Illustration of a woman sitting in front of a bag

Luggage

Packing a bag is part of every trip and no matter how old you are, you ask yourself the same question every time: what do I need to pack?

For an Erasmus semester, packing a bag is twice as difficult because you have to think about what you will need for the next six months and how you will fit everything in! With little space in your bags, you have to think carefully about what you really need and what you don't. Things to consider include:

  • The weather conditions in your destination country in order to take the right clothes with you.
  • What activities you want to do during the semester so that you can pack the right clothes and equipment for them.
  • When it comes to toiletries, it's important to take the essentials with you, preferably using sustainable products such as solid shampoo and shower gel.
  • To travel as sustainably as possible, it is important to use your existing wardrobe and not buy new clothes abroad. According to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), one pair of jeans uses 3,781 litres of water from production to sale in the shop. Try getting your clothes second-hand, to save resources, and discover some vintage styles at the same time!

Actions you can take

  1. Ask students who’ve already travelled to your destination about their experiences or ask your exchange coordinator for the contacts of the students who went to the same destination.
  2. Think about activities you normally do in your daily life -things or clothes for your leisure activities (for example tennis rackets) are likely to be needed during your semester abroad too.
  3. Pack zero waste and try to use refillable or reusable containers.
  4. Check the weather reports for the country you are travelling to. If you know in advance what the weather might be like during your Erasmus, you can pack more accurately.
  5. Take at least one multifunctional piece of luggage with you. A larger backpack while abroad is more practical for smaller trips such as cities or weekend trips than a trolley suitcase.

Find out more

You may know how expensive your clothes are, but do you know how much they cost to the environment?
Look up the pollution of the garment industry
If you are interested in sustainability in fashion and you want to know how clothes and climate change are connected, then check out the article linked below.
How your fashion choice could lead to better air quality
Do you want to know what your flight luggage contributes to the environmental footprint of a trip? Then check out the article linked below.
Environmental impact of baggage on airplanes