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Going on a trip is an exciting to-do. Months may have been spent in its preparation. You've taken off time from work, got a neighbor to look after the cat, paid to carbon-offset your trip and now you are all set. All you have to do is pack your belongings. But how to pack them in an eco-friendly way? Well, here are some tips.
- Packaging Waste
Remove all packaging waste from any packaged items before you travel. Other countries may not be able to deal with your garbage in a responsible manner. It's up to you to see that it is disposed of properly. - Pack Lightly
The heavier your baggage, the more energy your mode of transportation is going to burn. That includes yourself if you plan to do a lot of walking. Bring only the essentials. - Bring Less Clothing
In America, we seem to have a zealous devotion to overcleanliness. We like to wear clean clothes everyday. We are sort of silly that way. Bring a week`s worth of clothing, max. Wear everything at least twice. - Ugh! Travel Size
The airlines only allow certain sizes of liquids and pastes to be brought on the plane. Travel-sized toiletries almost seem necessary. There are a few ways around this. First, if you are staying with friends or family, why bring anything more than a toothbrush? Just use whatever they have at their house. Taste new toothpastes, try new soaps and shampoos, etc. Of course, that might not work for some allergenic people. In that case, why not buy travel-sized shampoo once, save the bottle and refill from your shampoo at home? You can do the same for almost every other toiletry. - One Bag
One bag is all you need. Make sure it is lightweight and wieldy. I've studied abroad and never needed more than a one duffle bag. The benefit of the one-bag system is that you don't have to wait at that horrible conveyor belt for your bag, and the airlines can't lose your luggage if you're holding onto it. For me, the one-bag system is a way to force myself into making good packing choices. If I have to carry around the bag, then I want it to be as comfortable and as light as possible. I will buy less junk, because I don't want to carry it around.
More on Eco-Friendly Travel
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Make 2009 the Year of Green Travel
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