Environmentally Friendly Traveling Tips (Part 2)

A few weeks ago I made a blog about sustainable traveling, what it is, and 5 sustainable traveling habits to adapt to. This week, I wanted to share 5 more tips for sustainability while being away from home. Whether you spend a lot of time on the go, you travel a lot, or you just want to be more eco-minded on your next vacation, read on!

Packing Cubes and Organizers

It’s time to stop using disposable plastic bags for your liquids, shoes, and clothing when traveling. Although this might seem like the easiest answer for corralling your travel essentials, it’s a very impermanent solution- even if you reuse the same plastic bag more than once. These bags are not only harmful to the environment to make and dispose of, but they pop and rip easily if overstuffed or poked. Packing cubes come in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate everything from toiletries to shoes, underwear and clothing. Not only will a good set of packing cubes last you years upon years, but you will be decreasing your personal carbon footprint by opting to swap out a disposable option for something reusable.

Environmentally Safe Sunscreen

We’re all familiar with the importance of using sunscreen to protect our skin from the harsh rays of the sun, especially when we have a day dedicated to sprawling out on the beach. However, the importance of choosing an environmentally safe sunscreen is lesser known. There are two different types of sunscreen: those that protect your skin via a mineral barrier, and those that use a chemical barrier. As you could probably guess, sunscreens that use a chemical barrier are harmful to bodies of water and the biodiversity that flourish there. Sunscreens that use only zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are the best kinds of sun screens that will still protect your skin while protecting our lakes, reefs, and the living creatures that call these environments home. With that being said, there’s an even better and simpler way to protect your skin while protecting nature, and that is by wearing hats, sunglasses, and light clothing.

Mindful Transportation

Depending on where you are traveling, the variety of transportation options can vary, but one very important sustainability tip for when you are traveling is to be mindful of your use of transportation. Think about what kind of transportation you are using as well as how often you use these forms of transportation. If there is a train or bus system you can use rather than taking a car or an Uber, try to make use of them to get around. Bikes, scooters, and walking are also all very environmentally friendly, and here in Sheboygan, are very popular. Sheboygan is a very walkable city with boardwalks, paved trails, and Bird scooters scattered all across town. Additionally, the Harbor Centre Express Plus runs June 17^th-Auguest 31^st (2024) and takes visitors through Downtown, Riverfront, South Pier, and Lakefront districts in the city of Sheboygan. Click here to learn more about this service.

Pass on the Travel Sized Toiletries

The amount of single use and travel sized toiletry containers used in the tourism industry measures up to millions of tons of plastic waste every year. Not only is the production of these products harmful to the environment, but the disposal takes its toll on our water ways, lakes, and oceans. Pass up on buying more travel sized toiletries, and instead use reusable silicone, glass, or recycled plastic containers. Another way to help decrease your plastic usage is to travel with shampoo, conditioner, and body wash bar soaps. I always travel with bar soaps for my hair in particular. They last for months, are easy to travel with in mesh bags or tin containers, and they are an easy and affordable way to decrease your plastic use when traveling.

Pick Up Litter

Arguably, the easiest tip on this list is to pick up and properly dispose of trash when you see it. This is especially important to do when on or near beaches. If you know you’ll be spending part of your day (if not a whole day) on the beach, consider bringing a bag or bucket to collect trash in when you see it. When walking up and down the shoreline, keep your eyes out for little bits of plastic instead of just shells and pretty rocks. Anyone who has participated in beach clean ups can tell you you’ll be shocked by the amount of junk you’ll find in even just 10 minutes of clean up. It doesn’t have to take up your whole day, or even require you to necessarily go out in search of litter, but if you pick up garbage when you see it (whether your traveling or at home) you’re still making a difference.

To learn more about environmental efforts at Blue Harbor Resort, click here. Our Go Blue program offers guests the opportunity to skip their daily turnover service therefore conserving water, plastic, and energy. Every day, millions of gallons of water are used in the hospitality industry, and Blue Harbor is committed to lowering the impact we have on our Great Lakes, one room at a time.