Plastic pollution and global warming are serious international problems that affect us all and it is imperative that we start to prioritise protecting our environment over our own convenience.
Having spent so much time in Asia, where, according to National Geographic, 50% of all plastic is made, I have seen the heartbreaking effects first hand (demonstrated in the photo above) and it compelled me to make some drastic changes.
Over time, I have been able to alter my living to being 99% plastic free. I say 99% because being vegan and travelling by bicycle means that sometimes, very occasionally, I have to buy things like rice, nuts or noodles from a market so that I don’t starve in remote places (I know, totally unacceptable!). And sometimes, no matter how thoroughly I explain that I don’t want plastic using English, the local language and through showing my plastic free container/solution, I still end up with plastic!
Don’t get me wrong, it is challenging; I don’t enjoy being the ‘difficult one’ that confuses or even unintentionally upsets the local vendor or shop assistant (because they think they’ve done something wrong) but I have to be because even though that sole interaction won’t change their view, when the next five or ten or fifty people also make the same firm requests and show they’re unhappy to be served a plastic bag or a plastic straw then maybe they will start to rethink what they’re serving their customers and WHY. This domino effect will eventually reach the global conglomerates that really have the ability to alter the market and make a wider difference.
Near the peak of Kasi Mountain, Laos
Here are some shocking facts for you:
❗️Every single day 8 millionpieces of plastic find their way into our oceans.
❗️100,000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million sea birds are killed by marine plastic pollution annually.
❗️Did you know that it takes 2,400 gallons of water to produce 1 pound (0.45kg) of meat?! By abstaining from eating just 1 pound of meat, you’d save more water than if you didn’t shower for six months.
❗️You eat thousands of bits of plastic every year – it is estimated that we may be consuming between 39,000 and 52,000 microplastic particles per year by consuming products such as seafood, sugars, salt and beer. It’s even in our water. You can read this in more detail here.
❗️There is more micro plastic in the ocean than there are stars in the Milky Way.
(I have also listed some additional shocking statistics at the bottom of this article for those that would like to read more.)
It can be challenging to make the switch over to a plastic free lifestyle but the reality is that once you get going, it’s actually pretty simple. By committing to doing this, you will contribute to changing the patterns of consumerism which can pressurise the ‘big fish’ to make significant changes too.
Read my guide about how to embrace zero waste living whilst travellingincluding details of my plastic free kit and best environmental travel tips for information and inspiration on adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Otherwise, thank you for reading. Please do help to share and spread the word as far and wide as possible.
The time to act is now.
Be sure to check out one of the amazing charities that I’m cycling and fundraising for, Friends of the Earth, for extra help, advice and news on how we can come together to save this planet.
Peace✌🏼
More shocking stats:
❗️Less than one fifth of all plastic waste is recycled globally.
❗️Microplastics have now been found embedded in Artic Ice.
❗️About 8% of the world’s oil production is used to make plastic and power the manufacturing of it. That figure is projected to rise to 20% by 2050.
❗️Every six seconds, an acre of rainforest is cut down for cattle farming – that’s around 14,400 acres every single day. If you haven’t already heard the heartbreaking news that’s going on right now in the Amazon (the rainforest that produces 20% of Earth’s oxygen), mass areas are being cleared and burned intentionally for animal agriculture. You can read about it here.
❗️Plastic pollution can now be found on every single beach in the world, inhabited or not.
Below I’ve detailed everything from my kit to all my eco-aware travel tips outlining how I’ve managed to incorporate zero waste living into my everyday even whilst cycling from Vietnam to England as a solo vegan female.
I hope the below advice helps you to make some better environmental choices and I would be happy to answer any questions if you’d like some extra help!
♻️ Lifestraw Go2 Stage water filtration bottle (allowing you to drink from ANY water source and with every purchase, a child in need receives safe water for an entire school year! If you are based in Europe, you can purchase yours here.)
