In winter, many of us feel the strong desire to escape to the South to escape the cold and the snow.
If you are one of the lucky ones who will soon fly away for all-inclusives, the beach and unlimited cocktails, this article may be particularly useful to you! For others, it will be just as much when the next opportunity arises.
However, we all know that traveling is not always the best initiative for the planet... With the climate crisis getting worse and worse, it is our responsibility – yours and mine – to get involved for the cause, however small our gesture. We all have a role to play.
Protecting the environment is an issue close to my heart. My goal is to make you aware, to get you to think about the impact of your actions and to change your consumption habits.
That's why today I'm offering you some very simple tips to reduce your waste production while traveling.
1. Bring your reusable water bottle
Bag: Kassiopeia
Bracelets: Sophistikate Jewelry
Depending on your destination, the water at the hotel may not be drinkable. When this is the case, there are often plastic water bottles available for your use in the room. Although it is tempting to use it, it is likely that the hotel does not have the necessary facilities to sort the waste. It may also be that room service does not bother to separate the waste. This means that your water bottle will inevitably end up in the trash, then in landfills or even in our oceans.
Did you know that a plastic water bottle takes between 100 and 1000 years to decompose? It's huge, considering the fact that we usually use it for less than an hour.
To avoid getting involved in this sad reality, bring your own reusable water bottle and ask at the hotel reception when you arrive where it is possible to refill it. Emphasize that you do not want to drink bottled water for environmental reasons. Most of the time there is a carafe of water near the restaurants. Otherwise, have it refilled at the bar.
To see all the reusable bottle options, visit the online store .
2. Bring your insulating glass
If you book a catamaran trip, chances are that alcohol is included in the activity. There have been many times when I have seen waiters use disposable plastic cups to serve alcoholic beverages to customers. Worse still, every time we ask for another drink, we get a new one! This plastic glass will have served 15 minutes…
What is even sadder is that sometimes these glasses fall in the water. Marine animals mistake them for food, which causes suffocation and death.
Why not bring your own drink? I offer nearly 50 different insulated glass options in different colors and patterns. You will definitely find one you like!
Plus, there are three great reasons to get one:
- It keeps the temperature of your drink longer! This means that your strawberry daiquiri, mojito or piña colada won't melt in minutes 😉 Also, your hot drink - coffee, tea or herbal tea - will keep its temperature for hours.
- He floats! If you drop it in the water, it won't sink. Awesome, right?
- Some models come with a lid, which prevents sand or insects from falling into your glass!
You can even take it to the hotel bar and enjoy it by the pool, with no risk of it breaking if you drop it!
3. Fill your coffee into a reusable cup or water bottle
Coffee lovers here? What better way to start the day, right?
Admit that drinking from a colorful and unique cup is 100 times better than from a Styrofoam or cardboard cup (which, by the way, goes in the trash, as it contains materials that cannot be recycled)?
However, make sure that the person filling your coffee does not first fill it into a disposable cup before transferring it to your reusable cup. That would be contradictory, right?
Explore all the options of stainless steel cups or water bottles to find the one you like!
In short, don't be afraid of what others will think if you take your reusable bottle, glass and cup everywhere you go.
Instead, tell yourself that you might even be positively influencing others around you. If everyone starts using reusable bottles, glasses and cups, one day I dare to hope that the amount of plastic that ends up in the trash will decrease.
If we do a quick estimate, here is the amount of waste you can avoid in a week by bringing your reusable dishes:
- 3 plastic water bottles per day = 21 plastic bottles avoided
- 5 drinks per day = 35 plastic glasses avoided
- 2 coffees per day = 14 disposable cups avoided
It's both impressive and disappointing to see how much waste a single person produces in a week!
Thanks to each of us who make an effort, we will contribute positively to the degrading state of our planet. We have much to be proud of!
Other zero waste solutions to consider
If you want to go even further in your approach to a greener planet, here are other zero waste alternatives that can also be considered:
- Reusable utensils
- Metal straws (refuse disposable straws in your glasses)
- Bar shampoo and conditioner (or bring your own bottles to avoid small bottles being thrown away each day)
- Reusable bags for your shopping or dirty clothes
One last tip that I can give you as an end note: it is not enough to take eco-responsible actions when you are on vacation, but also 365 days a year, whether at home, at work or on vacation. Remember to bring your reusable products WHEREVER YOU GO.
The planet will thank you!
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Written by Camille Labonté – Digital Content Assistant and Photographer for Pero
Photo credit: Camille Labonté and Maryline Tremblay
A very special thank you to Marie-Ève Piché ( @maman_cafeine ), Katy Boucher ( @kassiopeia.boheme ), Christine Marcotte ( @meres_en_affaires ) and Marilyn Pellerin ( @labcdumaquillage ) for playing model with my products in Punta Cana!
