How to go zero waste while traveling?

Zero waste (ZW) is much more than just a lifestyle—it’s a reflection on how we consume to limit the waste we produce. While this approach is gradual and applicable everywhere, it’s easier to implement in some aspects of daily life. But how can we apply it when we’re on vacation?

Can we limit our waste even when traveling to the other side of the world?

Spoiler alert: yes! We’ll share all the insights to help you establish zero waste habits when you travel. Follow our guide!

Before diving into our main topic, here’s a brief reminder about waste to set the context.

Waste, a global challenge

Definition

The best kind of waste is no waste at all!

This phrase is the zero waste credo. But what exactly is (household) waste?

Essentially, waste is anything thrown in the garbage that can no longer be used for its initial purpose. This ranges from apple cores tossed in organic waste bins to recyclable plastic packaging from strawberry containers, empty toothpaste tubes, or shower gel bottles.

Waste production

In 2023, the world’s population produced 2.1 billion tons of (household) waste, averaging 260 kilograms per person annually. UNEP predicts that by 2050, we should expect 3.8 billion tons if more individual and collective measures aren’t implemented. Indeed, waste production depends on three factors:

• Product design: from material choice to production quantity, including whether items can be reused, repaired, or recycled.
• Citizens’ decisions: our consumption, decisions about buying or not buying something, how we use it, and our choice to reuse, repair, or recycle.
• Waste management: the systems’ capacity to safely manage waste (collection, sorting, recycling, disposal) and the existence of reuse and refill systems.

Environmental impact of waste

You’ve probably seen waste littering the ground during your travels (or even near your home)—whether on beaches, in stream beds, or near residential areas—cans, paper tissues, cookie wrappers, styrofoam boxes, plastic bottles, etc. Perhaps you’ve seen that viral video from Indonesia showing the extent of the damage. Yes, some countries lack decent waste collection systems… Indeed, there are significant inequalities in each country’s capacity to manage its waste.

We could easily blame countries that are less advanced in collection and processing. Certainly, if all countries had state-of-the-art systems for collecting, sorting, recycling, and disposing of waste, things would be much better than they are today. However, this wouldn’t solve the initial problem: the source of it all is the amount of waste that grows year after year. Adopting zero waste practices to move toward a circular economy would be even better! To understand why, here are the environmental impacts of waste.

Climate change

We don’t always think about it, but waste influences the climate crisis we’re currently experiencing. Waste generates greenhouse gases (GHG) throughout its entire life cycle:

• Extraction, transportation and processing of raw materials;
• Product manufacturing according to standards and energy consumption;
• Packaging and transport;
• Consumption;
• End of life (collection, storage, treatment and disposal).

All these stages produce GHGs, particularly carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, gases that contribute to global warming.

Pollution

It’s no surprise that waste pollutes land, water, and air. Soil and aquatic environment contamination by waste occurs both directly and indirectly:

• Directly:
  • Infiltration and accumulation of contaminants (chemicals, heavy metals) from waste;
  • Soil infiltration of leachate, the residual liquid from waste decomposition, loaded with toxic products;
  • Plastic degradation in water, leading to microplastic formation and entry into the food chain,
• Indirectly:
  • Groundwater and watercourse pollution through leachate runoff.

Air pollution from waste also takes different forms. Storage and decomposition in landfills cause methane emissions into the atmosphere. With incineration, the emitted fumes are loaded with microparticles and polluting gases (carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, ammonia).

Loss of flora and fauna

Whether on land or in water, waste disrupts ecosystems and biodiversity. The sad gold medal goes to plastic materials…

The presence of waste reduces available habitats, and its degradation leads to the release of pollutants: pathogens, heavy metals, endocrine disruptors, microplastics, etc. As a result, the properties of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, such as pH and lack of oxygen, are modified, which destabilizes local biodiversity. For example, the soil becomes less fertile, impacting plant growth and therefore the living beings that depend on it.

In marine environments, waste forms transport means for fauna, and some species become invasive where they shouldn’t be. Also, waste in water resembles prey, and animals don’t distinguish between a jellyfish and a plastic bag. Some species like turtles, seabirds, and whales end up ingesting waste or becoming trapped, which endangers their lives.

