How to Shop Sustainably When You Travel

One of the best things about traveling is getting to see and experience things you don't normally have at home. This might explain why so many of us love to go shopping on vacation. If you're trying to be a sustainable traveler, an easy (and fun!) way to do so is to make a conscious effort to shop sustainably while traveling. In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about how to shop locally and sustainably on vacation, including how to find eco-friendly stores abroad.

Why Should You Shop Sustainably While on Vacation?

Most of us love to travel and look forward to our vacations every year. However, it's important to note that travel isn't always sustainable. Many popular destinations struggle with overtourism, resulting in gentrification, rising prices, and a negative impact on the local environment.

It's also important to note that tourism doesn't always benefit the locals. Most of our tourism dollars go to the government and then whatever we spend our money on. Unfortunately, many tourists spend their money on accommodation, restaurants, and tours that aren't locally owned and don't support the local economy without realizing it.

One great way to combat this is to be conscious of how we spend our money on vacations. When we choose to support local and sustainable businesses while traveling, we can help minimize our negative impact on the places we go.

Shopping locally is one of the easiest and most effective ways to ensure that our tourism dollars are benefiting the local economy and that we're being more sustainable on vacation.

What Does it Mean to Shop Sustainably?

First, let's break down what it means to shop sustainably. Shopping sustainably typically means shopping from businesses or brands that produce their goods in a way that has minimal impact on people and places. This may look different depending on where you are, but the following are examples of sustainable shopping:

Buying from locally owned stores and vendors
Prioritizing locally sourced goods
Looking up fair paying, sustainably run, and/or eco-friendly brands
Supporting local (especially women) artisans
Choosing to invest in thoughtful items you need vs. plastic, gimmicky souvenirs

If the way you're shopping while on vacation fits any of the above criteria, then you're most likely shopping sustainably. We'll break down each sustainable way to shop below so you can easily do so while traveling.

Additionally, it's also important to know what's not a sustainable way to shop while traveling. Choosing to support international, chain, and fast fashion brands that don't use eco-friendly business practices is not a sustainable choice. It can be tempting to check out stores you're familiar with while traveling, especially if you're abroad, but try to avoid this as much as you can.

How to Find Sustainable Shops Abroad:

It may feel a little tricky to find sustainable shops while traveling internationally, but we've got you covered. The following are great ways to find sustainable stores while in a different country:

Use Google Maps or Tripadvisor: A lot of smaller, eco-friendly businesses abroad don't have websites or a strong online presence. They will usually come up on Google Maps or Tripadvisor, however. Some excellent search terms to use to find them are sustainable clothing, secondhand store, eco-friendly, natural goods, refill shop, or zero waste store. Consider leaving a review once you've visited to further support small businesses.
Search in the local language: If you're visiting a place that speaks a different language, try searching for the things you're looking for in the local language. You'll find more results on Google Maps when you do this.
Utilize Social Media: As mentioned above, many small sustainable businesses abroad don't have a website, but they often have an active Instagram or Facebook. Use tags to find them or browse their social media to get a better idea of their brand.
Ask for local recommendations: Locals always know best. Ask your accommodation host or hotel for local recommendations, post in local Facebook groups, and check out local online publications to find eco-friendly shops anywhere you go.

5 Sustainable Ways to Shop While on Vacation

If you want to shop sustainably while traveling, the following are a few wonderful ways to do so.

Support Local Shops

Supporting local stores is one of the best ways to sustainably shop. Look for businesses that state they are locally owned, or do a little bit of research to verify that they are. Locally run stores are generally a sustainable choice, but if they also sell goods that are made in a sustainable way or goods that are native to the place, even better.

One thing to keep in mind is that depending on where you are, many businesses, especially artisans or small vendors, won't have clear branding or marketing that says they are sustainable. Try to do some research before you go somewhere to understand what's produced locally and native to the area. In general, items that are handmade, or made by artisans, will most likely be sustainable.

Check out Local Sustainable Brands

One of the best parts about traveling is that you get to find new, awesome sustainable brands to shop from. Seek out local and sustainable businesses in the area. I love finding local sustainable fashion brands and learning about the different eco-friendly materials they use. It's a fun way to get to know the place you're visiting while also making eco-friendly shopping choices.

If you're traveling internationally, note that some countries may not have the same certifications or labels you may be used to at home. Many certifications are only available in certain locations and also come at a premium cost, making them largely inaccessible to small businesses. Do your research to understand how goods are sustainably made so that you can easily vet sustainable brands around the world and avoid greenwashing.

Visit Artisan Markets

Another wonderful way to shop sustainably while on vacation is to visit local markets. The type of markets available will depend on where you're visiting, but most markets consist of local, artisan vendors. This is one of the best ways to support local vendors, find unique items, and learn about the culture of the place you're visiting. Support women artisans and Indigenous artisans when possible.

Some great examples of sustainable markets to search for are farmer's markets, artisan markets, flea markets, craft markets, or eco markets.

Look for Vintage or Thrift Stores

Most places in the world have some type of vintage, thrift, or secondhand store. If you want to shop sustainably on vacation, buying used clothing and goods is always a great idea. You can find fantastic and hard-to-find items secondhand that you wouldn't be able to get at home.

Plus, if you're looking for high-quality items that are truly reflective of the place you're visiting, vintage or secondhand pieces are a much better choice than trendy, fast-fashion items.

Choose Local Goodies as Souvenirs or Gifts

Most of us love to buy a souvenir or two while on vacation. Souvenirs make wonderful gifts and serve as a way to remember our trip. However, if you want to purchase sustainable souvenirs, look for items that are made locally and from local materials. When possible, try to choose products that are plastic free.

If you want to get gifts while on vacation, local, edible goodies make wonderful zero-waste gifts. Choose products that are grown or produced locally like Yerba mate from Argentina, mezcal from Mexico, or port wine from Portugal.

At the end of the day, when it comes to shopping sustainably on vacation, the best choice you can make is the local one. Shopping locally will look different everywhere you go, ranging in price and products, but it's a great way to shop as a sustainable traveler.

MAKE SURE TO PIN THE PHOTO BELOW TO SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER!

WANT to find SUSTAINABLE BRANDS? VISIT OUR BRAND DIRECTORY!

Our Brand Directory is home to hundreds of sustainable brands, from makeup to cleaning supplies, from underwear to shoes. We have broken everything down by category for easy shopping, along with discount codes unique to Sustainably Chic viewers.

Browse Our Sustainable Brand Directory