Looking to put together a toiletry bag for your upcoming program? We have outlined a few limited waste options to fill your own kit with everything you need to smell great while also keeping the environment in mind during your travels. Grab your favorite zipper pouch and get started!
Shampoo, Conditioner & Body Soap Bars
Soap bars are a great first step in eliminating extra waste from your toiletry bag! By making the switch from liquid shampoos and conditioners, to shampoo and conditioner bars, you no longer need to worry about spills inside your luggage, or about adhering to any liquid travel regulations. Nothing is worse than worrying about your shampoo spilling all over your clothes while you’re trying take in the sights of your destination. By taking advantage of shampoo, conditioner, and body soap bars you are also reducing your packaging waste from each item immensely. Many of these bars are sold with minimal packaging, which, benefits the environment and helps you save space in your suitcase.
Lush is a store that offers many biodegradable, organic, and vegan options for toiletry items. Many of their products such as solid shampoo bars, solid conditioner bars, and body wash scrub bars are sold with no packaging.
Stuck on how to pack these solid soap bars? Try a glass, metal, or reusable plastic container. Another alternative to containers is to try using beeswax wraps. Check out a few options below!
Shop a 2-pack of metal tin containers here: Hulless 2pcs Metal Hinged Tin Container
Shop a 5-pack of beeswax wraps here: Reusable Beeswax Food Wrap
Natural Deodorant
Many natural deodorants are offered as a bar, rather than a roll-on stick, eliminating the need for excess plastic packaging.
Shop a vegan deodorant bar here: Lush – Aromaco Deodorant Bar
Shop an eco-friendly deodorant bar here: Ethique Eco-Friendly Deodorant Bar
Bamboo Toothbrush
Biodegradable bamboo toothbrushes won’t fill up landfills when you are done brushing, and that’s just the beginning of the amazing benefits of switching from plastic to bamboo. Unlike your standard plastic toothbrush handle, the bamboo handle is biodegradable. The bristles are made from nylon4, which breaks-down in the environment faster than a classic toothbrush bristles which are made from nylon-6. Not only is the switch to bamboo beneficial for the environment, but it is also beneficial to your teeth! Bamboo toothbrushes are naturally antimicrobial, meaning that it helps eliminate the potential fear of bacteria growing on the handle of your brush!
Shop a bamboo toothbrush here: Eco-Friendly Natural Bamboo Charcoal Toothbrush or Woobamboo Eco-Awesome Oral Care
What to make sure your toothbrush is protected while traveling? There are eco-friendly bamboo travel cases as well. This will allow you to easily toss your toothbrush in the case, as you’re running out of your hotel for your day exploring your destination without worrying about the rest of your suitcase getting damp.
Shop a bamboo travel toothbrush case here: The Clean Green Co. Toothbrush Case
Reusable Containers
When bringing along toiletries it’s very easy to head to the travel size section of Target to stock up on the mini sizes of all your favorite products. However, all the one-time use plastic that makes up each small bottle and container isn’t great for the environment. By using reusable travel toiletry bottles and containers, you can fill them with which ever type of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and anything else you prefer. These small containers are also available in other materials as well-if you are focused on avoiding plastic all together! This isn’t just great for the environment, it’s beneficial for your wallet too!
Shop a 3-pack of travel bottles here: humangear GoToob Travel Bottles
Shop a 3-pack of travel containers here: humangear GoTubb Travel Containers
Shop a glass jar with a bamboo lid here: Bamboo Lid Frosted Glass Bottle
From reusable containers, to bamboo toothbrushes, and bars of shampoo and conditioner you’re ready to start assembling your own eco-friendly toiletry kit! Before you know it, you’ll be at your destination having the time of your life. Enjoy!
Want to find out how to pack the rest of your suitcase eco-friendly? Read our Article: Pack and Travel as Green as Possible
Read more blog posts about the impact of study abroad here.