Our power

As you’ll have understood from the three waste production factors mentioned above, we, as citizens, can only act directly on our own decisions. By changing our habits, we can influence product design and waste management. Reducing our waste also means contributing to limiting global warming, reducing pollution, and protecting biodiversity. Our power is very real, and it starts with our daily choices. Remember that you vote with your wallet ;).

For example, imagine that through a snowball effect following collective awareness, an entire state or region boycotts single-use plastic containers (packaging, bottles…). What would happen? This change in consumption would have repercussions on both product design actors and waste management actors. The former would have to adapt, perhaps preferring glass bottles; the latter would need to modify management systems to respond to these new habits by implementing, for example, a deposit system and fountains throughout the city to refill water bottles.

The reality

Does this sound utopian? What if it already existed?

San Francisco was the pioneer zero waste city. Its goal was to achieve zero waste by 2022. Although it invested in recycling systems (action on the third factor), the city implemented numerous initiatives to encourage zero waste: 3 bins for better sorting (compost, recyclable, rest), elimination of plastic bags and polystyrene cups, public awareness… Today, it’s approaching 100%. By the way, to learn more about ZW in San Francisco, we recommend watching the inspiring documentary Tomorrow by Cyril Dion and Mélanie Laurent. It’s from 2025 and more relevant than ever!

In the UK, Derry City and Strabane District Council were the pioneers in zero waste initiatives with a circular economy approach. Rather than staying in a linear economic model of extracting resources, manufacturing, consuming, and disposing, the circular economy aims to “resources are used for as long as possible, have maximum value extracted from them and are recovered and regenerated at the end of their service life to achieve a zero waste circular economy”. But adopting this economic model doesn’t just have an environmental impact! Indeed, thanks to this virtuous economy, local jobs are created, new markets develop, and social bonds are formed.

In short, these are just 2 examples among many that are more than encouraging for the future.

What is zero waste?

We hope this waste synthesis has enlightened you! Now that you have the global challenges in mind, let’s explain zero waste in detail.

Definition

Zero Waste International Alliance defines zero waste as “the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.”

The origin of Zero Waste

Zero waste isn’t new. Our ancestors already applied this philosophy because nothing was wasted back then! Then, over the decades with industrialization, globalization, increased purchasing power, and population growth, people began to consume more, own more, and inevitably produce more waste.

At the end of the 20^th century, awareness began to grow. In 1996, the first organization dedicated to zero waste was created in the United States. Eighteen years later, Zero Waste USA was born. It wasn’t until 2013 that the term “zero waste” was popularized. We owe it to Bea Johnson, the ZW guru, who managed to produce only 1 liter of waste in an entire year! Other initiatives have contributed and continue to contribute to the spread of this movement: the various national (and even local) Zero Waste associations, the increase in bulk grocery stores, conferences and good ideas from ambassadors (Bea Jonhson of course, Lauren from Trash is for tossers, the community of Trash Free Trails), etc.

The Zero Waste philosophy

The philosophy can be summarized in 5 Rs. These are 5 easy-to-remember principles that summarize the actions to achieve zero waste.

Refuse

Refuse what is unnecessary, what comes from external solicitation (plastic straws, free gifts, bags…).

Reduce

Reduce your consumption. When traveling, we often limit ourselves to a backpack or suitcase, so minimalism is key. Before buying something, ask yourself: “Do I really need this?” Often, we buy things more out of desire than real need and end up with objects or products that serve duplicate purposes. When traveling, we can reduce our purchases (souvenirs, clothing), packaging…

Reuse or repair

Reuse/repair what can be, what you can neither refuse nor reduce or what you already own. The idea is to extend the life of objects you might have thrown away. Your favorite T-shirt gets a hole during a trek? Don’t throw it away! If you pass through a medium-sized city a few days later, you’ll find helping hands to repair it in dry cleaners or workshops. As we mentioned in the round-the-world equipment list, having a sewing kit with you is a good trick to handle any textile mishap. Don’t worry, repairing clothing isn’t that complicated, online tutorials will save you ;).

