Go Green Travel Green

The key to traveling green is consuming less. But when you’re packing for your next trip, there are some things you should buy new - either because they’re hard to find used (safe water bottles) or you wouldn’t want to buy them used (underwear). In the end the investment will pay off.

Microfiber Towel

If you’ve ever pulled a damp, musty towel out of your pack after a long day of travel, you understand the value of having a quick-dry towel. Plus, they’re uber-absorbent and compact. Elizabeth and I have traveled with our Aquis towels and, I have to say, they are life-changing. Far better than the giant cotton monstrosities we traveled with before. We use the hair towel variety, which are quite small but do the trick.

If you don’t already have one I’d recommend considering it before a long trip. One drawback: I have yet to find a microfiber towel that’s organic (or even made of a natural material).

Walking Shoes or Boots

The last thing you want when you’re hiking 5 miles a day with a 20 pound pack is uncomfortable shoes. Your feet will be sore enough with even the best boots. This is especially important for longer trips, or trips where you’ll do a lot of strenuous hiking. Comfortable boots that fit well are well worth the initial investment. Find out which boots are best for you with the hiking boots buying guide.

Side note: Most water-proof hiking shoes are made with Gore-Tex, which is bad for your health and the environment. But soaked socks are miserable, so it might be worth it to you to have dry feet. In her post on the Gore-Tex dilemma, Elizabeth hashes this out a bit more.

photo credit: Mat Honan

Water Bottle

A sturdy, reusable water bottle is a travel essential. Unfortunately, the water bottles many of us have relied on for years are made with bisphenol A (BPA), a hormone-disrupting chemical. Which means the hard plastic bottles you have lying around your house or you find at thrift stores and garage sales probably contain BPA. Even some stainless steel bottles (like Sigg) may contain BPA. The good news is, there are alternatives. I prefer Klean Kanteen because I try to avoid plastics when possible - why risk it? But if you must use plastic, try out the new BPA-free bottles like CamelBak’s Better Bottle or the Nalgene Choice.

Quick-Dry Underwear

I haven’t tried out quick-dry underwear myself, but many travelers swear by them. Elizabeth’s a fan of Ex-Officio underwear, as she mentioned yesterday. And they definitely make sense in terms of packing less, doing less laundry, and having underwear that dry overnight. And lighter luggage means less of an environmental impact.

Bonus Tip for the Women Out There: Diva Cup

I wasn’t convinced at first. When I saw the Diva Cup at Expo East, I laughed - were there really enough women willing to put that up there to create a demand for the product? But then I did my research and read reviews like Crunchy Chicken’s (read the comments, too) and I was convinced. I’m now a believer in this silicone “menstrual solution.” And why not? It’s indefinitely reusable, more comfortable than tampons, a one-time investment of under $20, and doesn’t create any waste.

Want to try it out? The cheapest place I found the Diva Cup was South Coast Shopping for $16.99 - which pays off pretty quickly considering 12 organic tampons cost $5.

For more smart travel shopping tips, check out The Ultimate Guide to Thriftstore Shopping.

6 Pieces of Travel Gear You Should Buy New is the tenth post in Go Green Travel Green’s 25 Days to Green Travel series. If you haven’t already, subscribe to our feed (also available via email) and stay up to date.

This weekend I stopped by REI to look for some hiking boots or trail running shoes. Ideally, I want a shoe that is durable, supportive, breathable, extremely comfortable, and waterproof. Yes, waterproof. Someday, (and hopefully sooner rather than later) I’ll be taking a round-the-world (RTW) trip, and I have an occasion coming up very quickly where I would use these shoes, then will save them for that RTW vacation.

photo credit: di vivere

In my search for waterproof shoes I discovered that the seemingly only available option is Gore-Tex. I admit that I didn’t know much about Gore-Tex until recently and even what I did know was limited to “it’s bad for the environment.” After doing a little more research I’ve learned that Gore-Tex is essentially the same material as Teflon®, a perfluorochemical, PFC. (If you don’t know much about Teflon you should know this: cooking with Teflon pans can kill birds and it’s chemical compounds have been found even in polar bears in the Arctic.)

If you want to know more about Gore-Tex I’ve listed some additional resources below. But the key thing is this: the chemicals in Gore-Tex are bad for my personal health and they are bad for the environment. But, wouldn’t it be nice to have breathable, waterproof shoes?

