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Travel for Bliss

8 of the easiest ethical and sustainable travel toiletries. Here's a list of easy changes you can make to be sustainable when you travel.

One of the most important things you can do as a traveller is to be sustainable and ethical with your travel practices. There are many ways to do this, and one area that can be so important and easy to be sustainable in is your travel toiletries. Millions of plastics are sent to landfill each year, and many of these are single-use. Our oceans and ecosystems are under threat due to our simple toiletry practices, which we have taken for granted for so many years.

If you were to add all the travel in the world together and class it as a country it would be the third most polluting country in the world. This is a sobering statistic, and something to always remember. Travel is good for the soul and our personal development, but we also need to ensure that our travel is sustainable and ethical for our planet. Leave no trace should be everyone’s motto, and this should apply to your toiletry habits as well as your adventuring.

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8 of the easiest ethical and sustainable travel toiletries

My Sustainable and Ethical Journey

I was brought up in a family that focused on natural food and products. My make up has always been ethical and organic, and my shampoos never have SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) in them. However, for years I was blind to the unsustainable impact of my travel toiletries. Now I imagine all the plastic razors and sanitary items that I’ve used still lying in a landfill and spreading microplastics in our beautiful planet.

My first feeling when I began my sustainable journey was overwhelmed. I’d start noticing the plastics I’d been blithely using and want to instantly get rid of them. However, some good advice that I’ve tried to stick to is not to just throw everything unsustainable away. You’re still wasting plastic this way. Use it up and once finished replace it with a sustainable item.

Below is a list of easy sustainable and ethical travel toiletry products. I have tested all of them and can attest to how well they work. These sustainable travel toiletries can care for the planet, but can also save you money, and time in security at the airport.

8 of the easiest ethical and sustainable travel toiletries

Bamboo Toothbrush

This is one of the easiest and cheapest sustainable toiletry travel items that you can buy. I still don’t understand why they’re not stocked in supermarkets to make it easier for people to be sustainable. The bamboo is obviously sustainable and lasts just as long as a plastic toothbrush. I’m happy with any brand but you can look at these great options

8 of the easiest ethical and sustainable travel toiletries

Travel Toothpaste and Tablets

A sustainable travel toiletry item that can actually save the planet and your time in security lines is sustainable toothpaste. I’ve always been aware of making sure my toothpaste is natural and doesn’t contain any nasties, but it’s actually taken me until this year to make the move from plastic tubes. One of the problems was the scarcity of products you could actually find that were sustainable. Now there definitely are a few companies paving the way for sustainable toothpaste.

Georganics is a great option that I have been using. I’ve used three of their products. The toothpaste tablets are very easy to travel with and make no mess. You chew the tablet in your mouth and they foam up easily. The flavour of bi-carb is quite strong, however. The charcoal tooth whitening powder is messy but works really well. You only need a little bit as it goes a long way. The actual toothpaste is the best one I’ve tried. The taste is not as intense and the aftertaste is really nice.

8 of the easiest ethical and sustainable travel toiletries

Reusable Make-Up Remover Wipes

These are so simple and so easy. They are little squares of soft fabric that you soak with water. You can then easily wipe the makeup off your face. Keep them clean by washing them in the washing machine or just under the tap. It’s a good idea to have a few, so if one gets dirty you can put it in the wash and start using another one.

8 of the easiest ethical and sustainable travel toiletries

Reusable Razor

This was probably the sustainable travel item that I was most unsure about. I knew I wanted to get rid of my plastic razors, but using an actual razor seemed kind of scary. Then I found my razor, and it looked so pretty and normal I knew I had to buy it. The good news is that it’s very easy to use and very easy to replace the blade. I was afraid of cutting myself, but it’s still a safety razor, so is safe to use just like a plastic razor. The only problem with this sustainable travel toiletry is that you’ll have to check it or lose it through security.

