We all want to change the world, but sometimes we may feel things are too big for us to control as individuals. It's important to remember that anything we can do, however small, is a step in the right direction. This is a bit easier at home, but what about on the road? Traveling can bring a number of challenge, and living your best eco-friendly life on the road can often be difficult and, let's be honest, a hassle.
With this in mind, we propose 4 easy eco-friendly and vegan travel tips that will help you do your part in making a difference and protect Mother Nature! And all while snacking and eating! How fun is that!?
1. Bring Low Waste Snacks Along
We all get the munchies from time to time, and being on vacation is no different. Snacks can give you just the boost you need while you’re out and about, and are so easy to sneak into a bag. And luckily, there are so many new vegan snack options out there that are perfect for those who want to limit the negative environmental impact they make. Here are some of the best choices to take with you on your next trip:
- Sustainable Snacks are made from simple, wholesome ingredients and happen to be delicious to boot! They also happen to have no refined sugar and are gluten-free for those for which this matters.
- The company ReGrained took leftover grains from beer brewing companies, and using all the good nutrients, created a tasty treat. Though one of their bars unfortunately does contain honey, their other bars are all vegan! Try their Blueberry Sunflower Saison Antioxidant Bar for a nice pick-me-up. The snack also comes in a compostable wrapper so you won’t have to worry about plastic waste. It’s not just good for you, it's also good for the planet!
- Alter Eco’s products, with a pretty self-explanatory name, also comes in a biodegradable plant-based packaging. You'll need to check the ingredients as not every product is 100% plant-based, but what they do vegan is excellent.
- For the late afternoon, try Tea Drops. They make a wide variety of flavored hot tea mixes, with recyclable biodegradable packaging. Double whammy: the tea is also infused with organic raw cane sugar - eliminating your need for sweetener packages. Supply yourself with both caffeinated and non-caffeinated selections for every mood!
- Lifefood also has excellent choices to pack. Not only are they organically vegan, they are also gluten-free. They offer a wide variety of different flavors in fruit bars, breakfast grains, chocolate bars and so much more! Every part of their packaging, from stickers to wrapping, is recyclable and compostable.
2. Opt For Reusable Containers
- Khala’s & Co. is an eco-friendly centered company that's created food wraps made from renewable materials. They are a great alternative to harmful shrink/plastic wraps. They keep your food fresh for days to come, and can be purchased in vegan materials. Not only are they super cute, they’re also reusable, recyclable and biodegradable - even packaging! They even donate 1% of profits to environmental non-profits and agencies. A win for all!
- Going for a hike or a picnic or just want to keep your food fresh during the day? Try one of Eco Lunchbox’s stainless steel or silicone containers. Small, plastic-free, and light-weight they have so many different options that are perfect for your day out.
- Stasher offers a collection of different sized bags made from naturally made silicone and are perfect for food and snack transportation. They are sealable, flexible and reusable for freezable items, heat-able items and snacks!
- Sometimes it’s inevitable for us to not use water bottles. Perhaps you’re making a hiking trek and aren’t able to refill your reusable bottle right away, or aren’t in a location with drinkable tap water. No worry! We've written an article with several alternatives to purchasing a water bottle.
- Finally, there's Cove’s, a 100% biodegradable water bottle! It's not ready yet but you can register to be notified at launch. The bottle is algae-based, and can be reused for up to 6 months without decomposing. Once it is thrown away, or composted, the bottle breaks down into organic waste that does not leave behind harmful residue. Super cool!
3. Use Straw, Glass or Metal Alternatives
Plastic straws are harmful to many aspects of our environment and sea life. They also happen to be one of the easiest things to replace! When eating out at restaurants, bring some of these small, affordable alternatives with you and let your waiter know you don't need their plastic alternative:
- Who knew you could make a straw out of such unlikely resources? Straws made from pasta are the next big thing in decreasing the use of plastic straws. The Amazing Pasta Straw is a great alternative that's vegan and gluten-free. Not only that, but a used pasta straws decomposes almost overnight without leaving toxins behind. Buy a large bulk batch and use them for years to come. Plus, and promise we wouldn’t judge, they make a handy snack if the need arises! You can also purchase this brand on Amazon.
- Bamboo straws take up little space to take with you and though they’re a bit more pricey, they do last for years. Brush With Bamboo makes a biodegradable, organic and reusable bamboo straw substitute. Although the straws are hand-made, they are made in waste-free facilities with happy, healthy workers.
- Hay Straws also offer sustainable straw material through the use of wheat plants. Made from the stem of a wheat plant, they are 100% biodegradable and gluten free. Not only a good alternative for the environment, they also use plastic-free packaging.
- Vegan Straws has a various selection of reusable straws in forms of Eco Vitrum glass and stainless steel. They come with cleaning kits, carrying cases and so much more. Materials are all recyclable and sustainable, even shipping. But wait, it gets better - for a limited time use the code ‘worldvegantravel10’ for 10% off your entire purchase!
- Another glass straw possibility, among other items, is from Simply Straw. Each straw is made from organic, non toxic and recyclable materials. They have different sizes and shapes for different types of drinks, as well as accessories and cases for each of them. Simply Straw also works with several non-profits for many causes, and donates a percentage of sales with each purchase you make of their Straws for Cause merchandise. If that still doesn’t sway you, they have a lifetime guarantee an all straw products!
4. Carry Compact Utensils
While stainless steel utensils aren’t as harmful for the environment as plastic, as they are washed and reused in restaurants, it’s always nice to be prepared for those rare times when metal silverware isn’t an option. Whether you’re on the go and stopping for a quick snack, or visiting a food festival - say no to plastic silverware and use these eco-friendly utensil options instead:
- To-Go Ware Utensils Set are great! You’ll get a spoon, fork and a knife, and a super practical utensil holder. While the utensils are made from renewable bamboo, the holder is made from recycled plastic bottles, so a win all the way. This collection is so small, you’ll hardly know it’s in your bag.
- If you’re looking for something stronger, try Lux and Eco’s NUMU Wooden Cutlery Set. This set includes a fork, spoon and 2 chopsticks made from wood and meant to be sturdy enough to reuse for a long time. It’s biodegradable, heat resistant and coated in non-toxic food grade wood oil.
- Transitions 2 Earth has designed 100% biodegradable cutlery that decomposes in landfills via microbes. This company offers a collection of different utensils in large packs, as well as other kitchen products. Stick a handful in your bag on your way out, and never miss an occasion to taste test.
Let's Discuss!
Now, we'd love to hear from you! Do you have any questions? Ideas? Do you have another travel hack for snacks and food? Let us know and we might add it to an article update in the future!
Let's have a discussion in the comments below. We'd love to hear from you!