The sad truth about travel is that it isn’t very good for the environment. Due to the carbon footprint of long-haul flights, the travel and tourism industry accounts for up to 8% of all carbon emissions. If you are conscious of your carbon footprint as a traveler, there are many things you can do. One way to offset your carbon footprint is to use sustainable travel products. If you are looking for some ideas of what single-use and plastic products you can replace in your luggage, check out these 40 eco-friendly travel essentials for green travelers like you!
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Must-Have Eco-Friendly Travel Products

There are some travel products that have a more significant environmental impact than others. Let’s start off with some basics that you’ll want to travel with no matter where you go!
1. Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Did you know that 14% of litter waste in the world comes from drink containers such as plastic water bottles? A reusable water bottle is a must if you want to stay hydrated without buying a plastic water bottle every couple of hours! The fact of the matter is that many countries have clean and drinkable tap water. That said, if the country you are visiting doesn’t have clean water, you can generally find places to refill your water with filtered or purified water.
While there are many types of reusable water bottles out there, you should go for a stainless steel bottle for a more eco-friendly option (rather than plastic). Plus, a stainless steel water bottle is much more durable and can keep your water cool for hours.
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2. Water Filter
We never travel without our water filter. Our Sawyer Squeeze water filter has not only saved us from using hundreds of single-use plastic water bottles but has also saved us a lot of money in the long run. With a single water filter, you can filter MONTHS worth of water. While it does take a bit more effort to use than to simply buy water, it is one of our first recommendations when other travelers and digital nomads ask us what they should do to travel more ethically and responsibly.
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3. Reusable Straw
Your home country might be more concerned about using plastic straws, but you can’t expect this awareness everywhere you go. Whenever you stop by a cafe or restaurant while abroad, it’s always better to play it safe by bringing a reusable straw of your own if you must have a straw for your drink!
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4. Eco-Friendly Travel Pillow
If you’re someone who can’t travel without a travel pillow, you’ve got to get an eco-friendly travel pillow made with natural materials. Bamboo is a great choice as it is breathable and great for sensitive skin.
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Sustainable Clothes for Travel


Thanks to fast fashion, people throw away piles of clothes year after year. Here are some sustainable clothing options so that you can avoid doing the same.
5. Recycled Material Flip Flops
Instead of grabbing the cheapest pair of flip flops that’ll undoubtedly break after a couple of uses. Buy yourself a durable pair that is also made of recycled material for the added comfort of knowing that your shoes are made with sustainability in mind.
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6. Natural Fiber Underwear
We’re huge fans of bamboo underwear. They are gentle, temperature-regulating, breathable, and, of course, eco-friendly. What more could you want from a pair of underwear?
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7. Natural Fiber Clothing
You should consider your clothing as well when you’re trying to be as green as possible. It helps to opt for natural fibers rather than synthetic fibers. Think: cotton, bamboo, linen, wool, and hemp. The great news is it’s pretty easy to find natural fiber clothes wherever you go. Just don’t forget to check the label to ensure it’s 100% natural.
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8. Eco-Friendly Sunglasses
Why not go a step further and get some eco-friendly sunglasses as well to complete your head-to-toe sustainable look while you trot the globe? Sunglasses with wood frames are a great choice that still protect your eyes from those harmful UV rays.
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9. Recycled Hat
Another must-have item when you travel is a hat. It’s a great accessory for outfits, protects your face from the sun, and hides your hair on bad hair days. A hat made of 100% recycled materials is the way to go if you want to be as sustainable as possible.
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Eco-Friendly Toiletries for Travel

