We saw the planet react when the world shut down. For a short time, significantly fewer boats, planes, trucks, and cars disrupted the natural world, allowing wildlife to flourish. As the world starts to travel again, eco-conscious travelers can do their part to keep emissions low and minimize waste.

NXT-level Bio-Down Jacket

Retail Price: $599

Photo courtesy of Katmandhu

Australia’s Katmandhu.com offers sustainable and beautiful activewear, including the NXT-level Bio-Down jacket, which just won a 2022 ISPO award. The ISPO awards honor the most outstanding products and services in the sport and outdoor industries worldwide. Katmundhu’s jackets are biodegradable, meaning they won’t last long in a landfill after enjoying a long life. The company’s website notes that only one percent of textiles are recycled. Using bio-degradable material ensures that your coat won’t be moldering thousands of years from now. By looking at the end of their product’s life cycle, Kathmandu is working from the ground up to ensure that their products “do no harm.”

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Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack

Retail Price: $200

Photo courtesy of Cotopaxi

Ninety-four percent of the products made by Cotopaxi are made from repurposed, recycled, or responsible materials. By designing products that mitigate waste, Cotopaxi limits its dependence on fossil fuels and aims to manufacture 100 percent of its products using at least one of these methods by 2025.

The company’s founder, Davis Smith, grew up in the shadow of Ecuador’s Cotopaxi mountain, from which his company takes its name. Cotopaxi dedicates one percent of its revenues to supporting healthcare, education, and livelihood in the Americas. It also provides funding to organizations such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Mercy Corps, and United to Beat Malaria.

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack is built for comfort and style, with its ergonomic design, under-the-airline-seat profile, distinctive, bright colors, and lightweight and highly durable materials.

Klean Kanteen

Retail Price: $45

Photo courtesy of Klean Kanteen

As we all know, reusable water bottles are far better for the environment than single-use plastics, which inevitably end up in landfills. But with so many options on the market, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. Klean Kanteen, which makes its bottles using 90 percent post-consumer recycled 18/8 stainless steel, is a great option. All of their products are manufactured in a climate-neutral manner. They are BPA-free, which is vital because this artificial chemical is toxic, even though it can be found in most plastic water bottles in your local grocery store. I own and personally recommend the insulated 32-ounce model with Loop Cap, as it keeps water cold and is easy to carry around despite its size.

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