So, I’m stuck with this green traveler’s dilemma: Do I buy Gore-Tex hiking boots/shoes that will be convenient and practical for me (short term) or do I find something else that will, in the end, be better for my health and the environment (long term)?

Resources about Gore-Tex:

What is Gore-Tex? Gore-Tex is a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

Environmental Working Group (EWG) on PFCs: Executive Summary

Minnesota Department of Health on PFCs

Clean Water Action on PFCs

DuPont’s Attempt to Make Gore-Tex Seem Environmentally Friendly

phthalates, polyethylene, polycorbonate, bisphenol A
What are these and what do they have to do with my water bottle?

I’ll admit, though I’m green, I’m not the greenest of travelers. And sometimes when people start talking to me about toxins, and thates and thyles, I cringe and tune out. I mean, isn’t some of this just hype?

Yes, some of it is just hype, but when it comes to my personal health, I’m more likely to listen. And I think you will too. And because I’m afraid you might stop reading, I’m going to give you the bottom line right away:

Now if you’re like many hikers, backpackers, and cool kids, you might be saying “What! I can’t use my Nalgene anymore?! I’ve been carrying my Nalgene since high school!!” (I have.) Don’t worry - there are alternatives.

So here’s the rundown on water bottles - I’ll lay out the common materials used in water bottles, the key things you should know about each, and additional sources of information. You are left to your own best judgment as to what action you take. My choice was easy since I based it completely on my (and my family’s) health, but you might value durability or design more.

Basic Throw-Away Bottle

What it’s made of: PET (Polyethylene terephthalate)
Key Things to Know: With reuse, PET can degrade and because the plastic is thin and wrinkled it can build up germs. It can also leach DEHP, a probable carcinogen.
Use or Don’t Use: Don’t reuse. (Though I will reuse one on a 1-3 day business trip).
Other Resources:
New Zealand Government
Northwest Hearld
Signorile Scientific Study

Nalgene or Similar Water Bottle

What it’s made of: Polycarbonate (a thermoplastic polymer)
Key Things to Know: Polycarbonates leach a hormone disrupting chemical, bisphenol A (BPA), even at room temperature. See the resources section below for more about BPA.
Use or Don’t Use: Don’t use. (If you want another reason to not use Nalgene check out this picture.)
Other Resources:
All About BPA from River Wired
From NIH Environmental Health Perpsectives
North Carolina Conservation Network
TreeHugger

Opaque Nalgene or Similar Water Bottle

What it’s made of: HDPE High-density polyethylene (softer and opaque and made from petroleum)
Key Things to Know: No known problems.
Use or Don’t Use: The jury’s still out. No known problems to date.
Other Resources:
Trusted.md
Sierra Club

Kleen Kanteen or Stainless Steel

What it’s made of: Stainless Steel (both inside and out). See note on Sigg water bottles below.
Key Things to Know: Klean Kanteens don’t leach (or contain) BPA.
Use or Don’t Use: Use.
Other Resources:
Mom Appeal
Grist

Other Water Bottles:

Sigg: There is a HUGE debate over Sigg stainless steel water bottles. They are lined, and the lining most likely contains a trace amount of BPA. Sigg won’t come out and say the bottles contain no BPA, which is what makes them suspicious. (Read the debate here in comments or here.)

New CamelBak (Tritan) or new Nalgene Choice (Tritan): Because of the concerns with BPA and phthalates, water bottle companies are now starting to use a different compound called Tritan. As I mentioned in my review of a BPA free Better Bottle by CamelBak, thus far tests have revealed no problems with Tritan. Tritan is a copolyester and while I’m not a chemical expert, this makes me a little wary. (Though it’s definitely better than BPA-leaching bottles.)

Water bottles with soft “nipples”/valves: The soft plastic “nipple” or valve (see an example of a water bottle with what I’m talking about at REI) that you drink from likely contains phthalates. Phthalates are hormone disruptors that have been linked to reproductive problems and birth defects. More here and here.

Glass: Glass is safe. If you don’t mind the weight, glass is an extremely safe bet. Thanks to Aaron’s suggestion, you can find glass bottles at Aquasana.

