Eco-Friendly Travel Products You Will Use Forever
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These eco-friendly travel products will change your life for the better. Why you ask? Because once you start using these green products, you will never go back.
Now that’s something to dance about!
Incorporating these sustainable items into your everyday life will not only change your world for the better; it will change the world for the better. A win-win for you and the planet.
Let’s dive in!
Solid Eco-Friendly Travel Products
Ditch the plastic in those travel-sized containers and go solid!
First up: solid shampoo and conditioner bars
- Pack light
- Last a really long time
- No messy liquids in your bag
- No plastic packaging
- Makes the airport security line a breeze
The cost on Amazon for an Ethique shampoo and conditioner bar set is $29.
When you purchase directly from Ethique, shipments are carbon neutral and plastic-free!
My favorite solid shampoo and conditioner bars right now are Ethique. They have a wide variety of types, such as the shampoo and conditioner bundle for dry hair.
Ethique is a certified B-Corp (balancing purpose and profit) that was started in the kitchen of a university student. An Ethique shampoo bar has just eight percent of the carbon footprint of an equivalent liquid product. The Ethique bars contain no palm oil.
I also love the Lush rose-scented shampoo bar when I’m traveling because it is really small (though it doesn’t last as long, obviously!)
Next revolutionary solid: lotion bars
- No messy liquids in your bag
- No plastic packaging
- Makes the airport security line a breeze
I am obsessed with the Lush Scrubbie or you can make your own lotion bars!
You scrub this little guy on your body at the end of your shower and it serves as both an exfoliant and a lotion. After a quick rinse, you really feel like you’ve applied lotion. Plus there is no mess…and no plastic bottle!
RELATED POST
This post details more than a dozen sustainable lotion solutions, including a DIY lotion bar recipe.
Or you can make your own lotion bars! It’s really easy. Check out my video about making sustainable lotion bars here:
The latest on Youtube:
Next up: solid face wash bars
- No messy liquids in your bag
- No plastic packaging
- Plant based
- Compostable and zero waste
- Carbon-free, plastic-free shipping from Ethique
When you purchase directly from Ethique, shipments are carbon neutral and plastic-free!
There are many more opportunities in the toiletry department to ditch tubes and plastic bottles, and face wash is one of those opportunities.
Ethique is my go-to solid face cleanser. They also have serums and scrubs!
Eco-Friendly Travel Products for Your Toiletry Bag
Plastic-Free, Zero-Waste Dental Floss
- Plastic-free (most floss is made out of nylon/plastic)
- Plastic-free packaging
- Woman-owned company
- Floss works better than “regular” floss!
It’s not only the plastic packaging that sticks around for 400 years before it degrades. Most dental floss itself is made out of nylon, which is a form of plastic.
When I first purchased this plastic-free, organic floss made by Radius, I did it to reduce my plastic consumption. What I didn’t expect was to love the floss so much! This floss slides between my teeth more easily than nylon floss and it hurts much less. Plus, Radius is a woman-owned company!
Tip: When I’m traveling, I take my sustainable floss out of the packaging and store it in the container that carries my toothpaste tabs. This saves on space. Since the floss isn’t made of plastic, you can just break off a piece with your hands before you floss. You don’t need the feeder. Speaking of toothpaste tablets…
Next up: sustainable toothpaste tablets
- Ditch non-recyclable toothpaste tubes
- Plastic-free packaging
- Works just as well as “regular” toothpaste
Sells for $12.90 from sustainable marketplace EarthHero
Or get a toothpaste tab subscription at By Humankind (this is what I do, and I travel with the By Humankind toothpaste tablet case).
Say what? That’s right! You don’t have to use those toothpaste tubes that are *not recyclable. There are other options. Like toothpaste tablets!
I also use the Lush mouthwash tablets. Lush only uses recycled plastic, and their plastic bottles are purposely made very thin to reduce the need for plastic at all.
*Big news about recycling your toothpaste tubes and packaging! TerraCycle® and Colgate have teamed up in a new Oral Care Recycling program. Just sign up, print the shipping label, and ship your toothpaste tubes, caps, cartons, and even floss containers for recycling. Or you can buy a TerraCycle Beauty Supply Recycling Box at EarthHero when you are buying your toothpaste tablets!
