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the best sustainable eyewear brands for prescription glasses

Need a new pair of glasses, but prefer to find ones with an eco-friendly ethos? This post has got you covered! We have found a handful of brands making more sustainable glasses than you would find at your conventional eyewear store.

What we Look for In Sustainable Prescription Eyewear

Materials are always something we gravitate towards first. We love seeing brands use recycled materials instead of virgin - if possible. Until a handful of years ago, it was almost impossible to find glasses made from recycled plastic. Not anymore! Several brands below use plastic from discarded water bottles to create their frames. We also like to see brands that produce here in the States or have recycling programs for when you no longer can wear your glasses. Each brand we added below has a few sustainable initiatives we highlighted that we love!

our top picks for eco-friendly, sustainable eyeglasses:

1) MITA

Price | $139+

MITA starts with five water bottles and transforms them into a pair of wearable, high-quality, lightweight, and super cute eyewear. Their cleaning cloths and cases are made from recycled materials, too. In addition, the MITA community works with a few non-profit organizations to help clean up and protect our oceans and waterways. MITA carries prescription eyeglasses and blue light-blocking recycled glasses as well. I loved their virtual try-on feature—it really helped me choose which one to get!

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2) Proof Eyewear

Price | $65-180

A beautiful wooden eyewear company, Proof Eyewear is based out of Boise, Idaho, and was started by 3 brothers.

Besides making high-quality wooden frame eyeglasses, Proof Eyewear has made a point to give back. With your help, they have donated over 1,200 pairs of glasses, planted 200 trees, given almost 6,00 health & vision screenings, and 240 cataract surgeries - plus so much more! You can also send back your old frames with their recycling program.

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3) Look Optic

Price | $68-92

Merging featherweight, fashion-forward design with 100% recycled materials, LOOK OPTIC's collection of sustainable eyewear offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional disposable readers & blue-light glasses.

Actively giving back to promote a more sustainable feature, the brand partners with Lion's Club to help upcycle and redistribute old frames and TerraCycle to assist in repurposing hard-to-recycle elements (frames, lenses, and hinges), transforming old frames into running tracks, playgrounds, & more.

Each purchase donates to Charity: Water to provide clean water for all (as insufficient access to clean water is the world's leading cause of blindness), and as part of their Zero-Waste Donation Initiative, LOOKOPTIC allows customers to donate or recycle any old frames and receive 25% off their next purchase. 

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4) Article One

Price | $255-285

Based in Flint, Michigan, Article One frames are handmade in a small village in Northern Italy.

They work with a family-owned factory that is an expert at creating glasses.

Their quality is meant to take you through life because they do not believe in a throwaway culture.

With over 30 frames to choose from, I know you will find a style that is fit for you.

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5) SeaClean

by glassesusa

Price | $98

Frames from SeaClean by GlassesUSA are made entirely from up-cycled plastic bottles. It only takes five bottles to create a pair of glasses.

Plus, for every SeaClean pair sold, they will donate $5 to The Ocean Cleanup to help them in their efforts towards a plastic-free ocean by 2050. They are also quite affordable and priced at under $100. There are only two frame styles at the moment, but I’m sure we will see more in the future.

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6) Secondhand Frames

You can find many used frames if you love to thrift or search on Etsy & eBay.

All you have to do is change it with your prescription, and there you go!

This may be one of the most affordable ways of finding a pair of glasses.

We always encourage using products that have already been made if you cannot support a brand working towards a more sustainable fashion industry.

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The Best Sustainable Leggings

Whether you wear them out of necessity or enjoy styling outfits around them, leggings have become an essential staple in many of our wardrobes. These form-fitting bottoms are often debated in regard to their place in the fashion world or whether they’re appropriate to be worn on their own. But regardless of your stance on leggings, they’ve become a foundational item that can be used as a base layer, for exercising or just to chill out in. 

The history of leggings dates back to 14th century Scotland when they were originally worn by men for both casual and military dress. They came in two pieces, one for each leg, and were secured at the waist, and at this time they would have been made from leather or chainmail. Up until the 19th century it was only men who wore these two-piece leggings. Fast forward to the 1950s and ’60s and leggings were now being created for fashion rather than just underwear, and experimentation with new materials brought about the lycra leggings in 1959. 

In the 60s, leggings were being worn by women for exercising and to form outfits, often styled with miniskirts, platform heels, or shift dresses. Through the 70s, 80s and 90s leggings have kept up with the changing fashion, adapting to the shifts in the popular silhouettes, materials and fabrics used throughout each decade.

Increasingly we have seen workout leggings being designed to take us ‘from the gym to coffee dates’ and, post-pandemic, it’s possible that the comfy, easy to wear nature of leggings have made them the go-to choice of bottoms as ‘comfort dressing’ takes the reins for 2022 and beyond. Fashion Psychologist, Shakaila Forbes-Bell, says “The need to not only be physically comfortable but psychologically comfortable in what we wear will likely remain as people have come to realize that clothing can be used as a tool to aid cognitive processing and general wellbeing.”

With the rise of the athleisure wear trend showing no signs of slowing down, leggings seem to have secured a place in the fashion world’s heart for good.