In Summary:

“To be certain that you are choosing a bottle that does not leach, check the recycling symbol on your bottle. If it is a #2 HDPE (high density polyethylene), or a #4 LDPE (low density polyethylene), or a #5 PP (polypropylene), your bottle is fine. The type of plastic bottle in which water is usually sold is usually a #1, and is only recommended for one time use. Do not refill it. Better to use a reusable water bottle, and fill it with your own filtered water from home and keep these single-use bottles out of the landfill. Unfortunately, those fabulous colourful hard plastic lexan bottles made with polycarbonate plastics and identified by the #7 recycling symbol, may leach BPA.”

from Trusted.md

Other Resources:

Green Guide Plastics Cheat Sheet
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy Plastics Cheat Sheet:
Slate Review of Water Bottles
PBS Interview on Plastics and Safety
MSNBC Video on Leeching Water Bottles and a follow up piece

My Recommendation:

For me, the choice is easy; I use a Kleen Kanteen.

One of the easiest ways to be a greener traveler is to opt for a reusable water bottle instead of bottled water. However, one crucial concern of using reusable water bottles is the fact that some contain BPA and phthalates. (If you don’t know what BPA and phthalates are, not to worry, I will be posting further about these toxic chemicals later this week.)

CamelBak has recently committed to making all of its products BPA and phthalate free and they were kind enough to send us a bottle to test out. Here are my thoughts:

I tested a 750ml bottle. (The Classic Cap is currently BPA and phthalate free and the bottle with a straw, Better Bottle with Bite Valve, will be BPA and phthalate free next month in May 2008).

Here’s what I subjected by bottle to over the course of the weekend:

• Initial dishwashing
• Two days at the office
• Health club workout
• Afternoon walk around DC’s Tidal Basin to see the Cherry Blossoms and the festivities for the Cherry Blossom Festival
• Other touristy DC activities throughout the weekend (Air and Space Museum, National Gallery of Art, Botanical Gardens)

After participating in these rigorous activities here’s how the CamelBak scored on a scale of 1-5 with 1 as the worst and 5 as the best. *Please note that these ratings are completely subjective.*

• Weight (without water): 4 It feels like a lightweight plastic bottle. It’s technically made out of Tritan, a copolyester. (The company that makes this material is US manufacturer Eastman.)
• Ease of Transport: 5 I love the loop on the cap; it’s incredibly easy to attach the loop to my bag via a carabiner.
• Looks: 4 It’s a fairly attractive water bottle.
• Ease of drinking: 2 For some reason the opening was not a good diameter for me. Whenever I drank out of it it hit the top of my nose– it’s skinnier than a traditional Nalgene and wider than a Klean Kanteen.
• Durability: NA Since I only used it for a weekend I don’t feel that this I can adequately judge
• Taste of Water after two days: 3 This is the true water bottle test- if you let the water sit in it for a few days does it absorb a weird taste? In the case of the CamelBak Better Bottle, it has a slight plastic-y taste to it.
• Smell of Water in Bottle: 1 Almost as important as the taste of the water, smell can make or break a food or drink experience. This was the real downside of the bottle; every time I took a sip I smelled a very plastic-y scent in the bottle. It was just kind of icky.
• Overall: 3 I commend CamelBak’s commitment to manufacturing BPA and phthalate free products; however, I just don’t think the CamelBak Better Bottle is for me. I like it more than a Nalgene, but less than a Klean Kanteen.

If you currently use and like the Better Bottle then I recommend that you look further into purchasing a new BPA-free one. But first, be sure to read my post on Thursday about the chemicals in water bottles. Then you can be sure that you’re drinking to your health!

