Reducing our waste to zero is the mantra of today’s world. Starting from our household chores to travelling, if we can mind a little about the waste, life can be much simpler and easier. The goal is to use as little as possible and avoid all materials that can pollute and endanger our planet.

Does that sound difficult? Not at all! “

In fact, in this modern world, there are people who really care about the world and take care of every little thing that matters to keep our Earth healthy and clean.

I still remember my trip to Elephanta Caves in Mumbai. I was surprised to see a woman who didn’t throw her banana peels here and there. She took out a pouch from her handbag and kept it there when others were busy throwing their food waste everywhere.

Today we are going to learn all the tips and tricks to go zero while travelling around the world.

Say no to plastic

While packing our bags to travel, plastic bags are the handiest thing we find around us, but if we can avoid the usage of plastic, that can help the environment a little. Avoiding those plastic straws and single plastic bags can be done with little preparation. Though some of them can’t be avoided, we can reduce their usage to some extent. Instead of using plastic bags, we can use paper bags, cloth bags, or jute bags. All these are handy as well as washable and, at the same time, help in keeping our environment clean.

Avoid buying water bottles every now and then.

Reusable bottles are much more environmentally friendly than buying single water bottles and dumping them around anywhere. Not only are these environmentally friendly, but they are also budget-friendly. Travel water bottles with filters are a great idea to be used and refilled again when needed. Most countries have water filling stations, but if you land in countries where these are not available, try buying a larger bottle rather than a single one.

Using reusable coffee cups and utensils

In China and Japan, there is a movement called “BYO chopsticks.” This is to discourage the use of plastic forks and spoons. If you search the market, you will come across reusable utensils, knives, spoons, etc. Something made of bamboo will work wonders.

Carry your own reusable coffee cups. These are easy to get refilled and get a takeaway drink in.

Use a cloth napkin

Carrying a full-sized cloth napkin is much more beneficial than carrying hundreds of paper napkins. Avoiding the usage of paper napkins can save many trees, as we all know that napkins are made by cutting trees. Cloth napkins can be useful in those bizarre moments as well as to store fruits and vegetables.

Toiletries to be used

Liquid soaps and shampoos are always packed in plastic bottles. If you want to go for zero waste, use bar soaps instead of liquid ones. Bamboo toothbrushes are more environmentally friendly than the plastic ones.

Don’t waste food

It is always better to finish the whole meal rather than waste it. If you are going to board a flight, try eating the food before customs clearance. If you are eating on the flight, finish your food completely.

While travelling, we do have food scraps with us. Try disposing of them in compost bins if you find any.

Carry fewer things in your bag

Keeping your bag light can be a great way to travel more without thinking of the burden and worrying about repacking a lot of things again and again. Try carrying three to four pairs of clothes and using them multiple times. Not only clothes, but the idea remains the same for shoes and makeup items. Spend more time on your adventure than wasting time packing.

Conclusion

Sometimes we think not to make our bags heavy by carrying a lot and we spend our money on unnecessary items. Try thinking of all the things you can avoid or start doing to help our environment. For example, you can carry fewer clothes and carry your own reusable water bottles and utensils to be used during travel.