This is such good advice from the Lonely Planet. Having just returned from an overseas holiday & seeing how much "stuff" is thrown out after a flight this article hit home.
Please take the time to read it.
These are 7 simple ways you can reduce waste when flying
Zero waste carry on - snack box, coffee cup, earphones, reusable water bottle & cloth napkins.
Image by Sasha Brady
Don’t print your boarding pass
Download your boarding pass to your smartphone.
Image by BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty
Unless the airline makes you (and most, if not all, won’t) don’t print your boarding pass. Instead, download it to your smartphone and save time and battery by taking a screenshot so it’s ready to present at the gates.
Pack a zero-waste kit
Be prepared and pack items you won’t have to purchase on the flight. A simple kit includes a reusable water bottle (which can be filled at water fountains beyond the security gate), earphones, travel cups for coffee or hot drinks, cloth napkins, reusable cutlery and even snacks so you don’t have to purchase any plastic-wrapped pretzels mid-flight. If you want to be extra prepared, you could even pack a reusable straw that you can use on the flight and in your cocktails at your destination. Go you!
Pack toiletries in a reusable bag
Those ziplock baggies are technically reusable but how many times have you lost one and had to grab another as you rushed through security? Invest in a transparent and sturdy toiletries bag to store liquids in, one that you can use at home. Yes, it’s still plastic but you’re likely to hold on to this one longer than a flimsy ziplock bag. If you can avoid plastic, opt for a transparent silicone case for extra green points.