4 sustainable travel essentials a tourism expert relies on for cutting down on waste

“This actually came about again on a trip to the United States where we were doing a road trip and I just realized how much kind of waste we were generating by all the coffee places we were stopping at with takeout,” Scott says about why she made the switch to a reusable bamboo coffee cup. 

“I realized, I can actually bring my own coffee cup,” she says. “What I like about this is it's bamboo so it's light, but it's also still durable.” The cup also has the texture Scott was seeking as she says, “[it] has kind of more of a natural feel.”

For someone who spent years backpacking, weight is an important factor. “We had to kind of have everything with us,” Scott says. “Now that's changed. So I'm not backpacking anymore, you know, and let's say more traditional pull suitcase, that type of thing. But there's still the same philosophy.”

That philosophy? Scott has two main questions: “Is it light? Because that makes a difference. Is it durable?” 

The Ecoffee cup gets points for hitting both marks. “Because it is light, [I] just always throw it in my day pack.”

But, it’s not the most sturdy option for Scott. “We have other ones that are more plastic, which on the one hand are sturdier, but on the other hand are a little bit heavier,” she says, so the bamboo option still wins over them.

Though primarily bamboo, it’s also designed with hot coffee favorites in mind as Scott says, “it also has a silicone wrapper for the heat and the top.”

And, aside from helping her cut down on single use coffee cup options, it has occasionally come with another perk: a café discount.

“On our trip to Taiwan last year, and I'm also starting to see this in cafes in Berlin, you actually get a discount when you use your own coffee cup,” she says.

“I hate wasting single-use plastic bottles,” Scott says. Her S’well bottle gives her a reusable option she can keep refilling throughout a trip. 

“Whether it's an airport or whether it's refilling at the hotel or whatever, I'm always trying to refill my water bottles, just to avoid single-use plastic bottles.”

“Even though this weighs a little bit more, I like a stainless steel bottle because I can use it for cold water as well as for hot water, or sometimes coffee, or hot liquids, tea or something like that,” she says. 

That versatility is part of the appeal for Scott. “I kind of like that flexibility and also it's durable.”

That durability has also been put to the test by Scott. “I have had situations where it's fallen and because it is metal, it's quite tough.”

An added bonus? The screw top design gives added peace of mind when it comes to leaking. She says, “I actually prefer the traditional screw top to the pop top just because I find it more secure for leaking.”

“I also have a reusable utensils kit that includes chopsticks, which maybe sounds, you know, a little strange, but we love street food,” Scott says about the sustainable pick. 

Though she says, “my husband laughs at me about this one,” having utensils on hand helps her cut down on her personal plastic use easily. “Instead of always using single-use plastic forks or spoons or chopsticks, this provides you with the utensils.”

The material also fits what Scott looks for in travel gear. “The one that I have is made from wheatgrass, which again might sound strange, but it's pretty durable and it's super light.”

And it can come in handy for more than just a delicious bit of street food. “It's also quite useful for example when you're hiking,” she says. “If we have a picnic or traveling on the train and eating yogurt or something, it's like you always have your utensils with you for eating on the go.”

Scott says it includes “[a] fork, spoon, and chopsticks.” Though she adds, “you can also buy versions that have a knife as well,” she personally skips the knife when flying to avoid any potential issues at security.

Before discovering the LiquiSnugs travel bottles, Scott says, “I had the kind of clear plastic bottles, the screw top, which are fine, but then often they would explode.”

“There was a high probability—or it happened quite a few times—where conditioner or shampoo just kind of got over everything.”

“What I like about these is they're a bit more secure and they're more, I would say, squeeze-friendly,” she says. And, since they’re reusable, they also help Scott cut down on single-use toiletry options.

“That way you're not using the single-use shampoo and other things at hotels,” she says. “You get to use your favorite shampoo and conditioner and toiletries while you travel.”

But, that doesn’t mean they’re entirely perfect for Scott. “The downside is the ones that I mentioned are not as big as some others,” she says. “They're a TSA security friendly [size]. So if you're doing a long trip, you might end up having to refill them or buy something.”

For Scott, little tradeoffs like that are part of finding travel essentials that work for her. Across her sustainability kit, she comes back to the same goal: “trying to find that combination of practical, durable, and also just easy to use. I mean not too complicated.”