Travelling sustainably should really be a given these days and there are lots of really simple ways to make your travel more sustainable including what you pack, how you get there and what you get up to when you arrive.
We’ve written about sustainable travel in lots of specific locations around the world and about how we went completely plastic-free for a month on the road. But this post is especially for the ladies. An in-depth guide about travelling sustainably as a woman, including product recommendations and super simple tips.
Men feel free to read too, you might learn something!
Have a Waste-Free Period
Going zero-waste during your period is not only way better for the environment it also saves the stress of trying to find the right sanitary products in foreign places. There are lots of different options for zero-waste sanitary products and they are all easy to pack and last a long time.
A menstrual cup is great for travel as it only needs to be changed every 12 hours and takes up very little space. They take a little bit of getting used to, try to use it a couple of times before your trip. But once you have it sorted they can be used during sports, hiking and all kinds of adventures.
If you have a light period or want extra protection with the cup grab yourself some reusable pads or period underwear. Reusable menstrual pads can be used just like normal pads but they get washed and dried between uses. Period underwear comes in a range of absorbency levels and is usually really comfortable and stress-free. You should only need a few pairs and there are a range of brands available online - view here.
Sustainable Travel Clothing
Finding the right travel clothing is a fine art, especially if you’re travelling with limited space. Making sure that what you pack is versatile, comfortable and durable is essential. Fortunately, there are lots of great brands out there which produce sustainable and ethically made travel clothing to fill your pack with before you leave. Use the Good on You database to check up on a brands ethical and sustainable practices before you purchase.
Need more clothing on the road? Try buying locally made products and search for places where you can meet the maker or that have some kind of ethical workplace certification. This can be harder in some places than others but increased awareness means that there is usually some options in the main tourist centres.
Buy Ethical Make-up
I haven’t worn make-up since we started travelling so I’m not about to offer advice on the best ethical make-up brands. Although I can direct you to this great article with lots of recommendations.
Just make sure your choosing brands that are kind to animals and the planet. Finding plastic-free makeup options can be really difficult so look for recyclable packaging and ones that don’t contain any nasty chemicals.
Pack Reusables
Going plastic-free while travelling involves a little bit of preparedness. Make sure you get yourself a set of reusable items that you can use to refuse single use plastic along the way.
What you pack will depend on your travel habits and space in your backpack. If you are a coffee addict then a reusable coffee cup is a must and there are lots of stylish ones available including collapsible ones which are perfect for travel.
Some other things you might want to think about are reusable utensils and a container if you’ll be eating street food often (we often just borrowed a fork from our hostel or Airbnb). Reusable shopping bags and produce bags are perfect for all your market shops and are always useful to have in your day pack. Get yours here.
Empower Women
One of the best ways to travel more sustainably as a female is to empower other women around the world. This can be as simple as getting to know some local women and asking them about their lives and country. Look for ways the country you’re in is working towards gender equality and find ways to support these areas.
There are also lots of opportunities to support women in work by shopping for local goods made by women or requesting female tour guides. Search out female-run businesses or look for homestays and restaurants that are owned or run by women.
Pack Like a Minimalist
This may not seem obvious for sustainable travel but minimalism is definitely a great way to force yourself to think carefully about the things you own and aqquire. Having less stuff is not only easier to travel with, it also means you have less space to buy souvenirs so you have to plan carefully and only buy things you really need/want!
Packing less also makes you more flexible with your transport options. Taking buses and trains is much easier if you only have a small pack. It also uses less fuel to carry less weight so everyone packed light it would make a difference.
Shop Ethically for Souvenirs
Buying souvenirs can be very tempting and its nice to have something to remember the trip by. The first thing to focus on is buying something useful or meaningful rather than just a cheap Tshirt or keyring that never gets looked at again.
The next thing to look out for is how and where the items are made. There is no point going on a trip to Europe and buying a whole lot of gifts made in China. Look for local crafts and handmade items. Markets are a great place to shop but make sure you look out for local artisans and sellers who have made their own goods.
Shops are getting much better at advertising where and how their products were made so check that they use ethical employment and sustainable materials. If they are genuine they should be able to tell you this information when asked.
Remember not to buy plant or animal products unless you’re sure they were ethically (and legally) obtained. Don’t buy anything that may harm the local environment if people continue to hunt or kill it for tourists.
Use solid shampoo
This switch makes such a big difference to your plastic consumption and is a great chance to discover some local beauty brands. Solid toiletries are usually made from natural ingredients so that’s another big tick for the environment.
Solid toiletries are really easy to travel with and can even be taken in carry on luggage. They last ages and if you find the right type for your hair, they are just as effective as liquid shampoos. We love Ethique products but there is a huge range of options on the market and it can sometimes take a few tries to find one that works perfectly for you. Check out the Ethique range here.
Eat Local
Eating is such an important part of travelling and enjoying local cuisine is always one of the best things to do in any country. By ensuring you eat what’s produced locally you are reducing the impact your eating has on the environment.
So embrace the street food scene or find a friendly local cafe and support local businesses while knowing your food has been grown and processed nearby.
Fly Less
This is a big one. Flying is one of the most detrimental ways of travelling and one of the most effective ways to travel more sustainably is to reduce flights. Try to replace flying with overland transport if possible. Trains and buses are often cheaper and way more interesting ways to get across a country.
If flying is necessary (I live on an island so I get it) then try to book direct flights and offset your carbon emissions. Search engines such as Sky Scanner also have an ‘eco option’ on some flights which works out which flights are best based on a number of passengers, fuel consumption etc.
Wanting to up your sustainable travel game? Here are all the tips you need as a female adventurer to help you travel more sustainably. #travel #traveltips #ftb #femaletravelblogger #femaletravel #femaletraveller #female #sustainable #sustainabletravel #ecofriendly #sustainableproducts
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Wanting to up your sustainable travel game? Here are all the tips you need as a female adventurer to help you travel more sustainably.