💚 Bar of shampoo (eco friendly, vegan shampoos are widely available online or via retailers such as Lush Cosmetics. My latest one was purchased from It’s Going Green, Bangkok)
💚 Bar of conditioner (eco friendly, vegan conditioners are widely available online or via retailers such as Lush Cosmetics. My latest one was purchased from It’s Going Green, Bangkok)
💚 Bar of body soap (eco friendly, vegan soaps are widely available online or via retailers such as Lush Cosmetics. My latest one was purchased from It’s Going Green, Bangkok)
💚 Bamboo cotton buds (widely available online, my latest box were purchased from It’s Going Green, Bangkok)
💚 Klein Bamboo toothbrush (widely available, my latest one was purchased from It’s Going Green, Bangkok)
💚 Toothpaste tabs (Cheww.co product purchased from It’s Going Green, Bangkok. However these are quite expensive, please let me know if you know of a cheaper alternative!)
🍴 Eat local produce where you can. Importing goods is carbon costly and uses additional packaging which can be avoided when you purchase from local market sellers.
🍴 Cut/reduce your consumption of meat and dairy. Animal agriculture is the biggest contributor to global warming – a whopping 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions, more than the combined exhaust from all transportation.
🍴 Buy cans instead of bottles. I understand what it’s like to ‘need’ a cold drink! Plus, in a growing number of regions, you have amazing companies like CanO Water that can provide you with on-the-go water in fully recyclable and resealable cans for when you’re caught without your reusable bottle!
ANIMALS/MARINE LIFE
🐢 DO NOT PAY INTO ANIMAL EXPLOITATION. This is not natural or ethical. Wild animals are meant to be wild and introducing them to humans is not only damaging for the animal(s) in question, but also to the ecosystem. By visiting or paying into animal tourism, you condone that behaviour which keeps the trade going. When no one will ride these people’s elephants or watch a show featuring orcas, the businesses will fail.
🐢 When snorkelling or scuba diving, be aware of the corals and reef. Not only is it seriously damaging but it can actually harm you too.
ZERO WASTE
♻️ When caught without your zero waste kit, discipline yourself between WANT and NEED. For example, when I didn’t have a cup with me and I’d want a smoothie, I’d just go without instead of using plastic – simply, my value for the environment is more of a priority than my desire for a smoothie. Another tip would be to insist about not using plastic and the vendor (if they can) will do everything to find you an alternative solution so that they can still sell you their product.
♻️ If you don’t have a water filter, take a bottle into local shops and ask if you can refill your water. Pretty much every place in Asia will have a giant filtered water refill tank in their house/shop for the family to use. Most will oblige for free (water is very cheap) but if they sell water and point to the plastic option, explain that you are happy to pay the same as what you would for a plastic bottle, you just don’t want plastic. This also helps to educate which is great!
♻️ Pick up rubbish where you can, every little helps.
♻️ Politely point out to others things they might be able to do. Sometimes this can feel a bit uncomfortable but people often just don’t think about what’s wrong with using plastic until it’s mentioned. By asking someone sitting one table over from you if they wouldn’t mind reusing their straw for their next drink instead of getting a new one, you plant a seed in a nice way for them to think about their plastic usage.
♻️ UPCYCLE! We live in a time where we are so used to just throwing things away and getting a newer ‘better’ version. Upcycling is not only great for the environment but also incredibly rewarding. You can get creative with it too! A simple upcycled product I have in my plastic free kit is the use of an old tea tin I got from a coffee shop in Bangkok. It holds all my soap bars, I made the workers at the shop smile and I didn’t have to spend a penny! 🙂
A small beach cleanup I organised when visiting Gecko Hostel in Vung Tau
WATER AND ELECTRICITY
💧Turn off the lights and unplug your appliances when you don’t need them. You may be in a hotel and don’t have to pay extra for the electricity, but our Earth does! (This also applies to being at home and there it saves you money!)
💧SAVE WATER! Have showers, not baths, and be speedy! If you are budget travelling you probably won’t have access to a bath anyway, but baths use a lot more water which our planet needs more than you do! Remembering to turn the tap off whilst brushing your teeth or washing your hair are also small positive changes.
