Sunshine & Sustainability: Eco-Friendly Products for Every Adventure
The sun is shining, the weather’s warm - it’s summer time! Which in Canada means it’s time to get outdoors and take advantage of this fleeting season. Whether you’re camping, hiking, biking, air BnB-ing or visiting family; here are some tips to green up your next adventure.
Air Travel
Make your next flight a breeze by cutting out the plastic. Plastic free alternatives make carry-on so much easier!
Avoid carry-on liquid limits and unfortunate spills with toothpaste tablets, shampoo and conditioner bars, and lotion bars (you’ll want to have some travel tins or reusable containers for all these bars)
Safety razors - avoid sharp objects by bringing just your razor handle and purchasing blades when you’re at your destination.
If you have trouble sleeping away from home try sleepy spray or lavender essential oil to help wind down before bed.
Camping/Hiking
Cut down on waste for your outdoor adventures. Try these instead.
Dish blocks for low-waste dishwashing
Bar soaps to avoid messy spills in your backpack
Satya travel tin for eczema or severe dry skin relief (because we know outdoor adventures can leave your hands very chapped).
Patch compostable bandages - just in case!
Dry shampoo for the short trips when you can skip the shower. Be sure to choose a non-aerosol option. You can make your own and store it in an empty spice container or purchase some plastic free or refill options.
Reusable cutlery maybe you have a bamboo set, camping spork, or just an old metal set. Packing these with you and refusing cutlery when ordering out helps.
Reusable containers are also a great idea for leftovers or opened but unfinished food.
When getting outdoors remember to keep all your washing products including soaps and shampoos (even biodegradable soap) out of direct natural water systems like rivers and lakes. Draining washing onto land is fine. And yes Jack59 shampoo bars are biodegradable!
Glamping
For those who enjoy the weather but still appreciate the luxuries of home.
Bamboo or metal straws for cocktails - these are also great to keep in your purse or car so you never need a disposable straw again.
Citrus savers for your lemons and limes
Headed golfing? Save some money as well as the environment and purchase used golf balls. Choose from brands and various levels of quality. If you don’t care about scuffs or dents get even cheaper balls or stick with the better quality but still get a great price!
The Beach or Picnic
Sunscreen is always a must! Choose tins or paper packaging (or consider brands like All Good whose products are made of recycled plastic)
Aloe
Basket - purchase a quality picnic basket locally
Handkerchiefs or cloth napkins instead of paper. There’s no need to toss paper napkins/tissues. Cloth also works great for packing your cutlery home. Your basket will already be lighter from all the food you ate.
Beeswax wraps/sandwich bags instead of wrapping everything in ziplocks. It keeps your food fresher and saves the environment
Biking
Biking to work, to run errands, to go on a picnic, or to get to your next adventure is a great step all on it’s own. Getting yourself a backpack or bike storage so you can carry your goodies home plastic free is even better!
When you’re adventuring outside of your city or area a great sustainable option is to shop local, hit up local farmers markets or fruit and veggie stands. Go shopping in local boutiques or eat at local restaurants - skip the chains whenever possible. I know that sometimes driving through at odd hours means local places are closed.
What are your favourite products for when you’re out and about during the summer?