What can make your leggings unsustainable?

As leggings grew in popularity from the 60s onwards, so did the demand for clothing overall. Globally, we now consume about 80 billion new pieces of clothing every year, approximately 400% more than the amount we consumed just two decades ago. As clothing has increasingly been made from poorer quality materials and at a much faster pace, these products are not lasting as long as they used to, and underwear and ‘basics’ are a large part of that problem. We are now discarding clothes at a shocking pace. The average American now generates 82 pounds of textile waste each year. That adds up to more than 11 million tons of textile waste from the U.S. alone.

Leggings are often one of the items of clothing consumers dispose of more frequently. Whether it’s due to ripped seams, fading of the material, or loss of stretchiness, leggings can lose their luster fairly quickly. Without easy access to local recycling schemes, many consumers choose to throw their old leggings directly in the trash, which is then sent to landfill or incinerated. 

The most commonly used materials for leggings are polyester, nylon, spandex, and non-organic cotton. For leather leggings, cow’s leather or faux leather is used, often with a synthetic lining. With the exception of cotton, all these materials can take anywhere from 40-200 years to decompose in landfills. As they decompose, these materials release toxic chemicals into the ground polluting the waterways and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. 

What eco-friendly fabrics should you look for in leggings?

One way to make sure the leggings you buy are more sustainable is to look for certain materials that are more sustainably produced than the ones mentioned previously. For a material to be classed as ‘sustainable’ (or at least more sustainable), it can depend on a number of different factors. For example, if a material can be produced using much less water or energy, or if it is made using no toxic chemicals. 

Generally speaking, natural organic fibers and recycled materials are the more sustainable choices when selecting leggings. Natural fibers often found in sustainable leggings can include organic cotton, bamboo (including bamboo rayon or bamboo viscose), and Tencel. The recycled materials used for leggings can be recycled nylon, polyester, rayon, or spandex. You may also see recycled elastane featured in some leggings; this is the material that gives leggings their stretch. 

If you choose leggings made with recycled synthetic fibers, just be aware that these do still shed microplastics, so best to wash them using a Guppyfriend or Cora Ball to catch the fibers. You can read more on how to reduce microplastics in your laundry here. 

Now, our top picks for comfy, sustainable leggings:

1) Purefit Legging

Price: on sale $23

Sizes: XS-XXL

Materials: organic cotton, elastane

The Purefit leggings from Pact are made with no toxic chemicals and organic cotton, resulting in soft, breathable fabric that’s not too thin.

They come in black, charcoal, dark red & a print and offer all-day comfort – what else could you need! Pact clothing is made in a GOTS certified and Fair Trade factory based in India.

code: SustainablyChic for 15% off

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2) Compressive High-Rise Legging

Price: $78

Sizes: XXS-6XL

Materials: RPET (recycled Polyethylene terephthalate), spandex

Girlfriend Collective claims this is the legging that started it all for them. The highly popular Compressive High-Rise leggings have gained massive popularity due to their inclusive size range and unrivaled compression fabric that makes you feel incredibly well-supported during any physical activity. Made with recycled plastic bottles and available in ten colorways, these are essential for any athleisure-obsessed woman!

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3) American Dream Leggings

Price: $89

Sizes: S - XXL

Material: REPREVE® Recycled Polyester, Spandex

RECOSIVITY’s buttery soft leggings are made from the number one recycled, certified, and traceable performance fiber, and they plant a tree for every order. In addition, all products are made in the USA, meaning they are one of the first activewear brands to combat the planet-killing CO2 emissions from overseas manufacturing. They also use innovations that reduce the amount of water and energy used in the dyeing process, and their sustainability promise extends to their packaging, which is 100% recycled and recyclable.

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4) Organic Stretch Legging

Price: $68

Sizes: XS-3X

Materials: organic cotton, spandex

The Organic Stretch legging by Mate the Label is made with organic cotton and designed for low to medium impact exercise.

They also break down the cost-per-wear of the leggings, for example, if you wore them once a week over a year the cost-per-wear would be only $1.36!

Available in nine gorgeous colourways, these leggings were made to be seen.

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5) Essential Bamboo Organic Cotton Thick Leggings

Price: $44

Sizes: 6-20

Materials: bamboo viscose, organic cotton, elastane jersey

Perfect for styling with dresses or skirts in fall and early spring, the Essential leggings from Thought are made with super soft bamboo and organic cotton jersey, creating a natural and breathable fabric. Designed for lounging at home or doing light exercise (such as yoga) these leggings are the perfect balance of comfort and style.

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6) Active High-Waisted Leggings

Price: $82

Sizes: XS-XL

Materials: bamboo viscose, organic cotton

Leggings with pockets have to be one of the best inventions of our time, surely? These high-waisted leggings from Boody feature three pockets, a wide waistband, and curved panel shaping on the side leg. Boody claims that 272.1 liters of water are saved with these leggings as organically grown bamboo uses 66% less water compared to conventional cotton. Available in olive, black, and grey marl, these leggings are the perfect addition to any wardrobe!

