10 ways to avoid single use plastic when you travel

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Ways to avoid single-use plastic are becoming part of everyday life, making it easier to reduce the negative impacts that everyday actions have on the environment. But what about on holiday? What are the best ways to avoid using single-use plastic when travelling?

This article explains why it is important to avoid single-use plastic when travelling, and sets out 10 practical ways to do it.

A move towards sustainable mindsets (at home and away)

Before looking at how to avoid single-use plastic when travelling, it is important to understand why it matters.

Unfortunately, people’s consumption of resources and their impact on the environment is multiplied significantly when we travel. Most hotel rooms do not have recycling bins, people are less worried about switching off the lights when they are not paying the bills, and having a long shower after a hot and sweaty day of exploration has become a rite of passage. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Society has become more conscious of its actions, and many people have seen first-hand the consequences of failing to care for the planet. There are more vegetarians than ever before, more recycling plants being built all of the time and more innovative and sustainable methods of using resources which have the smallest impact on the environment.

Sustainable tourism is growing around the world, and destinations are taking action. Bali, for example, banned single-use plastic bags, straws and polystyrene in 2019, and in 2025 went further by banning the production and sale of bottled water in containers smaller than one litre. The EU’s Single-Use Plastics Directive has banned items such as plastic straws, cutlery and plates since 2021, and England banned single-use plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene food containers in October 2023. But there is still more to do.

There are many different aspects that make up the concept of sustainable tourism. It encompasses minimising the negative impacts and maximising the positive impacts of tourism on the economy, society and the environment. And avoiding single use plastic when you travel is one way to make your tourism experience more sustainable. It is something that every traveller can do.

By avoiding using single-use plastics you can help to reduce the damage on wildlife.

Why should you avoid single use plastic?

As the name suggests, single use plastic is plastic that is only used once. From food packaging to straws, single use plastic is often thrown away minutes after being used.

These items are made from petrochemicals and can have a disastrous impact on the planet. Seabirds and turtles often mistake floating plastic for food, and microplastics have now been found in tap water, bottled water, seafood and even human blood. According to the UN Environment Programme, the world produces more than 400 million tonnes of plastic every year, and around 11 million tonnes enter the world’s rivers, lakes and seas annually. Some island communities, which have limited space for waste disposal, are particularly badly affected.

These are just a few examples of the effects of plastic use. The documentary A Plastic Ocean (2016) explores the problem in more detail. Efforts to agree a global plastics treaty are ongoing, although negotiations in Geneva in August 2025 ended without agreement. The rest of this article focuses on how travellers can avoid single-use plastic.

How to avoid single use plastic when travelling 

Sustainable travel is no longer just a buzzword – it is now vital. Climate change is wreaking havoc with the planet we call home and everyone has a part to play. There are many ways to travel more sustainably. One of these is to avoid single use plastic while travelling, at least as much as you can. But how?

#1 Pack a reusable water bottle or flask

Travelling can be thirsty work sometimes. It is often so tempting to grab a bottle of water (or soda) from a convenience store or vending machine, but these bottles are made from single use plastic that gets thrown away after use. While plastic bottles are recyclable, travellers may not have access to a recycling system or know where to put an empty bottle to ensure it gets recycled.

Reusable water bottles have come a long way in recent years as we have seen a surge in people trying to avoid single use plastic. There is now a huge range of durable reusable bottles in different shapes and sizes, and many airports and cities have free water refill stations.

Travellers can fill a bottle before heading out for the day and top it up at water fountains or refill points- apps such as Refill show where to find them. In destinations where tap water is not safe to drink, or for rural travel, there are water bottles with in-built water purification systems .

Did you know: eco lodges often provide guests with branded reusable water bottles, so travellers may not even need to pack one.

avoid single use plastic
There are entire islands covered in litter in the Pacific. These places should be a tropical paradise, not a death sentence for local wildlife.

#2 Take a canvas bag (or several) with you

Carrier bags are another example of single use plastic. Many countries charge for them now, as well as offering strong paper bags in their place. In some destinations, such as Bali and Thailand (where major retailers stopped giving out plastic bags in 2020), plastic bags are not available at all.

A great way to avoid single use plastic while travelling is to take canvas tote/shopper bags with you. They fold up small and are useful for shopping, particularly for travellers staying in self-catering accommodation.

A tote bag is a useful addition to any packing list.

#3 Shop at markets instead of stores

Carrying on from reusable shopping bags, travellers can go one step further by shopping at markets instead of supermarkets.

Opt for local farmers’ markets or food stalls that don’t over-package their products. Supermarkets are a hotbed of single use plastic! Markets often sell fresher local produce, and shopping there supports local traders and reduces economic leakage.

When staying in self-catering accommodation, cooking can be part of the experience. Reusable food containers are useful, especially for longer trips or those where you are travelling from one city to another by public transport. Preparing food in advance avoids the need for plastic-wrapped snacks on the go.

#4 Book eco-friendly accommodation 

Green hotels are becoming more commonplace as the sustainable travel boom continues to grow. From eco lodges to hotels with specific sustainability accreditations, there are plenty of options for accommodation that help guests avoid single use plastic on your travels.