💧Hand wash your clothes when you can. This saves money, water and electricity. Most hotels wash only your clothes in a machine at one time which is extremely wasteful. The washing tends to be a bit rubbish anyway so you may as well do it yourself!
TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS
🚲 Take flights as little as possible and use land travel alternatives. Many countries have very simple borders to cross and in places like South East Asia, border crossings are relatively pain free. Always look out for (and stand up to!) corruption as this is commonplace amongst developing communities. Politely refusing and standing your ground (without making a scene) will usually allow you to surpass this issue. If you do need to fly, try to book a direct flight because taking off and landing is the most environmentally damaging part of the process.
🚲 Use local transport, walk or ride a bicycle more. Walking and riding a bicycle is especially great because it’s not just great for the planet but also your own health. I know cars can feel convenient but look at travelling this way as your journey, your meditation and your exercise.
🚲 Don’t abandon your toiletries. It’s a waste of money, plastic and product. If you are fortunate enough to have to think about this ‘problem’ of taking your products home, donate them to someone local who would appreciate them.
🚲 When booking excursions, invest your money into eco-tourism. Ask where your money goes…do they employ local guides? Do they preserve the environment? How do they source and cater food for those on the tour (i.e. using disposable plastic to serve)? Does their business model support the local community in a sustainable way?
SHOPPING
🛍 Purchase clothes or items from local markets or second hand shops. This helps to stop fast fashion, puts money into the hands of the local community and helps to recycle useful materials.
🛍 Avoid environmentally damaging products. The two biggies that spring to mind are sanitary waste and wet/baby wipes. There are great alternatives that do not get flushed into our oceans such as a menstrual cup, reusable sanitary towels and facial cleansers.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
✅ When you see something damaging, sharing that with others to raise awareness of these issues is extremely important. Use your social platforms and help to promote positive social trends such as #saynotoplastic #drasticonplastic #savetheplanet #climatecrisis
✅ If you have time, enquire as to whether you can help a local cleanup organisation. Sharing this on your social media inspires others too.
Here are some snaps from the recent cleanup I got to take part in thanks to Trash Hero in Koh Samet, Thailand. In just a few hours six of us managed to collect 90kg of recycling and 40kg of rubbish. They operate throughout South East Asia so check out their website to see where you could help if you’re passing through!
Learn how to say ‘I don’t want plastic’ in the language of the country you’re visiting. (If you want to be thorough, learn how to say ‘plastic is bad for the environment’ too.)
STEP TWO
Gesture like crazy – repeat the words and point at the plastic you’re referring to signalling some kind of ‘no’ sign.
STEP THREE
Show your zero waste alternative and act out that you would like the product/food/drink in your own container rather than their plastic option.
STEP FOUR
Repeat and keep an eye out for any additional plastic they might serve (i.e. when ordering a smoothie in your own cup, they might give you a straw once they’ve poured the smoothie). Be ready to interrupt and prevent this.
STEP FIVE
Explain why you didn’t want plastic to the best of your ability. Use Google Translate as necessary.
EXTRA NOTE: if someone serves you plastic by mistake, take the time to explain why that was wrong calmly and clearly. The issue is in a lack of education and understanding so following up with this is probably more valuable and impactful than not using one piece of plastic.
At Chatuchak Market, Bangkok with grass boats and reusable spoons as a plastic alternative.
Please check out Friends of the Earth, one of the wonderful charities I am fundraising for. They have details of other ways you can help to protect our environment including supporting a new plastic law and you can learn more about the incredible work they are doing to help fight climate change.
I really hope this post has helped you with some useful tips on how to introduce some positive environmental changes into your lifestyle. If you’ve enjoyed reading and learned something new, please share this to help others benefit from it too 🙂
Let me start this story by reminding you of the ‘muddy mare‘ I had just endured the day before to give part two of my Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng journey some context. Walking through 30km of muddy hills in 40 degree heat is hard enough, but when you’re hauling a bike (on road tyres) and 30kg of luggage with you, it begins to feel like there are little angry gnomes inside your muscles that have united in strike causing your body to shut down and refuse to move or function.