Most toiletries come in plastic packaging, so what are your eco-friendly toiletries alternatives?
10. Bamboo Toothbrush
Did you know a billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown away each year in the US alone? A toothbrush may not be the first thing you think of when you are trying to replace all of your single-use and plastic travel products, but if you switch to a more sustainable toothbrush like a bamboo toothbrush, it can go a long way in keeping more plastic out of the landfills. Bamboo toothbrushes are not only made out of sustainable materials, but they tend to last much longer, saving you from having to replace them as often.
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11. Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Coral reefs are incredibly sensitive to even the slightest change in the water. And sadly, climate change and rising seawater temperatures are already wreaking havoc on many of the world’s reefs. Most standard sunscreen is filled with chemicals such as oxybenzone that can negatively impact the coral. If you want to swim in the ocean, always use reef-safe sunscreen to protect your skin and the gorgeous marine life below.
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12. Shampoo Bar
The most eco-friendly option when it comes to shampoo is to purchase a shampoo bar. Thankfully, shampoo bars have come a long way, and they no longer feel greasy on the scalp. As a plus, the shampoo bar below is made with vegan, palm-oil-free, and renewable ingredients, making it extra sustainable.
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13. Conditioner Bar
To go along with your shampoo bar, you also need to purchase a conditioner bar so that you can reduce your single-use plastic use. This conditioner bar is both cruelty-free and sustainable, making it a great eco-friendly choice for your hair-care needs.
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14. Soap Bar
Rather than purchasing body soap that uses plastic and chemicals to create, travel with a soap bar. Even better if you can find a soap bar that uses vegan and natural ingredients as well as recyclable packaging!
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15. Travel Soap Case
Since you may be traveling with a bar of soap rather than a shower gel with a plastic covering, you’ll need a travel soap case to bring the soap in. Without this, you’ll end up making a huge mess in your toiletries bag!
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16. Reusable Toiletry Containers
Instead of purchasing and throwing away soap and shampoo at every destination, bring your own soap, shampoo, and conditioner! If you have any liquid restrictions, these reusable toiletry containers will come in handy. You can reuse them for multiple trips as many times as you want!
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17. Period Cup
If you have a regular period, you can’t forget to pack period products. Instead of buying and disposing of pads and tampons, try a period cup, which you can reuse over and over again.
You should check out our full travel essentials list for women for more products like this that you absolutely can’t forget!
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18. Sewing Kit
What’s so sustainable and eco-friendly about a sewing kit? You might ask yourself… But think back to how many clothes you may have thrown away because of a hole or rip in the seam. With a travel-friendly sewing kit, you can ensure all your clothes stay in tip-top shape, reducing the waste in landfills.
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19. Natural Deodorant
Many standard deodorants you find on the market are filled with chemicals that can harm the environment. Plus, the packaging is almost always plastic, which is not the most sustainable material. Instead, opt for a natural deodorant that is much kinder to your skin and the world.
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20. Reusable Makeup Cloth
Most women go through several cotton pads every day. But instead of wasting pad after pad, get some reusable makeup remover pads to help remove your makeup at the end of the night. To reuse them, simply wash them, dry them, and they’ll be ready to go again!
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21. Natural Insect Repellent
If you are traveling to a tropical destination, one thing you should not forget is insect repellent. Without it, you’ll likely be mauled by mosquitoes from head to toe, which can put a damper on your trip. Unfortunately, most insect repellents contain very harmful chemicals. But natural insect repellents can work just as well.
Insect repellent is a must when traveling to places like Thailand and Indonesia. Check out our Southeast Asia packing list for other things you can’t forget.
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22. Biodegradable Toothpaste Tablets
We never even knew toothpaste tablets existed until a few months ago! With these tablets on hand, you can say goodbye to toothpaste in plastic tubes. Simply pop a tablet in your mouth, chew, and then brush as usual. Ingenious!
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23. Wooden Comb
Many combs nowadays are made of plastic, but don’t worry; there are eco-friendly alternatives out there. For example, you can get a natural wooden comb instead to tame your mane. This wooden comb will help keep your hair tangle-free.
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24. Eco-Friendly Floss
We bet you’ve never heard of eco-friendly floss! While the packaging itself definitely makes a difference, it’s also the floss itself that should be eco-friendly—ideally, biodegradable!
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Sustainable Travel Bags

Here are some bags that are either made of recycled materials or are sustainable in other ways.
25. Tote Bag
We make sure to bring at least one tote bag with us whenever we travel. The tote bag can play many roles: it can help separate your dirty shoes from the rest of your luggage, you can use it to buy groceries while abroad, and it can also be used as your daypack. We love that it’s reusable and eco-friendly! If the tote bag gets dirty, you can simply pop it in the laundry machine to get it sparkly clean again.
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26. Eco-Friendly Packing Cubes
Packing cubes have been an absolute game-changer for us when it comes to packing for our trips. So, if you want to learn just how great they are, you should get yourself some eco-friendly packing cubes. Try to find a product made of recycled materials.
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27. Recycled Backpack
Similarly, you’ll want to opt for a backpack with recycled material as well. More and more backpacks are made with eco-friendly and sustainable materials, but always check the label to double-check. For more backpack recommendations, check out our list of the best digital nomad backpack options.
Our Recommendation
This is the backpack we have used for years, and can’t recommend it enough, head over to our comprehensive review of the Osprey Farpoint for more info.
28. Reusable Produce Bags
Do you plan on going grocery shopping at some point during your travels? We highly recommend bringing a couple of produce bags that you can use to carry all of the fresh produce from the market. Plus, they can double as tote bags for daily use.
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Sustainable Camping Travel Products

