Top Eco-Friendly Items to Pack On Your Next Learning Adventure
At Road Scholar, it's our mission to make the world your classroom. But because of climate change and overdevelopment, our global campus is under threat. From California to Kathmandu, the communities we live in and visit are feeling the impact of a changing planet. Road Scholar is committed to doing what we can to protect the environment, respect and preserve the diversity of human cultures and create a more sustainable future for generations of lifelong learners to come. This includes offsetting some of the carbon emissions created through travel, prioritizing eco-friendly lodging and locally sourced meals and other steps toward sustainability.
Participants in Baja California, Mexico
Our Road Scholars are also committed to traveling as sustainably as possible. Recently, we asked on our Facebook page and in our Facebook groups what Road Scholars are packing and doing to make their adventures a little more eco-friendly. They were full of great suggestions — here are a few of our favorites!
“I love my shampoo bar and conditioner bar. I use them every day and they last a long time. I don’t have to worry about bringing them out at the airport security and there is no leaky plastic bottle.”
—Marsi O.M.R
“Water bottle with a good filter, reef safe sunscreen, shampoo/conditioner bars, TruEarth laundry strips. If I absolutely need a plastic bag, it's one I've been reusing for years.”
—Kathy R.
“Before we leave, we turn the thermostat at home to an optimum setting for saving energy.
I do buy water in large plastic bottles on the road, but I save the bottles to reuse as portable water for the dog on hikes during our long hot summers. I also cut off the top thirds off the plastic bottles to use for watercolor brushes and to hold wildflower bouquets.”
—Linda H. O.
“A reusable travel straw.”
—Deb M.
“Reef friendly sunscreen and lip balm.”
—Barbara C.
“Reusable grocery sacks. Refillable water bottles. Refillable coffee cups.”
—Barbara S.
“Refillable bottles for shampoo so that I'm not throwing away those little travel sizes all the time.”
—Christine R.
“Natural fiber clothing. Time to stop using petroleum based plastic clothing, aka polyester, that shed microplastics into water when washed. I've got very lightweight merino wool t-shirts and socks for hot, humid summers. Layers of light to medium weight merino tops, sweaters, scarves and socks for winter. Wool rarely needs washing and lasts forever. The lightweight stuff dries in a couple of hours when washed.”
—Cindy S.
“Using an all-purpose, biodegradable soap.”
—Joanne B.
Do you have suggestions of your own? Join the conversation on Facebook and discuss eco-friendly items that you might use on your travels and in everyday life!