Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Written by Katrina Sirotta for Stacker.com. Click here to read the article.
It’s the night before a big trip. You’ve got your luggage packed, and your reusable cutlery and bags are tucked safely in your carry-on. The next day, you take public transportation to the airport, and after getting through security, you beeline it to the nearest coffee kiosk. There, you present the barista with your collapsible travel mug and reusable water bottle to fill. As you sip your latte and eat oatmeal with your stainless steel spoon, you start researching places to explore, seeking out farm-to-table restaurants and local markets.
In a world where convenience is king, it’s easy to take advantage of to-go containers and packaged goods. Large corporations have made us dependent on disposable plastics, and a mere 20 companies are responsible for producing more than 50% of single-use plastics that end up in landfills around the world. As a result, 8 million tons of plastic is dumped into the ocean each year. The pollution this causes can threaten wildlife, alter ecosystems, and pose risks to human health. A 2018 WWF report shows that every summer tourists account for a 40% spike in marine litter entering the Mediterranean Sea, meaning consumers do still have an impact on the environment as a whole.
Thankfully, there are manageable ways to combat that pollution and help keep Mother Earth healthy. Bounce compiled five simple ways for the modern traveler to engage in food sustainability. In addition to helping save the planet, these methods are also more affordable in the long run and can reduce clutter, which is something we could all use while traveling.
