This gift guide celebrates that small changes can make a big difference. These eco-friendly gift ideas do just that.
By gifting the traveler in your life with reusable items, you help cut down on the trash that fills our landfills and finds its way into our wilderness areas.
Every little bit helps. Start today by gifting your traveler with these eco-friendly, reusable items.
Related:
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Canvas Bag
Many of us have transitioned to reusable bags when we go to stores at home. But what about when we go shopping while traveling? Plastic and paper bags can accumulate from gift shops and convenience stores while traveling.
To avoid this extra waste while traveling, gift your traveler with a canvas bag. It packs down small but expands to hold a lot. Your traveler can easily tuck it into another bag while touring and can pull it out when it’s time to shop.
Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
The first cool thing about these shampoo and conditioner bar soaps is that they cut out plastic bottles.
The next cool thing is that they take up very little room in your luggage.
The combo makes them one of the dream eco-friendly gift ideas for travelers who want to pack light.
Reusable Utensils
Single-use utensils litter our outdoor areas and fill our landfills.
Cut back on this waste by gifting your traveler with reusable utensils.
Rather than grabbing plastic utensils with takeout, your traveler can use these utensils instead. Less trash. More awesome.
Water Bottle
In the good ole days, we didn’t even have plastic water bottles. Let’s go retro and bring the no-plastic-water-bottles era back into style.
Up your traveler’s water bottle game by giving them this water bottle. The loop in the cap makes it easy to attach to your traveler’s day pack. Plus, it keeps the water cool on even the hottest days.
Reusable Straw
Next time you’re walking along the beach, be on the lookout for plastic straws. It’s likely that you’ll see them everywhere. They’re small enough that animals can mistakenly eat them.
You and your traveler can help stop this by using a reusable straw. Not only is this straw reusable, but it also folds into a smaller size, making it easy to attach to a key chain or throw in a backpack. Plus, it’s rainbow-colored. Who doesn’t need a rainbow-colored straw?
Travel Coffee Mug
Many people have started carrying reusable water bottles. But how many people do you see carrying reusable coffee mugs? Chances are most people are still carrying that paper Starbuck’s cup.
Help reduce this waste by gifting your traveler with a reusable coffee mug. Your traveler can simply ask the cafe to fill up their coffee mug instead of a paper coffee cup.
It’s more convenient to carry than a paper cup. And it looks super cool.
Biodegradable Toothbrush
Like most other plastics, toothbrushes take a long time to decompose. We’re talking hundreds of years. They’re also small enough that they can slip out of trash bags and garbage trucks to make their way into wilderness areas where they can harm wildlife.
These biodegradable toothbrushes are made of bamboo, which is biodegradable. Although the bristles are still made of nylon, the bristles can be recycled separately at a much lesser environmental impact than a full toothbrush.
Help your traveler reduce their environmental impact by giving them with these toothbrushes.
Reusable Toiletry Bottles
Chances are that your traveler has some liquid soaps or gels that they’re not quite ready to give up in favor of bar soap.
But they can still reduce their plastic waste with these reusable toiletry bottles. Rather than getting small, travel-sized containers that are only large enough for one trip, your traveler can refill these toiletry bottles over and over again.
Bonus – they’re leak-proof, so your traveler doesn’t have to worry about a lotion explosion in their luggage.
Packable Towel
Instead of reaching for a paper towel the next time your traveler uses the public washroom, they can reach for this quick-dry towel instead. It also doubles as a sweat towel. AND triples as a cold towel on the neck during a hot day.
Plus, it packs down super small, so it’s an easy addition to any traveler’s day pack.
Portable Water Filter
In countries where filtered water isn’t readily available from the tap, it can be easy to grab a plastic water bottle.
Your traveler can avoid plastic waste by using this portable water filter instead. The traveler simply fills the water bottle like normal and drinks through the cap at the top. The built-in filter filters out bacteria and debris.
This portable water filter is also great for hikers who want to grab a drink from a mountain stream (but still need to be mindful of possible contaminants from animals).
Solar Portable Charger
Having a solar charger means your traveler won’t be reliant on electricity to fuel their devices. It’s a win for the environment.
It’s also a win for your traveler because they won’t be dependent on finding that next charger station to charge-up their devices.
Mineral Sunscreen
It’s possible that most of our regular sunscreens aren’t so great for coral reef systems. Help out coral reefs and make your traveler an eco-friendly-superstar with this mineral sunscreen.
Mineral sunscreens are zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide-based.
Yes, these sunscreens will likely leave a white-tint to the skin. But it’s worth it. Eco-friendly gift ideas for the win!
Comments or Questions?
Have a comment or a question? I’d love to hear from you! Visit me on Instagram @eastbymidwest and leave a comment or DM, or send me an email at pam@eastbymidwest.com.
