Bring a Snack or Three

You can bring your own food to an airport. I don’t know what is it about flying, but it makes me hungry. I can go three hours without a snack on a normal day. But, for some reason, when I’m on a plane, I need my snacks.

So, pack your own snack based on the amount time you’ll be gone and your hunger level. I bring a small mason jar full of dried blueberries and nuts. I keep the blueberries and nuts in separate mason jars, in case someone on my flight has a nut allergy (passengers with serious allergies will often alert the flight crew who will make an announcement to alert the other passengers). I wouldn’t want to put anyone in danger.

Quart-Sized Liquid Bags

You can buy an approved reusable, quart-sized, clear bag with a zipper. They’re sold online and in most stores with a pharmacy section. They typically come with three or four three-ounce bottles. Fill these with the products you already have. No need to buy travel-sized bottles! I have had my approved bag-and- bottle set since I was in high school. If you take good care of it, it should last you for many years to come.

Entertainment

I try to hit the library to grab a new book before I go on a trip. Checking a book out from the library is a great way to utilize the sharing economy. Most libraries have digital collections, too, so you can check out e-books and load them onto your phone or e-reader.

Buying Carbon Offsets

We can’t talk about traveling without mentioning carbon offsets. You can purchase carbon offsets online to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that you make during travel, heating your home, driving your car, flying in a plane, etc. Offsets are a great way to go the extra mile. There are several organizations that offer carbon offsetting. For a small fee, they will plant trees, create sustainable-waste management plants, and install clean energy in developing countries. I recommend you calculate your carbon footprint yearly and buy offsets accordingly.

My carbon footprint last year was around 6,000 pounds. I calculate this with footprintcalculator.org and then offset my foot-print with terrapass.com or plant trees through the Forest Service Plant- A-Tree Program. My yearly offset cost was less than $40, so this is a fairly inexpensive option.

Having a zero-waste holiday is easier than you think