11 sustainable travel accessories to buy in honor of Earth Day
Editor's Note
Every year on April 22, we celebrate in order to recognize the importance of protecting the environment.
If you're a frequent traveler, it's worth considering how to limit your carbon footprint and environmental impact. Whether opting to take the train instead of a plane or partaking in schemes to offset the emissions of your flights, you can also help by considering the products you use on your travels.
Plan ahead by purchasing a few of these sustainable travel accessories for your next trip.
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You can find most of these items on Amazon; when purchasing on Amazon, it's worth using a credit card that gives you added Amazon perks or bonuses. Consider the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature, which offers 5% cash back on purchases. (You have to be a Prime member to qualify, but you also get a $100 gift card automatically loaded into your amazon.com account.) If you're not a Prime member, the no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Unlimited® is another good choice, offering you 1.5% cash back on purchases.
The information for the Prime Visa has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
House of Marley ANC earbuds
These sweat-proof, weather-resistant earbuds are made from sustainable materials like bamboo, wood fiber composite and reground silicone. These noise-canceling earbuds come with five hours of battery life and 15 more hours with case charging. (The case is also sustainably designed.)
Buy: Amazon, $72.63
20-pack reusable stainless steel straws
These stainless steel drinking straws will ensure you never have to use a plastic straw again, whether you're sipping a homemade fruit smoothie or enjoying a laid-back tropical cocktail on the beach. The straws also come with a cleaning brush.
Buy: Amazon, $6.99 (normally $9.99)
Scrubba portable laundry kit
Forget using gallons of water attempting to wash your clothes in the hotel sink. Instead, bring the Scrubba portable laundry kit along on your next trip. The kit comes with everything you need to wash and dry: a packing cell with a Scrubba bag and a dry kit, which includes a large towel to remove excess water, a pegless travel clothesline and inflatable hangers.
Buy: Amazon, $99.95
Kokua reef-safe sunscreen
With zero toxic ingredients, harsh preservatives, phthalates or artificial fragrances, this eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen is zinc-based; it smells naturally of vanilla and coconut. It doesn't contain any oxybenzone, octinoxate or parabens, ensuring you'll be able to use it in places that have banned many types of sunscreen, such as Hawaii and Palau.
Buy: Amazon, $29.99 (normally $37.99)
Happyluxe eco-friendly sleep mask
Although everyone has their personal favorite when it comes to sleep masks, Happyluxe makes one using a plant-based, micro-modal fabric sustainably harvested from beech trees — said to be twice as soft as cotton. Plus, the Happyluxe sleep mask is made in the U.S.
Buy: Amazon, $22
Ethique Heali Kiwi solid shampoo bar
This plant-based shampoo bar comes with compostable packaging that creates zero plastic waste. The perfect alternative to plastic bottle waste and toting heavy liquids in your suitcase, the bar is made to be equivalent to three bottles of shampoo. It's also chock-full of shine-inducing ingredients like coconut oil, neem oil, karanja oil and oatmeal.
Buy: Amazon, $13.50
Hiluckey solar charger
This waterproof solar charger can charge phones up to 10 times or tablets up to four times once its four foldable solar panels have absorbed the necessary sunlight. When it's time for a solar top-up, you can clip the charger onto your backpack with the panels open. You can even use a micro USB cable to juice up the charger, too.
Buy: Amazon, $46.99
LifeStraw filter water bottle
Using a reusable bottle is already a responsible choice. However, it's not always possible when traveling, especially in countries where you shouldn't drink tap water.
Luckily, the LifeStraw BPA-free reusable bottle has a special filter straw that removes 99.9% of waterborne bacteria and parasites, including E. coli, giardia and cryptosporidium. The filter is replaceable and also has activated carbon capsules to reduce any bad or mineral taste.
Buy: Amazon, $53.19
5-piece KoolerThings bamboo toothbrush set
Perfect for at-home or travel use, these BPA-free bamboo toothbrushes are made from biodegradable bamboo. Even the packaging is 100% recyclable.
Buy: Amazon, $9.98
Paravel Aviator Carry-On Plus
Paravel certainly doesn't sacrifice style for sustainability. The Aviator Carry-On Plus bag — which looks impossibly chic — has features such as a recycled polycarbonate exterior, recycled aluminum handle, recycled zippers, vegan leather details and an interior lining made from recycled plastic water bottles.
Buy: Paravel, $425
Bamboo travel utensils set
Avoid plastic cutlery at work, at home and when traveling with this nontoxic, chemical-free bamboo cutlery set. Coming with a special travel pouch, the set contains a fork, knife, spoon, straw, cooking spoon and chopsticks, as well as a special cleaning brush.
Buy: Amazon, $9.99
* Prices are accurate as of publication date but are subject to change.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases.
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- 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
- 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without