21 Amazing Eco-Friendly Products for Travel
After living in Ecuador at an eco-village for a month, we learned that what we pack and how we pack matter.
Anything that went down the drain, such as soaps, shampoos, and cleaners all were recycled and used to water the plants.
I’ve gathered a list of 21 of the best eco-friendly products that can help make a significant difference for your next vacation!
Whether you are on a mission to become more sustainable or want to pack more efficiently for your next trip, this list will help you find products and brands that are rated well for the eco-activist and minimalist.
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Eco Friendly Travel Products
Eco-friendly Products: Toiletries
The biggest difference you can make with toiletries is not buying all those single individual 4oz travel size bottles that wastes a ton of plastic.
Also, try to not use the pre-packaged mini bottles the hotels give as that is also a huge waste of plastic.
Below you will find full-size products that don’t require you to check your bag or sacrifice quality.
hello Natural Toothpaste Tablets
Ready to stop buying those tiny-sized travel tubes that end up going missing and cost way more than they should? Also, ready to actually use toothpaste free of harmful toxins and bacteria? Say hello to hello :)
hello toothpaste brand has taken off and is even sold in Walmart thanks to its acquisition by Colgate.
Think of the acquisition as a good thing as it brings more environmentally friendly products to the masses.
I love these toothpaste tablets because:
You don’t need to buy one-off tiny size tubes to fit inside your carry-on.
You can take as many tablets as you need in a separate container if you don’t want to carry the entire tin can.
The ingredients are simple, effective, and actually taste good!
Ethique 5 Piece Hair Sampler
If you're looking for a shampoo and conditioner that is both 100% biodegradable and great for your hair, then look no further.
Yes, these hair bars actually work too!
The shampoo suds up to make it feel clean and the conditioner leaves it really soft and smooth!
The hair sampler pack comes with 3 mini shampoo and 2 mini conditioner bars.
Ethique is the world's first zero-waste and most sustainable lifestyle beauty brand. All their products are 100% vegan, compostable, and biodegradable.
Their products are super concentrated and one full-size bar is equivalent to 3 shampoo bottles. By switching to beauty bars, you're saving plastic bottles from going to landfills.
Bonus- you don’t have to worry about how much liquid you can travel with since these are solid bars!
Ethique Eco-Friendly Bodywash Bar
With multiple scents and textures to choose from, I highly recommend grabbing the body wash from Ethique alongside your hair care.
These soap bars are great for sensitive skin, and don’t leave your skin dry or irritated.
The body wash bars with pumice or oatmeal are lightly exfoliating, and my personal fave to use daily.
Make sure to keep it out of running water when not in use or they will break down faster, just like a normal soap bar. And a little goes a long way!
Ethique Face Scrub for All Skin Types
Last, but not least, is the Ethique face scrub bars! Just like the pumice body wash bar, these are lightly exfoliating and still gentle enough to use daily.
One box comes with a pack of four mini bars and one bar lasts me about 3-4 weeks with daily use. The smell is very faint and the formula leaves my face feeling buttery soft!
Make sure to go on Ethique’s website or Instagram to learn how to correctly use the products and most importantly, store them so you get the most use out of them.
Nomadix Everything Towel
I’ve tested a few microfiber towels and none of them compare to these by Nomadix. The biggest pro is they have a really nice weight to them and are a standard size bath towel while still be very packable.
They are extremely absorbent for everyday use from taking showers, hot yoga or going to the beach. They dry out quickly too!
As an added bonus, they come in really beautiful prints and patterns with a solid color back.
Makeup Remover Towel
Create less waste by having a small stain-proof cloth you can reuse hundreds of times with a quick toss in the washing machine.
Instead of packing an entire pack of makeup remover wipes that end up in our landfills (at best) or having to carry an additional liquid bottle of cleanser, try using a makeup remover cloth.
You just add warm water and voila, your makeup is 100% gone, seriously!
Having one reusable towel is so much better for the environment and your wallet. The towel can easily be washed by hand or right into the washing machine.
saalt Menstrual Cup
I’ll admit, the idea of switching from tampons to a reusable period cup sounds… well… terrible. How comfortable can it be, how gross is it, does it actually work?
Those are all the things that stopped me from trying this application method.
In the end, the menstrual cups actually do work and make such a difference in the environment and your luggage size when you only need one eco-friendly made cup that last for 12 hours at a time, versus using 3-6 tampons a day for 4-7 days. Not to mention, the reoccurring costs that add up.
saalt is a B-corp certified brand that is ethical and environmentally friendly. It’s made of an ultra-soft and flexible silicone that is free of parabens and toxins. saalt is also made right here in the USA. It’s worth a try in my opinion!
