We love to travel, don’t we? And the first thing is to pack your suitcase! But, did you know that from this moment on you can make your trip more sustainable? That’s why today we want to talk to you about how to pack a sustainable zero waste suitcase and start your experience as a #changemaker.
Benefits of preparing a sustainable zero waste suitcase
You may never have thought about it before, but what we pack when preparing a sustainable, zero-waste suitcase can make a big difference for several reasons. First, it’s a very important reason! Filling the suitcase with things we don’t need adds weight to our luggage. A weight that increases with the transport we choose and that means greater fuel costs.
On the other hand, what we choose to take on our trip can determine our impact on our daily lives. And a responsible lifestyle must also be maintained when we travel. Therefore, we are going to look at some tips to make your suitcase weigh less, but also to choose some “essentials” so that your trip has the least possible negative impact from the very beginning. Here we go!
How to pack a sustainable zero waste suitcase
You surely know the 3Rs of sustainability: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Well, let’s use them to prepare our sustainable zero waste suitcase, reducing what we need to include in the suitcase, choosing what we can reuse and ultimately facilitating recycling.
1. Create a “capsule wardrobe”
Clothing is probably the part that gives us the most headaches when it comes to packing a suitcase. We fill it with “just in case” clothes that we might not wear on the whole trip. For this reason, the concept of a “capsule wardrobe” is great for us. Don’t you know what it is?
This is a way of creating versatile and diverse looks by combining very few pieces of clothing. In other words, choose basic items that can be combined with each other to create a large number of looks with very few items. Neutral colours or choosing a closed colour range are usually good strategies to be able to dress the whole trip with the least number of items possible, but without your look being boring!
2. Choose solid hygiene products
Hygiene or cosmetic products, such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc., in solid form have two advantages when preparing a sustainable, zero-waste suitcase. On the one hand, products in their solid form usually last much longer than the bottled alternative, usually months, which helps reduce the use of plastics in packaging. And if your trip is short, you won’t need to buy them at your destination. On the other hand, solid versions won’t give you any problems at the controls for the plane and you won’t have to worry about the amount of liquids allowed.
3. Don’t forget the zero waste essentials
Remember to bring your refillable bottle so that it will accompany you throughout the trip and avoid buying plastic bottles. At the airport you can take it empty and refill it later. Another essential is a cloth sandwich holder. It doesn’t take up any space in your suitcase and you’ll forget about aluminum foil for all the picnics and excursions that await you on this experience. Remember to always carry a cloth or mesh bag on hand to use for any daily purchases and avoid plastic bags. And finally, take a bag with a set of reusable cutlery and a couple of stainless steel straws. Bamboo cutlery is in fashion, but keep in mind that a set of cutlery you have at home also works. Remember to reuse before buying new things!
4. Protect your suitcase without plastic
If you want to protect your suitcase before checking it in, you can opt for a reusable fabric cover. They come in different sizes and designs and are easy to fit. You can use it as many times as you like and you’ll avoid using a lot of plastic that can’t be recycled later. If you’re worried about security, you can use seat belts so that no one can open your suitcase during the trip.
5. Carry your tickets on your mobile phone
Whether in PDF or in an app, you can always avoid printing your tickets and boarding passes by carrying them on your phone. The same goes for maps or guides to your destination, which you can replace with digital guides, reference websites or apps. But don’t forget, digital waste also pollutes. Delete documents and apps you no longer need from your phone when you’re done with your trip to reduce your digital footprint.
Traveling leaves a mark
As you can see, every little gesture counts when planning a sustainable trip and being an active part of the change we need. At Plan Zero we want to help you make this experience leave a mark on you, but not on the planet. Discover our commitment on our website.