Electric toothbrush heads are not yet part of the program in the United States, but the same Colgate/TerraCycle partnership in Australia is now accepting electric toothbrush heads, so, if you’re using electric toothbrushes, save the used heads because I think you’ll be able to recycle them soon.
Sustainable Toothbrush
- Plastic-free
- Plastic-free packaging
- Plant-based bristles
- USDA-certified 100% biobased
Biodegradable, Bamboo Cotton Swabs (Q-Tips)
- Plastic-free
- Plastic-free packaging
- Cruelty-free
We use the cotton ends to clean our ears but guess what the part between the swabs is made of? You guessed it! Plastic.
Natural Deodorant Cream
- Plastic-free
- Zero-waste shipping and packaging
- Cruelty-free
- Made on a sustainable farm
Sell for $11.99 on sustainable site EarthHero
Sells for $11.99 directly from the farm. Use this link to get 10% off your Little Seed Farm purchase if you purchase from the farm.
Much like it takes trial and error to find the right shampoo for your hair, it may take some trial and error to find the right natural deodorant fit for your pits. I’ve tried many different kinds from solids to creams and I find the Little Seed Farm deodorant cream to work best coupled with a bamboo applicator (also sold by Little Seed Farm).
Beyond keeping me smelling fresh, Little Seed Farm offers what they call zero-waste shipping and packaging, and there is no frustrating, useless plastic wrapping over the top of the eco-friendly glass container. In fact, you can opt-out of the item box and even ship back your glass container. And the packaging peanuts are made from grain, which means they are fully compostable or they dissolve in water!
Ditch Plastic Tampons for a Menstrual Cup
- Spare the planet from single-use applicators
- Spare landfills and plumbing systems from tampons
- Save money. You don’t have to buy tampons every month!
- Healthy and comfortable
Diva Cup sells for $32.99 on Amazon
Saalt Soft Silicone Menstrual Cup sold by sustainable marketplace EarthHero for $28.99.
In 2018, 5.8 billion tampons were purchased in the United States. That’s 5.8 billion with a “B”.
Those tampons often come wrapped in plastic and with a plastic applicator. Pads, according to a study covered quite delicately by the National Geographic, include even more plastic, and both products end up in our landfills as “medical waste” that is not officially tracked.
I’m not here to continue the cultural shame that has long been a part of menstruation. I’m just here to point us toward a product that I absolutely love for offering an eco-friendly alternative to the tampon.
It takes a little getting used to, but the Diva Cup is actually far more comfortable, far less work, and far less expensive than tampons or pads. Another win-win – this time for women and for the Earth.
Update January 2022: I made a switch to the saalt soft menstrual cup. The softer silicone is more comfortable for me.
Soap Saver Bags
- All-natural
- Stores soap AND works up an exfoliating lather in the shower
- Reduces the need for plastic containers
Tin Toiletry Containers hold all your eco-friendly travel products
- Avoid plastic
- Stack on top of each other in the shower
- Packs easily
Reusable Makeup Remover Cloth
- Fast-drying towel
- Doubles as a makeup remover
- Folds up small
Reusable Makeup Remover Pads
- Great for removing eye makeup
- Just wash and reuse!
Reusable Travel Tubes by Humangear
- The GoToob is squeezable and squishable
- Locking cap makes it safe for your suitcase
Eco-Friendly Travel Products for Sustainable Eating
Collapsible water bottle by Nomader
- Rolls up and tucks into your bag
- Tuck it into a pocket
- Wrap it around a wrist
- Slip it into a carry-on bag
- Lightweight and BPA-Free
My reusable water bottle may just be my favorite traveling companion! I use the Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle because it rolls into a tiny, little ball when I’m going through airport security, and it works for both cold and hot drinks, so I never use a single-use coffee cup either!
I love this water bottle so much that I sometimes travel with two of them.