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7) Active Leggings

Price: $90

Sizes: XS-XXL

Materials: recycled nylon, elastane

The Active leggings by Organic Basics are made with sweat-wicking, stretchy recycled nylon that helps you stay fresh, meaning less need to add them to the laundry pile! Pick from black, dusty rose, dusty blue, olive, or burgundy for the perfect minimalist leggings. May they even be enough to motivate you to get to that exercise class you’ve been putting off?

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8) The Dressy Legging

Price: $152

Sizes: XS-XXL

Materials: bamboo rayon, lycra

Another one with pockets! The Dressy leggings from Encircled are a great pair for any smart-casual look, perfect to pair with a white tee and denim jacket. With two side pockets big enough for your phone or passport, these would be great if you’re out running errands and don’t want to bring a bag. Made with bamboo rayon and sewn, knit and dyed in Toronto, Canada, these leggings are ticking all the sustainability boxes for us!

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9) Rita Pocket Legging

Price: $78

Sizes: XS-XXL

Materials: recycled polyester, spandex 

The Rita Pocket legging from Threads4Thought is a carbon-neutral product as it has offset the carbon emissions throughout the production process, from raw material extraction to shipping.

Made with recycled polyester to create a double-brushed performance fabric, the leggings feature body-hugging compression that gives you the perfect amount of support. Choose from 12 different colors!

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10) Pax Leggings | Vege-Dye

Price: $88

Sizes: XS-4XL

Materials: organic cotton, spandex, vegetable dye

For those of you who like to stand out from the crowd, the Pax leggings by Groceries Apparel may be just what you’re looking for. Designed with a wide waistband that ends just above your natural waistline, these leggings will support you and flatter all the right curves. The GOTS certified organic cotton has been hand-dipped with vegetable dyes that use non-toxic ingredients like weld flowers and natural indigo.

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11) Bamboo Enduro Leggings

Price: $68

Sizes: 8-18

Materials: bamboo viscose, organic cotton, elastane

The Enduro leggings are a BAM icon, claiming that the fabric sculpts to your bum and legs and remains opaque through deep squats and downward dogs – one less thing to worry about!

Available in a wide range of colours and funky prints, the Enduro leggings can definitely bring an element of fun to your ‘basics’ wardrobe.

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12) Organic Cotton Base Layer Leggings

Price: $29

Sizes: S-XXL

Materials: organic cotton, spandex 

Maggie’s Organics has created the perfect Base Layer leggings, made with supersoft and stretchy organic cotton fabric designed to move with you. Maggie’s Organics products are made by union workers in their factory in India and they believe in real Fair Trade, from farm to finish. Choose from black or grey and enjoy easy layering and comfy hangouts.

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About the Author

Sarah is a freelance writer with a focus on vegan fashion, sustainability and ethically made clothes. She campaigns for change in the fashion industry through her blog and on her Instagram page.

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Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. We only ever add brands & products we truly believe in. Thank you for supporting the brands who are making the fashion industry a better place!

The Best Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Coffee Cups & Mugs

The thought of curling up under a blanket next to the fireplace with a hot cup of coffee or tea in the morning feels like comfort. On a recent beach vacation, I made tea in a ceramic mug, stepped outside, and took it with me while I walked on the beach most mornings. For some people, coffee mugs are more than an object; but sentimental mementos or collector items. I have a special handmade coffee mug from Siena from a family shop that has been in business for over 50 years. I hope to pass it on to my daughter one day.

Coffee mugs and teacups are an everyday staple for many of us, yet we rarely think about how it’s made or where it comes from. Like the rest of our household items, it is important to ensure that our choices are sustainable and ethical.

Why Is it Important to Purchase a Sustainable Coffee Mug?

Coffee cups might be a household item you keep for quite some time and use regularly, making them much less wasteful than single-use plastic. However, the impact of the materials used, production process, quality of the product, and human labor should be considered when shopping. Ensure that you feel as good about your choices as that morning cup of coffee makes you feel.

Most coffee mugs are made from ceramic, typically clay that is fired at medium to high temperatures until it hardens. The production of ceramic mugs can use a lot of energy and resources if they are mass-produced and made quickly at high temperatures. Cups from large producers that are even a bit irregular are often rejected and thrown away. The glaze used to coat coffee mugs can be harmful if lots of chemicals are used, or it contains traces of lead. Stoneware and porcelain are 2 types of ceramics usually made at higher temperatures, making them more resource-intensive. Some cups can be made from hardened plastics, which should be avoided, as they will wear out quickly and sit in a landfill for decades if you are finished with them. Look for hand-made mugs in small batches at lower temperatures and finished in a lead-free glaze to ensure they are more sustainable options.

Related Reading: Sustainable Coffee Brands

Our 10 Favorite Sustainable Coffee Cups & Mugs:

1) The Mug

Brand: East Fork

Price: $40

Material: Regionally-Sourced Clay

One day, you’re a person who grabs the first coffee mug in the cabinet, and the next, you’ve got an East Fork Mug; now, you’re forever fishing it out of the dishwasher. It’s simple and beautiful, and then there’s how it feels in your hand, that little bit of heft. East Fork is a B Corp & Climate Neutral Certified dinnerware manufacturer based in Asheville, North Carolina.

