{"id":136,"date":"2015-10-09T16:36:47","date_gmt":"2015-10-09T23:36:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/green-recreation\/how-to-find-sustainable-souvenirs-25-days-to-green-travel-day-23\/"},"modified":"2023-07-29T12:42:38","modified_gmt":"2023-07-29T19:42:38","slug":"how-to-find-sustainable-souvenirs-25-days-to-green-travel-day-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/how-to-find-sustainable-souvenirs-25-days-to-green-travel-day-23\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainable Souvenirs How to Find Them and Why Buy Them"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Sustainable souvenirs &#8211; We&#8217;ve written a series of articles with tips for traveling green on the return trip home.<\/p>\n<p>At the end of my study abroad trip to Russia, I found myself scrambling to find souvenirs for family and friends.<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, I stumbled upon a market and found awesome locally-made sustainable souvenirs a few hours before I boarded my plane in Moscow.<\/p>\n<p>I even bought a few for myself.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Examples_of_not_so_sustainable_souvenirs\"><\/span>Examples of not so sustainable souvenirs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/how-to-find-sustainable-souvenirs-25-days-to-green-travel-day-23\/#Examples_of_not_so_sustainable_souvenirs\" title=\"Examples of not so sustainable souvenirs\">Examples of not so sustainable souvenirs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/how-to-find-sustainable-souvenirs-25-days-to-green-travel-day-23\/#Tips_to_find_sustainable_souvenirs\" title=\"Tips to find sustainable souvenirs\">Tips to find sustainable souvenirs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/how-to-find-sustainable-souvenirs-25-days-to-green-travel-day-23\/#From_a_locally-owned_business\" title=\"From a locally-owned business\">From a locally-owned business<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/how-to-find-sustainable-souvenirs-25-days-to-green-travel-day-23\/#Made_from_sustainable_materials\" title=\"Made from sustainable materials\">Made from sustainable materials<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/how-to-find-sustainable-souvenirs-25-days-to-green-travel-day-23\/#Something_the_region_is_known_for\" title=\"Something the region is known for\">Something the region is known for<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/how-to-find-sustainable-souvenirs-25-days-to-green-travel-day-23\/#Lightweight_and_small\" title=\"Lightweight and small\">Lightweight and small<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/how-to-find-sustainable-souvenirs-25-days-to-green-travel-day-23\/#Think_practical\" title=\"Think practical\">Think practical<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/how-to-find-sustainable-souvenirs-25-days-to-green-travel-day-23\/#Think_consumable\" title=\"Think consumable\">Think consumable<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/how-to-find-sustainable-souvenirs-25-days-to-green-travel-day-23\/#Our_favorite_sustainable_souvenir_tip%E2%80%A6Take_it_yourself\" title=\"Our favorite sustainable souvenir tip&#8230;Take it yourself.\">Our favorite sustainable souvenir tip&#8230;Take it yourself.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/how-to-find-sustainable-souvenirs-25-days-to-green-travel-day-23\/#Where_can_you_find_sustainable_souvenirs\" title=\"Where can you find sustainable souvenirs?\">Where can you find sustainable souvenirs?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>I cringe when I remember going &#8220;souvenir shopping&#8221; growing up. I especially remember our beach trips, to Biloxi, MS, to Florida and to Hilton Head, SC.<\/p>\n<p>Many times we bought shell necklaces, painted coral, dried starfish, and sand dollars.<\/p>\n<p>I would never do that now.<\/p>\n<p>Even as an adult in my late twenties, I regrettably recall politely declining a street painter outside a museum in Paris, France, and instead buying a mass-produced print from a stand.<\/p>\n<p>Knowing better now, I would never make those choices.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s so important to find sustainable souvenirs <a href=\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/best-earth-friendly-products-make-difference\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">for so many reasons<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what to look for in an eco-conscious souvenir.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tips_to_find_sustainable_souvenirs\"><\/span>Tips to find sustainable souvenirs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Locally produced<\/p>\n<p>Support the people who live in the country you&#8217;re visiting.<\/p>\n<p>Buy local crafts, like earrings from a native jeweler and baskets crafted by the person selling them.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, the further your souvenir travels to get to you, the greater impact it has on the environment.<\/p>\n<p>If you are unsure about an item, look if it has a &#8220;made in&#8221; tag.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"From_a_locally-owned_business\"><\/span>From a locally-owned business<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Another way to ensure you are buying a sustainable souvenir is to support the local economy.<\/p>\n<p>You can easily do this by purchasing your sustainable souvenirs from locally-owned shops or street stands.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"sustainable souvenirs\" src=\"https:\/\/farm3.static.flickr.com\/2363\/2263373370_52bc03d742.jpg\" alt=\"sustainable souvenirs\" width=\"500\" height=\"331\" border=\"0\"><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Made_from_sustainable_materials\"><\/span>Made from sustainable materials<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Avoid rare wood that may have been harvested unsustainable or illegally.<\/p>\n<p>Always avoid animal parts (animal skins, tusks, etc.) since they may have come from an endangered animal or might have been poached.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Something_the_region_is_known_for\"><\/span>Something the region is known for<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Get your friends something they can&#8217;t find at home.<\/p>\n<p>The Marie Sharp&#8217;s hot sauce and jelly I bought in Belize were big hits.