Rot

Return to the earth, compost the rest of your waste. I agree, it’s impossible to compost while traveling. However, by implementing the first three Rs, you should greatly reduce your waste during your expeditions. Check with your accommodations, more and more hostels offer organic waste collection.

Recycle

Recycling is at the end of the chain, it’s the last resort. Did you know that 41% of what you throw away across all bins and 67% of packaging is actually recycled? One might think it’s not so bad to have a bin full of recyclable cardboard or plastic since everything will be recycled and therefore valued. Reality isn’t as pretty as that… Moreover, sorting systems differ by country, and some don’t really distinguish between recyclable waste and residual household waste… In short, see it as the last solution because recycling won’t reduce the amount of waste.

Essential kit for zero waste travel

After the theoretical part, let’s get practical! You’ll read in this section that applying the 5Rs is easier than it seems, and even more so when you’re on a world tour with just a backpack on your shoulders! Here’s our non-exhaustive list of reusable equipment for traveling while producing less waste!

A water bottle, a filtering one or not

This is the easiest thing you can implement while traveling. Water isn’t unfortunately potable everywhere in the world, and the first reflex is to buy a water bottle as soon as possible. In Southeast Asia, some accommodations even provide travelers with small 50cl water bottles. Let’s say you’re traveling for 6 months in countries where tap water isn’t drinkable. At a rate of 1.5L of water per person per day, that equals 540 small bottles! With a filtration system, these are all water plastic bottles avoided.

Moreover, with a filtered water bottle:

• You’re no longer dependent on shops for drinking water;
• You save money because water no longer costs you anything, and the price of a bottle and filter is quickly recovered;
• You can filter from any source, as long as the water is clear (not stagnant).

Today, filtered water bottles have proven their worth in terms of effectiveness, ergonomics, and practicality. We recommend Katadyn, Lifestraw and Water-to-Go models, all tested and approved ;).

Of course, if you’re traveling to countries where water is potable, a simple stainless steel bottle will serve you well!

A tote bag or reusable bag

It’s simple but we often forget to pack a tote bag or sturdy bag in our backpack or suitcase for carrying groceries or food. When folded, it takes up no space and is lightweight. Having one each helps you avoid accepting plastic or kraft paper bags. Just remember to take it with you when you go out! To go further, equip yourself with some bulk bags. If you do a lot of hiking and trekking on vacation, they’ll be useful for carrying nuts, snacks…

Reusable cutlery and straws

For our world tour, we brought reusable foldable cutlery and straws, all in stainless steel. We often used the former for hiking and the latter in bars and restaurants. We obviously washed them once we returned. They were always with us and were always well accepted. For straws, we must admit that servers often looked at us with wide eyes when we explained our approach. Who knows, maybe we planted a seed in their minds ;)? For cutlery, it’s up to you to decide based on your itinerary if you need them. In Southeast Asia, for example, plastic cutlery is ubiquitous at all night market stands.

Reusable plate/Tupperware and cup

If you’re going camping, we can only recommend bringing a plate and cup that you can reuse as you wish. For Tupperware containers, this is valid for both short stays and RTW trips. They come in all shapes and sizes, and even foldable ones! When outside, it will serve you in night markets, at street food stands… And in your backpack, it can serve as additional storage, for food (fruits, meal leftovers…) or non-food items.

A Zero Waste toiletry kit

We’ve already detailed the travel toiletry kit, and this is perhaps the second easiest point to implement after water bottles.

Soap bar

I could tell you about Marseille soap, multi-purpose, which serves as body soap, shampoo, dishwashing soap, and more. However, it’s not for everyone. Neither my skin nor my hair appreciated it. Fortunately, today many artisanal soap makers are offering cold-processed soaps that are mostly all-purpose. For example, here’s a list of American soapmakers. For storage? You must have a small box lying around somewhere. Otherwise, an old washcloth works fine, or use an old freezer bag that you’ll keep as long as possible.

Solid deodorant

Very skeptical at first (I wasn’t ready to part with my Sanex), I’ve been swearing by solid deodorants for almost 10 years now. DIY or ready-made, they come in all forms, but the ones that are perfect for travel in my opinion are those in paste form in a steel box. Yes, you’ll use your (clean) fingers to apply this sort of cream to your dear armpits until absorption. Plus, these deodorants last forever because you need very little: the size of a small pea is enough.

