soap base” -LUSH.
Read more about their green policy here. They’ve been listed as one of the best, but another option would be Burt’s Bees.
[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”160″ identifier=”B003G5UWTA” locale=”US” src=”https://hippie-inheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/41GZ62HczjL.SL160.jpg” tag=”Hipinhee-20″ width=”160″] [easyazon_image align=”left” height=”160″ identifier=”B001K5V8NC” locale=”US” src=”https://hippie-inheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/413cl6GRM3L.SL160.jpg” tag=”Hipinhee-20″ width=”160″][easyazon_image align=”left” height=”160″ identifier=”B0016OCU3O” locale=”US” src=”https://hippie-inheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/31sXbOckKML.SL160.jpg” tag=”Hipinhee-20″ width=”160″] [easyazon_image align=”left” height=”143″ identifier=”B0016OB1UC” locale=”US” src=”https://hippie-inheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/51vpbJZ11ZL.SL160.jpg” tag=”Hipinhee-20″ width=”160″] [easyazon_image style=”float:left” height=”160″ identifier=”B00FTB29YK” locale=”US” src=”https://hippie-inheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/31CvQzm2Bw3L.SL160.jpg” tag=”Hipinhee-20″ width=”160″]
GoToob
If you have some toiletries to make, go for these [easyazon_link identifier=”B002VS8H3G” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]GoToob squeezy bottles[/easyazon_link] to fill up instead of the generic brands. They are BPA-free and made from silicon. They are easy to clean and are TSA size approved. Plus, they are really cute.
[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”110″ identifier=”B004WKHOBW” locale=”US” src=”https://hippie-inheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/31hbW9Se6L.SL110.jpg” tag=”Hipinhee-20″ width=”74″] [easyazon_image style=”float:left” height=”98″ identifier=”B009NJUYI2″ locale=”US” src=”https://hippie-inheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/41NgakW8w2BL.SL110.jpg” tag=”Hipinhee-20″ width=”110″]Timbuk2
I’ve been trying out Timbuk2 recently which is known as being very eco-friendly. I wanted to try a customized bag and this is what I created below. I went with red and gray’s but it was a hard choice. I also got a regular backpack to just use as a carry-on. I wanted one that had a lot of padding for my computer and got this Showdown laptop bag in gray. The red one is more for a day hike while the gray one is for travel. I”ll be taking them both back to India with me but I’m sure Ben will steal the gray one!
Sun Bum sunscreen
I picked up a [easyazon_link identifier=”B007MV4BQY” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]face stick[/easyazon_link] while in Hawaii last year and it changed my life. Now I have so many Sun Bum products, I am obsesssed! Ben works in the ocean building artificial reefs to protect beaches and promote wildlife. Guess what helps destroy reefs? When you surf over them and snorkel over them with normal Sunscreen on. It’s terrible for reefs! Sun Bum is the sunscreen which is used by the Hawaiian LifeGuards and partnered up with lots of pro surfers like Kelly Slater to give to skin cancer prevention charities. I use the Face stick, Sun Bum Shampoo & Conditioner, Sun Bum salt spray for beachy waves, and the baby Sun Bum for my body. I also have a handful of their sunscreen chapsticks.
[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”160″ identifier=”B007MV4BQY” locale=”US” src=”https://hippie-inheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/41jqZkacqgL.SL160.jpg” tag=”Hipinhee-20″ width=”160″][easyazon_image align=”left” height=”160″ identifier=”B00XO31GUI” locale=”US” src=”https://hippie-inheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/41g2yDChTML.SL160.jpg” tag=”Hipinhee-20″ width=”160″] [easyazon_image align=”left” height=”160″ identifier=”B00TUJWAKK” locale=”US” src=”https://hippie-inheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/31OEgzoiqL.SL160.jpg” tag=”Hipinhee-20″ width=”43″] [easyazon_image style=”float:left” height=”160″ identifier=”B004F35T5O” locale=”US” src=”https://hippie-inheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/31yWNt1WVyL.SL160.jpg” tag=”Hipinhee-20″ width=”52″]
Diva Cup
I’ve written about the [easyazon_link identifier=”B000FAG6X0″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Diva Cup[/easyazon_link] before. I brought it to India my first time traveling here. It’s a reusable silicon cup that you can use instead of tampons and pads when you’re on your period. It didn’t work great in India as not all bathrooms were clean- it’s best for when you will be staying in hotels but many travelers swear by this. You can leave it in all day and even do yoga or work out- plus no fear of toxic shock syndrome. There are two sizes: pre baby and post baby.
