It’s easy to get into the reusable groove at home, but what about when you’re on the road (or flight)?

I recently traveled to Austin to run a half marathon. Although I packed my stainless steel water bottle for the trip, my carry on suitcase was essentially full with all of my other goods. Before starting our day, we wanted a quick breakfast on the run. Asking for a bagel and coffee ended up with this much waste:

Although we could have sat down at a restaurant, that would have wasted 1-2 hours for a simple breakfast.

So what’s a sustainable gal (or guy) to do? Although you could bring a stainless steel dining set, it’s not always practical to carry. Things in ‘to go’ convenience stores often are prepackaged, or employees may be used to a packaging method. Often times chains insist on ‘sanitation’ measures with extra plastic and paper packaging. I remember once a waitress brought a styrofoam container to the table (proactively) but wasn’t allowed to bring it back to the kitchen because it ‘hit the table’.

What do you think about traveling and packaging waste? Any changes you’ve made?

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Julie Hancher is the co-founder and Executive Director of Green Philly, an independent media organization making sustainability accessible, affordable and actionable. Since launching Green Philly in 2008, she has grown it from a passion project into a leading voice for local climate storytelling, pairing impactful journalism with community events and experiences. Julie is a frequent speaker on climate, media innovation and the future of local journalism, and is the creator of SustainPHL and EcoFair. Outside of Green Philly, you can find her hiking, biking, traveling, or exploring Philadelphia. View all posts by Julie Hancher