Plastic bags and recycled plastic bags: what are they, and should you take them with you on a trip or while backpacking?

What are plastic bags for travel?

• Plastic bags, or simple plastic carrier bags, are sometimes used by travelers to keep items organized, dry, or separated while traveling.
• Recycled plastic bags are not indispensable when traveling or backpacking, but they remain handy.
• For many travelers, they are a kind of emergency solution, an extra storage system, and temporary protection against rain, sand, mud, leaking shampoo, or wet swimwear.

What can you use plastic bags or reusable bags for while traveling and backpacking?

• As an organizer: to organize items in your backpack or suitcase.
• As protection against moisture or dirt.
• As laundry separation: for wet or dirty clothes.
• As a shopping bag.
• As an emergency trash bag.
• As protection for electronics or documents during rain.
• As temporary storage space for shoes, flip-flops, or wet towels.
• For some items, grip bags or ziplocks are more convenient than regular plastic bags, for example for liquids, chargers, documents, or small loose items.
• Nowadays, many travelers also use packing bags, packing cubes, dry bags, or reusable organizers. These are often sturdier, more durable, and more organized than loose plastic bags.

When should you bring plastic bags or reusable bags with you on a trip or while backpacking?

• When you want to protect your belongings from moisture, dust, or sand.
• If you want to separate wet clothes from dry clothes.
• If you use few organizers or packing cubes.
• When you want to separate your laundry or dirty shoes from your clean items.
• Reusable bags or sustainable organizers are often more practical for longer trips and produce less waste along the way.

What should you keep in mind regarding plastic bags abroad?

• In a growing number of countries, strict rules apply to plastic bags and single-use plastics. Especially in countries like for example Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, you can receive fines, when you bring plastic bags, ziplocks, or non-reusable plastic packaging. Duty-free bags and airport ziplocks can also fall under this category.
• The rules vary by country and are sometimes strictly enforced at airports.
• A well-known example is that at many airports, liquids in hand luggage must be carried in a transparent plastic bag by law. When you then arrive in Kenya, for example, you sometimes have to dispose of that bag immediately in special containers at the airport.

What alternatives are there if you are not allowed to bring plastic bags, grip bags, or ziplocks?

• If plastic bags are prohibited or undesirable, travelers often use alternatives such as:
  • waterproof dry bags.
  • reusable toiletry bags.
  • packing cubes.
  • lightweight fabric bags.
  • reusable silicone bags.
  • waterproof organizers.
  • towels or clothing to temporarily wrap items in.
  • raincoats as an extra protective layer around fragile items.