Luggage
Research the environment policy for your luggage brands. Most sites will have a page about this. For example, I just got a [easyazon_link identifier=”B01D8GZHDM” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]3 piece Calpak luggage set[/easyazon_link]- I can check easily on their website to see if they care about their carbon footprint. They do! So does [easyazon_link keywords=”Osprey” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Osprey[/easyazon_link] (I love them) and [easyazon_link keywords=”Eagle Creek Luggage” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Eagle Creek Luggage[/easyazon_link] whose products I haven’t tried but know many travel bloggers swear by them.
Water purifier
There are a variety out there but the most popular is the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00V7P1R86″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Steripen[/easyazon_link]. You can read up on it but basically, it can sterilize water anywhere and would prevent you from buying water bottles as you travel, even here in India.
Paperblanks
This diary company is totally environmentally friendly! [easyazon_link keywords=”Paperblanks” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Paperblanks[/easyazon_link] are really cute and if you’re like me, you’ll want to take a journal on your travels. They are so fun to look back on.
“We manage all aspects of our business to ensure we are environmentally responsible global citizens. With respect to the production of our journals, all of our paper is derived from sustainable forest pulp, and our binder boards are made with 100% recycled materials.”
Swimwear
I have mentioned my love for Vitamin A on here a lot and their “little black bikini” which is the ultimate bikini that every celeb owns but is affordable. It’s said to be the best fitting swimsuit there is. They use EcoLux™ green fibers which are recycled nylon fiber and feel like matte jersey material.
MGRA Swim is also green! I love this swimsuit because it looks like the sea. The artist’s hand paints these prints in a way that is called resin art. The results are stunning. The best friend is the bikini designer, and the hot girlfriend is the model. Their bikinis are 78% recycled and 10% of sales goes to nature conservation in Australia.
Solio Solar powered battery
This is what is says, really. The [easyazon_link identifier=”B005AEQ43I” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Solio solar powered battery[/easyazon_link] uses the sun to power up your electronics rather than needing to plug in. A reader told me he used this in India and it went perfectly for him. I haven’t tried it yet but think it’d be a good gift for Ben this Christmas!
House of Marley headphones
Your purchases support “youth, planet, and peace” with the Marley 1Love foundation and beyond that they make their products with the planet in mind. [easyazon_link keywords=”House of Marley” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]House of Marley[/easyazon_link] takes going green pretty serious!
[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”160″ identifier=”B00LL6P5U2″ locale=”US” src=”https://hippie-inheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/41Nxas35H5L.SL160.jpg” tag=”Hipinhee-20″ width=”144″] [easyazon_image align=”left” height=”160″ identifier=”B005FO2CAW” locale=”US” src=”https://hippie-inheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/51g6j8BvI6L.SL160.jpg” tag=”Hipinhee-20″ width=”160″] [easyazon_image align=”left” height=”160″ identifier=”B01DWHZU7A” locale=”US” src=”https://hippie-inheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/51BKrr6WolL.SL160.jpg” tag=”Hipinhee-20″ width=”160″]Marley products are sustainably crafted from earth-friendly materials including our exclusive REWIND™ fabric, cotton and canvas textiles, recycled plastics, recyclable metals, bamboo and Forest Stewardship Council-certified woods.” – House of Marley
Teeki Yoga Clothing
Teeki makes the coolest trendiest prints on yoga clothing and is committed to not harming the environment while they do it. The fabrics they use are made by material which is spun from fibers made out of recycled plastic bottles. Wow!