They pay all employees living wages, raise money for community partners, and craft beautiful, timeless dinnerware meant for everyday use from regionally-sourced materials. Their Mug has a cult following and now comes in three sizes: Big, Small, and Original (aka The Mug). In addition, all their pots come in 6 core colors, and they release limited-edition seasonal colors throughout the year.

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2) Mexican Hot Chocolate Mug

Brand: Verve

Price: $20 for a set of 2, 14 oz mugs

Material: Clay

These richly colored, cozy-looking mugs are handmade in Mexico.

According to Verve, the clay is sourced locally, and production is done with traditional tools and techniques, avoiding the waste of mass production.

The cups are lead-free as well. While these mugs look perfect for cozying up next to a fire with coffee or hot chocolate, the clay materials and internal glaze also work great for keeping iced coffee or tea cold. Due to their handmade nature, these are not dishwasher safe. You can jump on Verve’s site to meet the artisans and partners who make their products, which I love.

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3) The Mugs

Brand: Fable

Cost: $75 for a set of 4, 16oz mugs

Material: Clay, recycled when possible

This classy-looking mug set is hand-finished in Portugal, a country well known for its beautiful ceramics. You have 4 neutral colors to choose from, making it easy to fit into your kitchen. The clay is locally sourced in Portugal, and the glaze finish is lead-free. These mugs have over 300 5-star reviews & are dishwasher & microwave safe!

Fable’s sustainable practices include small-scale production, high-quality products, using recycled clay when possible, and shipping in eco-friendly packaging.

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4) Monday Porcelain Mug

Brand: Bright Angle

Cost: $55 for a 12oz mug

Material: Porcelain

The elegant Monday mug is carefully crafted to be easy to hold from the shape to slightly grooved edges, to the handle size. It comes in 5 neutral colors. Bright Angle’s materials are all sourced locally from their North Carolina location. Their pieces are molded using software and precise engineering techniques to reduce waste.

Every part of their design process is done in-house, creating high quality and a smaller carbon footprint. Bonus, the Monday mug is dishwasher and microwave safe.

use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC for $20 off your first order of $150+ at madetrade.com

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5) Handmade Ceramic Mug

Brand: Lafayette Avenue Ceramics 

Cost: $22.00 for a 16oz mug

Material: Clay

This sturdy-looking, large-sized mug comes in 7 colors, making it easy to match any kitchen décor. The wide and large handle makes it a good choice for those that like to carry their mug around most of the day. The mug is made with raw ceramics at a low temperature to reduce waste, then finished with a lead-free glaze.

Care is easy, as they are dishwasher and microwave safe. Lafayette Avenue is a small women-owned business that hand makes all of its products in Arizona. Plus, EarthHero ships their products in recycled and compostable packaging.

use code sustainablychic10 for 10% off

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6) Onyx Espresso Cup + Saucer

Brand: Obakki

Cost: $52 for 3oz cup and Saucer

Material: Black clay

If you want a stylish café-style cup, this is the choice for you. The rich color and large handle instantly make this cup stand out. The Onyx is fair trade and hand-made in Oaxaca, Mexico. The clay is locally sourced from where the artisans create the cups. Products are made in small batches to reduce waste.

The Onyx Cup and Saucer can only be hand washed. Obakki provides transparent information about the pottery artisans that make their products. They have also established a foundation to provide clean water in their partners’ communities.

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7) Meow Mug

Brand: Sana Hastakala at Ten Thousand Villages

Cost: $19.99 for 1 mug

Material: Ceramic

This mug is so adorable it is bound to put a smile on your face in the morning, no matter how tired you are. Of course, your kids might steal it for hot chocolate too. Like the other mugs we recommend, this one is handmade by fair trade artisans in Nepal. Sana Hastakala works to preserve the rich artistic skill and traditions of Nepali artisans.

Ten Thousand Villages works with partners who ensure fair trade standards are met and invests in long-term partnerships that set their artisans up for financial stability.

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8) Beaded African Mug

Brand: Uncommon Goods

Cost: $30 for 16oz. cup

Material: enamel, beads

For those who love color, Mibema Shanga’s beaded mugs will brighten your morning with each sip. The geometric patterns are made by hand in Kenya with hundreds of tiny beads. Choose either warm or cool colors. Uncommon Goods is an online store home to some of the most unique gifts you can find!

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9) Stoneware Mugs

Brand: United by Blue

Cost: $24 8oz mugs

Material: Ceramic stoneware

This hip stoneware mug set comes in 4 great colors. The large handle makes it easy to walk around if you have your morning coffee on the run while getting ready for the day. The glaze used on these stoneware mugs is lead-free and food safe. To maintain their beauty, only handwash these mugs.

Good news though, these are microwave safe if you forget your coffee multiple times a day. United by Blue is B-corp certified, uses highly sustainable materials, and removes thousands of pounds of trash out of the ocean every year.