Toothbrush

When it comes to toothbrushes, it really depends on what you already have. Let’s consider two scenarios: you use either an electric toothbrush or a manual one.

In the first case, you only need to replace the brush heads. However, if you’re planning a round-the-world trip, this type of toothbrush might not be the most practical option. Believe it or not, it can be quite bulky, considering the storage case, charger, and toothbrush itself. If you plan on going off the beaten path or trekking, you’ll need to carry it (yes, that weight again) and remember to recharge it. It’s a possible choice, but we’d suggest leaving it behind for this journey and opting for a lighter model that works anywhere, anytime.

In the second case, wait until your current toothbrush is worn out before getting a new one. There are many eco-friendly toothbrush options out there, ranging from compostable bamboo brushes to ones with replaceable heads—or even both! To find the best fit for your needs and minimize your environmental impact, we recommend checking out a comparison guide. If you need to replace your toothbrush during your trip, look for an organic food store or a zero-waste shop along your route. Even supermarkets can be a pleasant surprise—we once found eco-friendly brushes in a grocery store in Oceania!

Toothpaste

Just like with soap and deodorant, you can find solid toothpaste, either DIY or pre-made. You can decide whether you want to try making your own before departure or go for trusted products that are already available :). I don’t have a specific recipe to share, but you’ll find plenty online! If you have dental issues, it’s a good idea to discuss this with your favorite dentist before trying new products.

Sunscreen

Zero-waste sunscreens can still be tricky to find, but alternatives do exist. So why not just stick with your regular sunscreen? You may have heard about the harmful effects some ingredients have on coral reefs—certain regions of the world have even banned specific sunscreens! Besides damaging aquatic ecosystems, many conventional sunscreens contain controversial ingredients like preservatives, mineral oils, parabens, and chemical filters. Some of these are suspected endocrine disruptors or even carcinogens.

Personally, I prefer to err on the side of caution and avoid them. Before leaving, pack a sunscreen that’s safe for both you and the environment. I even carried an extra tube in my backpack because, with my ultra-sensitive skin, I couldn’t risk experimenting with sunscreens abroad. Alternatively, take a more radical approach by wearing a hat and loose, long clothing when exposed to the sun!

Oriculi

I might not make many friends with this one… Oricu-what? Oriculi! No, it’s not a torture device despite its name, but rather a sustainable alternative to cotton swabs. Say goodbye to single-use plastic sticks (which have been restricted in the UK since 2020) with double cotton tips that push earwax deeper into your ear canals. The oriculi can be made of wood, stainless steel, or silicone, and the idea is to remove earwax from the edge of your ear canal. After use, simply rinse and dry the instrument, and you’re done. I’ve only tried the wooden one, but other models exist. Bonus: it takes up very little space in your toiletry bag.

Menstrual cup

We’ve already discussed periods while traveling and the choices available to us when Aunt Flo visits during our adventures. Today, there are many alternative ways to manage menstruation. In my opinion, the combination of a cup (or menstrual disc) and washable sanitary pads remains a good compromise to generate less waste than tampons and disposable pads.

Reusable makeup remover pads

Rather than bringing disposable cotton pads that you might need to repurchase on the road, adopt soft reusable pads! You can find them in zero-waste specialty stores or on Etsy. Once used, simply toss them in with your dirty laundry for the next wash.

Cloth handkerchiefs

I can hear you already: “Gross! Cloth handkerchiefs aren’t hygienic, they stay wet, it’s not practical…” Well, contrary to popular belief, a cloth handkerchief isn’t less hygienic than a paper tissue – it depends on the context. When you have a cold, you throw your paper tissue in the trash, right? It’s the same thing with cloth handkerchiefs in the end. Once used (especially if you’re sick), set it aside for your next laundry load. Don’t forget to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer if you’re in the middle of nowhere, and this applies to both team paper and team cloth ;).

By recovering those from your grandparents or even your parents, it costs you nothing, you’re not producing waste since you’re reusing them, they’re much less irritating for your nose, and importantly, you’ll look stylish with your colored handkerchiefs ;).

