Travelling can produce a lot of waste. An easy way to reduce your waste is to bring your own food for the plane.
This is a zero waste travel guide for a short flight. I have also written about an extensive zero waste travel guide.
My husband and I went to Los Angeles for the long weekend. I haven’t been there for almost a decade. I am embracing zero waste travel by bringing my own snacks and tea for the short flight.
Highwave Inc. has created a great product that allows you put loose leaf tea in their Teamo
vacuum container. I don’t drink coffee but love tea, so this was perfect for the trip. I have loose leaf tea in the empty container and I ask the cabin crew to fill with hot water when I am on the plane.
I always bring a glass container which I fill with snacks such as apples, nuts and celery sticks. For longer flights I bring a salad.
Notes for bringing your own food when travelling:
For long flights, email the airline beforehand to let them know you're bringing your own food so they don't have to cater to you.
Refuse the tea, coffee, soft drinks and snacks that are packaged in plastic. Bring your own KeepCup or reusable coffee cup if you do want a drink and ask the cabin crew to pour it directly into your cup. Remind them that you don't need straws, stirrers, or napkins.
Make sure all your drink containers are empty before you go through security as they will confiscate any liquids greater than 100 mLs.
Fill up your drink bottle when you get through security, there are usually bubblers or drinking fountains.
Glass containers are fine to go through security. I've never had a problem. However, I suggest you bring plastic or bamboo cutlery rather than stainless steel cutlery as this might not pass through security.
Bring napkins - they are handy for everything!
Keep your compost - you can compost your rubbish when you arrive.
Zero waste travel doesn’t have to be hard work, just a little bit of prep work and creativity goes a long way!