RELATED POST
Check out my post on avoiding plastic water bottles – even when you travel
Bendable wine glasses & foldable bowls
- Wine glasses bend to fit in pocket
- Bowl and cup collapse flat to fit into bags or back pockets
- Saves countless plastic cups at festivals or on planes
- Bring a set of bendalbe wine glasses for group trips
What do we do most when we travel? Arguably we eat! (Maybe drink? It’s a no-judgment zone here.) Make sure you have reusable dishes, cutlery, and cocktail glasses when you travel to reduce your footprint.
I almost never leave home without my reusable wine cup, but it is especially important when I’m getting on a flight. Those single-use cups for our wine and ginger ale break my heart.
Admittedly, the flight attendants do look at me a little funny when I insist on using my own cup, but most are appreciative of my efforts once I explain that I don’t want to use single-use plastic. And it almost always strikes up a good conversation with my seatmates!
I found the above cup while shopping in Cannon Beach, my favorite little Oregon beach town. It bends to fit into my over-the-shoulder bag quite nicely (plus it makes me laugh). But I also carry another collapsible cup that lies flat and slips into my backpack:
On a long flight delay in Barcelona, I was glad I had this cup folded up and stashed in my bag!
The Sea to Summit cup also helped me avoid plastic on a 500-mile walk on the Camino de Santiago in Spain, and it continues to help me stay plastic-free during trips to the famous food carts in my hometown of Portland, Oregon!
Cost: $11.95 at Sea to Summit or $19.17 on Amazon.
Reusable, Collapsible Coffee Cup
- Collapses small
- Comes with heat shield, lid, and straw
- Good for hot and cold drinks
- BPA-free, lead-free, phthalate-free, adhesive-free, and chemical-free
- LFGB-certified
Many people don’t know that the single-use cups made for coffee and tea are lined with plastic, making the cups nearly impossible to recycle. In fact, less than one percent of those coffee cups are recycled, and they are used for just 10 minutes on average.
That is even sadder when coupled with this alarming fact brought to us by the good folks at ecoffeecup:
The above reusable cup comes with a straw, which brings me to the next in our list of eco-friendly travel products.
A Reusable Straw is a Staple Eco-Friendly Travel Product
- Comes with four stainless steel straws
- Includes a cleaning brush
- Comes with a carrying case for travel
Bamboo utensils instead of plastic silverware
- Easily fits into bags or pockets
- Includes chopsticks
- Includes straw
- Clips onto bag or backpack
I carry this bamboo cutlery set when I travel, and I often bring it with me even when I’m not on the road. It comes in handy at festivals, outdoor events, or the famous food carts in my hometown of Portland.
Reusable, Collapsible Plate and Bowl
- Folds flat into bags or even pockets
- Great for sustainable eating at festivals or even backyard BBQs
- Get the solo cup or solo bowl or opt for a set
- Set includes a carrying bag
The X-Set from Sea to Summit is $50 for the cup, bowl, and plate
If you have a little more space in your bag, a great option for carryout and to-go orders is the Stojo Grab-and-Go Box. When I’m at home, I leave one of these in the car so that I can take leftovers without using a single-use box.
Grab-and-Go Box from Stojo
- Folds flat
- Lid snaps on
- Perfect for leftovers when eating out
- Great for picnics!
Reusable Sandwich Bags by Stasher
- Perfect for travel days or picnics
- Ask the deli to wrap your sandwich in your reusable bag
- Packs easily
- Use it for a sandwich or snacks
Sells for $22 for a set of two on Amazon or $12 each at EarthHero
(Pro tip: If the deli or shop has a rule against using outside packaging, just ask them to hand you the sandwich without any wrapping. There is no rule against NO packaging and there is no rule that you can’t wrap your own sandwich.)
Eco-Friendly Travel Products for your Suitcase
An expanding sustainable suitcase!
- Hard-case carryon that unfolds to a hanging closet
- Built-in shelving system and charging port
- Made from sustainable materials like plastic bottles
- Saves 229 plastic bottles from the ocean
- Comes in a backpack too
Sells for $275 from Solgaard + free shipping in the United States
RELATED POST
Reusable bags and totes
- Folds up and fits in a purse or pocket
- Use this eco-friendly travel product for groceries, laundry, or your recyclable items on an airplane
- Super durable. I’ve had mine for years!
