Sustainable travel requires us to plan ahead. First, we must research our destination extensively, as well as eco-friendly transportation and accommodation options. In addition to this, we also need to think about what and how we pack.
Packing sustainable travel gear ahead of time will help you lessen your environmental impact.
From travel items that reduce plastic consumption and waste, to eco-friendly toiletries, yoga goods and hiking gear, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite sustainable travel gear for you to check out!
Here is the best sustainable travel products to bring on every trip:
Hiking and packing gear
Backpack Fairview 55L $150-250
When choosing what to pack it’s also important to plan HOW we pack. That’s why we love Osprey. From hiking backpacks to travel bags, they are mindful of creating quality gear that will last and offer free repairs to ensure longer usage of gear.
Pro tip: packing light and only using carry-on luggage can greatly reduce your environmental impact.
Hiking Peru
Packing Cubes $20
Packing cubes are a great way to ‘pack smart.’ When clothing and items are orderly, it not only lessens the mess of your gear, but it allows you to be more thoughtful of how you pack, fit things better, and use up less space.
Solar Charger $38
This is great for hiking and camping trips, these solar chargers are a great environmental solution to charging your devices naturally.
Vivo Barefoot Shoes *B Corp $150 - 280
One of our personal favorite travel shoes, Vivo Barefoot offers quality shoes that are lightweight, comfortable, and stylish. And big bonus points for being B Corp Certified! This is a third-party certification that ensures that the product is made out of sustainable materials, and workers are also paid fairly.
Plastic waste reduction
Sustainable Coffee Mug - Hydro Flask $25 - 35
Love your coffee on the go? So do we, but all the single-use coffee mugs make for a lot of waste, even when recyclable. That’s why we love the Stojo mug. It cuts the plastic, plus it packs down to less than half its size for easy packing!
Sustainable water bottle by Jennifer Prince
Water Filter - GRAYL $80 - 100
Clean drinking water is not accessible in many places across the globe, which we are quickly reminded of when traveling. Over time, purchasing bottled water gets expensive and contributes to even more plastic waste. What’s worse is that many of the places that don’t have clean drinking water readily available also don’t have adequate recycling facilities so plastic ends up in waste sites or burn piles.
That’s why we’ve partnered with Grayl to promote safe, accessible drinking water from anywhere using their advanced filtering technology. It’s super easy to do, and you can filter tap or natural water sources - we’ve done it ourselves from Nepal and India to all across Latin America!
Reusable Water Bottle - Hydroflask $30 and up
Similar to the coffee mug, a reusable water bottle is one of our must-have travel items! There are many good brands out there that are leakproof, durable, and sustainably made, but Hydro flasks tops our list as our personal faves.
Wandering the beachy streets of Mexico with a big artisanal tote bag by Sophie Echeverry
Silicone Food Bags - StasherBag $19 and up
When embarking on long travel days in the airport, buses, or trains, one can never have too many snacks! That’s why we always travel with our Stasherbags! These zippable silicon bags are great to reuse and put anything from trail mix, sandwiches, and cut-up fruit and veg!
Carrying easily packable and sustainable tote bags is a fantastic way to cut down on waste while also being entirely functional. From grocery store runs, using as a beach bag, to carrying your day-to-day essentials. We never travel without our totes and these ones from Eco Right are some of our favorites as the company aims to increase sustainable and ethical lifestyle choices, minimize waste, and be mindful of product consumption.
Cutlery Set $10
A huge part of travel is trying different flavors, cuisines, and foods. But more often than not, they are served with plastic utensils. Instead of using and throwing away single-use items, we like to bring our own. Whether it’s your own snacks on the road, roadside stalls, or fast casual joints - carrying a cutlery set can drastically reduce the single-use items!
Hygiene & Toiletries
Travel Towel - Nomadix $30 - 45
Travel towels are a travel must and Nomadix ultra-light travel towel uses recycled post-consumer plastic to create their eco-friendly towel. These are a great option to have on the go
Beach in Croatia by Vierra Reid
Reusable Razor $18
Looking for another great way to reduce single-use waste? Opt for reusable stainless steel razors instead of continuing to throw away old razors every few weeks. Bambaw is committed to reducing overall waste and single-use plastic consumption by creating quality products that last.
Menstrual Cup - Organi Cup $26
According to Global Citizen, disposable tampons can be up to 90% plastic and amount to the equivalent of four plastic shopping bags in one single-use product. That could be equivalent to 80 plastic bags per menstrual cycle. Furthermore, traditional tampons (even ones with cardboard dispensers) are made with non-organic materials, which can carry pesticides and other harmful chemicals you really don’t want to be exposed to.
Reusable menstrual cups not only cut out a HUGE portion of single-use plastic and waste, but they save you money over time and can make international travel on your period much easier.
Yoga Products
Moroccan yoga sessions by Josh Telles
Sustainable Travel Yoga Mat - Jade Yoga $60 - 80
Finding a quality yoga mat that is lightweight, eco-friendly and travel-friendly can be a challenge. That’s why we love Jade Yoga travel mats because they cover all the bases and are made with natural rubber and no PVC - the first “green” and non-toxic yoga mat!
If you’re looking to connect with like-minded travelers, join our Traverse the Globe Facebook page here.
Looking to put your sustainable travel products to good use? Join us on our sustainable small group tours in over 25+ countries.
Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links for products that we love that are made by brands that we trust. By purchasing from those links on our site, we can earn a commission – which is at no extra cost to you and helps keep our site running with free information like this. Win-win! Thank you for supporting our small business and sustainable tourism!
More travel tips for you
If you’re looking for the best Europe trip packing list, look no further! In this blog post, we’re sharing our comprehensive guide to packing for Europe so that you can embark on your journey fully prepared. We’re here to make sure your luggage remains light and your experiences unforgettable.