This article contains affiliate links. Click the arrow to find out more information.
Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission for purchases made through links in this post. However, please note I only recommend products that I have verified and/or personally used.
Updated June 2024
Want To Find Sustainable Travel Essentials For Your Next Adventure? Keep Reading To Find Out!
As the human population has now reached 8 billion, it is clear the manmade damage that has been done to this planet. From climate change to plastic pollution, coral bleaching to deforestation... the list is endless.
So, there has never been more of a necessity for each of us to move towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle than now.
Often when you are away travelling or visiting somewhere new, being eco-friendly is at the back of your mind and that's totally understandable!
Some places you visit, you won't be able to drink the tap water so you'll need to buy bottled water, or when you need toiletries, you head to the local supermarket and buy a bunch of plastic bottles (guilty!).
However fear-not, there are a lot of ways that you (and I!) can make your travel adventures more eco-friendly before you go, so you don't have to think about it when you are actually in your destination.
It can be something small like using reef-safe sunscreen to something bigger like using a sustainable Osprey rucksack.
So, you can continue travelling the world, guilt-free knowing that you've reduced your impact on the planet!
This post is all about a guide to Eco-Friendly Travel Essentials.
Table Of Contents:
17 Eco-Friendly Travel Products That You NEED For Your Trip
Reusable Toiletry Containers
These reusable toiletry containers are the perfect size for your carry-on luggage as each bottle is 100ml. Not to mention, they are leak-proof so you don't have to worry about your plastic bottles bursting in your bag, and are also squeezable, so you can get every bit of the shampoo, conditioner or shower gel out!
I used these reusable toiletry containers when I went travelling to Jordan and Croatia for 3 weeks to save space more than anything else as I didn't want to have lots of plastic bottles taking up loads of space in my tiny carry-on. They are really handy for this!
Budget-Friendly Tip! Top these bottles up with the free toiletries available at your accommodation. You can thank me later!
Recycled Backpack
You wouldn't know by looking at this gorgeous backpack, that it is made from PET recycled bottles, but it is! Meaning that it's not only sustainable, but you don't have to compromise on appearance or quality. This bag will last you for years!
Due to the roll-top feature, the size of this bag can extend from 18 litres to 22 litres, so you can pack it with all those extra souvenirs you pick up along the way.
Reusable Microfibre Cleansing Cloth
If you use a lot of single-use wipes or cotton pads to remove makeup or clean your face then, you NEED to make the switch to the reusable Magnitone Cleansing Cloth.
I bought these cleansing cloths a couple of years ago and I still use them to this day. They are so good at removing my makeup with just hot water!
Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Protect yourself from the sun without damaging the environment with this highly-rated SPF30 sunscreen. Even those with sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, or with eczema can use this product.
Now you can go swimming in the sea on holiday knowing that you aren't harming any of the marine life below. Plus, it's packaged in a recyclable sugar cane tube.
Solar Powered Battery Charger
If you are going off-grid for a couple of days, then this solar power battery charger is perfect for you. This is the smallest and lightest portable charger on the market. It also has a super bright flashlight and is waterproof, shockproof and dust-proof.
It can be charged up before heading off-grid using a charging cable or using solar power, but this may be a slower process. You can then use it to charge your devices using the USB and USB-c slots, or if your devices are capable, you could use the Qi Certified Wireless Charging.
Biodegradable Bamboo Cotton Buds
A small but mighty eco-friendly travel product. These cotton buds are made from a sustainable source of bamboo, making them plastic-free and helping you to reduce your plastic footprint.
The bamboo cotton buds are also biodegradable, which means they will naturally break down in compost or soil.
Recyclable Toothbrush
Another eco-friendly travel product which is perfect for off-grid adventures is this Suri Toothbrush with its 40-day battery life. It also comes with a self-cleaning travel case, which helps kill 99.9% of bacteria and charges it at the same time.
To make it even more sustainable and reduce plastic pollution, the toothbrush heads and bristles are made from recyclable plant materials. All you have to do is send them the heads back in the post, which is a completely free service that they offer.