When I got back from my four-month trip across Eastern Europe, my jeans were shot, I’d lost a sweater, and I left my towel behind. That’s when I realized I should have bought my travel gear used. Now when I’m shopping for an upcoming trip, I head to my favorite store - Goodwill. Intimidated by the thought of shopping at a thrift store? Clueless about where to start? Have no fear - this post covers it all, from when to go to what to buy and how to do it.

photo credit: get directly down

6 Reasons to Shop at Thrift Stores

1. It’s cheap. I’ve gotten 3 pairs of pants, 5 shirts, a sweater, and a nice summer dress for under $50.
2. The goods are in better condition than you might think. I’ve found once-worn sweaters and seen designer bags in thrift stores. Many of the clothes come from middle-class homes where people can afford to toss aside barely-worn clothes for the newest trend - which works out well for you, as a thrift store shopper.
3. You’ll find things there that you can’t find anywhere else. When I think of great finds, I think of records (which I love, by the way), but it applies to vintage jewelry, unique t-shirts, and cool jackets, too.
4. It’s environmentally-friendly. By reusing existing items, you’re decreasing the demand - and therefore production. Fewer resources are burned creating new goods and you saved the awesome t-shirt you just bought from becoming garbage.
5. You’re supporting non-profit organizations doing good work. Within 10 miles of my home, there are thrift stores whose proceeds go to helping disadvantaged people find jobs (Goodwill), preventing blindness (Prevention of Blindness), and funding religious organizations and churches.
6. It’s fun. If you have bargain-hunting tendencies, thrift stores might be a little piece of heaven for you. I love finding a good deal and knowing that if I’d bought that sweater new, it would’ve cost five times as much.

What to Buy at Thrift Stores

• Jeans, pants, shorts, and skirts. Depending on the climate you’re heading into, invest in a couple pairs of pants or shorts before you leave. You’d be surprised how quickly even denim gets worn out when you wear the same pair of pants all day, every day. So don’t bring your favorite pair of pants or buy brand new ones unless you’re okay with having holes in them by the time you return home. And for women - in some countries you’ll fit in better, or be more comfortable (think Kenya in the summer), if you wear a long skirt. You can buy one there or pick one up at a thrift store so you’ll be prepared when you land.
• Sweaters, sweatshirts, and fleeces. If you’re going to Finland in the winter, you’ll want layers. You’ll also want to ditch those layers without a second thought when you head to Australia afterwards. So find a comfy sweater or fleece at a thrift store and throw it in your suitcase.
• Coats and jackets. When you can pick up a quality jacket for $5 or a warm coat for $15, it’s hard to say no. If you’re afraid your wool coat will get ruined when you travel, pick up a new one before you go.
• T-shirts. You probably have a few disposable t-shirts leftover from college lying around your house, so bring those with you if you do. If not, swing by your neighborhood thrift store and you’ll have your choice of hundreds.
• Camping gear. If you want cooking gear for your upcoming trip, but don’t want to take your $200 AllClad skillet, head to the thrift store. You’ll find tons of coffee mugs, pots, pans, silverware, and other camping-style cooking gear. And if you’re in the right place at the right time, you might even encounter a quality sleeping bag or tent - though if you’re looking for a high-tech, lightweight tent, you might want to consider going to a sports store or scoping out Craigslist instead.
• Jewelry. You really don’t want to lose your grandmother’s gold necklace while you’re hiking through the Sahara. You also don’t want flashy jewelry to call attention to you if you find yourself in a vulnerable situation when you’re traveling (and odds are you will). It’s a safer bet to find some cool vintage costume jewelry - it’ll look cool, but you won’t be upset if you lose it or it gets stolen.
• Winter accessories. If you’re heading to a cooler climate for a few months, but don’t want to bring the scarf and hat your aunt knit for you in case you lose it, fear not. If you live somewhere that gets chilly in the winter, odds are your local thrift stores are full of scarves, hats, gloves, and even earmuffs. Even in Texas where it rarely stays below freezing for more than a couple of days, I found a variety of winter gear at my favorite thrift stores.
• Trendy shoes you’ll only wear for short period of time. You might want to bring along shoes that are a step up from your hiking boots if you plan to spend a lot of time in bars or nightclubs. Take some from home or buy a lightly used pair before you go.
• Towels. If you’re planning on bringing a standard towel with you, buy it used, wash it, and pack it. A few years ago, we ended up leaving our bath towels in Germany before returning home because they took up so much room in our bags and we didn’t need them anymore. I’d actually recommend bringing a quick-absorb towel; it will dry quickly and save space. And maybe you’ll even be able to find a used one.

