How to Have a Mindfully Sustainable Road trip

 

 

Road trips are a fun summer activity, but they’re even more fun when they’re when done mindfully. There are numerous ways that road trips can lead to polluting the environment, whether it’s the carbon emissions from your car or electronics as well as small steps you can take as an individual. With that being said, we’ve devised this list to help you and the environment out. With the summer months still in full swing, we thought it’d be a good idea to offer some simple tips and tricks for your next road trip.

1. Traveling plastic-free

Ditch the plastic water bottles by remembering to pack your reusable one. Although the travel-sized versions of your health and beauty products are 10x cuter because they’re so tiny, TSA will not stop you because this is a road trip. With that being said, bring your normal, full-sized products to cut down on irrelevant plastic.

2. Food on the move

This also falls under the plastic-free category because the packaging from the tempting snacks at the gas station will end up in a landfill, but your own packaging for your own snacks will not. Create your own trail mix with groceries from a local farmers market, pick up some healthy fruit, or make some sandwiches with fresh bread and your favorite preserves instead of stopping to buy some fast food.

3. Covering your carbon footprint

Bring your car to an auto shop before you start your journey. Did you know that a dirty air filter can reduce your car’s fuel efficiency by 20 percent? Did you also know that tires that aren’t fully inflated can drop your miles per gallon rate? With that being said, you should get your car looked at before packing your bags. Not to mention that vehicle which is properly maintained can have a much longer lifetime. Carpooling or traveling with friends in one car instead of bringing two cars is another way to cover your carbon footprint

4. Young passengers on board

We all can remember those childhood road trips that seem to last for ages…Yet there are many ways in which youthful enthusiasm and energy can be positively channeled on the journey. Whether that means taking a detour, stumbling across a picturesque small town, singing along to the local radio stations, or playing a game of iSpy as you cruise to your destination. Not only are road trips a great bonding and memorable experience, but traveling with children or other passengers on board is a good way to share knowledge about sustainability and respecting our environment. 

5. What to wear

If we are driving, eating, packing, and living eco-friendly, then it only makes sense that we should also be dressing eco-friendly. Natural materials, particularly linen like the fabric found in our Editha kimono offer a breathable and lightweight addition to your packing list. Linen is moister wicking and fully biodegradable, It will keep you cool and comfortable whether you’re in the air-conditioned car or stopping by the side of the road to take in the gorgeous view of the ocean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cover image courtesy of ffbhair