Electronics

We don’t always think about it, but digital technology has a real impact on the environment. Have you decided to invest in an e-reader or a good camera to capture your adventures? Before looking at new items, check if what you want exists in refurbished condition (like on Backmarket, for example) or second-hand (eBay, Marketplace…). Plus, it’s good for your wallet!

Practical advice and habits to reduce waste while traveling

Food

For your outdoor meals, refuse anything you won’t use. Think about plastic bags from night markets in Southeast Asia or the 10 paper napkins handed to you at a street food stand. As mentioned above, if your drink can be enjoyed without a straw, specify when ordering that you don’t want one. And if you really like drinking with a straw, bring a reusable stainless steel one – it will serve you for life and doesn’t take up space ;)!

More and more restaurants (often vegetarian or vegan) are embracing zero waste – ask locals or search on Maps. For shopping, prefer markets, grocery stores, and bulk/organic shops over supermarkets. You’ll find more fresh products and less packaging. Use Maps terms like “bulk,” “organic store,” or “farmer’s market.” You can also use the Zero Waste Home app to locate stores that sell bulk items. In both cases, it’s an opportunity to enjoy local products while making a small gesture for the planet (less transportation for food, less packaging…).

Hygiene and health

As we’ve already mentioned in world tour health topics, the toiletry kit also has its share of waste. In addition to applying the small list mentioned above, here are some tips to reduce your waste throughout your journey:

• If you’re in backpacker mode where space in your backpack counts, to replenish your hygiene product stocks, look for organic stores around you on Maps or use the app that lists bulk stores worldwide. Wherever you are, they’ll surely offer bulk products (like solid soaps) and/or natural products. For more specific products, a web search should give you some leads. As a little anecdote, I sent an email without much hope to a New Zealander who makes soap for pleasure, and she brought them to us without charging anything because she was so happy to have us discover her products! Just goes to show :).
• When staying at hotels or youth hostels, you often get small wrapped soaps and shampoos. Only use them if you don’t have hand soap. The trick is to take them with you when you leave. If you use it and leave it, the cleaning staff will throw it in the trash. At least in your bag, it will serve as your next hand soap for the rest of the stay, and you can even use it for hand-washing laundry – it works very well! This way, you won’t need the next soap bars, which will remain intact and avoid other waste.
• Although establishments are doing it less and less, if you’re staying somewhere for a long time, make sure your sheets and towels aren’t changed daily.

Transportation

We’ve talked about household waste and zero waste while traveling, but we should also discuss modes of transportation. We won’t throw the first stone if you’ve taken a plane to travel. After doing a RTW trip with several flights, that would be quite hypocritical.

There are often alternative means of transportation to flying, with a lower carbon footprint. Also, keep in mind that it’s not the destination that’s important but the journey! We have so many more stories to tell about bus or train trips than plane rides. If you’re planning a long-term trip, we recommend our article on factors influencing the itinerary. We discuss slow travel and round-the-world trips without planes (yes, it’s possible!), a great way to enjoy the present moment while being more respectful of the planet.

Accommodations

In this category, we can’t be zero waste strictly speaking, but we can be mindful of our accommodation choices to reduce our environmental impact. Eco-responsible accommodations are developing more and more, and it’s easy to find them on several specialized platforms like Ecobnb. There’s also Booking, of course, the world leader in accommodation, which had implemented a sustainability score. Now, following the intervention of the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets, establishments obtain third-party certification, delivered by an external organization. By scrolling through the hotels’ page, you’ll find the “sustainable certificate” mention.

To support smaller, more local businesses, we discovered Vaolo, a platform that lists accommodations that have both environmental and social impact! In short, we can only approve of this Quebec company’s mission!

Conclusion

We hope this article has enlightened you about zero waste while traveling. All these tips apply to daily life as well, and once these habits are established during travel, you’ll easily apply them upon your return, or vice versa if you already have habits anchored in your daily life. So, are you ready to change your consumption habits?

Finally, this article isn’t meant to be preachy. The idea is to raise awareness and provide food for thought. Zero waste perfection doesn’t exist, and it took me time to understand that ;). The goal is for everyone to do what they can: every little gesture counts!

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