Travelling makes an impact on the environment, from air pollution caused by the increasing emissions from transport, to the excess of plastic dumped on beaches.

However there are a few changes you can take to make a small difference. In this post I explain some really easy ways to be just a little more environmentally friendly whilst you are on your travels.

1- Take a reusable water bottle with you

Plastic is something that has been highlighted as a huge issue when it comes to the environment, more than 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year ( stat from plastic oceans.org ) 57% of this unit is made up of plastic water bottles! That’s right just water bottles! So why not save yourself some money and the ocean some hassle and pack a reusable bottle.

This is especially great for places like Europe, where most countries have access to public water fountains (Budapest are amazing for this! As well as Rome!) Sometimes tap water isn’t always going to be safe to drink, however there are bottles with filters in, such as Water to go. If tap water or water fountains aren’t an option, then think about buying one large bottle of water to split between a few of you. So do your research and grab yourself a good reusable bottle.

2- Ditch the wet wipes

Wet wipes may make a quick wash, or taking off any makeup easy but they also cause a lot of damage. This year alone The Guardian reported that 5,453 wet wipes were retrieved during a clean-up operation over 116sq m of the Thames embankment. Wipes are usually made of cotton woven together with resins such as polyester, these aren’t biodegradable.

So why not swap this out for a reusable flannel and a bar of soap, easy to come by and just as light to carry. If you’re looking specifically for taking off your makeup you can buy reusable cotton wool pads from amazon or why not make your own? Then just replace the chemicals with a skin friendly soap or micellar water.

3- Reusable shopping bag

In most European countries using a plastic bag comes at a charge and has done for quite some time now, meaning carrying your own reusable bag can not only save the environment but some pennies too. There are plenty of easily foldable ones that even have little clips so you can put them on the outside of your pack. Be aware that places such as the USA still give out free carriers and if you really want to make sure that you have one just tell the cashier.

Here are some great usable bags:

Turtle Bags  – created with fair trade suppliers who believe in their ethics Turtle bags are strong, organic and easy to store whilst travelling.

Hedgehog foldable shopping bag – this cute little guy is available from the RSPB with money from this going towards to society and helping to protect our birds. Oh and it comes with a little clip perfect to pop on the outside of your rucksack and save some space

4 -Reusable liquids bottles

Taking shampoo, conditioner, etc on holiday is pretty much a must. However that doesn’t necessarily mean taking a load of throw away plastic with you as well.

If you’re going for a few days why not purchase some of those small reusable bottles/travel sets you always see in the supermarkets. These little guys are just the right size for two-three days of toiletries. Going for a week or more? Then this is obviously harder. If you have to take more see if you can share with friends , see if there’s any left over at hostels, or if you can recycle your bottles or take shampoo without containers. Brands such Lush make brilliant package free products, from shampoo bars to body wash.

5– Travel overland

Flying produced 34 million tonnes of Co2 gases in 2010 

I understand there is a lot of places you can’t reach overland and sometimes it’s even cheaper to catch a flight but travelling overland can give you a little more than jumping on a flight. Think about being able to change where you stop whenever you want, seeing sights you may have missed and meeting new friends along the way from shared transport. Trains throughout Europe and the USA can be cheap and are pretty punctual, so why not think about overland for your next trip and cut your carbon footprint whilst gaining a different experience.

So next time you’re thinking of a new trip why not take a step back and add in a few little tricks to help the environment.