The Ultimate Packing Guide for an Eco-Friendly Summer Holiday

When it comes to planning a holiday, it’s exciting deciding what to do, where you’ll go and of course, what you’re going to wear. 

But for those of us that are eco-conscious, making good choices when it comes to our travel wardrobe can be a serious challenge. From buying too much, to making rash decisions about things that you end up never wearing, there are a lot of ways that your pre-holiday shopping can end up causing harm to the planet. Eek!

We get it, it’s not always easy to be sustainable, especially when there’s a lot of other things going on. 

That’s why we’ve created this handy guide to help you feel as laid back about your pre-holiday planning as you’re going to when you get to your destination. 

Through prioritising pre-loved and making easy eco-friendly choices it ‘s easy to minimise waste, reduce your carbon footprint and even save some of your hard-earned pounds - why not use them to buy a cocktail on the beach to say well done?

If you have the organising bug, check out how to detox your wardrobe, or how your shopping habits can impact the ocean. 

Sustainable Summer Holiday Shopping 

It’s easy to feel the pressure to buy new things for upcoming trips, but if you want to be a sustainable and savvy traveller, it’s important to not make unnecessary purchases just for the sake of it.

That’s why our first step for sustainable packing is to actually take stock of what you have in your wardrobe before you head out on a haul.

How to shop your own wardrobe

Fight the urge to panickedly plan a whole new set of outfits for your trip by putting things into perspective. Remember that this is only a few days or weeks of your actual life, and the memories you make are going to be far more important than whether or not your shoes matched your bag.

Buying things that you’re only going to wear once or twice before relegating them to the back of your wardrobe for a year is not sustainable, not to mention adding a lot of expense to your trip.

So block out an hour or two to get reacquainted with that back part of your wardrobe - you know, the bit you haven’t touched since your last summer trip? Unearth those practically-new beach accessories from summer holidays past, and remember what you loved about them the first time around.

If you’re anything like us, you’re bound to find a few forgotten favourites, and trying them on will be the perfect way to persuade yourself that you actually don’t need a full new wardrobe just to go to the beach.

This is a great time to think a bit more creatively about the things you wear everyday too. Gone are the days of the summer holiday wardrobe being totally separate from the rest of your clothes.

Favourite pair of shorts you wear to the gym? Perfect for lounging by the pool. Comfy trainers you love for long dog walks? Great for strolling around on your city break.

When we get out of the headspace that holiday clothes are just for holiday, and remind ourselves that we can probably wear a lot of what we wear at home, the shopping list immediately shrinks to nearly nothing.

And if there are things you honestly feel like you need for your summer holiday - or even things you just really want, then ask yourself if you’ll wear them for holidays to come, or they’ll be something you don’t really have the use for after this trip.

If the cost-per-wear of an item is basically its full price, is it really worth it?

Work out what you actually need for your trip

Now it’s time to be realistic about what you’ll actually be getting up to while you’re away.

This stops us from doing “aspirational” packing, and means we pack what we actually need.

Are you fantasising about glamorous evening wear, when in reality you know you’ll be taking the kids for beach-side pizza, and more likely to need scuba-gear than sparkles?

Or are you packing those uncomfortable sandals that - yes - do look good with your beach dress, but in reality give you a blister when you walk more than five minutes in them?

Giving yourself a bit of a guideline about what you think you’ll be up to means that you’re more likely to wear the things you take with you, and avoid carrying extra stuff across the planet (did you know that the carbon footprint of flying also includes your luggage weight?).

So now you’ve found last year’s summer holiday gear in your wardrobe, given yourself the pep-talk on being a realist, you’re ready to make your shopping list.

Before Going Shopping, Borrow From Friends

Not so fast! Before you hit the shops, it’s time for our favourite eco-holiday hack (because it’s free!)

Most of us completely forget that there is a huge pool of resources that we can tap into instead of buying things new - we’re talking about the things our friends and family own.

Most people are more than happy to lend you things from your shopping list, and you’ll be surprised how fun it can be.

We’ve borrowed everything from camping chairs to backpacks, and kaftans to snorkels, and love to lend our summer holiday gear to go on its own little adventure.

It’s not only a great way to save money (especially with things like adventure gear that can become expensive very quickly), but also promotes a sharing economy and reduces consumption.

Think of it this way - everyone you ask will be more likely to borrow instead of buying for their next trip - it’s a ripple effect.

You might even want to try connecting with your local community through social media groups or create a network of lending friends to share items and stories from your journeys. When the pennies are tight, you never know how grateful people might be.

Pack Versatile Essentials

How many times have you gone away with the idea that you’ll wear a whole new outfit for every day of your trip, but when you’ve arrived you end up wearing hardly any of it?

Once we kick back and unwind with a cocktail, our planning goes out the window - as it should.

Most of the time our holidays are spent in practical clothes as we hike around, or our favourite swimwear to catch those precious rays.

So how can we make sure we’re taking enough to not be caught unawares, but not buying unnecessary things that we aren’t even going to wear?

The secret is packing versatile items that can be worn for different occasions.