Are you going camping? You’ll want these sustainable camping products by your side.
29. Reusable Coffee Mug
If you are a coffee fiend like us, you might want to invest in a reusable coffee mug. While you are more likely to get a coffee to sip and enjoy within a cafe while you’re traveling, if you happen to need a coffee on the go, a reusable coffee mug can go a long way in doing your part for the environment. Simply ask the cafe to fill up the coffee in your mug instead of a disposable cup if you want a coffee to go.
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30. Reusable Cutlery
We love traveling with reusable cutlery, especially if we are heading to destinations where we are likely to camp or have a picnic. Instead of purchasing plastic forks and knives for your feasting purposes when you’re outdoors, use reusable cutlery that you can easily wash at the end of the night.
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31. Reusable Snack Bag
For those hikers and campers out there, you will likely be packing some snacks and lunches for yourself as you hike up mountains, through valleys, and around lakes. But instead of packing your food in single-use plastic bags, get yourself these reusable snack bags. As a plus, these snack bags are dishwasher-safe!
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32. Biodegradable Wet Wipes
Another camping and hiking must-have is wet wipes. Most wet wipes out there need to be thrown away in the trash after use. But if you want to be more green and sustainable, grab some biodegradable wet wipes to clean yourself while being kinder to the earth.
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33. Collapsible Travel Bowl
Yet another camping and hiking essential that will come in handy for certain travelers in a travel bowl. Even better if you can find a collapsible one so that you can save space in your backpack. With this bowl on hand, you don’t need to use a single-use bowl or plate—this travel bowl will fill all of your eating needs.
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34. Compostable Trash Bags
Another must-have item when camping or hiking is a trash bag. After all, leave no trace, right? But instead of putting everything into a standard plastic bag that you’ll put into the trash can at the end of the hike, bring compostable trash bags so that there’s one less plastic bag in the rubbish heap.
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Other Eco-Friendly Travel Products

Here are some other eco-friendly and sustainable travel products that you’ll want to consider in order to lessen your carbon footprint as much as possible.
35. Cork Yoga Mat or Travel Mat
Do you travel with a yoga mat? Finding a travel-friendly yoga mat that is also eco-friendly can be a struggle, but one great option is a light cork yoga mat that you can take with you to those relaxing yoga and pilates sessions.
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36. Reusable Coffee Filter
If you love to make coffee like we do, you likely travel with a big pack of coffee filters. But they take up a lot of space and come in plastic packaging that you’ll immediately put into the trash. Instead, try out a reusable coffee filter that you can use over and over again, saving space and money as well as the environment.
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37. Eco-Friendly Travel Towel
Finding the perfect travel towel can be a challenge. You want to find a towel that is space-saving, light, and quick drying. Ideally, you’ll want a towel that you can use for drying yourself after showers and to use as a beach towel when needed. Get yourself a 100% cotton towel that is quick drying for an eco-friendly solution!
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38. Portable Washing Machine
If you tend to travel for longer durations, like us, a constant struggle you may have is finding a washing machine to wash your clothes. But if you’re looking for the most eco-friendly solution, you might want to invest in a portable washing machine that you can easily pack up in your suitcase as you travel. Plus, this means you don’t have to worry about finding accommodation with a washing machine, which can be difficult in certain destinations.
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39. Laundry Detergent Sheets
Laundry detergents generally come in a large plastic jug. For something with a much smaller carbon footprint, get laundry detergent without plastic packaging, such as laundry detergent sheets. As a plus, since they come in a sheet, you don’t have to worry about measuring the amount or making a mess!
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40. Solar-Powered Battery Charger
We always bring a portable charger with us wherever we go. They come in handy on those long travel days when you are using your phone a lot but don’t always have a place to charge it. But instead of getting your standard portable charger, a great eco-friendly option is a solar-powered battery charger. What’s great about this is that you can even use this when you are in the great outdoors, as you don’t need electricity to charge your phone and other devices.
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Why Should You Consider Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Travel Products
While travel isn’t the most eco-friendly activity, there are luckily many ways to cut down on your impact. One of our top sustainable travel tips is to be mindful of what travel products are harmful to the environment and to use eco-friendly alternatives instead. This is a very simple but effective way to reduce this impact on the environment. By choosing sustainable and eco-friendly travel products, you can reduce waste and pollution as well as support ethical manufacturing practices!
Looking for more ways to reduce your impact on the world while traveling? Check out our top recommendations for sustainable travel companies.