How to be Zero Waste when traveling and outdoors? Here are some zero waste solutions and suggestions.
As we’ll repeat many times, emissions are waste too and, especially in the case of planes, they are among the main polluters on the planet. According to an ever-growing number of scientific studies, together with the adoption of a vegan diet, quitting air travel would be one of the best ways to cut CO2 emissions and begin to remedy the environmental disasters we’ve caused up until now.
If we find ourselves in the condition of flying, then we can choose to offset our carbon footprint with a non-profit dedicated exactly to this:Â Atmosfair.
Of course, planes are not the only polluting means of transportation. So, whether it’s a large trip or a simple daily commute, being mindful of the means of transportation we use is crucial: let’s prefer bicycles and public transportation, let’s carpool and give lifts. Generally speaking, let’s try to opt for the least impactful mean of transportation for the environment.Â
We can say it out loud: single-use plastic water bottles are anachronistic and dangerous for the health of those who use them. Reusable water bottles, possibly made of stainless steel, are the perfect Zero Waste solution to drink water or any other kind of drink. If we need to purify the water we’ll use with it, we can use a dedicated filter. Some even have it incorporated. If we don’t have a water fountain handy, or a tap, we can ask bars or restaurants to fill it up for us…never doubt other people’s kindness!
Regardless of the meal we’re having and where we’re having it, let’s prepare our meals and snacks at home (so we’ll also know what the ingredients are and let’s carry them in reusable containers or similar. Instead of single-use plastic or aluminium film, we can use bee wraps instead of plastic or aluminum foil, made of cloth and (possibly vegetable) wax. Same goes for cloth napkins.
Dehydration is a way of processing food of all kinds, whether it’s cooked or raw, for which we can dry out single ingredients or prepped dishes thanks to a food dehydrator indeed, to then easily store them in jars or vacuum-sealed, even up to a year. It’s a truly incredible Zero Waste practice to prep and store our food, that can turn out to be a true game changer in our kitchens.
First of all, we can use it to prep meals and snacks for our time in the outdoors, especially if it’s a matter of multiple days. Indeed, we can dry pretty much anything. This will allow us to have something ready in our cupboard, that we can rehydrate in just a few minutes and take with us in a reusable box, or rehydrate it on the spot, or more, we can have it as a snack, like in the case of fruits and veg.
Of course, dehydration is a great way of storing our daily food too, especially when it comes to single ingredients: we can dehydrate the excessive production of our vegetable gardens, and then use it all year long in our dishes. But of course, it’s also a great way to store some pre-cooked meals to have when we’re too tired to cook, or we have nothing left in the house. Differently from freezing, dehydrated food keep all their characteristics and take up a lot less space.
As for what concerns energy consumption, a food dehydrator is not something we would use on a daily basis, and especially if we set it on eco mode, it doesn’t use a lot of energy. Moreover, it allows us to have such a growth in our daily sustainability that it would be surely worth it.Â
Word of advice: we suggest an horizontal dehydrator, because it can dehydrate anything.Â
For our Zero Waste meals outside, to replace once and for all single-use cutlery and napkins that we receive while eating out, the solution is to use a kit of reusable cutlery that we always carry with us such as bamboo ones, if not the ones we already have at home. However, let’s keep in mind that the latter would not be allowed on a flight, especially knives.
Another practical solution is the spork, the union between a spoon and a fork, generally made of wood (hence non-confiscatable at the airport). It is much shorter than a normal piece of cutlery making it even easier to carry around. It’s a great solution, and even cheaper than the whole kit!
When it comes to paper napkins, we can carry around a cotton napkin instead.
Also, in this case, a reusable glass/cup, possibly made of stainless steel, is the perfect solution to avoid single-use glasses and cups. Some cups also work as thermoses. This is a great solution not only for what concerns homemade tea or coffee but also for takeaway beverages.
Our question when dealing with straws will always be the same: do we really need them? Whatever we drink with a straw, we can drink it without one.
If we’re talking about single-serving juice cartons, we invite everyone to reconsider the actual purchase of this product, keeping in mind the giant amount of waste that is produced with just a single one of these cartons. There are glass alternatives, or we can choose to fill up a flask with package-free juice, or juice kept in much bigger, hence less polluting, packaging. However, not buying them still remains the best choice.
If we really can’t do without a straw, then surely stainless steel straws, washable and reusable, are a great solution.
Whether it’s the espresso cup with its little stick to steer the sugar (even when we have it without sugar or milk), or the plastic bottle of our drink, or the wrap of a snack, automatic dispensers are the epitome of single-use and here the only possible Zero Waste solution is: don’t use them.
