You might have noticed a bit of a change around Wee Gypsy Girl lately. For starters, I have a new logo and a new tagline to go with it, too. What used to be “live, work, travel” has now changed to “Adventures of a Green Living Girl on the Go.”  The new tagline reflects a new direction for me in my own travel philosophy and that of my blog, too. Going forward, I want to travel the world leaving less of a footprint, and make more eco-friendly decisions in the things I buy, the tours that I take, the transportation that I use and the accommodation that I sleep in.

Ever since I started travelling, I’ve gained so much more appreciation for our planet, and I want the future generations to be able to enjoy it as much as I have. I want them to be able to hike unspoilt mountains, explore jungles and swim among colourful coral reefs, too.

I really hope that you guys are as excited about this as I am and would love to know how you feel about the slight change in content. Leave me a comment and let me know!

10 Practical and Useful Products for Eco-Friendly Travel

So, now that we have that out the way, let’s get on with today’s post! Keeping with my new tagline and the new vision for Wee Gypsy Girl, I want to show you some of the best travel products out there are eco-friendly and that you’ll get plenty of use out of. While this involves making a few investments in the beginning, I can assure you that it will pay dividends in the long run. Here we go!

Steripen

Regular readers will recognise this from one of my last blog posts. This year for Christmas, I got a steripen for Veeran. (Because, let’s be honest, I want to use it too!) The steripen is amazing because you can purify and filter water anywhere in the world.

Carrying a refillable water bottle is all well and good but, a huge proportion of the places you might visit on your travels have very little access to clean water. The steripen will help you save money on continuously buying water bottles. Though, most importantly it will also help you reduce your plastic consumption meaning you can stay hydrated and be more eco-friendly at the same time.

Buy Yours Here

Lush Solid Shampoo Bars

I’ve been raving about these for ages because they are completely amazing. Especially for people like me who travel with hand luggage only. Not only do they take up hardly any room in your suitcase, they also last for ages, are eco-friendly and free of plastic packaging. I carry mine in a metal tin to avoid it getting soggy in my bag. Another plus- Lush products are cruelty-free and ethically produced which gets a big thumbs up from me! Check out their other products too!

Order One Online Here!

Bamboo Toothbrushes

Another easy way to reduce your plastic consumption? Switch to a bamboo toothbrush. So many toothbrushes end up in landfills every year and take over 1,000 years to degrade. Just think about how many toothbrushes are used in your own home each year, and try to imagine how many are thrown away in the whole world. Scary thought, I know. Bamboo toothbrushes are completely degradable and are so much more eco-friendly than plastic toothbrushes. Yup, it seems like a tiny drop in a huge ocean. But, if everyone made the change, it’d be a step in the right direction.

Click Here to Buy Yours

Mineral Sunscreen

When I discovered that sunscreen is so harmful to coral reefs, I was pretty shocked to say the least. However, for dive enthusiasts and snorkelers, jumping in the ocean sans sunscreen in hot-hot destinations like Thailand and The Philippines is a complete no-no! Good thing then that there are so many clever humans in the world. Some of whom took it upon themselves to invent mineral sunscreen.

Mineral sunscreen uses zinc oxide as its main ingredient and works by sitting on top of the sun. Not only will it protect you from the sun’s harsh rays, it has zero impact on the coral reefs meaning you can enjoy the ocean with a clear conscience and less chance of sunburn.

Shop Mineral Sunscreen Here

Coconut Oil

Ahhh coconut oil. How I love thee. I use coconut oil in so many ways when I travel, meaning that I don’t need to constantly buy different products for different things. Not only can I use it as a moisturiser, after sun lotion, shaving oil and hair mask, I can also use it to make my own products.

On my last trip to India, I made my own natural mosquito spray using just coconut oil and essential oils. More recently, I’ve started using it to make my own natural deodorants and want to experiment with making my own toothpaste in the future. This is the most versatile thing you can put in your toiletry bag so don’t leave home without it!

Click Here to Buy Yours

Diva Cup

One for the ladies- this thing is a lifesaver on the road. Anyone who has lived and travelled in Asia will know that tampons are pretty difficult to come by here. If you plan on wearing a bikini/ doing any watersports/having a bearable time on your period, that’s not exactly an ideal situation. Unless of course, you fill your bag with tampons but who has the space for that.

A diva cup is a reusable menstrual cup that you simply pop in and then wash out when you’re done. Yes, it might sound a bit disgusting but it’s remarkably easy to use and not as gorey as it sounds. Plus, it’s so much less wasteful and much more eco-friendly, too. Since you can use it for years to come, it’ll save you plenty of pennies. An all-round winner.

Get Your Own Diva Cup Here

Teeki Clothing

If there’s one essential piece of clothing I always pack when I travel, it’s yoga pants. Of course, they’re pretty hand if you want to practice yoga on the road (duh), but they’re also the comfiest thing to wear on flights and long bus journeys, too. Teeki clothing are an awesome brand that makes yoga wear from recycled plastic bottles! Plus, the designs are so cute and fun that you’ll want to wear them every day.

See the Full Line Here

Eagle Creek Packing Cubes

It seems like everyone and their granny is raving about packing cubes these days so I decided to get on the bandwagon too. As you know, I’m a huge advocate for travelling with just a carry-on and these make packing (and life in general) so much easier.

I decided to invest in a set from Eagle Creek because they’re committed to making high quality, long lasting and sustainable products with materials that are kind to the environment. In our capitalist world, the best way to see a change is to vote with your dollars/pounds/rupees/yen etc. That all starts with supporting companies who have the same ethical outlook as you. Do your homework before you buy!

You Can Shop Eagle Creek Packing Cubes Here

Osprey Farpoint 40

Much like Eagle Creek, Osprey is a company with the same virtues and ethics as me. When I bought a new backpack last year, I did my homework and went for Osprey. Why?  They are renowned for making high-quality bags and luggage that won’t break on the road. Plus, they offer their customers a lifetime guarantee, are committed to using sustainable materials and strive to limit waste in production.

I love my Farpoint 40 because it’s the perfect carry-on size meaning I don’t need to pay for checked baggage. Plus, it’s small frame encourages me to pack less than I would in a larger bag. (Meaning less carbon emissions on flights!) Loads of travel bloggers and digital nomads swear by this bag, and after my trial run with it in India, I can understand why.

Shop All Osprey Products Here

PB Travel Bamboo Eye Mask and Blanket

Eye masks are a legit lifesaver for me when I want to get a bit of sleep on a bus or plane. Actually, I love them so much I even sleep with one at home! This travel set comes with a blanket and is made 100% from Bamboo, making it completely degradable. Bonus points for being slimline and lightweight meaning you don’t need to worry about it taking up too much room!

Read more about the Bamboo Mask Set Here!

So, there you go. These are the eco-friendly products that I encourage you to use if you want to be a bit more green when you travel. Is there anything else that you love to travel with? Leave me a comment and let me know all about it! I’m always on the lookout for more green travel products so give me your recommendations.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. However, all opinions are my own.