Electronics for Travel
Solar Power Bank - 36800mAh
Not much explanation is needed here. Having a portable charger is a game-changer nowadays and is highly useful.
I like this power bank in particular because it lasts forever, it can be charged by the sun, and it has various charging cables integrated within it.
It does charge faster when plugged into the grid, but having a solar option is a nice backup. It also has a flashlight which is great for nighttime hikes or backpacking.
Backpacks and Storage
We all know airplanes are charging an arm and leg for your large suitcase and so most of us now know to pack a carry-on, but it’s usually at the cost of some additional clothing or shoes you really wanted to bring.
Below is a list of the suitcase/backpack and items we used to make the most out of our space and pack as much as we could for two months in Ecuador!
Compression Packing Cubes
Compression packing cubes can really make a difference in how many extra clothes you can fit inside your backpack or suitcase. Just make sure you get the ones that have the additional compression zipper.
I like using packing cubes because they keep me organized and I don’t have such a mess when going through my bag because I’m not sure where my T-shirts or shorts are.
Since we are aiming for minimalism here, I would suggest only getting a set with 4 cubes: one small, two medium, and one additional medium or one large seems to be the best for carry-on size suitcases.
Gregory Tribute Travel Pack 55L
If you plan on backpacking across the country or staying somewhere that it is not as easy to wheel your luggage, I suggest getting the Gregory Tribute Travel Packs. The Gregory Tribute is a great travel pack that carries just as much as your standard carry-on suitcase.
It has a nice support system with straps for both your back and hips when you’re walking down cobble streets, upstairs or through rugged terrain.
There are multiple compartments, including a laptop sleeve and rain cover. The main compartment also opens up completely so you can see everything inside your bag without having to dig around for it.
The Tribute comes in a 40L and 55L (men and women) versions with the main difference being the Tribute 55L that has a removable 20L day pack.
Foldable 40L Backpack for Travel
If you’ve loaded yourself down with your carry-on and personal item, you usually realize you need something in between those sizes when you’re actually at your destination.
This foldable backpack packs down to a small 8 inch x 8 inch pouch and weighs less than a pound.
This lightweight bag is great for day hikes or beach days as it can hold 40L and will have plenty enough room for two person’s needs. The material is thinner so I would not recommend putting more than 30 lbs worth of items in there.
Eco-Friendly Dining
When traveling you will probably be eating out more than normal, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t opt for the more eco-friendly options.
You can bring your own collapsible to-go container instead of wasting styrofoam or plastic bags. A super easy item is bringing your own straw as well.
According to take3.org, a straw that you used for a few minutes will last longer on the planet than you will as it takes 200 years for one straw to decompose.
Now think about how much longer a larger plastic bottle or bag takes.
Not to mention most plastics aren’t even recycled and are just sitting in landfills or floating in the ocean.
LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle
Most people now use a reusable water bottle, but when traveling to countries where clean drinking water isn’t as prevalent, I suggest taking the Life Straw Go Water Bottle.
Life Straw’s 2-stage filter removes 99.9% of waterborne bacteria, and 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites without chemicals, iodine or batteries. The filter lasts for about 3 months or 25 gallons worth.
Another option is the Grayl GeoPress Water Purifier. The Grayl is a press method to filter versus sucking through a straw and when the filter gets full on either water bottle it becomes hard to use.
I suggest taking a backup filter with you when traveling for longer than 2 weeks.
Collapsible Straw - 3 pack
As mentioned above, one straw takes 200 years to break down. We can help reduce our plastic use easily by just opting for no straw or easily carrying this compact metal straw.
This specific straw comes in a three pack and is only 4 inches long when compacted down. It also comes with a rubber tip in case you are like me and don’t like drinking through a metal straw, especially when drinking something cold!
MSR Lightweight Spork
If you really want to go above and beyond, I recommend purchasing this set of four sporks. These are actually great for backpacking since they are so lightweight and versatile, but even nice to throw in your car if you are an on-the-go eater like myself.
Let’s commit to stop wasting so many plastic forks and spoons from drive-thru’s and fast food! With a pack of four, you can throw one in your car, purse, desk, and save one for travel.
Collapsible Tupperware Containers
When traveling, going to a BBQ or eating out in your own city, I recommend packing one of these to-go containers with you.
Collapsible Tupperware is very lightweight to pack or carry and comes in handy when you need to take leftovers. I also recommend taking this collapsible coffee or drinking cup on the go with you as well!
