Tip number 1: Think about drinks!
After making big afforts to reduce the number of plactic water bottles we used, we also tried to reduce the plastic holding other drinks. Try choosing drinks in glass bottles whenever you can instead of plastic bottles or cans. Glass bottles are more often washed and reused when the plastic is often wasted.
If like us, you're a bit partial to a nice iced coffee or iced tea, in Thailand they will serve it in disposable plastic cups. We got into the habit of washing the cups after use and taking them back to the stand to re-use (for us, of course!). It's not always possible or practical (at which point we just tried to avoid cracking on a plastic-clad drink!) but we did it during our 2-week rest in SangKhom, Thailand, and we saved 24 cups - not bad!
Sylvia likes her Cha Yen (iced tea) very much
So she washes the plastic cups after use
and take them back to the shop to be refilled with more Cha Yen the next day!
Tip number 2: Minimise your packaging!
As with the plastic drinks containers, we simply tried to avoid using single-use plastic during our travels. It's actually very difficult, especially in countries where packaging is 'in', like in Thailand.
One thing that did help was that we brought our own reusables - like:
- sporks: very useful spoon-knife-fork all in one. Highly recommended
- a plastic container (like a tupperware) to store food, protect food from ants, prepare fruits in, buy snacks at the market, etc
- plastic zip/freezer bags - again, good for storing and protecting food
- a plastic cup + water bottles (like SIGG bottles)
- a reusable shopping bag which meant we could say no to plastic bags when we went shopping. There are plenty to choose from and they are super trendy now. So much choice! We even got appreciative looks and impressed 'oouuuuhhhh' from the locals at market!
Tip number 3: for the ladies - sanitary waste
The issue of sanitary stuff came up even when we were packing.... First, we were thinking of taking a supply as they're hard to find in some countries (especially tampons) adn then the towels, well, they're a bit...big, not great as we packed everything up for over a year!
Then we got to thinking about what would happen to all these bits after use.... whether the waste disposal arrangements we'd encounter would be up to dealing with them, or whether mother nature would be able to break down even the plastic packaging to begin with...
So what to do? A great friend of ours (you sort of need to be close to have this type of conversation!) came up with a great solution... the Mooncup!
Don't go 'beurkkkk!' before you've even tried it. It's great for travelling, even more so in hot countries. You don't have anything to dispose off, it's very compact and takes near to no space at all in your luggage. Tried and tested, it works and is very comfortable. Give it a go, even if you're staying at home!
If you are not persuaded and still want to carry lots of sanitary stuff with you, try to take biodegradable ones with you. For example, the products from Natracare or something similar.
Tip number 4: Loo rolls
We're getting more and more intimate now ;-) While travelling, you'll notice that in a lot of countries they do not use toilet paper. And when we come along with our western loo roll using habits we create problems, especially for the drainage systems that just aren't built to cope with the paper.
Often, if you want to use it, you'll have to bring your own and dispose of it yourself, which can be impractical when the bin is outside the toilet! And then there's the whole dilemma of where the paper goes.... So what to do??? Well, why not use what's on offer?! Give the 'wash and go' method a go. It's much cleaner, greener and quite refreshing on a hot summer's day ;-)
To wash or to wipe? The choice is yours....
Tip number 5: Batteries
We tried to avoid carrying battery-powered devices with us as it was just easier to avoid the battery waste issue. Chances are that the country you are in will not have any facility to recycle them. If you need to, try to use rechargeable batteries instead or wind-up devices to avoid the need for batteries and recharing altogether. For example, Nigel's eco-store has many eco gadgets on offer.
