On a hot and sultry Goan afternoon, I happily sip on a juice which tastes sweeter than usual. Why? Because a cafe named Cape Goa in Morjim offered me this juice for free. No, it's no ordinary freebie! The cafe has tiny buckets in which you can collect trash from the beach and that's what earns you the beverage. So, it isn't simply about the juice but about the initiative on their part which makes it taste sweeter.
Cleaning up trails during treks has become more prevalent with trekking groups, little by little the practice seems to be extending to beaches and other places of tourist interest as well. However, is it enough? The plight of the planet is such that there's always more that can be done. And, while we may not become crusaders of a cause, we can still take tiny efforts to do a little, can't we? So, here's a list of products that you can add to your packing list to become a more responsible traveller:
1. Bottle
Just try to think of the number of plastic bottles you purchased during your last trip. Try calculating it. It'll take a minute but if you think of all your meals, sightseeing spots in between and other times, you'll reach a sizeable number. What if we bought a bottle and carried it along with us? A one time purchase that could reduce the plastic waste in one of your favourite spots considerably!
2. Handkerchief
Remember back in play school how parents would pin a handkerchief to your shirt? Guess it's time to go back to that practice! Okay okay, you need not pin it and ruin your "Instagram worthy" shots but slip handkerchief in your bag or pocket and start saying no to paper tissues, my friend!
3. Collapsable cup
You know how we romanticize "pahado ki chai" ? Well, it's less romantic and more in the horror genre if you assess how many single use cups are consumed and thrown within a day itself! So, to keep the romance going you could opt for a collapsable cup which is compact, easy to carry and environment friendly, all at the same. Next time ask your beloved chaiwaale uncle or aunty to pour you a blissful concoction but in your reusable cup.
4. Cutlery kit
In the travel industry the food business is phenomenal. From cafes to dhabbas, any location's income thrives from food to a great extent. Did you know that most tourist destinations in India do not have proper waste disposable systems? In Himachal Pradesh most hill stations still follow the mechanism of burning waste. Think of the number of plastic straws, spoons and forks that are burnt on a regular basis. Get yourself a cutlery kit that takes very less space in your carry ons and eat away guilt free. Refuse and choose to reuse!
5. Menstrual cup
A single menstruating individual causes an average of 150kg of sanitary waste in their lifetime. So, a switch to a menstrual cup is surely eco-conscious and yet additionally its benefits are numerous! A cup allows you to plunge into adventures such as diving, trekking, rappelling and what not without any fear of leakage. Plus it also saves you the constant fear of not finding a washroom to change your pad during road trips. This is a choice that makes your travels more comfortable and eco-friendly with one simple switch.
6. Bamboo toothbrush
While hoarding on hotel toiletries was quite the favourite thing for us middle class families to do, I guess that ship sailed a long time ago, right? Haha now add to this a conscious choice of not asking for a dental kit because you would be prepared with your bamboo toothbrush. A number of arguments talk about how the lifespan of a bamboo toothbrush isn't actually that much longer than that of a plastic toothbrush. But let's not overlook the fact that plastic toothbrushes are a challenge to recycle and actually sit in landfill for approximately 1,000 years! Meanwhile, bamboo being a natural material is much easier to break down in the environment.
7. Reusable cloth bag
Whether you love to shop till you drop from a destination's famous street market or carry some snacks to munch away during all your sightseeing activities, the switch from a single use plastic bag to a reusable cloth bag can go a long way. Furthermore, these cloth bags are light, easy to fold and effective even for light travellers. Now you know where to put all your eco-conscious travel items listed above!
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Do you also have more ideas on ways in which we can be more responsible travellers? Drop a comment so that fellow travel enthusiasts such as you and me can try and adopt your suggested practices as well!