Our Favourite Versatile Packing Tips:

• Dresses made from light chiffons and silks can easily provide breezy beach layers and transform into evening outfits with the help of some choice jewellery and accessories. They pack down small and don’t crease - a win win when you’re travelling. 
• Tencel is another great breathable alternative to cotton or linen that doesn’t crease as easily.
• An oversized button down shirt can be worn as a cover up over swimwear, tied around your waist to cover up, or layered for chilly evenings.
• Choosing colours that go with each other will make it easier to pair things together, and stop you needing to bring multiples. Denim shorts, plain t-shirts and neutral colours are the versatile holiday dream. 
• You don’t need more than two pieces of swimwear per person. You just don’t.
• Instead of thinking in individual outfits, plan things that can be worn in multiple different ways throughout your trip, or be mixed and matched for different occasions.

Invest in Quality

When you’re choosing new things for your holiday, quality should be the most important factor. 

Investing in high-quality, durable pieces will ensure they’ll last longer, and reduce the need for frequent replacements.

Not to mention buying clothes and accessories that have been made with care means that they’re more likely to fit better and feel better on your skin - which is oh so important in the warm weather.

Buy Pre-loved Clothes and Accessories

Opting for pre-loved summer holiday clothes instead of buying brand new things means that you’re reducing the amount of new resources being used in production, and potentially even saving something from landfill.

From vintage shops to thrift stores, and online pre-loved platforms like ours, whatever your style, you can find pre-loved gems that ensure your holiday wardrobe is sustainable - even if you don’t wear things year-round. 

Plus you’ll save money, which means you can buy better quality things that will last for longer.

Avoid One-Wear Wonders:

Influencer culture has made it feel like you have to buy a different bikini for each day of your trip, or multiple pairs of shorts in different colours, but in reality this is an unsustainable way to shop, and just plain isn’t necessary.

If you know you’ll only wear something a handful of times - or even once - consider renting it, or wearing something you already have instead.

By resisting the urge to splurge on excessive clothing - especially fast fashion - you can dramatically minimise your waste and reduce your environmental impact.

Opt for timeless styles and versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched throughout your holiday, and worn in your everyday life too. Check out our guide to create your very own capsule wardrobe for our favourite tips on building a wardrobe that works for any occasion.

Take A Day Bag

A functional day bag is an essential travel item, and by having it with you, you can easily make sure you have everything you need to avoid unnecessary purchases and single use plastic while you’re out and about. 

When buying a new bag, opt for sustainable materials like organic cotton, natural fibres or recycled polyester, and take time to choose a design that suits your needs.

And at risk of sounding like a broken record… actually we don’t care about repeating ourselves - why not buy pre-loved instead of new!

Sustainable Travel Packing List: Toiletries

So now you’ve got your sustainable outfits covered, what about the rest of your packing?

Toiletries are one of the easiest things to make sustainable swaps on for your holiday. In general, it’s best to opt for eco-friendly alternatives whenever possible, but it’s better to use up what you have first than to buy new things - even if they are better alternatives.

The sustainable traveller should avoid buying travel-sized toiletries at all costs. Yes, we know they’re charming and cute, but because of their size, recycling facilities struggle to recycle the bottles, so the majority go to landfill, even if the plastic could theoretically be reused. And because they’re used so quickly, that means a heck of a lot more waste than is necessary.

Especially when the solution is an easy one. Buying reusable containers (or better yet, repurposing ones you already have from products that have run out) can be a simple sustainable swap that means your holiday toiletries are no longer causing unnecessary waste.

And as a bonus, you get to decant your own full-size favourites into your bottles and take them away with you, meaning your hair and skin care routine can stay happily in-tact.

Opt for glass or metal containers instead of plastic if you can.

You might also consider buying solid shampoo and conditioner bars, which last a lot longer, and are completely plastic free, and swapping out disposable make-up wipes or cotton pads for reusable ones.

We won’t tell you to Google “fatbergs” but if you haven’t heard of them, we think they’ll be enough to put you off single-use wipes for life.

What Else Can We Do for a Sustainable Summer Holiday?

There’s so many easy ways to make your summer holiday more sustainable. These are a few of our favourite tips to make sure you minimise your impact for a planet-friendly break.

• Take reusable cutlery and a water bottle on your day trips to avoid using single-use plastics. 
• In countries where you aren’t sure about water quality, opt for a purifying bottle like this one from LARQ for ultimate peace of mind.
• Bringing your own food containers means you can avoid wasting food, and bring your own eco-friendly snacks with you.
• Take reusable straws with you if you know you’re going somewhere for drinks, so you don’t need to use plastic ones. Unfortunately lots of countries haven’t swapped them out for sustainable solutions yet, so it’s better to bring your own, just in case.
• Check the weather forecast before you travel, so you avoid overpacking, and don’t end up having to buy items that you already have at home - hopefully you won’t need a raincoat, but you never know.
• All sunscreen isn’t actually eco-friendly, so look out for the “Reef Safe” stuff so that your dip in the sea doesn’t upset the marine ecosystem.

Conclusion

We could go on and on about how to make your holiday more eco-friendly, but our best advice is to find out what works for you, and take small steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle, whether you’re home or away.

By packing consciously, avoiding unnecessary shopping sprees, embracing borrow culture and making eco swaps on your everyday items, you’re well on your way to a much more sustainable trip.

Happy travels!