What Not to Buy at Thrift Stores

• Walking shoes or boots - unless they’re brand new or close to it and fit perfectly. When you’re spending 8-12 hours/day on your feet, you’re going to want comfortable shoes that fit well. And if you’re traveling for more than a couple of weeks, you’ll wear through the shoes quickly. So pass up the well-loved shoes and the brand-new shoes that are just a little bit too small. After walking 6 miles across Prague and back, you’ll be glad you made the investment.
• Backpacks - unless you find one in good condition that fits you well. Forty pounds can feel like a lot after climbing up winding roads in search of your well-hidden hostel. It’ll feel like even more if your backpack is too big or too small, or the straps don’t adjust to fit your body. Don’t know where to start? Check out Adventure Sports Online’s Backpack Fit Guidelines.
• Bike helmets - they may be damaged. As much as it pains me to say that used bike helmets should probably go to the dump, it’s true. According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, damage from a former crash may not be visible, but it will affect how well the helmet protects your head. When you’re dealing with your brain, you shouldn’t take risks.
• Underwear and socks. Okay, odds are you weren’t considering shopping for undergarments at a thrift store. But in case you were, remember that you’re going to be wearing the same few pairs of socks and underwear day in and day out for months at a time. Do you really want to risk being uncomfortable in those areas? It’s a good idea to start your trip out right with some new, quality undergarments that will last (and be comfortable) throughout your journey.
• For more non-travel-related things to buy new, check out MSN Money’s 10 things you should never buy used.

Locate Thrift Stores with Thrift Store Search Engines

• The Thrift Shopper. Over 7,940 charity driven thrift stores, which you can search by zip code or by city.
• Thrifty Planet. Nearly 900 U.S. thrift stores listed by state.
• Goodwill. Among my favorite thrift stores - partially because there are a lot of them.
• Google. If you know the type of charity you’d like to support, Google it and look for thrift stores on their website. For example, a search for “blindness thrift store” turns up 11,000 hits and “thrift store cancer” more than 250,000.

When to Go to Thrift Stores

• Sale days. Some stores have entire days where their inventory is 75% off. Goodwill always has sales on a certain item of clothing, usually something out of season. Which actually works out well if you’re traveling - when it’s 30 degrees at home, it’s 90 south of the equator.
• Stocking days. Find out when the store gets news items. If you can make it on that day, be the first one to scope out the newest deals.
• Late spring, if you’re in a college town. If you live in a city with a university, you’re likely to find good deals at thrift stores near the school right before the spring semester ends. My college put out bins in every dorm and students dumped clothes, electronics, books, and other goods they didn’t want to haul home for the summer.
• During the week. If you have a flexible work schedule, weekdays are a great time to hit up thrift stores. There are fewer people to compete with and the merchandise is less picked over. Some thrift stores stay open late on weekdays, so even if you work 9 to 5, you can find bargains at night.

How to Shop at a Thrift Store

• Be patient. If you’re looking for something specific, don’t be afraid to return to the same store a few times and leave empty-handed when your item isn’t there.
• Sit back, relax… and dig. By their nature, thrift stores are small and crowded. That’s okay, it just means it will take a little more time to find what you’re looking for. But when you get a cashmere sweater for $4, it’s well worth it.
• Be friendly. Everyone who’s worked in a customer service position knows what a big difference one nice person can make in your day. Besides, being nice pays off; in return for your smile, the person checking you out might tell you about an upcoming sale on fleeces like the one you’re buying.
• Don’t be afraid to barter. Although some stores have stricter policies, many are willing to be talked down on a price that’s a little too high. Although bartering is less commonplace in the U.S., it’s a given in many other countries. Take advantage of the thrift store setting to practice doing it in English so you’re a pro by the time you’re negotiating in Spanish, Russian, or German on your travels.
• Avoid binging. It can be tempting to stock up when you go to a thrift store - why buy just one sweater when you can buy 10 for $25? But odds are you don’t need ten sweaters, or even two. Unless you find something really great that you’ll actually use, stick to your shopping list. It’s better for your wallet and for the environment.
• For more thrift store shopping how-to’s, check out A Basic Guide to Thrift Store Shopping at Lifehack.

Nothing says romance like a corporate-created holiday about love. But I have to admit, I enjoy getting gifts and eating nice meals and part of me appreciates this mid-February excuse to do it. This year, rebel against the commercialism of Valentine’s Day by getting one of these sustainable (and practical, mostly) green travel gifts.

ecoSNEAKS sustainable sneakers by Simple Shoes - $70.00

Quality footwear is essential when you’re hiking around new cities for six hours every day. ecoSNEAKS are made of organic cotton, recycled paper pulp, and old car tire, which makes for a pretty sweet pair of sneakers.