In case we are the manager of a public place, we can choose to find alternative solutions (like returnable bottles or a nearby cafe) and raise awareness among our visitors on why we chose something different.
If we really can’t do without automatic machines, we can encourage our visitors to carry their own cup and spoon and make a place available to wash them afterward. We can also eliminate cups and sticks from the machine so that it’ll become just a drink dispenser. This way, not only will we apply a Zero Waste solution without having to toss the machine, but we might also raise awareness among our visitors on why we’re doing it.
When it comes to water, we can give away reusable water bottles and, in case our tap water is not potable, we can install water dispensers in the building.
Let’s not be afraid of the reactions we may get from your visitors. When we explain our reasons with the right tone and information handy, people are always happy to listen to us and meet us halfway.
When out, especially while traveling or during outdoor activities, there are various devices that need batteries. In this case, rechargeable batteries are the solution.
Moreover, there are small portable solar panels that use solar energy to recharge integrated power banks that you can use while traveling or during long days outside.
The Zero Waste solution is easy: reusable earplugs, like for example titanium ones, and reusable masks, instead of those given to us by hotels, planes or other facilities.
Just because something is compostable, let’s not leave it in nature. Let’s take it away with us and let’s dispose of it properly. This is for various reasons: our fruits and veggies don’t belong there, especially if we are talking about products that are not from that area. We are many people and, if each one of us left their organic waste in nature, it would become a compost bin; and that waste could become food for animals that should actually remain wild and hunt for their food, keeping balance in the ecosystem. Even worse, leftover food waste could turn out to be poisonous for them because of the substances and pesticides used to grow it. Let’s leave nature wild, and let’s leave no trace behind us.
Of course, this is even more true for paper tissues and wet wipes. It doesn’t matter if the packaging says they’re sustainable, biodegradable, or maybe even compostable: it’s not in nature where they should be thrown. After doing our business, let’s carry them away in hermetic tubes (which are made specifically for these purposes), or more simply use a bag like the ones used for pets.Â
When staying at a hotel for several days, we don’t need the towels of our room to be changed everyday. It’s a small choice that has a huge environmental impact.
Almost all hotels provide their guests with a single-use toiletries kit: soap bar, shampoo, hair cap and so on. Instead of using single-use products, let’s carry our own from home: make room for Zero Waste traveling!
Whether we’re traveling, or just out for the day, let’s make sure to always have a reusable foldable bag with you: we won’t even realize it’s in our bag or backpack, but it’ll make a huge difference when making a purchase!
When staying at a hotel, AC is basically always there, even when it’s not necessary. Of course, the most Zero Waste of choices is to switch it off and notify the staff that’s that how we want it to be for the rest of our staying, especially when we’re not in the room.
If it’s truly impossible to do without AC, then let’s remember to switch it off when we leave the room and let’s use it only when we’re in. It’ll still be better than to have it on for the whole day.
The same goes for radiators: we can ask to lower the temperature, or to turn them off completely. If we can control them ourselves, then let’s do it and notify the staff about our choices.
This suggestion works especially when we find ourselves in nature, but it can easily be applied to any aspect in our life.
A bad information can cause a negative impact on the natural place we’re visiting: the access could be forbidden to preserve wildlife in specific times of the year (such as mating and reproduction), or it could be accessible only in certain times and specific attention to preserve the area.
Generally speaking, a good organization and preparation can allow us to avoid having to solve a last minute problem with a single-use solution, or using more polluting transportation than needed.
As adventurous and thrilling as it may make us feel, going off the beaten trail in any natural environment (already way too populated by mankind) only means to harm the ecosystem even more, by stepping on precious living beings or disturbing the local wildlife.
We’re still talking to the heart of nature lovers, free campers and outdoor sport people. When it comes to washing ourselves, wash dishes and clothes, or to use any kind of soap or detergent nearby springs, lakes, rivers and so on, let’s make sure that soap is 100% natural, ecological, biological and biodegradable, so that water will not be polluted – and of course let’s avoid to wash anything directly in the water. To avoid contamination, let’s also avoid to pee or go number two nearby water sources: let’s always keep a distance of at least 500 meters.
As poetic as they can be, fires can spread and heavily damage the ecosystem if we don’t know how to start them properly, how to keep them under control and, even more importantly, if we make them too big. The most sustainable solution is to avoid starting a fire in nature. If we really can’t do without, then let’s keep them small and let’s turn them off as soon as possible.
Where to start to be Zero Waste when traveling, outside or outdoor?
Do you have some more Zero Waste suggestions and solutions? Write us! We’ll be happy to add it to our list and inspire always more people.
Keep on exploring our guide to how to live Zero Waste, visit all the sections:
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