Reusables SO Pretty You'll Never Forget to Pack Them

If you’ve visited my site before, then you already know what I’m about: experiencing all our wonderful planet has to offer in the eco-friendliest way possible -- and whenever possible, I love to do it in style. One of the best ways to leave no trace in the destinations we visit is to replace commonly-used single-use products with reusable ones to avoid that paper (or rather, plastic) trail of waste we often leave behind when we venture from the comfort of our homes.

I don’t have to tell most of you that the human habit of relying on single-use plastic products is destroying the planet we love to explore. The production of all this plastic is polluting our atmosphere and the irresponsible disposal of plastic into our oceans has a domino effect of consequences. Each year, 8 million metric tons of plastic get deposited in our oceans killing wildlife, depleting our food sources and more.

If you haven’t stocked up on your reusables yet, it might just be that you haven’t found the bottle, bag or coffee cup to suit your style. So, I put together a list of reusable products so aesthetically pleasing you will not only make them a staple for every trip, you’ll feel chic as hell every time you use them.

Sowden Bottle - Staying hydrated while traveling is an absolute must, so packing a reusable water bottle is a no-brainer. I love the color of these stylish, stainless steel bottles. My favorite, of course, is pink! The bottles work equally well for hot and cold beverages, and come in 12 oz and 17 oz sizes.

Stojo Collapsible Cup - When talking about packing must-haves and travel tips one of the reasons (ahem excuses) for not packing reusable products I hear all the time is that it “adds to much bulk,” or “I don’t have room.” Well, lament no more. Stojo makes a dishwasher-safe, BPA-free, COLLAPSIBLE coffee cup that shrinks down so you can slip it in your purse, backpack, pocket, etc. They come in sizes comparable to most coffee shops - 8 oz, 12 oz, 16 oz and 24 oz.

Worthbuy Cutlery Set - The next time you’re wandering a farmer’s market or seeking out the best street food in your destination of choice, don’t be caught using plastic utensils -- whip out this adorable stainless steel cutlery set (from an adorable matching case, I might add). This set is not only chic AF, but also TSA-approved since it doesn’t include a knife. You’ll have to use the spoon for spreading, but achieving the double-whammy of cute and eco-friendly is so worth it.

Hummingbird Glass Straws - It isn’t news that Straws. Are. Bad. Hence, their disappearance from restaurants and coffee shops -- and rightly so. But, if you’re a straw die-hard who hates drinking directly out of restaurant cups (because, germs), then at least pack the cutest straws ever. Hummingbird Glass Straws are made from borosilicate glass, which is stronger than normal glass and can withstand very hot and very cold drink temperatures. They’re also BPA-free and shatter resistant. Hummingbird also offers Whimsical Straws, so you can accessorize based on your destination (the Hawaiian Hibiscus straw is my personal fave).

Closca Hands-Free Water Bottle - These water bottles are as sexy as they are convenient. Their patented braceable system keeps them attached to your purse or backpack straps for easy, hands-free access while sight-seeing. They are BPA-free and the brand has an app that locates the nearest water-filling stations so you never go thirsty! 10 percent of each purchase is also donated to a beach conservation NGO.

STATE Women’s Backpacks - “But how will I carry all this stuff?” you ask. In a vegan, fair trade backpack that’s stylish as all get out, of course! STATE backpacks are all of these things, and for each backpack purchased, STATE delivers one filled with school supplies to a child in need, backing (get it?) its mission to teach kids about kindness and helping others.

Travel, Editor's PicksBonnie CulbertsonJanuary 1, 2020products, plastic1 Comment