Is it just me, or do these sun-filled days of early spring with warmer temperatures make you feel like you can take on the world? Though with March Break around the corner, I’m sure some of you will, but have you ever thought about taking on the world in a more eco-friendly way? I’m not saying instead of flying to use up an entire year’s vacation to sail across the Atlantic, like Greta Thunberg, but we do need to start making small changes.

In the Western world we live in an abundance of consumerism that is perpetuated by the illusion of being able to throw things away when we’re done with them. Except that away isn’t really away, it’s just redistributing it somewhere else, like the landfills or our oceans, where they stick around a little too long. So, one of the best and easiest ways to really make an impact is to reduce your waste.

Unfortunately, travelling and tourism can be big waste generators, just look around a public park after a long weekend and see the empty chip bags and fast food containers scattered all over, while the garbage cans are jammed full of pizza boxes and pop bottles. But I get it, because convenience is helpful when you’re on the go and exploring. It takes intention to plan ahead and prepare your picnic goodies at home, and to package them into your reusable containers that you begrudgingly lug home with you afterwards. But as they say, if we don’t change, the climate will.

So here are some easy changes you can make in time for your next trip, and here at home, too.

It starts with refusal.

Reducing your waste starts with not accumulating it in the first place. Even small things like refusing a customer copy of your receipt or opting for an email copy of your event tickets can help. Refuse the single use straws (even if they’re paper) and the plastic lids on your soft drink containers and simply drink from the cup like you would at home. And do us all a favour and only take one napkin as you need it instead of a handful from the dispenser and save the extras that get tossed away. If you’re feeling really motivated, opt out of your airplane meal beforehand and bring your own from home, most of these meals are packaged for single use and get tossed in the trash. The less you use, the less you have to throw away.

Make your staples reusable.

Reusable Cutlery

Taking a metal knife in your carry-on might not fly in the eyes of the security officers, but wooden cutlery sets like bamboo are safer bets. (I once took a cast iron frying pan in a carry-on bag to the US with zero problems, so it all depends who you get!) Either way, having a set of cutlery in your purse or one of those fanny packs that are coming back in style, means you’re always equipped for some good street food or product samples without the single use plastic forks!

Reusable Water Bottle

Whether you’re travelling, or at home, a stainless steel or tempered glass bottle to hold your water and hot beverages is always a good idea. Those paper cups from coffee shops aren’t recyclable and many places are willing to fill your own container, some even with a small discount! Just make sure it’s empty before clearing security.

Soap and Shampoo Bars

Most soap and shampoo come in plastic containers. Instead, try soap/shampoo bars, which function the exact same way except that they are solid and don’t require any packaging! Not to mention there’s no risk through security and they’ll also never leak all over your things. You can find them at most health and green living shops around the city.

Avoid Souvenir Shops

Finally, try to resist the novelty of the keychains and the fridge magnets that nobody asked for anyway. Spend money on experiences or in local shops to support the local artisans over the knick-knacks that were produced and shipped from abroad and fated for a dusty shelf if they’re lucky.

We can’t all be like David Suzuki and Greta Thunberg but every little bit counts. So, do the best that you can, and don’t get discouraged if you forget your cutlery set at home, because the greatest impact towards real change comes not from a few people doing it perfectly, but rather when millions of people are doing it imperfectly. Start anywhere, just do it sooner rather than later.