I’m
one of those few people in the world who tends to pee a lot when travelling (like
literally every 30 minutes interval). This is the primary reason why I hate
long road trips for fear of getting stuck in traffic jams (which is so common
in the Philippines) and then suddenly felt the need to pee. And no, peeing in a
plastic bottle is not an option for me since that would be challenging to
execute without causing spillage. The unavailability of CLEAN public toilets
also adds to my long list of travel anxieties.
Luckily,
there is such thing as emergency urine bag (pee bag) that works as a portable
toilet that you can bring along with you when you travel. Basically, a travel
urine bag is a plastic pouch capable of holding 500ml-700ml of urine. What
makes it special is that each urine bag contains a super water-absorbing
polymer called sodium polyacrylate (the same absorbent powder used in
diapers) that instantly turns any liquid into gel in less than a minute. This
ensures that there will be no accidental leakage from the pouch until its
disposal since the urine has solidified into a gel. It can also somehow reduce
the urine odor stored in the pee bag.
Emergency
urine bags are ideal for any outdoor activities where the availability of
public toilets is limited, such as during:
- Outdoor camping or hiking
- Long distance travel (especially in high traffic areas)
- Travelling to remote rural areas
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT
Unfortunately,
the sodium polyacrylate inside each urine bag is not considered biodegradable
(it is not easily broken down by natural processes). That’s why be mindful that
you will use this product ONLY in scenarios where you can no longer hold
your pee and clean public toilets are nowhere in sight. Also, it’s important not to flush the
solidified (gelled) urine down the drain as it could clog the pipes.
Are
there any eco-friendly alternatives to sodium polyacrylate-based urine bags? At
the time of this writing, I can’t find any. However, developing a disposable
urine bag using biodegradable materials is an interesting green business idea
that I’m sure most eco-minded entrepreneurs would love to work on in the near
future.
WHERE
TO BUY
***
Price indicated at the time of this writing ***
Jingle
Bag Disposable Urine Pouch
- Php 59 per pack
- Shopee PH
Jiemu
Mini W.C.
- Php 125 / 4 pieces in a pack
- Shopee PH
Orange
and Peach Basics Disposable Pee Bags
- Php 289 / 4 pieces
- This one is designed for travelling toddlers and kids
- Shopee PH
P.S.
To always get the latest blog updates, don’t forget to follow me on Facebook.
Disclosure: This post contains
affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and
purchase the products, I’ll receive some commission.