Recycled Shower Loofahs
Loofahs are essential for adventurous travel trips to help you scrub the day away, whether it's the mud from a hiking excursion, the sand from a day of quad-biking or water from scuba-diving!
These loofahs are made from layers of fully recycled mesh material. To make them even more sustainable, they are enclosed in environmentally-friendly packaging. They are also really great value as you get three in a pack!
Plastic Free Laundry Sheets
This product is more aimed at those going on longer travel adventures. It's highly likely that you'll need to wash your clothes at least a couple of times when you are away for a long period of time especially when you have a rucksack as all your stuff, clean or dirty, is shoved into the same bag.
I'm speaking from experience here because I had to wash my clothes so many times when I was in Thailand for 6 weeks.
At least if you take these eco laundry sheets with you, it means that you are prepared and all you need to do is find a laundrette. They also help you to be more environmental friendly as they contain no plastic and are biodegradable. You can also wash your clothes at 20°C using these.
Reusable Coffee Cup
Calling all coffee (or tea) lovers out there... cut down your use of disposable plastic coffee cups by switching to this reusable coffee cup.
It is made from premium grade materials, so it will last you for years to come and not only when you are away travelling!
Budget-Friendly Tip! Visit coffee shops that offer a discount to people who bring a reusable coffee cup with them.
Recycled Travel Towel
This gorgeous Dock & Bay beach towel is proof that you don't need to compromise on how a product looks when it comes to sustainable travel.
It not only looks great but it's also made from 100% recycled materials and dries 3x faster than standard cotton towels, which is perfect for when you need to stuff it back into your rucksack.
Recycled Rucksack
If you are looking for one of the best rucksacks then the Osprey 65l Atmos AG Venturi is right up there! The fact that it is made with 100% recycled materials is just an added bonus!
Investing in an Osprey rucksack is understandably a lot of money. However, a more expensive bag like this one will last you for years and years to come, meaning that you won't need to keep buying a new plastic rucksack every couple of years. It will also make your trips far more comfortable!
Sustainable Bamboo Cutlery
It's always a good idea to have a set of bamboo cutlery in your bag in case a situation arises where you urgently need cutlery like being away camping or getting a takeaway.
This cutlery set is made from 100% natural materials and is a much better alternative to using disposable plastic cutlery.
It even comes with a little pouch to keep the set together. It's also compostable so you don't have to worry about it polluting the environment if you do happen to leave them behind.
Non-Toxic Anti-Bug Balm
Badger Anti-Bug Balm is made from 95% organic ingredients, and avoids using toxic chemicals including DEET. Since it uses simple and clean products, it is also safe to be used on the whole family.
The tin will last you about a year and actually has a nice fragrance compared to other anti-bug products!
Reusable Water Bottle
One of the absolute must-haves for travelling is a reusable water bottle which also filters out any unwanted debris or parasites.
This LifeStraw water bottle has a two-stage filtration process, which helps it to filter out 99.9% of bacteria, parasites and microplastics. This water bottle will allow you to drink water from the tap in countries which don't have clean water.
The membrane microfilter in the bottle lasts about 5 years, if using it daily, and the carbon filter lasts about 2 months. The bottle and filters are also made with 50% recycled plastic.
Recycled Packing Cubes
If you've never used packing cubes for travelling, let me tell you that they will change your travel life! It allows you to separate all your clothes including your dirty laundry into their own little compartments.
Packing cubes also make it super easy to just grab what you need and go, instead of taking out the whole contents of your rucksack/suitcase trying to find something.
These EcoHub packing cubes go the extra mile by being 100% eco-friendly, as they are made from 36 PET bottles.
Eco Soap
Faith In Nature eco soap is made from 99% natural ingredients, which are known for their antioxidant qualities and rich in minerals.
It's also paraben and SLS free helping you to avoid any toxic chemicals on your skin or polluting the environment. It comes packaged in fully recycled and recyclable cardboard.
This post is all about Eco-Friendly Travel Products.
Please consider subscribing to my blog to be kept up-to-date with new posts or share it with others!
Kirsty x
More Blog Posts You'll Love...
Kirsty
Kirsty
Member discussion