I unzip my suitcase and pause. Deeply moved by Sir David Attenborough’s recent documentary, ‘Ocean’, I realise it isn’t just about what fits inside my bag but rather what spills out into the world. Every item I choose to bring may ripple outward, leaving a trail beyond borders. This time around, I pack with intention. Not for the weather, not for social media, but for the planet. I ask myself, How can my choices flow in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals?
Santa Barbara is a city known for its stunning coastlines and diverse underwater ecosystems. But California’s marine life is also vulnerable. Travel comes at a cost. Even a single flight adds massively to carbon emissions and so, I have to make sure my presence gives more than it takes. Goal 13 (Climate Action) and 14 (Life Below Water) won’t be met by governments alone. Just as currents shape the ocean, individual actions help drive lasting change.
First, I pack a bottle of reef-safe sunscreen – the kind without any oxybenzone. I have first-hand seen the impact of coral bleaching on ecosystems up close and know that even one tourist’s sunscreen can harm entire reef systems. Choosing brands like Sun Bum may be a small act, but the ocean feels every drop.
Next, I intentionally pick out and fold in natural fibre clothing. I choose pieces that are made of cotton and avoid synthetic fabrics that shed microplastics with every wash, polluting waterways and harming marine life. To check the environmental impact of my purchased clothes, I use the ‘The Good On You’ app. Packing lighter may mean fewer options, but if it means reducing my footprint, it’s a choice I’m willing to make.
Then comes my reusable water bottle, which has been dented and worn from my commutes across London. In Santa Barbara, I’ll use the ‘Refill My Bottle’ app to find refill stations, avoiding single-use plastics that will no doubt end up floating into the pacific ocean. One bottle for me means dozens less for the sea.
Finally, I tuck in my Notting Hill tote bag. It will act as a memento from home and doubles as a plastic-free commitment. I’ve carried it through the streets of London, and now it’ll help me avoid adding to the jellyfish-like tangle of plastic drifting through our oceans.
I zip the suitcase shut, realising it holds more than belongings. It carries intent. My choices will move through ecosystems, coastlines, and communities I may never know.
I know I travel alone, but I haven’t packed just for myself. I’ve packed for the ocean. The same ocean that’s carried trade, life, and stories across centuries. And like Attenborough’s documentary reminded me, the sea doesn’t need admiration. It needs action.
Sometimes, that action is as simple as what fits in a suitcase.
Every traveller leaves a footprint in the sand. I hope mine fades gently with the tide, leaving a quiet imprint and not a scar.
https://www.sciencepolicyjournal.org/uploads/5/4/3/4/5434385/florent_etal_jspg_24-1.pdf
https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/microplastics-from-textiles-towards-a
https://cleanwater.org/problem-marine-plastic-pollution