TOM’s
I am so in love with my [easyazon_link identifier=”B001211TBA” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]burlap TOM’s[/easyazon_link]! I take them on all my trips and they still haven’t fallen apart. They are made with the environment in mind and each time you buy a pair, a child in need gets a pair too! Next, I want the canvas ones.
[easyazon_image style=”float:left” height=”160″ identifier=”B001211TBA” locale=”US” src=”https://hippie-inheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/51lcLOJfIPL.SL160.jpg” tag=”Hipinhee-20″ width=”160″] [easyazon_image style=”float:left” height=”81″ identifier=”B001J6NXOO” locale=”US” src=”https://hippie-inheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/41coAfPlaL.SL160.jpg” tag=”Hipinhee-20″ width=”160″]
Bedol Water alarm clock
You can use water (somehow magically) to power this alarm clock – wow! No need for batteries or charging. Check out the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00EUL948O” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Bedol water alarm[/easyazon_link] clock here.
I hope you found some eco-friendly travel products on this list. There are dozens more out there but these are some that I either use or are on my wishlist, like the clock and battery charger. We may not all be perfect with “going green” but these purchases instead of your normal ones may be a small step in helping.
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I’m a huge fan of Lush, especially as they have lots of great, VEGAN products. I bought a shampoo bar almost 1 1/2 year ago, and I have maybe used half of it! I also love their 9 to 5 skin cleanser.
Yes LUSH is so great. Every time I go into a LUSH store I want to buy everything!
Great list! I’ve always been a big fan of LUSH. We recently discovered Timbuk2 when looking for a backpack style of diaper bag. Great company as well!
Oh cool I didn’t know that they had that. I did see they had a dog carrier though but sadly my dogs are too big (and would go nuts if I put them in something like that)
Great list Rachel! I’ve been trying to be more conscious about my personal impact on the environment. I do little things like always carrying my own water bottle when I travel, refusing straws when I buy drinks refusing plastic bags as much as possible etc. I know it’s only a drop in the ocean… but hey, it’s a drop. I’ve also been looking into greener products and this is a great list to start with. I’ve recently started using Swisse Australia beauty products because they’re animal-cruelty free but still on the lookout for a good “green” shampoo — maybe I’ll give Lush a go. I love your Sun Bum suggestion – I’m going to order some today! Oh also, Yoga Democracy also make awesome yoga tights from recycled materials :)
Oh cool, I haven’t heard of yoga democracy I will definitely look into that!
I like the shoes from Tom’s as they look great and seem to be very versatile! I would go for these as I’m not a fan of flip flops lol!
You should defo try them – and if you can wear a childs shoe it’s like $15 cheaper! I’m at 37 and it works fine :)
I’ve made a note to follow up on your recommendation of Sun Bum, especially the face stick. A travel-sized stick is so handy, and promotes use. I’ve a few other suggestions:
– Panty liners can be a great travel product, but not all that plastic. Natracare panty liners are plastic-free and made from organic cotton. Also, they’re not individually wrapped in plastic.
– EO hand sanitizing wipes are plastic-free bamboo wipes
– Crystal deodorant from natural mineral salts in a travel size lasts for months. I took the brand CRYSTAL on my last trip of 2+ months and used no more than a third of a 40-g container.
PS I love LUSH as well. My favourite shampoo bar is Honey I Washed my Hair, in their super lightweight tin. With my short hair I estimate it’s good for about 60 washes.
Thank you for these extra tips! Very helpful.
Great list! I’ve never heard of Teeki before, they have some really great prints! The Sun Bum is another discovery, will check it out! Thanks for the tips ;)
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