Even though I knew I had a seriously challenging mountain ahead of me, getting out of bed at 4:30am to get a good start on the day was not physically possible. 7am was the best I could do and I still had to pry my gammy eyes open whilst giving myself a pathetic excuse of a pep talk just to bring myself to a standing position – the day was going to be a literal uphill battle. On the bright side, the roads were good quality, the Laotian nature made for some insanely stunning scenery and the weather could’ve been a lot worse but it was still one of the most challenging climbs I’ve ever taken on…
By the time I’d reloaded my bike and got myself something to eat at a nearby restaurant, I didn’t leave until 9am which any cyclist would tell you, during Summer in SE Asia, is mistake number one of the day. When you’re travelling in a country with an exceptionally hot climate, getting up for sunrise and tackling some serious kilometres before the peak of the day is your best form of defence. And on this occasion, I had failed miserably!
My legs struggled on the initial couple of kilometres of flat land intentionally ignoring the mammoth task that was yet to come. The problem was, I didn’t get enough ‘warm up’ kilometres before I was slapped in the face with my first giant incline. Within just ten minutes I was at the foot of a road so steep that I felt like I was cycling vertically, especially with a rear-heavy load. Once I’d tackled the first corner to see that there was so much more, I referred to my cycling app, Komoot, to check the elevation profile. It was then that I realised that this mountain had looked small because of the grandiosity of the bigger one – brilliant! I’d been warned about the dramatic declivity of Laotian mountains but none so far had been this painful (I’m literally reliving the self-pity!).
The previous day’s mud marathon had battered both my body and spirit and it took me more than three hours to move just 6km. I stopped what must’ve been every twenty metres nursing my pains with mango breaks until I finally reached the decline and I could feel the physical rush as I relaxed and let myself fly.
The sun was just about breaking through the dense clouds as I coasted through more than 10km of scenic flat ground before stopping for some food preparing me to tackle the giant mountain that was now directly ahead of me. I savoured each bite and swallowed my dread along with my last mouthful of veggie noodles, mounted my bike and made headway at 4pm. I knew there was no way I would make it to the peak today, but I decided to worry about where I was going to sleep later and just get on with making progress.
Straight in with a 15% incline, the first slope gave me an insight into what else I’d have to conquer. It took all the energy I could muster to get up just the first few kilometres passing what ended up being the only guesthouse I would see. As the sky darkened, I needed some more motivating – yep, another mango break. This time, I scoffed two whole mangoes in a desperate attempt to lift my energy levels which to be fair, it did. Luckily, the gorgeous mountain scenery helped to keep me motivated!
The sky darkened and began to growl at me so I got my arse into gear and made some (slow) progress. I passed a house with people outside and asked how much further until I could find somewhere to sleep. A Thai man spoke good English and offered to give me a lift to the top which I refused politely. The local who was with him said that I’d have another 5km of steep climbing until I reached somewhere to stay so I continued positively with haste as sunset was approaching fast.
Even during these tough times, there’s something especially beautiful about being caught at dusk in the mountains when the sky turns orange and pink and the final glimmers of light get your muscles energised and drive you forward.
It was already dark when I came to a couple of shacks where I could hear the sounds of voices coming from inside. Three men and two women sat eating and drinking. As I gestured about having somewhere to sleep, I pondered what their relationships were and that it was a little strange that they had no children. They made a space for me in one of the huts on a hard wooden surface with some blankets over the top which I showed my gratitude for.
Once I’d unloaded my bags, I showered using a barrel of water they had outside. There was no toilet, just the great outdoors. The people were friendly, one of the men a little overly friendly once he’d been drinking. I didn’t feel threatened, but he did try to make me eat meat and did try to force me to drink alcohol which made me feel uncomfortable.
