{"id":12454,"date":"2019-08-19T10:00:41","date_gmt":"2019-08-19T14:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theprofessionalhobo.com\/?p=12454"},"modified":"2024-06-18T07:34:53","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T11:34:53","slug":"my-zero-waste-kit-for-travel-and-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theprofessionalhobo.com\/my-zero-waste-kit-for-travel-and-home\/","title":{"rendered":"My Zero Waste Kit for Travel (and Home)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Over the last 15 or so years in general, but especially in the last year, I quietly adopted some daily habits that have culminated in a zero waste kit that goes with me everywhere \u2013 while traveling and at home. If I’m out of the house, I’ve got my kit with me. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With my zero waste kit, some forethought, and a bit of discipline, <\/span>I don’t generate any single-use waste when I go out \u2013 be it plastic, paper, or otherwise<\/b>. It’s one little step towards sustainable travel and an encouragement in the sustainable tourism sector. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post I’ll show you how \u2013 and why \u2013 I do it. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interested in Eco-Friendly and sustainable travel? These eco travel booking tools and sustainable travel companies<\/a> will help you make the right choices and book travel that is good for you – and the world. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"With
Pin this for later!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

My Journey to Going Zero Waste<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s important to note first off that I am not a distastefully evangelical environmentalist. I don’t boo and hiss at people who wield disposable coffee cups and bottles of water, take-out containers, and plastic grocery bags. I don’t judge. I just do my thing. Though if asked, I’m happy to discuss my views on single-use waste and my zero waste tips and alternative waste solutions. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a general timeline of how I developed my current mandate to eliminate single-use waste from my life and my zero waste lifestyle \u2013 on and off the road. Afterwards, I’ll zoom out to discuss why now is a critical time to examine the waste we generate and how we deal with it. Then, I’ll give you strategies for how to go zero waste and zero waste products you can use in your daily life to reduce the waste you generate. Going zero waste is easier than you think. <\/span>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15+ Years Ago: Eliminated Bottled\/Canned Drinks (Kinda by Accident)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

My journey to zero waste travel was slow to start, when I eliminated bottles of water, as well as soda and other \u201cdisposable\u201d drinks from my repertoire. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cutting out soda and other sugar-filled drinks wasn’t an environmental decision; it was a calorie-counting thing. I didn’t like artificial sweeteners, and if I was going to watch my calories, I couldn’t justify \u201cwasting\u201d any part of my daily allotment on drinks. Lucky for me, I love water. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I also couldn’t justify buying bottles of water \u2013 partly because of the financial outlay (I’ve always been frugal \u2013 at times to a fault), and partly because I’d already started hearing bad things about bottled water. Much of the talk was the same as it is today; bottled water is less regulated than tap water, and the plastic bottles are cheaply made (being \u201cdisposable\u201d and all), which means the plastic leeches into the water itself. (More on that later). <\/span>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2006: Reusable Grocery Bags<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Long before reusable foldable grocery bags became <\/span>en vogue<\/span><\/i>, I was wandering through a funky store and found an adorable high-quality lightweight bag that folded in on itself to fit in a pocket when not in use. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since I was about to embark on a new lifestyle of full-time world travel, I thought this bag could be a handy piece of <\/span>travel gear<\/span><\/a>. Not only was it immeasurably useful in a variety of scenarios (including buying groceries), it also lasted me eight years of almost daily use before it finally disintegrated. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eight years! I can’t even fathom how many hundreds (thousands, even!) of plastic grocery bags I saved, and also how incredibly useful it was to have in my purse<\/a> all the time. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than being environmentally friendly, my reusable bag was convenient, and I loved using it. <\/span>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2007: Lived on a Permaculture Property<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the more pivotal experiences of my life happened when I <\/span>volunteered in trade for free accommodation<\/span><\/a> on a permaculture property in Hawaii. It was an incredibly challenging position in a variety of ways, but taught me what it takes to live off the grid. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things like: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n