8 of the easiest ethical and sustainable travel toiletries

Shampoo Bar

I’ve always made sure that my shampoo is ethical and natural, but I’m still new to making it sustainable. When travelling I’ve usually used refillable bottles, which is okay, but still not as sustainable is I want it to be. One of them has also started leaking, which is not fun to discover after a flight. My newest purchase has been a shampoo bar. It’s small and easy to travel with and you don’t need to worry about mess or the liquid rule. The packaging is sustainable that it comes with, and it’s still importantly natural.

I’ve been trying the shampoo bar by Co.So and I can honestly say it’s great. I was afraid it wouldn’t lather up and be hard to soap in the hair. However, you just rub it between your wet hands and it goes onto the hair easily. Best of all my hair looks super healthy and luscious after using it.

8 of the easiest ethical and sustainable travel toiletries

Deodorant Paste

This is one of the best natural, ethical and sustainable purchases I’ve ever made. I highly recommend changing to a natural deodorant paste because of how good they are for your body, the planet, and how well it works. A normal deodorant will come in a plastic can, but will also contain aluminium, which is toxic for your body. A natural deodorant will come in either a recycled or glass container and contain nothing toxic for your body.

I swear by Axilla Black Chicken Remedies. It’s a little Australian brand and is super easy to apply. You only need to use it once in the morning, and it will easily last all day, even when it’s hot. Another 100% sustainable item is i+m and comes in a glass container, which is even better.

i+m

8 of the easiest ethical and sustainable travel toiletries

Moon Cup

I’d heard rave reviews about moon cups but was always too nervous to try one as it looked weird and messy and uncomfortable. However, when I found out that every non-sustainable sanitary product I was using was going to take 500 – 800 years to decompose I knew it was time to try a sustainable item. After a bit of research, I decided to try a moon cup.

Read the instructions as a moon cup can be quite uncomfortable if you do it wrong. Once I’d figured it out I never looked back. It’s so much easier to use with so much less waste. The best part is that it’s super simple to travel with one. Instead of worrying that you’ve packed enough sanitary items you just need one moon cup and you’re set.

8 of the easiest ethical and sustainable travel toiletries

Bamboo Brush

This product is super easy to change to, but can still make a difference to the planet. Why use a plastic brush when a bamboo alternative is just as good? You can buy bamboo brushes now in a lot of shops for all different hair types. If you’re looking for a simple ethical and sustainable travel toiletry to start with then these are great.

Tek

8 of the easiest ethical and sustainable travel toiletries

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8 of the easiest ethical and sustainable travel toiletries

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8 of the easiest ethical and sustainable travel toiletries. Here's a list of easy changes you can make to be sustainable when you travel.

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Comments:

  • April 11, 2020

    Thanks for sharing these sustainable travel tips. I’d love to try the shampoo bar first as it seems the most obvious way of cutting down on plastic. From a practical travel point of view, it’s much more convenient. A win-win product!

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  • April 11, 2020

    Thank you for sharing these products! I have currently been looking for good sustainable travel toiletries 🙂

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  • April 11, 2020

    Such a great list. I already use bamboo toothbrushes & combs, shampoo bars and reusable razors but need to try the toothpaste and reusable make-up wipes amongst other things. Thank you for your recommendations ❤️

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  • Madhu

    April 11, 2020

    That’s a great post .sustainable travel is so close to my heart.thanks for sharing this useful Post

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  • April 11, 2020

    Love this, I also swear by my bamboo toothbrush!

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  • April 11, 2020

    Great tips, thank you! I had never heard of reusable makeup wipes before but it’s such a genius idea – thanks for sharing!

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  • April 11, 2020

    Wow,t hanks for putting together this awesome post. I have been using some of the products you mentioned already, but now I got some new ideas. I think I´m in love with that razor! x

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  • April 11, 2020

    All great tips!

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  • April 11, 2020

    Such a great list! I use the shampoo bars, toothpaste tabs, and bamboo toothbrush! I will definitely need to try some of these other recommendations!

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  • April 11, 2020

    Wow this is a great list! I have been debating on trying a moon cup, but I think now is the time. Great recommendations. Thanks for sharing.

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  • April 11, 2020

    This is an awesome list! I’m going to try the reusable razor when I start traveling again. It looks awesome!