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About the Contributor: Mindy Redburn-Smoak has enjoyed a 20+ year career in corporate learning as a consultant, designer, and manager. She is passionate about sustainable living, family, travel, and dog rescue. She has been on a mission to live more sustainably for several years, and loves the journey of learning and trying new things in this space. She is on another journey pursuing her dream of writing about things she is passionate about and that can make a difference in the world. The best way to connect with Mindy is via email at mredsmoak@gmail.com.

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Easy Ways to Be Sustainable On Your Next Vacation

Who doesn’t love taking a vacation? Vacations give us a much-needed respite from our usual routine and everyday stressors. Unfortunately, it can be easy to make less than sustainable choices while on vacation without even realizing it. The tourism industry has become largely unsustainable, often having a negative effect on the people and places we visit. If you’re wondering how to be sustainable on vacation, then you’ve come to the right place. 

Below, we’ll break down 10 easy ways to be a sustainable traveler so you can enjoy your vacation without having a negative impact. 

What is Sustainable Travel?

Sustainable travel is traveling in a way that lessens your impact on the places you’re visiting. Sustainable travel aims to support both the people and environment of any given destination. 

There are numerous ways you can be a more sustainable traveler, but it essentially means being conscious of your actions while on vacation. This can look like staying at an eco-friendly hotel or choosing to shop at a local, sustainable boutique.

Sustainable travel doesn’t need to be complicated. If you make sustainable choices in your everyday life, try to do the same while on vacation. 

Why You Should Consider Responsible Travel 

With travel more accessible than ever, many popular tourist destinations have begun to pay the price, resulting in overtourism. Overtourism is when a place experiences too many tourists at once and has a harmful effect. This has become increasingly common, with many popular destinations experiencing rising prices, environmental damage, exploitative labor, and locals being pushed out. 

When traveling, what we do matters. From the resources we consume, to the places we stay, to the tours we book, and the businesses we give our money to, each choice we make can either have a positive or negative effect on a place. 

Choosing to be more sustainable on vacation ensures that the places we visit aren’t harmed or changed by tourism and can be enjoyed for years to come. 

10 Easy Ways to be Sustainable on Vacation: 

1. Bring Reusable Items

One of the easiest ways to be more sustainable on vacation is to pack your reusable items. While traveling, reducing plastic consumption can become difficult. Whether you’re purchasing water bottles while sightseeing, or other plastic-wrapped, single-use items, this can add up on a trip. 

A good rule of thumb while traveling is to pack any reusable items you use on a daily basis. This will cut down on your plastic consumption and help you travel more sustainably. 

This may look like bringing a reusable water bottle and refilling it at your accommodation or restaurant. You could also use reusable containers as packing cubes and then use them to pack lunch on the road or pick up takeout. 

2. Avoid Buying Travel-Size Items

Another easy way to be a more sustainable traveler is to resist buying travel-size items for your trip. While this feels more convenient and lessens your overall baggage weight, it’s generally a wasteful practice. Most travel-size items are packaged in plastic and will be disposed of by the end of your trip. 

Instead, consider packing the full-size toiletries you use daily. If you need new items, purchase zero-waste toiletries. Shampoo, conditioner, and lotion all come in zero-waste bars now, which are perfect for traveling. 

These bars can even be packed in your carry-on since they aren’t liquid. They also weigh less than liquid toiletries and don’t contain plastic.  

3. Pack Sustainably

What we bring with us on vacation can either increase or decrease our carbon footprint, especially our microplastic pollution. Prioritize packing sustainable clothing, and toiletries as well as using eco-friendly luggage if you have it. 

You don’t have to bring or buy an entirely sustainable wardrobe to make an impact, however. A little goes a long way. Consider what things you’ll wear the most, and prioritize sustainable options for those items. 

For example, if you’re going on a beach vacation, your sustainable swimsuit will probably get the most use and have a greater impact. If you’re heading on a trek through the mountains, then sustainable activewear may be the most important item to pack. 

Swapping just a few items for ones made from sustainable materials will still make a difference. 

4. Choose Eco-Friendly Methods of Transportation

One of the best things about vacation is that transportation becomes a form of sightseeing. This means eco-friendly methods of transportation can actually be more fun. Walking throughout the city is not just sustainable; it’s a great way to get to know your surroundings. 

Taking the train or bus is an easy way to hop around while lowering your carbon footprint and still soaking up your surroundings. If you’re short on time and need to take a car, choose locally-owned transportation companies or hire a local driver. 

Unfortunately, flying is the least sustainable form of transport. It’s also a necessity to get to many destinations. If your schedule allows and you’re heading somewhere accessible by train, bus, or car, consider choosing those forms of transport over flying. 

If you need to fly, most airlines now offer the opportunity to offset the emissions. Google Flights will even show which flight has the least amount of emissions, so you choose the more sustainable option when possible. 

5. Support Local Businesses

One of my favorite ways to be sustainable on vacation is to support local businesses. Many travelers tend to shop, stay and eat at the same chain restaurants as they do at home. Not only does this not support the local economy, but it also prevents you from getting the true local experience while on vacation.

Prioritize stepping out of your comfort zone and instead choosing to support local businesses. Taste local food at family-owned restaurants or restaurants that use locally grown ingredients. 