W’s Guanaco T-Shirt by Patagonia - $29.00

When shopping for travel gifts, my general philosophy is if it isn’t practical, it doesn’t make the cut. But when I saw this t-shirt I remembered how tired I got of wearing the same four solid-colored shirts every day for six weeks when I traveled around Eastern Europe. Sometimes it’s good to get a gift that’s unique and fun - even if it’s not totally practical - and this organic cotton T is a great place to start.

Fair Trade Hemp Messenger Bag by Taraluna - $45.90

The first time I traveled abroad, I only brought my ginormous backpack and a standard-size backpack. I didn’t think to bring a medium-sized bag for carrying books, water bottles, or a few groceries, but quickly realized how much I would have appreciated having a messenger bag. This fair trade hemp bag would have been perfect to grab on the way out the door.

Handmade Recycled Cotton Journal by World of Good - $24.95

Whether you’re in a park in Poland or a coffee shop in Thailand, take a minute to jot down your travel adventures. You may not think you’ll ever forget where you were when you left your backpack on the bus and had to chase it down the street (even if you want to), but memories blur together over the years and journal can help you sort it all out.

Organic Cotton Moisturizing Socks by Ecoland for Her - $7.00

Okay, so socks aren’t the most romantic gift. But they’re practical. When your loved one has been vagabonding around Argentina for 3 days in the same pair of socks, then discovers she has this one last pair hidden under her dirty t-shirts, she’ll thank you.

Last week’s announcement about the new MacBook Air, weighing in at 3lbs, makes it seem like a good option for a greener laptop for traveling. From a frequent traveler’s perspective (who also happens to love her current MacBook) the new MacBook Air is very appealing because of both it’s size and weight. But what really struck me about the product is it’s attempt at greenness. In the Tech Specs section of the product site, Apple specifically points to the “Environmental Status Report” — cleverly displayed with a green Apple logo and recycled paper background.

The tech specs state that:

MacBook Air embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress. It consumes the least amount of power of any Mac and is also designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:
Highly recyclable aluminum enclosure
Mercury-free LCD display with arsenic-free glass
PVC-free internal cables
Largely recyclable, low-volume packaging
Meets ENERGY STAR requirements
MacBook Air received a Silver rating from EPEA

For more information about the Silver rating from EPEA you can read the product detail here.

Treehugger’s commenters were quick to jump on Apple for not doing more

“Design? Great. I don’t want to be the cynical gobble here, but c’mon, how the hell is this green? I *guarantee* this thing uses just as many resources to build, if not more, than a larger laptop (because of the extra effort required to make it tiny). Plus, to make matters worse, it’s yet another upgrade we NEED to buy to keep up with fashion. Screw that!!! Until a laptop maker gets innovative re-using old laptop chassis and only replacing the handful of parts that need replacing, I am NOT CONVINCED.”

Clearly, there are two sides to this coin. If you must bring a laptop with you when you travel AND are in the market for a new laptop, this appears to be a great green laptop choice. However, if you already have a laptop that runs well or don’t need a laptop when you travel, why go out and buy a MacBook Air?

The really good news for green travelers is this:

1. The Apple MacBook Air raises the bar in terms of greenness. With the emphasis on sustainability and environmental-consciousness, other laptop manufacturers will likely begin to produce greener laptops.
2. The Apple MacBook Air raises the bar in terms of size and weight. Travelers can hopefully expect to see more laptop manufacturers reducing the size and weight of their products. Just think, if every laptop weighed 3-5lbs less than it currently does, fewer resources would be required to transport this weight.
3. The Apple MacBook Air raises the bar in terms of value. Granted, $1799 isn’t cheap, but it’s cheaper than the Sony Vaio TZ at $2100. Based on my experience with Macs and Vaios, Macs are faster, more reliable, and a better deal overall.

So what would make the Apple MacBook Air better for the green traveler? Solar panels. Give me an alternative energy source to keep my MacBook running longer when I’m 30,000 feet above the air for 14 hours traveling to China.