shopping

 
 

buy your food in bulk or directly from the farmer

Remove packaging waste from your life.  Bulk food stores often stock other waste free living items, like bamboo toothbrushes or compostable cotton buds.

Remove the packaging that comes with double, and triple handling by buying from the source.

AVOID SINGLE USE PLASTIC

Plastic packaging accounts for 40% of global plastic production. The big 4 are the easiest single use plastics to avoid. They are: plastic bags (take your own cloth bags), disposable coffee cups (use a keep cup), plastic straws (avoid, use paper straws or metal straws) and plastic water bottles.

buy nothing new

This avoids the packaging and transport impacts of the stuff.  It’s also a great way to delay purchase, helping you to think whether or not you really need that item.

USE YOUR OWN CONTAINERS

Remove the need for single use plastic by remembering to bring your container.

travel

packing

Pack toothpaste tabs, solid soap bars, deodorant bars, or shampoo bars. They're longer lasting, multi-functional, spill-proof, and way easier to get through airport security. Or invest in some non-spill multi-use bottles to fill with your own products.

Think multi-purpose: baking soda can be used as a cleanser, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, laundry detergent, and more. Same goes for Castile soap which can also be used for most personal care, and also detergent and cleaning.

Pack your re-useable water bottle, a re-useable shopping bag, a spork, or a bamboo utensil set so that you never have to use plastic disposables.

Pack a re-useable napkin or small absorbent towel or cloth that can be used instead of napkins or to wrap up snacks or food items.

Avoid disposable products like cotton pads, q-tips, disposable razors and disposable feminine hygiene products. They all go straight to the landfill.

Pack a capsule wardrobe so you can easily mix and match and layer.

Transit

Use e-tickets for all transport.

Avoid all paper receipts.

Carbon offset your flight.

Use your own phone or tablet’s headphones to plug into inflight entertainment.

Avoid airplane waste products by packing snacks, using your own jar or bottle and saying no to single use straws and napkins.

at your destination

Eat at sit down restaurants and use plates and silverware.

Say no to extra wrapping papers, napkins, or containers.

For takeaway food, try to aim for establishments that use eco-friendly, recyclable, or better yet, compostable food containers, utensils, napkins, or straws.

Use your backpack or pack a lightweight, foldable tote bag if you need an extra bag.

Shop at farmers markets or natural shops for the best local and seasonal produce and to buy bulk foods like nuts and beans.

Try to eat and drink as local as possible by patronising business that strive to source local produce. Shop for local and seasonal fruits and vegetables. Drink local microbrews. Support cafes who roast their own coffee beans.

Walk as much as possible. When you can’t walk, take public transport as often as you can to reduce your carbon footprint.

Stay in homes instead of hotels. In homes you can recycle, compost, make your own products and cook your own meals.

If you do stay in a hotel, put the no housekeeping sign up so all your linens don't get laundered every day and waste water.

Be mindful of your consumption. Conserve water. Turn off lights. Lower the heat or the AC.