South Sawyer Glacier, Alaska, June 2019 // According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska’s glaciers are losing 75 billion tons of ice annually and contributing the global sea level rise. 

To celebrate Earth Day, I wanted to share some tips for how to buy eco-friendly travel gear that’s good for the planet and doesn’t break the bank. In 2018, there were 17 tons of textile waste generated in the U.S. and nearly 66% of it ended up in a landfill! Here’s five tips to make eco-friendly purchasing choices and reduce waste sent to landfills: 

1. Buy Used Gear

Last October, REI launched their used gear program. They sell used gear online at a significant discount and their co-op members get store credit for trading in items. (An REI lifetime membership is just $20, and you get annual dividends on your purchases. It’s a great investment.) All items are labeled by condition from excellent, lightly worn and well worn.

Patagonia has a similar program called Worn Wear where you can purchase used gear or trade in for credit for both new or used gear. Both programs keep clothes out of landfills and save you 50% off the retail price. Plus, excellent condition items are often just brand new items!

Near LeConte Glacier, Southeast Alaska // When I’m running photo trips in Alaska (for a carbon neutral company), I wear Marmot’s rain gear. They make quality gear and earned my loyalty after replacing a jacket I’d worn around the world for years under warranty. (FYI: This is not an ad.)

2. Repair Programs and Lifetime Warranties

One of the biggest mistakes I made when I first started traveling was not investing in quality travel clothing and gear. The high cost scared me away. It took me years to learn that investing in quality items from companies that offer lifetime warranties to either fix or replace an item was a better long-term investment for my bank account.

Repairing items extends their life and keeps them out of the dumpster. Plus, the combination of both repairing and replacing items under warranty saves you money. Here are a few of my favorite brands and the items they replaced: Osprey Packs has fixed two of my backpacks and replaced one. Marmot replaced my PreCip rain jacket when the lining started to rip.  (For the 20th anniversary of this jacket, Marmot released the PreCip Eco Jacket made with 100% recycled nylon!) Patagonia replaced a pair of thermals that were unraveling at a seam the day before a big trip! Keen replaced my hiking boots when they started to come apart at the toe. All of these brands have earned my loyalty for life for standing by their products. Plus, I’m pretty tough on gear since I travel nonstop.

3. Recycled Clothing

Outdoor companies including The North Face, Patagonia and Copotaxi have programs that allow you to buy gear made from recycled materials. This ranges from jackets to bags. Each item has a unique color scheme so no two items will be identical! Each company accepts their items for recycling as well to be included in the program.

Clothing brands like Levi’s, Madewell, Zara & H&M offer clothing recycling options usually in exchange for a coupon. (You bring in a bag of clothes to recycle and get a coupon.) A large percentage of donated items to places like Goodwill end up in landfills so recycling can be a better option in some cases. This NPR story digs into the details.

 Misty Fjord, Southeast Alaska

4. Research Sustainability Practices

The best place to start researching a company’s environmental practices is their website! Almost every single outdoor clothing manufacturer has a sustainability section on their site that digs into their practices ranging from sourcing materials to labor to packaging. Another great tool is the brand dictionary by a non-profit called Remake that rates companies by their environmental impact.

Also, check to see if companies contribute to initiatives like 1% For the Planet, where members donate at least one percent of their sales to environmental causes. Focus on supporting companies that care about the planet.

5. Product Packaging

The packaging is just as important as the product itself. PrAna makes my favorite hiking pants and has one of the best responsible packaging movements. Starting in the fall of 2021, their packaging will be 100% plastic free. They use roll packaging with recyclable raffia ties. Their mailing envelopes are all brown paper. Patagonia also uses brown paper mailing envelopes.

Be sure to recycle all packaging material. Plastic mailing bags can be recycled at many stores including Target and supermarkets like Publix or Food Lion. I haven’t bought a mailing envelope in years because I just reuse ones I’ve gotten in the mail. I suggest you do the same. 

I use Peak Design’s quick connecting slide camera strap and the aluminum lightweight travel tripod that folds up to a the size of a water bottle! (They also make a carbon fiber one!)

Eco-Friendly Camera Bags, Tripods & Straps 

This month, Peak Design, my favorite camera bag and accessory company, just launched their new Peak Design Marketplace to allow people to both buy and sell used Peak Design gear easily. The site allows you to sell directly to the owner with no middle men, and all sales are 100% carbon neutral. The company’s lifetime guarantee covers both new and used products! They make my favorite camera strap and lightweight travel tripod! There’s no better way to buy quality camera accessories on a budget!

How to Get the Best Deals

Since both quality and sustainably made clothing aren’t cheap, there are ways to find good deals on gear. End of season sales are the best time to get deals. Winter items on clearance right now (during the month of April). I got a Marmot raincoat for half price ($50) on a clearance rack at REI one spring! I always plan ahead for what I need so I can buy it during holiday sales like Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day or Thanksgiving/Christmas.

Cashback apps and websites like Rakuten also help. Rakuten is a website and browser plug-in that offers cash back when you shop at over 2,500 websites from stores to hotels! Every three months your cash back is deposited to your PayPal. Get a $25 bonus for joining and spending $25 using one of their links!

For more ways to be an eco-friendly traveler, check out this previous blog post!

*Please note that some affiliate links are used in this post. If you make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no cost to you, which goes toward the cost of maintaining this blog. If you would like to support this blog and are ready to make a purchase, these links are one way to show your support. I only recommend products and companies I truly love and use. Please email me with any questions.