Self-catering accommodation, such as an Airbnb, allows guests to control what they bring into their space. An eco lodge is, of course, specifically focused on sustainability. They can be found all over the world from The Gambia to Costa Rica to New Zealand. They aim to help protect their surroundings, give jobs to locals and of course, be as eco-friendly as possible with the systems they have in place. Many eco lodges actually have an entirely single-use-plastic-free policy. Hotels are also being pushed to change by law: California and New York have banned large hotels from providing small plastic toiletry bottles, and the EU will ban single-use miniature toiletries in hospitality from 2030.

#5 Say no to straws

When dining out or visiting a bar, say no to straws. This is an easy way to avoid single use plastic while travelling. Travellers can buy reusable metal, silicone or bamboo straws to take with you if you need or want to use a straw. These are now affordable and widely available.

Reusable straws fit easily in hand luggage or a day bag, and are a good alternative to single-use straws- including the paper straws now provided in many places, which some people find go soggy quickly.

Using reusable straws is something that applies whenever you go out to eat or drink, not just while travelling, and every little helps!

avoid single use plastic
Birds find it difficult to tell the difference between plastic and fish when hunting above the water. They cannot digest the plastic that they eat and will eventually starve to death if they continue to eat plastic.

#6 Consider solid hair and skincare options

While this might not work for everyone (if you have specific skin conditions, for example), many people can replace plastic bottles of shampoo, conditioner, facial wash and more with solid bar options.

Solid bars last a lot longer than traditional liquid versions of these products. This saves money as well as plastic, and because they are solid, they do not count towards the liquids allowance for hand luggage.

Shops like Lush, Tropic and Holland & Barrett have a wide range of these products, and there are many options online for different hair and skin types.

#7 Help with local plastic clear up initiatives 

As well as avoiding single-use plastic, travellers can get involved in local projects that clear plastic from beaches, parks and waterways. Beach clean-up walks are offered in many coastal destinations, and some dive centres run underwater clean-up dives, such as those in Aqaba, Jordan.

These are great ways to give back while travelling, offering a unique experience while helping to protect the environment for future generations.

Accommodation staff, local people and tour operators can often recommend clean-up activities during a trip.

#8 Opt out of chewing gum

Chewing gum is essentially plastic. It is actually made from synthetic rubber which contains polyethylene polymers, so that minty fresh feeling isn’t all that good for the planet.

Discarded gum is also a costly litter problem for towns and cities. Mints in a reusable tin are a plastic-free alternative.

The gum wall in Seattle might be an iconic tourist destination (if a little bit gross), but chewing gum is definitely detrimental to the planet. Avoiding it is an easy way to cut down on plastic.

#9 Think of other reusable product replacements

Reusable straws, water bottles and bags have already been discussed, but there are plenty of other single use products that can be replaced with long-lasting, reusable options. Here is a list of easily available products that can help in order to avoid single use plastic while travelling:

#10 Skip the miniatures and single-use toiletries

Many hotels and airlines still provide miniature toiletries, disposable slippers and plastic-wrapped amenity kits. Travellers can decline these, bring their own refillable bottles and choose hotels that use refillable dispensers. This is increasingly becoming the norm- California and New York have banned small plastic toiletry bottles in larger hotels, and the EU’s new packaging rules will ban single-use miniature toiletries in the hospitality sector from 2030.

Avoiding single-use plastic when travelling: FAQs

Below are answers to some of the most common questions about avoiding single-use plastic when travelling.

What is single-use plastic?

Single-use plastic is plastic that is designed to be used only once before being thrown away, such as plastic bottles, carrier bags, straws, cutlery, food packaging and miniature toiletry bottles.

How can I avoid single-use plastic when travelling?

Useful ways include carrying a reusable water bottle, taking a tote bag, shopping at markets, choosing eco-friendly accommodation, refusing straws, using solid toiletries, carrying reusable cutlery and food containers, and declining miniature toiletries.

Which countries have banned single-use plastic?

Many countries and regions have introduced bans. The EU banned items such as plastic straws, cutlery and plates in 2021, England banned single-use plastic cutlery and plates in 2023, and destinations such as Bali, Kenya and Rwanda have strict bans on plastic bags.

Why is single-use plastic bad for the environment?

Single-use plastic is made from fossil fuels, can take hundreds of years to break down and often ends up in rivers and oceans, where it harms wildlife. It also breaks down into microplastics, which have been found in drinking water and seafood.

Is it safe to refill water bottles when travelling?

In many countries tap water is safe to drink and refill stations are common, especially at airports. Where tap water is not safe, travellers can use filtered refill stations or a water bottle with a built-in purifier.

Ways to avoid single-use plastic when travelling: conclusion

Reducing single-use plastic when travelling isn’t as difficult as it may seem, and small changes made by millions of travellers can make a real difference.

If you found this article interesting, you may also like to read the following:

10 UNETHICAL elephant sanctuaries in Thailand you should avoid

Wildlife tourism: The good the bad and the ugly

Authenticity in tourism- A simple explanation

What is sustainable tourism?

The environmental impacts of tourism

What is an eco lodge?

Dr Hayley Stainton

About the author

Dr Hayley Stainton is a tourism academic, examiner and the founder of Tourism Teacher. She has a PhD in tourism and more than 20 years’ experience teaching travel and tourism at school and university level. Read more about Hayley