- Carry it everywhere to avoid using plastic bags
Tip: Because airlines are dealing with different recycling systems in different cities or even countries a lot of your recyclable items from an airplane are not recycled. If I do end up using any of the single-use items on a plane, I take those items with me to recycle. I put them in the above bag, and I usually take my seatmates’ items, too!
Eco-Friendly Packing Cubes to Hold All Your Eco-Friendly Travel Products!
- Durable to last for many trips
- Organize your suitcase
- Made from sustainable materials
See options below for pricing
I live by my packing cubes. They may just be my favorite item in my suitcase or backpack any time I pack. But back when I bought them I didn’t know there was an eco-friendly alternative.
The first step to sustainability is to reuse what you have as much as possible, so I’m keeping my regular old packing cubes and considering myself in packing envy of anyone who has this eco-friendly travel product:
packing cubes made from recycled water bottles, like the Quest Travel Cubes made by tentree.
This pack of three packing cubes made from recycled polyester from the sustainable company tentree is super affordable.
The packing cubes are such a good sustainable travel product at such a good price (just $31 for all three cubes) that they are often sold out.
Plus tentree plants 10 trees for every purchase!
Another option for a sustainable packing cube set is Patagonia’s clamshell packing cubes made from 100 percent recycled fabric and seriously durable.
While these are a little more expensive at $29-$49 (depending on size) per cube, they are seriously durable and made from 100 percent recyclable material.
Rainleaf microfiber towel
- Lighweight
- Quick-dry
- Folds into pouch and slides into backpack or bag
- Built in loops for hanging to dry
- Keep it in your backpack for imprompt dips while hiking
I first used this towel when I walked the Camino de Santiago. It fit easily into my backpack and dried very quickly. Usually, it would dry so quickly that I didn’t need to hang it from my backpack to dry while hiking, but when I did, its convenient, built-in loops make it very easy to hang from my pack while on the move.
It started with the Camino, but now the Rainleaf microfiber towel is one of the eco-friendly travel products I cannot live without. It reduces my environmental impact if I stay in a hotel since many hotels needlessly wash your towels every day (even when you hang them up!)
Reef-Save Sunscreen is a must-have item on your eco-friendly travel products list
- Reef-safe
- Plastic-free in a reusable tin can
- Cruelty-free
The Raw Elements 30-SPF for face and body is $16.99 on Amazon The 30-SPF tinted facial moisturizer is $16.49 on Amazon
My friend Francesca at Littlelosttravel.com has a great post on 11 top zero-waste sunscreens that protect your skin AND the planet.
Other Eco-Friendly Travel Products I Will be Trying Soon (Laundry & Shaving)
I’m in the market for an eco-friendly alternative to laundry while on the road. I’ve heard great things about the Scrubba Wash Bag paired with an eco-friendly detergent like the BerryPLUS eco-friendly, natural detergent.
I am also going to try safety razors with bamboo handles and plant-based shaving cream.
Thank You for Your Desire to Go Green with Eco-Friendly Travel Products!
Look, it’s not the easiest or the cheapest decision to travel – and live – sustainably. But it is the most responsible decision for the planet. Thank you for caring for our Earth.
I will continue to update this post as I find new eco-friendly travel products that work!
About the Author
Hi! I’m Jen!
I’m a freelance writer and travel blogger who quit my nine-to-five after my fiancé, Jeff, died of cancer at the age of 40. When he died, I realized that life is just too short to delay our dreams. Since my dream was to travel and write, I now travel and write full-time. Today I wear hiking boots instead of heels and collect experiences instead of things.
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Jen,
Sorry for your loss. We all need to appreciate the time we have. Love your blog and advice. Have you tried ‘No Pong’ deodorant? It’s an Australian brand also sold in Canada. It’s a cream paste sold in small tins. They work really well and smell great. They have vegan and no scent options as well.
Angela
I haven’t! But I’m interested in giving it a try! My natural deodorant is actually just about to run out. So, I will check it out. Thanks for the tip, Angela!
Love all these products! Need to order some of the sunblock you recommend for the summer. The toothy tabs even come in charcoal so you don’t have to stop the perpetual fight to keep our teeth white! Thanks for sharing!