Buy your souvenirs from locally-owned storefronts. Check out handmade goods, sustainable local boutiques, or thrift shops. 

6. Choose Locally-Owned, Sustainable Accommodation

When it comes to choosing where to stay on vacation, there are a few things to look for as a sustainable traveler. 

Look for family-run, locally-owned accommodation. These will typically be boutique hotels, bed, and breakfasts, or guest houses. Avoid staying in chain hotels or resorts. These properties tend to contribute to gentrification and rising prices. They also typically don’t use sustainable business practices. 

If you’re looking to stay in a rental property like Airbnb, try to book from a local host and avoid any properties that are run by third-party companies. 

Lastly, look for an accommodation that implements eco-friendly practices, like sustainable bedding, water-saving showerheads, composting, or energy-efficient lighting. 

Many booking platforms now allow you to filter by sustainable or eco-friendly properties. You can also use eco-friendly booking sites like Fairbnb to find sustainable accommodation. 

Just make sure that the eco-friendly accommodation you’re considering is transparent about the sustainable measures they’re taking so you can avoid greenwashing. 

7. Travel During Off-Season

When popular destinations get too many crowds during peak season, and none during the rest of the year, this causes instability for the locals that live there. Many businesses are forced to close during the off-season, which isn’t sustainable long-term. Plus, the cost of living may spike artificially during the high season, while crowds make it difficult for locals to go about their daily lives. 

Choosing to travel during the off-season is a great way to be a more sustainable traveler. 

Plus, it has numerous benefits: fewer crowds, cheaper prices, and a more local experience. 

Research the high and low seasons of the destinations you want to visit and plan your vacation outside of peak season. This is one of the best ways to combat overtourism as it gives destinations a break during high season but consistent tourism dollars year-round. 

8. Choose Locally-Run Tours

If you like to do tours while on vacation, try to choose sustainable, locally-led tours. In most popular destinations, there are large, chain, or internationally-owned tour companies. Many of these companies monopolize the tourism industry, easily getting the majority of customers by partnering with chain hotels or having kiosks at airports. 

While it can be convenient to book with the first company you see, take the time to research your options. 

Look for locally-led tour companies or tour guides, as well as sustainably run tours. This is especially important if you’re choosing an activity that involves interacting with the natural environment or animals. 

If you’re traveling in a city, research free walking tours. Most major cities offer these, and they are led by local experts that are so passionate about their city they are willing to lead you around for free. These tours will give you local insight and (through your tips) support locals directly. 

Lastly, if you have the option to work with a female tour guide, choose to do so. Female tour guides are largely underrepresented in the tourism industry. 

9. Stay Longer

When traveling sustainably, consider the amount of time you’re staying in each destination. If you’re planning to hop to several different places in a short time frame, chances are, this isn’t very sustainable. When we travel this way, we tend to check off the most popular tourist attractions and do not have enough time to support local businesses. 

If you’re able to stay longer, do so. This will allow you to have a more local experience, spend more money at local businesses, and lessen your carbon footprint by cutting down on the amount of transport you’re taking.  

If you only have a few days for vacation, consider choosing one location over several. If you really want to hop around, choose places that are close together or that don’t require taking additional flights. 

10. Be Mindful of Your Consumption

When we’re on vacation and not staying in our own homes, it can sometimes feel like a hall pass to do whatever we want. It may be tempting to take long baths in the hotel tub, get a fresh towel each day, or leave the AC and the lights on. 

Unfortunately, what we consume on vacation still adds up. Choosing eco-friendly accommodations that take measures to conserve resources can be a great way to minimize your impact. Packing your reusable items will also help you cut down on waste. 

Overall, try to be mindful of your consumption of resources like water, electricity, and plastic while on vacation. 

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About the Author

Alicia Briggs is a writer & editor specializing in slow travel & sustainable living. She has been a full-time traveler since 2018 and runs her own blog, Learning the Local Way, where she covers responsible travel tips and guides.

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Minimalist Packing for Easy, Sustainable Travel

Traveling is often unsustainable, and although some people choose not to travel at all, most of us cannot or simply do not want to. And that is okay! 

There are things we can do to mitigate our environmental footprint while traveling, including packing light and choosing to bring items that will help us reduce our waste on the go. 

However, while leaving for a trip is usually very exciting, packing can be both annoying and stressful when we don’t know what to bring with us. It is especially true if you are someone striving to live more sustainably and you also want to reap all the benefits of traveling light!

Thanks to this guide, you will learn how to pack only the essentials to enjoy your trip and lower your impact on the planet at the same time.

Also see How to be Sustainable on Vacation: 10 Easy Ways to Travel Responsibly

image: Solgaard

Why you should travel light

Traveling light is one of the best ways to ensure you will have an enjoyable and stress-free vacation. 

When you travel with several suitcases and backpacks full to the brim, getting to your destination is usually very unpleasant and tiring. The weight of your luggage is exhausting and can become a burden for many reasons. 

Imagine yourself hauling all this weight from plane to subway, needing to carry it multiple times on stairs. Having a heavy load to lug around is not how I like to start my vacation! 