This was a common feeling that I’d had whilst travelling in Laos. I had consistently seen just how much drinking was a part of their culture – especially for the men. I think it also reflects the level of poverty and huge economic divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ leaving people with not much else to do other than drink. Education (if you’re even able to access one) is poor at best in remote areas and these people are basically guaranteed to have no hope of ever getting more out of their lives. Cultural divides between ethnic minorities are also prevalent which are very clear to see; from village to village the atmosphere and your reception can change from being the warmest, friendliest and most welcoming to adults glaring next to their snarling kids throwing stones at you. A bit bizarre.
I woke up early to get moving fuelled by a handful of sticky rice. One of the men held out his hand so I paid 20,000 Kip (about £2) for them for taking me in.
I couldn’t lie, I was dreading continuing on this mountain – it was just SO HARD. So hard but spectacularly scenic. The first 7km of 13-20% inclines were brutal but I actually managed to ride most of it out instead of my previous hopeless pushing. The first ‘viewpoint’ that was marked at the peak of this 7km was disappointing and definitely disheartened me a little, especially as I knew I still had a long way to go to the real mountain pass. But 5km of downhill brought it back and put a big grin on my face as the wind cooled the layer of sweat all over me and I arrived at a large plateau that was home to a small village.
The plateau was such an unexpected surprise – beauty in every direction and endless streams of green. I couldn’t believe this vast, natural space was at the top of the torture road I’d just struggled up – it made it all worth it.
The centre of the village was based around large, square courtyard that had an entry gate accompanied by an unmanned security box. I rolled past the dog, who put up a little resilience, and opted for left, towards some school-like single level buildings. Some unfriendly men emerged who were unhelpful when I asked for where I could find food (I was starving!) told me I’d have to wait until I got to the top but reluctantly refilled my empty water bottles. It turned out it was a military base camp and they weren’t very welcoming to visitors. With low energy levels, I left and continued on to the final 8km drastic climb.
I did bump into two motorcyclists on the way, an Austrian and a Vietnamese guy who told me it was even hard for them to get up there! The self pity grew…! We took a moment to appreciate where we were together before getting back on my way…
The weather began to reflect how I felt – grey, stormy and growling just like my belly! Thunder and lightening cracked loudly directly above me and I knew I was in the eye of the storm; there was no cover, no safety – I had to move. I pushed with everything I had left to continue but the road was so steep, I was falling backwards trying to ride.
I saw a ledge and had to take a minute to rest from hauling my baby up the mountain. As I approached the ledge, I saw a heard of cows just near the edge. Before I knew it, they were running at me and I sprinted back to my bike to get out their way. They literally chased me up the mountain until I couldn’t continue anymore and I had to threaten them with my flagpole. I could just see the headline: ‘Vegan gets pushed off cliff by cows whilst cycling for happiness’, I chuckled through the fear and breathlessness that just propelled me forward 2kms.
By this stage, I was also wearing a bin bag as a windbreaker that I’d discovered at the edge of the road because I was freezing and the winds were picking up – yep, a great look! Somehow, the weather held out and I didn’t get drowned which was an absolute miracle. I was disappointed to then stumble across a giant rubbish mound which broke my heart being in such a remote and wonderfully natural surrounding but as I conquered the final kilometre, I didn’t have time to dwell on that as I felt water quickly expel from my eyes as I cried with joy that the ordeal was finally over.
Ready to catch this pure, genuine and emotional moment of exceptional joy and relief on camera, I grabbed my GoPro that was attached to my chest harness to capture the special moment. Then, in typical Hannah fashion and most epic way to conclude this never-ending journey, it slipped from my grip and within a split second, my moment of elation turned into a clumsy disaster as both me and the GoPro smashed into the floor. A car even drove slowly past to watch the show which helped in feeling ultimately pathetic!
Once I’d recovered from the emotional trauma, I felt the elation as I summited this never-ending peak. The view was incredible. Three tough days, scarce food and water, a lot of rain, Laos-y luck and a couple of injuries but I’d made it nonetheless and I was as proud as could be.