<\/p>\n<p>We we were in <a href=\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/what-to-do-in-iowa-with-kids\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Iowa with kids<\/a>, we bought them a matchstick making hobby kit from Matchstick Marvels.<\/p>\n<p>What a perfect, sustainable memory.<\/p>\n<p>We had friends who visited Thailand and brought back mini notebooks for all the first grade classes in the school their son attended.<\/p>\n<p>They were made from animal dung (and were a huge hit).<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lightweight_and_small\"><\/span>Lightweight and small<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The heavier something is, the more resources it burns reaching its final destination.<\/p>\n<p>The lightest souvenir I&#8217;ve purchased was a locally-produced papyrus painting in Egypt.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Think_practical\"><\/span>Think practical<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Instead of buying yourself something from the place you are traveling to, you might consider buying something in advance, for your trip instead.<\/p>\n<p>An easy choice would be a stainless steel water bottle that you can take with you and use for years to come while not on vacation.<\/p>\n<p>You would be doing well by the earth every time you took it with you to refill.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Think_consumable\"><\/span>Think consumable<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It is a great idea to support the economy wherever you are visiting.<\/p>\n<p>And because so many of us have so much &#8220;stuff&#8221; already, a welcome souvenir might be food, preserves, spices, tea, etc. from wherever you are visiting.<\/p>\n<p>Think in advance about this if you are traveling out of the country for what needs to be declared at customs.<\/p>\n<p>Also consider if you are just carrying on luggage, what you are permitted to bring.<\/p>\n<p>If all of this checks out, local wine, a jar of locally-produced honey, fruit preserves and jams, tea, etc. can all be useful and appreciated sustainable souvenirs.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"honey\" src=\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/02\/honey.jpg\" alt=\"honey\" width=\"425\" height=\"318\"><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Our_favorite_sustainable_souvenir_tip%E2%80%A6Take_it_yourself\"><\/span>Our favorite sustainable souvenir tip&#8230;Take it yourself.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Make sure you bring your camera.<\/p>\n<p>One of the easiest and most meaningful sustainable souvenirs can be one you capture yourself.<\/p>\n<p>Before you leave your destination, make sure you have one excellent, frame-worthy photograph.<\/p>\n<p>It could be of scenery of the place you are visiting; of you standing in front of something from the city, like a monument or a waterfall; or it could be of the local scene.<\/p>\n<p>Just be sure to take culturally sensitive photos wherever you are.<\/p>\n<p>When you get home, develop your best picture into a print.<\/p>\n<p>If it is high enough resolution, it would be wonderful to enlarge and hang in your home.<\/p>\n<p>As time goes on, you may want to create a vacation wall of memories.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_can_you_find_sustainable_souvenirs\"><\/span>Where can you find sustainable souvenirs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Depending where you are in the world, the best place to find locally-made souvenirs are from outside stands, markets, and stalls.<\/p>\n<p>They are usually in high-traffic places, on the streets near museums, near famous sites for the town.<\/p>\n<p>There may be certain days for them, or they may be there every day.<\/p>\n<p>There were tables\/booths set out near lookout points in Sedona, AZ.<\/p>\n<p>They are permanent stalls built around the Four Corners National Monument (where <a href=\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/family-road-trip-southwest-colorado-and-durango\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Colorado<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/things-prescott-arizona-kids\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Arizona<\/a>, Utah, and New Mexico intersect) where Native Americans sell their wares.<\/p>\n<p>Local vendors were all over the streets in Paris, Florence, Rome, and Venice.<\/p>\n<p>We even found sustainable souvenirs in <a href=\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/nebraska-with-kids-where-to-go-fun-road-trip-ideas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nebraska<\/a> when we went to Boys Town to see the World&#8217;s Largest Ball of Stamps.<\/p>\n<p>It is easy to fall into the trap of buying souvenirs that are cute and filled with plastic, like magnets and key chains.<\/p>\n<p>And there is nothing really wrong with those items, especially if you are buying them from a local vendor.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s just that we think you can oftentimes do better.<\/p>\n<p>Just like we can all do better by renting a bike when on vacation instead of using taxicabs.<\/p>\n<p>It is natural to want a token memory and that might be something native to the region you visit.<\/p>\n<p>If it comes from a renewable source and was produced locally and safely, you can feel good about buying it.<\/p>\n<p>Getting a feel for the culture and visiting the native sellers can help you to support the economy where you are visiting.<\/p>\n<p>Always try to buy sustainable souvenirs to do the most good you can.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.smugmug.com\/Travel\/GoGreenTravelGreen-2014\/i-psR66K9\/0\/L\/Souvenirs%20From%20Las%20Vegas-L.jpg\" alt=\"Souvenirs From Las Vegas\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sustainable souvenirs &#8211; We&#8217;ve written a series of articles with tips for traveling green on the return trip home. At the end of my study abroad trip to Russia, I found myself scrambling to find souvenirs for family and friends. &#8230; <a title=\"Sustainable Souvenirs How to Find Them and Why Buy Them\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/how-to-find-sustainable-souvenirs-25-days-to-green-travel-day-23\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Sustainable Souvenirs How to Find Them and Why Buy Them\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":4501,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=136"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}