Travel in Sustainable-Style

Welcome! I’ll be your travel guide today and I’m here to introduce you to some of my personal favorite travel hacks to ensure smooth (and sustainable) sailing. Summer may be over soon but your season of traveling isn’t! With the holidays approaching quickly and security checkpoints doubling in time, chaos is guaranteed. Before a big trip, packing can feel like a grey cloud glooming over your fun plans. On top of that, any travel section in your local big corp stores is filled with single use plastic products that are only designed to last a few days at a time, and to make sure they stay under the liquid ounces limit. While this may be convenient, it’s extremely wasteful. Among all the tossed toiletries and dumped hygiene products, let’s be the travelers prepped with easy and sustainable packing checklists that provide convenience before, during, and after your trips. 

Check List: 

Toiletry Bag

• Up first we have perhaps the #1 low-waste travel hack, drumroll please…Toothpaste tabs!  Toothpaste tabs are mint sized tablets that you pop in your mouth, chew, and brush. One tab per brush makes it so easy to plan ahead and pack the exact amount you’ll need while you're away (and takes up half the space). Just looking to freshen up? Mouthwash tabs are the perfect secret weapon to keep stowed in a purse or backpack. Simply chew, swish around, and spit out. 
• Pro tip: Looking for fluoride? The Unpaste brand that we carry in store has fluoride options in packets, however the bulk for both Unpaste and Huppy are fluoride-free.  

- Don’t forget your Floss! These ultra compact aluminum and bamboo cases fit subtly into any bag. So you can try every new food you stumble upon with zero regrets. 

- Lip Butter is a staple item in our daily on-the-go packing. Solidsilks lip butter has been a personal savior for me as I started to react to the harsh chemicals found in common lip balms. This one in particular is composed of vegan and gentle ingredients all wrapped up in a certified compostable tube. 

In the Hotel 

Wherever you’re staying, whether that's in a five star resort, a hostel, or grandma’s guest bedroom it’s always a good idea to bring some of your own products that may not be provided. 

• For longer stays a Shave bar may come in handy. Lather up with the Notice Hair Co. shave bar designed for face and body– and doubles as a soap bar. Vegan and toxin free so you know you’re keeping yourself and mother nature safe.
• If you’re someone who wears any makeup I’m sure you’ve faced the dread of washing your face with the hotel's pristine white towels or your host’s favorite fancy set of tea towels. Facial Rounds are here to save the day! Marley’s facial rounds paired with soapy water or micellar water truly are a dynamic duo. No more fighting with cotton pads until they inevitably disintegrate long before your mascara does. Use, wash, and reuse! Great for travel and beyond.

• Have you ever found yourself spending hours detangling your hair because of the hotel shampoo? Or trying desperately to defrizz your hair without your typical leave-in conditioner? You’re not alone! If you’d like to bring along your routine hair care we recommend a silicone travel tube! Go Toob Squeeze Bottles provide the right size, an easy fill, and an even easier clean.
• Pro tip: Go Toobs are food safe. Bring applesauce, yogurt or food for the little ones on the go!
• Human Gear offers an “Afterlife” program to ensure their products are properly recycled and/or made into new products.

On the Go

Adventure awaits! Why settle for small plastic bottles with products that won’t last? 

• Spending time outside? Be sure to lather up! Face and Body Sunscreen by Raw Elements is sure to prove useful. It’s a reef friendly mineral sunscreen with water resistance in a compact 3oz tin. Toss is any backpack, beach bag, or dry bag and stay protected throughout your explorations.
• Pro tip: Follow up with Fat and the Moon’s aloe lotion to keep your skin happy and moisturized. We find it extra soothing when we’re a little too sunkissed!

- Stay fresh with Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Sticks! The most ideal size for an on-the-go deo stick. One of our most popular items in store! These sensitive skin friendly sticks with get the job done without the waste or irritation. 

- Welcome to the world of dry shampoo powder. Get rid of toxic chemicals and your oily hair with these certified organic ingredients. Available in light or dark to suit your hair color.

Exploring and Protecting Mother Earth

Wherever you’re going just know you can do it in sustainable style. Go out and be adventurous, visit friends and family, find a new nook in your childhood town, but remember to be cautious of what you leave behind. Safe travels friends!!

Your guide,

Ethos

Hi, I’m Jessica! I worked at Ethos Los Gatos as a shop associate for over a year and now I’m sharing my newfound knowledge with you in our Ethos blog! I’m a passionate artist with a love for sustainability and protecting our incredible planet.