Keep a travel kit of reusable dishes in your car
Last week my wife and I took a road trip to our son’s university graduation (sidebar: 2000 KM in an EV with no charging hitches). Most of our hotels included breakfast – a nice cost savings, but typically served entirely with disposable plates, bowls, coffee cups, juice cups and flatware. Ouch, what waste!
If you’re traveling and would like to say thumbs up to the free breakfasts but thumbs down to all the trash generated, here’s a simple tip: carry a small kit of reusable dishes in your car, and make a point of using them instead of disposables. It need not be complicated; all you need are:
- A bowl
- A plate
- A juice cup
- A coffee cup
- A fork, knife, cereal spoon and teaspoon
made of an unbreakable camp-worthy material for each person in your group. It’s also a good idea to include a few Tupperware containers for leftovers so you can avoid disposable takeout containers too.
True, it does mean you need to remember to bring the kit in to breakfast, and then wash it afterwards. But the upside is the huge amount of trash you can avoid once you’re in the habit – and hopefully the inspiration you’ll provide for others at breakfast!
So, this summer and always, carry a kit of dishes with you and enjoy trash-free travel!
Thanks to subscriber Karen B for sharing this tip a few years ago; it’s now firmly embedded into our family’s travel routine!
In the news:
In January, Advertising Standards Canada unanimously ruled that ads run by a group allied to the fossil fuel industry stating “B.C. LNG will reduce global emissions” were “misleading”, “without evidence” and “greenwashing”. So why are those ads still running now, wonders the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (as should we)?
Spearheaded by the London School of Economics and the University of Cambridge, over 400 UK climate change researchers sign an open letter calling on leaders of all UK political parties to pledge ambitious climate action in five key areas.
Did you know: eligible businesses installing solar and other renewable energy systems can receive a tax credit of up to 30% of the cost under Canada’s Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit?
Quotable
“As a band, and as an industry, we’re a long way from where we need to be on this. But we’re grateful for everyone’s help so far, and we salute everyone who’s making efforts to push things in the right direction.”
-Rock band Coldplay, announcing that the carbon footprint of their current tour is 59% lower than from their previous tour