I’m so glad you found sustainable products that you love! Of course, the charcoal is the toothy tabs that kept getting all over my face on the Camino…so I switched to mint. Less obvious when I’m sloppy. 🙂
These are some awesome products! I definitely need to be more intentional with the kinds of products I use. The natural cream deodorant with the bamboo app sounds so nice.
That’s a great goal! Just being a little more intentional with your products helps our environment one everyday decision at a time. I LOVE the deodorant but will caution that it took a lot of trial and error to find the right one. Same with the hair products. I may do a pros and cons list of sustainable hair products and deodorants soon! Thank you for reading.
Great post! I use almost all of these already, but I do need to try the toothpaste tablets. We have been trying the toothpaste that comes in glass jars, but I hate the taste, so I can’t use it.
Have you also tried using alum crystal instead of deodorant? It is magic! You rub it against your skin after the shower. It doesn’t stop you from sweating, but it does stop your sweat from smelling, so it works really well. I only started using if since January, but I have been really impressed, even when running/skiing/hiking…
I haven’t tried the crystal, but I will absolutely try it next. I am thinking of doing an entire post on natural deodorant products since it’s so hard to find the right one. At least I might be able to start people in the right direction. Alum crystal will be my next purchase! (And I’ll have to consult you on some of these posts!) I agree with you on the toothpaste in jars. I DID get used to it after a while, but it took a while. A long while. I find the tablets much more enjoyable.
Wow, I love these product recommendations. The reusable wine cup definitely caught my eye. Definitely will have to purchase one! Such a great post. It made me want to really start incorporating eco-friendly products, not just for traveling either. Thank you for the recommendations.
Thank you for reading! The wine-cup is everything. You won’t regret that decision!
This is such a great list of eco-friendly travel products! I’ve been using reusable cups and bags, but clearly there is much more I could be using. I’d love to try reusable cotton pads and toothpaste tablets!
Thank you for reading! Let me know if you try the products and love them (or find something better). Be well, Olivia!
I ❤ this! I already have my own portable utensils, coffee mug and water bottle but there is so much more! I want a toothbrush!
Yes! The toothbrush is such a simple way to make a difference. But you are already an Earth hero. Thank you for what you do! And thank you for reading!
So many great products! I love the reusable straw and sandwich bag. Can’t wait to try a few of these. 🙂
Thank you for reading, Sara!
Wow, what a great list of eco friendly products. I can’t wait to try a few of them. I am curious, with the lotion bar do you find that it gets soft or melts in warmer temperatures? I love the idea of having access to lotion without the bottle.
You know, I’ve never noticed it melting…but then I guess I’ve never really left it out in the heat! I am guessing that it would get soft if left in a too-warm suitcase, but would reform into a solid once it cooled. I keep it in my Lush tin so there is no mess. As for the lotion bar itself? I LOVE it. It has all the benefits of lotion without the mess or slimy feeling. The only drawback is that the bar doesn’t last very long. A couple of weeks at most. (Maybe this is because I just use too much with each use because I love it so much!)
This is a great list of eco-friendly products. We’ve been trying to incorporate more of these when we travel and I’m yet to try the shampoo and conditioner, but I’ve heard great things about them.
I love the shampoos and conditioners. I will admit that I occasionally need to add a deep conditioner to the mix, but the solids are getting really advanced. I can probably look for deep-conditioning solid now that I think about it!
I love so many of these products. I’ve started my eco-friendly items but there are so many here that I can add to my carry-on. Thanks for sharing.
I’m so glad you found some new items for your carry-on! If you put together a list of your own items, please let me know. I would love to share it!
Some really great products here! I have a question about the shampoo/conditioner bars. How do you pack them for your return trip? In a ziplock bag? Or do you just make sure that you don’t wash your hair before you leave so they’re already dry?
Great question! I actually pack them in my Lush tins. I leave the containers open for as long as possible allowing the bars to dry as much as possible. Then I pack them away. They don’t leak or mold!
Thanks Jen 🙂 I felt a bit stupid asking that question, I never thought about packing them in tins.
Don’t feel stupid! We are conditioned to buy all the plastic. Thank you for asking! And thank you for reading!