Toxic-free on the Road: How To Avoid BPA & Other Toxic Chemicals When Traveling

This article was written in collaboration with IFC in an effort to inform and provide safer travel products for current and future parents

Traveling is a way to detoxify the soul. Replace toxic chemicals that can contaminate your travel experience with natural alternatives. We’ve put together a list of tips and tricks to help!

Dining and Shopping

Food Containers

• Pack your own food for the plane or train. Avoid plastic food packaging and enjoy your own healthy meals and snacks for the road!

• Carry empty food containers with you for leftovers.

• Containers we love

  • Million Marker (especially our Kitchen Detox Kit)

  • Gaia Guy

  • Blue Water Bento

  • Package Free Shop

Utensils and Straws

• Pack reusable utensils and straws in a cloth pouch to bring with you everywhere!

• Remember to (politely) ask for no straws when you dine in or order out

• Utensils we love

  • Million Marker (especially our Kitchen Detox Kit)

  • Marley’s Monsters

  • Package Free Shop

• Straws we love

  • Million Marker (especially our Kitchen Detox Kit)

  • Fillgood

  • Marley’s Monsters

  • Hummingbird

  • Package Free Shop

Cups

• Carry a reusable cup to avoid using plastic cups, plastic-lined paper cups and plastic lids.

• Cups we love

  • Stojo

  • GoCup

Water bottles

• Carry a reusable water bottle. Stainless steel water bottles are lightweight, durable, and easy to clean.

• Filtering water bottles can help filter bacteria, microplastics, chlorine, and other chemicals and impurities from water.

• Water bottles we love

  • Search for water bottles from our Million Marker Approved Products!

• Filtering water bottles

  • Brita

  • Grayl

Receipts

Cash register receipts can contain BPA. When shopping, remember to ask for a digital receipt or no receipt at all!

Personal care products

• Pack travel-sized portions of your own personal care products, using reusable bottles like the GoToob.

• Reuse glass jars and aluminum tins to hold anything from shampoo to lip balm!

• Bring your own hair combs, razors, toothbrushes, and shower caps, as opposed to using the single-use plastic hotel options.

• Aluminum boxes, organic produce bags or silicone food storage bags are great for packing toiletries!

• Avoid single-use wipes. Use natural hand sanitizer and reusable cotton cloth wipes.

• Flip flops and slippers may be made of toxic PVC plastic. Bring your own non-plastic footwear.

• Sleep masks are usually synthetic and may contain toxic chemicals. Try an organic cotton or silk eye mask instead.

• Pack enough safe period products for the duration of your trip. Many period products contain toxic chemicals. Bring your own toxic-free and reusable alternatives!

• Toxic-free product options:

  • Compact hair combs and brushes

    • Brush with Bamboo

    • Redecker

  • Stainless steel razors

    • Albatross

    • Leaf Shave Co.

    • Well Kept

    • Zomchi

  • Oral care

    • Search our Million Marker Approved Products for toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss

  • Hand sanitizers and cleaning cloths

    • Elevated Hand Sanitizer

    • Anato Hand Sanitizer

    • Dr. Bronner’s Hand Sanitizer

    • EO Hand Sanitizer

    • Marley’s Monsters cotton cloths

  • Sleep masks

    • Thought Organic Cotton Eye Mask

    • MLE Silk Eye Mask

    • Coyuchi Organic Sateen Eye Mask

    • YALA Silk Eye Mask

  • Period products

    • Sustain

    • LOLA

    • NatraCare

    • Oi

    • Rael

    • Veeda

    • Aisle

    • Glad Rag

    • Lunette