A Guide to Zero-Waste Travel: Reimagining the Way We Explore

A fresh take on zero-waste travel that explores how mindful choices can lead to deeper, more sustainable adventures.

Photo by Matteo Di Iorio

Travel, in its truest form, is about connection—connecting with people, places, and the stories that live between cultures. But in an age of cheap flights, plastic-wrapped convenience, and “bucket list” tourism, travel often comes with an unspoken cost: waste. Disposable packaging, hotel mini toiletries, takeout containers, and fast fashion souvenirs—it all adds up.

Zero-waste travel isn’t just about packing a bamboo toothbrush and calling it a day. It’s about radically rethinking how we move through the world, how we consume, and how we leave places behind for the next traveler—or the next generation.

This isn’t a checklist. It’s a mindset shift.

Zero-Waste Travel Is More Than Just a Trend

The zero-waste movement started as a personal lifestyle experiment for many: a mason jar filled with a year’s worth of trash. But when applied to travel, it becomes an act of global stewardship. Tourism is responsible for roughly 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and while waste is just one part of that, it's one travelers have the power to directly influence.

More than just reducing plastic, zero-waste travel is about being intentional. It’s asking: Do I need this? Where did it come from? Where will it go when I’m done with it? It invites us to slow down, be present, and respect the ecosystems and communities we move through.

The Myth of the Perfect Zero-Waste Traveler

Let’s be clear: absolute zero waste is almost impossible when you’re on the road. You’re navigating unfamiliar systems, language barriers, and limited options. Sometimes, a paper coffee cup happens. Sometimes, you’re handed a plastic water bottle in a country where the tap isn’t safe to drink from. That’s okay.

Zero-waste travel isn’t about guilt or purity. It’s about resilience and adaptability. It’s about making the best choice available, not the perfect one. That means carrying reusable gear, yes—but also knowing when to make peace with imperfection and keep moving forward.

Reframing What It Means to Pack

Most zero-waste travel guides will tell you to bring a reusable water bottle, spork, and tote bag. Yes, those are important. But packing light isn’t just about minimizing physical waste—it’s about emotional and mental space, too.

Travel lighter. Question every item in your bag. Choose multi-purpose clothing and durable gear. Avoid impulse travel buys—those cheap sandals or “I 'heart' [City]” t-shirts rarely last past the trip. Instead, invest in items that serve multiple roles and will see you through many journeys to come.

Pro tip: Write a packing list after your trip. Note what you actually used and what stayed untouched. Use that for next time.

Eating as an Act of Local Solidarity

Food is often the greatest joy in travel—and the greatest source of waste. The zero-waste traveler approaches meals differently. They skip the convenience stores and plastic-wrapped snacks and instead seek out local street food, farmers markets, and sit-down meals.

Ask yourself: Am I eating like a local or like a tourist?

Bring a container to carry leftovers or a cloth bag to pick up produce. Say no to the plastic cutlery before it’s handed to you. In many cultures, a simple gesture like using your own chopsticks or saying “no straw, please” in the local language can open conversations and build unexpected connections.

Eating mindfully also means embracing “ugly” fruits, supporting small vendors over chains, and wasting less by ordering realistically. If you don’t finish a dish, consider sharing instead of tossing it. Some of the best travel stories come from sharing food, not Instagramming it.

Accommodation Choices: Beyond Clean Sheets

Where you stay can either multiply your waste or help you cut it down. The average hotel guest produces over 1 kg of waste per night. Many of those tiny shampoo bottles, coffee pods, and single-use slippers go straight to landfill.

Instead of defaulting to a hotel chain, look for guesthouses, eco-lodges, or homestays that practice waste reduction like the ones on nomastays. Some may offer filtered water stations, composting toilets, or reusable containers. Others may simply respect local traditions of low-impact living.

And if you’re staying in a place with a kitchen, even better—cooking your own meals gives you control over ingredients and packaging.

Waste Is Also a Story

Every wrapper, every receipt, every broken souvenir tells a story of a transaction. But some stories are worth more than others. Instead of collecting things, collect experiences. Keep a journal. Make audio recordings. Sketch what you see. Learn a recipe or a phrase in a new language. These are souvenirs that weigh nothing and create no waste.

Better yet, take what you learn and bring it home. Travel should change us—and zero-waste travel teaches resourcefulness, creativity, and care.

When You Can’t Avoid Waste—Take Responsibility

If you create waste, own it. That means holding onto your trash until you find a recycling bin. It might mean packing a compostable bag for food scraps if you’re hiking or camping. In rural areas where waste disposal systems are poor, carrying your trash out is often the most respectful thing you can do.

And in places where recycling is inconsistent, sometimes the best thing is to reduce what you consume in the first place.

Final Thoughts: It’s Not About Less, It’s About More

Zero-waste travel isn’t about deprivation. It’s not about saying no to adventure or spontaneity. It’s about saying yes—to deeper connections, to more meaningful choices, to a planet that remains wild and wondrous for others to discover.