Plus, when you have extra suitcases while traveling by plane, you have to wait after your flight to get them back. And if luck is not on your side, the airline might lose your luggage, leaving you stressed-out and without your things for at least several days. 

Many airlines also make you pay to bring checked luggage on the plane, and if some of your suitcases are overweight, you might have to pay even more. The costs of traveling with heavy baggage quickly add up! 

On the other hand, when you only bring the essentials with you in a simple backpack or carry-on, everything is so much easier! You save time and money, and the whole process of traveling becomes a lot more hassle-free. You worry less about your things and get to enjoy your vacation more. 

Packing light is also better for the planet! Having fewer and lighter suitcases on the airplane directly reduces its weight, thus increasing its fuel efficiency: when the airplane becomes less heavy, it needs less fuel to fly a given distance. 

According to Finnish airline Finnair, when you reduce the weight of your luggage by 5kg, you reduce your carbon footprint by approximately 5%. While the impact might not be huge for a single individual, every little action for the planet is worth it! 

Finnair also calculated that if each of its passengers had traveled with 1kg less in 2018, the total fuel savings would have covered 20 flights from Finland to Japan. So when all the individual actions add up, packing light truly makes a difference! 

And if you are traveling by car, packing light also increases fuel efficiency, meaning that you will consume less gas, which saves money and the environment. 

So next time you prepare for a trip, remember that packing light will make traveling not only more enjoyable but also better for your wallet and the planet! Ask yourself if you really need to bring a big suitcase, or if a backpack or a carry-on is enough. 

image: Anchal

What luggage should you travel with?

Depending on the kind of trip you are going on, how many days you will stay at the destination, how you will be traveling and what you need to bring with you, you will need different types of luggage.

Where to find sustainable suitcases and backpacks?

Whether you choose to travel with a backpack and a carry-on, a checked suitcase, or a simple duffle bag, always use what you already own. Buying a new backpack or suitcase when you already have one at home is not sustainable. 

However, things can get damaged while traveling, so you sometimes need to acquire new travel gear. You can do it in a sustainable way by borrowing a backpack or a suitcase from a friend or getting it second-hand. And you can also purchase it from eco-friendly brands that sell high-quality, sustainable luggage.  

If you are looking for a new suitcase, backpack or duffle bag, Paravel has everything you may need! It is a climate-neutral brand that creates luggage using recycled materials and Oeko-Tex certified fabrics. 

Solgaard’s suitcases and Samsonite’s Theorym Carry-On Spinner are two other eco-friendly options made from recycled plastic. And if you need a new backpack or duffle bag, Lo & Sons, Allégorie and Anchal all have a nice selection of sustainably and ethically made bags that are worth checking out! 

We have an entire blog post about our favorite sustainable luggage brands on Sustainably Chic if you need more ideas! 

Other useful travel gear

Whenever I go on a trip, I usually pack my clothes in packing cubes. These are great suitcase organizers that help keep everything tight and compact, which saves a lot of space. It always blows my mind how many things you can fit into a single packing cube! 

However, most packing cubes we can find on the market usually break very quickly and they are made of synthetic materials. 

Fortunately, some sustainable brands like Northern Olive, Kathmandu and Patagonia sell practical models using eco-friendly materials, like organic cotton and recycled polyester. 

And if you need a new toiletry bag to pack all your make-up and beauty products for your next trip, read our full blog post about where to find sustainable make-up bags. For instance, Mayamam Weavers and Terra Thread have some cool, eco-friendly travel cases that will fit all your beauty essentials!  

image: Lo & Sons

Packing the essentials for a zero-waste, minimalist trip 

Only bring what you will really use

If you want to travel light, you cannot pack things for every occasion that may arise on your trip. If you do so, you will end up returning home and only having used half of your stuff. 

But at the same time, you have to make sure that you’ll have enough so that you won’t need to repurchase anything at your destination. 

It can be hard to know exactly what you will need, but the key is to be realistic with yourself. If you never wear dresses in your everyday life, you are very unlikely to start wearing them while traveling. 

Look at the weather forecast at your destination to know what type of clothes you should pack. If it will be sunny all the time, you can leave your rain boots, raincoat and umbrella at home. Alternatively, if it will rain during your whole trip, do not pack a sun hat or sunglasses. 

Also, think about what activities you will do. Will you be hiking in nature all day? Walking in the city? Are you going on a business trip? Depending on what you plan to do, you won’t need to bring certain items of clothing. You can also decide whether you will wear a lot of make-up or if you want to go without. 

I always plan my outfits in advance before packing a suitcase. Choosing which clothes I will wear on which day helps me determine exactly what I will need. I sometimes pack an extra t-shirt or pair of underwear just in case, but that is it.  

I also recommend that you check if the place you are staying at provides towels and a blowdryer. If it does, you won’t need to bring yours. 

If you are traveling abroad, your passport is an absolute essential to have. But you may also need to bring a power adapter, so bring yours to avoid buying another at your destination. These do not take up a lot of space! 

And do not forget to think about what you will do during your free time when you won’t be visiting. Be realistic with yourself and decide whether you want to bring a book or a computer. If you are traveling with kids, only pack a few toys you know they love so that they do not get bored, but don’t bring too many of them. 

