Freshly Picked host Simon Toohey's top sustainable travel tips - Travel

Oct 26, 2022

The MasterChef grand finalist and celebrity chef tells us how he approaches earth-friendly travel.

Simon Toohey needs no introduction. The chef and host of cooking show, Freshly Picked, is an advocate for eating greener. Simon is also passionate about travelling, and how we can slowly change our mindset around holiday habits to make them more sustainable.

We chatted to Simon about the simple tweaks he’s made to his travel plans to make them kinder to the environment.

Big on BYO

One easy way to eliminate the amount of plastic you use while travelling is to bring your own refillable bottle. “Bringing your own water bottle to fill up, as well as your own coffee keep cup is a must,” says Simon.

“You can also pack your own shampoo, conditioner and soap bars instead of using plastic bottles in hotel rooms.”

Another way to eliminate single-use plastic is by bringing your own foldable canvas tote bag to put spontaneous souvenirs purchases in.

Do your research

Look into the places you are booking and whether it has sustainable policies in place. “The ‘Sustainable Travel Badge’ on Booking.com is shown on the listings of eco and climate conscious accommodations, which means you can look at what the sustainable rating is of the place you have chosen to stay at,” says Simon.

“You’re off to a good start!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Simon Toohey (@simon.toohey)

Eat local

“If you are going to eat out, support local, and buy local,” says Simon. This is a sure-fire way to ensure you are getting a taste of the freshest produce the region has to offer. It also means low food miles. Win-win!

Pack a picnic

You don’t have to eat every meal out when you’re travelling. If you’re not heading far, Simon recommends emptying your fridge and bringing the food with you rather than leaving it to go bad. “You can also fight food waste by packing a picnic and heading out for an adventure,” says Simon.

“Whether that is heading down to the beach for a sunset dinner and pre-made meal or heading into the bush for snacks and nature time. Not only is this a more sustainable option but it also brings you back to nature.”