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  • Chelsea

    April 11, 2020

    Okay so I am bad for this! Reading this made me realize just how much I need to change my habits!
    I had no idea about the reusable make up wipes, that’s cool!
    I also had never seen the little tubs of deodorant Untill recently when my sister in law was using it! She said it lasts a lot longer than not a deodorant too!

    This is a great article x

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  • April 11, 2020

    Thanks for sharing this great list! I just bought myself a cup, I need to try it!

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  • April 11, 2020

    The shampoo bar sounds amazing! I struggle with shampoo the most as I have a ton of hair and use a lot of dry shampoo which is tough to get out. Have you tried using the shampoo bar after a few days of dry shampoo? I would love to know if it works then as well! Love your post!

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  • April 11, 2020

    Thanks for this important post! I travel full-time and I always hate buying all these plastic containers: shampoo, sunscreen etc. Sometimes we don’t really have the choice when you are in the middle of *** in Bolivia or such. I hope to be better in the future, thanks for reminding me 🙂
    Also, the moon cup is a lifesaver!!!

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  • April 11, 2020

    Such a great list and photos of the items! I have to check out some of these cool products.

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  • April 11, 2020

    This is so helpful! I am currently doing a 1 year plastic free challenge and I’m always looking for new ways to improve it! I would lie if I said I’ve been flawless through this challenge, but I am trying the best I can.

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  • April 11, 2020

    This is a great list! I love my bamboo toothbrush. Also, it may sound weird, but I still need to try a menstrual cup. I don’t why I’ve been scared to try it. Sounds so convenient too! I’m definitely keeping this post handy.

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  • Erin

    April 11, 2020

    Great tips for sustainable travel (as well as at home!). Thanks for sharing – I am gonna look into reusable razors for my next trip.

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  • April 12, 2020

    This is a great article! I have been seeing more and more things geared towards sustainable travel and it’s awesome. I could certainly do better myself. That razor definitely caught my eye! It’s unfortunate you can’t carry it as a backpacker through security :/

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  • April 12, 2020

    Thanks for this great guide! Last year I made the decision to start using more natural and sustainable toiletries. I was surprised how easy the transition was! Switching to a reusable safety razor was pretty straight forward and reusable make-up remover pads have changed my life! I’m still trying to find a toothpaste alternative that works well for me, but everything else has transitioned easily. Not only that but switching to natural products has made my skin so much better, it’s scary to think about all of the rubbish I was piling onto it for years!
    Hannah | https://getlost.blog/

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  • April 12, 2020

    Cool post! I have to admit I didn’t know about the sustainable razor before, so far I’m using the shampoo and toothbrush though

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  • April 12, 2020

    Definitely saying yes to bamboo toothbrushes. It’s so frightful to think how often we change toothbrushes multiplied by how many of us there are in this world…. it’s an environmental nightmare :S

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  • Brittany Sneller

    April 12, 2020

    Aww loved your photos and set up! I absolutely love shampoo bars and I have backup bamboo toothbrushes! I def need to get a long-term razor though. Hate using the disposable ones:( Thanks for this guide!!

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  • April 12, 2020

    These are great tips to keep in mind when we travel! So important to travel sustainably.

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  • April 12, 2020

    interesting! I’m using the reusable pad and actually loving them!

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  • April 13, 2020

    This is such a helpful guide to sustainable travel products! It’s so easy to not think about how much waste we create when we travel but making a few small changes can make all the difference!

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  • Shannon

    April 13, 2020

    Wow what a great resource! I love using ethical products and trying new ones. I am definitely y gonna have to ditch my plastic hair brush and get a bamboo brush ASAP. Thanks for this amazing post.
    http://www.craftycreationsandco.com

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  • April 13, 2020

    Great article! I will definitely have to check out some of these items.

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  • April 19, 2020

    Wow, thank you so much for this list! I am impressed by those tips and I am going to get a few new toiletries in the coming weeks! Thanks

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  • May 23, 2020

    I love georganics!! They also have a toothpaste that is like a deodorant! You rub it on your tooth brush!

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  • September 22, 2022

    Great post! I haven’t used some of these products before so thank you for sharing!

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