When you are on the fence about something, always ask yourself: can I do without? What can I use instead? These two questions will help you not overpack and be more intentional with what you bring on your trip. 

Pack versatile and multipurpose items 

When packing your suitcase, you will have to assess how many pieces of clothes you need to bring on your trip. Unfortunately, there is no magic number. It all depends on the weather, how many days you are staying, and if you will be able to do laundry during your trip. 

For instance, if you are leaving for a week and will have access to a washing machine, you can easily pack three or four tops and it should be enough.  

To limit the number of clothes we bring on a trip, one of the most important things to do is to pack versatile and multipurpose pieces. It means that you should choose clothes that complement each other and that can be layered and mixed and matched. 

For example, whenever I’m traveling, I usually pack a few neutral-colored bottoms so that each can easily be worn with all of my tops. And I avoid bringing clothes that can only be worn with a single piece. 

Multipurpose clothing can also be worn for multiple occasions. For instance, if you are going on vacation in the summer and want a cool, relaxed outfit for the day as well as a more dressed-up option for going out in the evening, you need to pack a little black dress in your suitcase! 

If you plan to walk a lot during your trip, a simple pair of sneakers might be enough for you and you may find you do not need to pack bulky hiking boots.

I also recommend that you roll all your clothes instead of folding them. Doing so usually keeps them wrinkle-free and saves more space.

Do not forget your zero-waste essentials 

I find that whenever I am traveling, I usually create a lot more waste than when I am at home. It is more difficult to find zero-waste options when we are in a place we do not know, especially if it is abroad. 

We do not necessarily know how to say “no plastic bag” or “no straw, please” in a foreign language. So if your goal is to reduce your waste when traveling, having a zero-waste kit with you is essential. 

First of all, if there is safe drinking water at your destination, you should always bring your reusable water bottle with you. You will be able to refill it at the place you're staying or at a restaurant. 

Some cities even have public fountains with drinking water, so there is no need to purchase plastic bottles! While these can usually be recycled, it is harder to find recycling bins when traveling and they are very wasteful anyway. Tap water is free so you’ll end up saving a few dollars each day, which you will be able to spend on something else. 

If you are used to ordering food or drinks on the go, you might also want to bring a reusable coffee cup, a cutlery set and a reusable straw. Plus, if you rarely finish your meals at the restaurant, consider having a reusable container to store your leftovers. 

A few cotton napkins and tote bags also always come in handy when traveling! Having a reusable napkin with you means that you won’t need to use the disposable ones at restaurants. 

And you will find that tote bags can be used for many purposes! For example, you can go shopping with them instead of using single-use plastic or paper bags. You can also use them for storing your dirty clothes or even for keeping your recycling until you find a recycling bin.  

This one is not for everyone, but if you can sew, pack a small sewing kit in your suitcase. It might be useful if you get a hole in your clothing or if a button falls off your shirt. 

Of course, you do not have to bring all these zero-waste items on your trip. Only choose those you know you will use. If you never drink coffee or tea on the go, there is no point in bringing a reusable to-go cup with you. 

Bring some zero-waste beauty products 

Many brands and stores want us to think that we need travel-sized beauty products when we are traveling. Yes, bringing a tiny bottle of shampoo with us may be convenient, but it is also extremely wasteful to buy such products!

Travel-sized products almost always come in plastic packaging, and we can only use them a few times before we run out of them. Hotels, and even Airbnbs, also regularly provide their guests with tiny bottles of shower gel, shampoo and conditioner.  

As an eco-conscious traveler, you can easily say no to all those wasteful products. If you already have samples you got in hotels in the past, use them up, but do not accept them anymore in the future. 

Instead, go for solid bars whenever you can: you can find a solid option for many products these days, from basic soap to shampoo and conditioner to lotion and deodorant! I highly recommend the brand Ethique, which is a certified B Corp that sells all kinds of solid bars for the body and hair. It even has some smaller bars specially made for traveling!  

For oral hygiene, bring a simple bamboo toothbrush as well as toothpaste tablets or toothpaste packaged in a metal tube. If you will be on your period during your trip, do not forget to pack a menstrual cup or some reusable pads. 

You might also want to bring a natural, reef-safe sunscreen, a reusable razor, and a few reusable make-up remover pads with a small container of coconut oil. The sustainable brand Kind Humans has almost all of these products, so you should check it out! 

And if you need to stock up on make-up before leaving, take a look at Elate Cosmetics (use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC for 10% off): it has a great selection of cruelty-free, eco-friendly make-up! 

Final thoughts 

Traveling light truly enhances the whole experience and helps you enjoy your trip even more. However, if you realize that you’ve packed more than necessary or created some waste along the way, don’t beat yourself up. No one is perfect!  

With each trip, you will get better at packing and only bringing the things that you need and use and that will help you reduce your waste while traveling.

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About the Author:

Eva Astoul is a French freelance writer, specializing in content related to sustainability, simple living, and a growth-focused healthy lifestyle.

She runs her own blog, Green With Less, to inspire people to live a more minimalist and sustainable life.

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