In case you didn’t know, Polystyrene food containers leach the toxin Styrene when they come into contact with warm food or alcohol, oils, and acidic foods; posing a health risk to humans.
Key Nutrient’s Electrolytes
Because we have to seriously filter our water when staying in other countries, it can also completely strip the good minerals from the water as well.
Key Nutrient’s is a sugar-free, calorie-free, zero-carb, plant-based electrolyte mix sweetened with Stevia Extract.
It includes 6 key electrolyte minerals in addition to 13 vitamins and minerals that make such a difference for me.
The Cherry-Pom and Pink Lemonade flavors are their top sellers and taste amazing! Just make sure to drink it within 45 minutes or it starts to taste like a vitamin.
I actually enjoy drinking this mix even when I’m not traveling because it gives makes me feel hydrated and full of natural energy!
Bonus- it’s a powder so you don’t need to worry about how much you can fit into your liquids bag!
Eco-Friendly Outdoor Products
Coola Mineral Sunscreen
Coola sunscreen spray is my go-to for sun protection and this travel size SPF 50 sunscreen stick offers a layer of physical protection while non-nano Zinc Oxide provides 100% chemical-active free broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection.
It rubs in well and doesn’t leave a white film like some mineral sunscreens and it actually stays on well while swimming or sweating.
It’s important to use a mineral or reef-safe sunscreen when going into the ocean because nanoparticles found in typical sunscreens can clog coral when ingested and lead to coral bleaching and ultimately dying.
Murphy's Naturals Mosquito Repellent Incense Sticks
I absolutely swear by the incense sticks from Murphy’s. We use these during Montana summers and even in the Ecuador jungle and they work like a charm!
Definitely better than the citronella candles.
The tube comes with a pack of twelve and one stick will burn for 2.5 hours, so we usually burn 1 a day when outside.
The incense sticks are great if you plan on sitting outside for lunch, hiking, or camping.
One stick can cover a 12 foot radius. In addition, Murphy’s is a B-corp brand and I love supporting ethical & sustainable brands when possible.
All Terrain Herbal Armor Natural Insect Repellent
I’m always looking for a DEET-free inspect repellent that actually works, and that is not very easy to find.
All Terrain’s insect repellent is an oil-based formula that is DEET-free and GMO-free; which is great for sensitive skin too.
I also love that it doesn’t ruin my clothes or make me feel like I have a permanent layer of sticky sweat as most DEET sprays do.
I would suggest reapplying this every two hours still to make sure you stay mosquito bite-free. It even comes in a 4oz size perfect for travel!
lululemon Travel Mat
If yoga is an important part of your daily practice, even on vacation, I would recommend getting this specific travel mat by lululemon.
It is only 1.5mm thick, which is much thinner than the typical 5mm yoga mats, but that is what you sacrifice for being compact.
On the plus side, this mat is the widest and longest compared to most other travel mats.
We took these mats with us to Ecuador and loved how the mat can fold up easily in our carry-on. We were in a very humid climate so we didn’t need to spray the mat to make it stick and the bottom grip stays in place very well.
Eco-friendly Detergent for Travel
Depending on where you’re traveling there may be a few miscellaneous eco-friendly travel staple products that should make it to your travel pack.
SinkSuds Travel Laundry Detergent
When you don’t have a laundromat nearby or time to find one, I recommend using this eco-friendly and biodegradable laundry soap by Sink Suds.
One packet is enough for a large sink full of clothes to hand wash or you can just add the liquid to a small load washer.
These packets are great for when you can’t fit more into your liquids bag and want to keep your clothes fresh and clean!
Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap
If you didn’t know already, Dr. Bronners is your one-stop shop for everything that needs clean.
You can use this pure-castile soap 18 ways, from shampooing your hair, washing your body, cleaning laundry, washing dishes, or even washing your dog. It is highly concentrated so a little goes a long way!
Dr. Bronner's liquid soaps are fully biodegradable and use all-natural, vegan ingredients that pose no threat to the environment.
Altogether, trying to take steps towards buying products that are eco-friendly and sustainable can start to make a big difference in letting corporations know that we are choosing quality over comfort.
I also highly recommend when traveling to search for eco-tours, bike tours, and eco-lodges to stay at.
Support local businesses when you are in another country as most of your big chain hotels, cruises, and common chain stores don’t help these unique destinations and locals that live there.
The best coffee is never from Starbucks, the best burger is never from a chain, and the best hikes are usually not the ones listed all over Instagram.
Do your research or, even better, ask the locals where they recommend going. It will make your trip way more fun and memorable when you get to know the culture and their way of living!
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