The Uncomfortable Poolside Conversations Series Part 3: Tiny Bottles, Big Problem – The Truth About Travel-Size Toiletries

Solid Shampoo & Conditioner Image by Jo Ingham

Part 3: Tiny Bottles, Big Problem – The Truth About Travel-Size Toiletries

You know the ones: those cute mini shampoos, little tubes of toothpaste, a dozen tiny suncream sachets. They scream “holiday” but whisper “landfill.”

Single-Use Plastic Stats:

• Travel-size toiletries make up a huge chunk of hotel and tourist waste.

• Globally, over 980 billion plastic toiletry items are discarded annually.

• Most of these are non-recyclable due to size and end up in oceans or landfill.

But It’s Just a Tiny Bottle!

That’s the trap: one tiny bottle doesn’t seem like much. But multiply that by millions of travelers—and suddenly your miniature shampoo has a not-so-mini impact.

What You Can Do:

• Refillable travel bottles: Buy a set once, fill them from your full-size products at home.

• Solid shampoos & soaps: Lush, Ethique, and Kitsch offer plastic-free options.

• Hotel amenities? Say no thanks. Bring your own.

Bonus tip: pack a reusable zip pouch for your toiletries instead of throwaway sandwich bags. TSA won’t mind.

Final Splash 💦

Going on holiday shouldn’t mean switching off your values. It’s about relaxing and remembering that your little choices make a big ripple.

So next time you’re poolside and someone breaks out a mini mouthwash, plastic bottle, or neon £4 bikini—maybe it’s time for another one of those Uncomfortable Poolside Conversations.

Pass the SPF—and the truth.