The holidays always come with plenty of baggage, be it the cabin-fever family reunion variety or the kind you check at the airport for an additional $30. You’re on your own with drunk Uncle Al, but with Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner, let’s check out some eco-friendly luggage to make your holiday travels less detrimental to the environment, and just maybe your sanity.
The rules of green travel dictate the less luggage, the better. Bringing fewer bags will not only save you money, it will reduce your carbon footprint, since less fuel is consumed transporting your stuff. Many airlines are now offering carbon offsets for your air travel, so why not offset your luggage’s travel too?
Carbon emissions aside, what’s all the fuss about a few bags? Unbeknownst to most of us, luggage can be surprisingly toxic. Chromium and PVC are commonly used in luggage manufacturing, two toxic chemicals that off-gas carcinogens. (Learn which houseplants can help clear those gases out of your home.) Hard plastics and synthetic materials also make a durable suitcase, but there is such thing as too durable, as three quarters of the bags won’t break down in a landfill.
As with almost any item, the most eco-friendly solution is to buy used and prevent new materials from being consumed. Before you go out and buy a bag for holiday travel, search Craigslist and thrift stores first.
You don’t have to buy a used product to get a recycled one, either. Check out Abundant Earth’s selection of recycled rubber tire totes and backpacks. For larger luggage, Heys International’s EcoCase line is made from 100 percent recycled plastic.
In lieu of a synthetic suitcase, eco travelers can opt for hemp luggage. You may get some strange looks on your business trip, but this naturally durable fiber biodegrades and isn’t treated with chemicals. Try the Ecolution Exploration Bag or browse both duffels and wheeled options from Sativa Bags.
Although synthetic, nylon is eventually biodegradable as well, so long as it’s not chemically waterproofed. Patagonia offers a wide variety of nylon luggage and has a strong commitment to the environment.
If you’re looking for luggage this season, pick out one of these environmentally friendly options that will put at least one small corner of your mind at ease. Travel safe, travel green and happy holidays!
Source: BecauseAction.com
