Plan ahead for sustainability

Published On: July 27th, 2024

Tips for eco-friendly outings

(Blog#1 KAB Week 2024: Leave Only Footprints!)

Before you head out for the day is one of the most important times to have sustainability in mind. When you arrive at your picnic, the beach or the local market and you haven’t prepared, that’s when you might end up making an impulse purchase that contains single use plastic or just creates unnecessary waste. Take a few moments before you leave to consider what you might need while you’re out, then pack any reusable items accordingly. Check out our outing specific tips below, so you’re ready for any activity!

A Picnic: Preparing your own picnic food, like cakes, sandwiches, salad, sausage rolls and dips at home then packing them in reusable containers is a great way to avoid purchasing single-use plastics! Don’t forget to bring your reusable cutlery, straws, plates and glasses too! Reusable napkins are also a must for sustainability, plus they make the outing feel extra stylish. Flasks are great for bringing hot or iced drinks, but if you can’t resist a café drink make sure to bring your reusable coffee cups.

The Beach: Swimming can be a thirsty business; pack your reusable water bottle into your beach bag before you head out. Opt for a reef friendly/marine safe sunscreen to avoid harmful chemicals entering the ocean. Consider if you might get peckish while you’re out and pack an eco-snack like fruit in a reusable container. Lastly, to take it to the next level, bring a rubbish bag so you can pick up any litter you see to stop it reaching the ocean!

Work: Plan your commute ahead of time. Public transport may take you less time than driving and then you can catch up on a podcast, book or some emails on the way. Carpooling is also an option to cut down on emissions. Consider scheduling virtual meetings instead of in person to avoid extra travel emissions too. Pack your own waste-free lunch and don’t forget your reusable coffee cup.

School: Make sure your kids have a durable, reusable lunch box so you can say no to cling-wrap. Plastic free lunches are the way to go, spread the word at school and amongst friends to raise awareness and multiply your impact. Make sure all your child’s clothes and reusable items are labelled with their name to prevent loss, so you don’t need to buy replacements. Pop your kids on the school bus for a more efficient trip to school than a car ride.

A Hike/Camping: Bringing high quality durable clothes and equipment ensures they will last for many trips to come. Use solar powered chargers for electronic devices and battery packs instead of disposable batteries. As with any sustainable outing, pack your own food from home in reusable containers and bring your reusable water bottle.

A Market: Don’t forget your reusable bags! I know we are all guilty of buying yet another reusable bag, when the cupboards at home are already overflowing with them. Leaving spares in your car can be a good way to ensure they’re never forgotten. Bring smaller mesh bags for fruit and veg so you can buy loose produce without the single-use plastic bags. Pack a cooler bag if you’re buying perishable items. If your market sells bulk produce, bring refillable containers to stock up on items like oil, honey and sauces. Plan your shopping list ahead of time to avoid impulse buys and reduce food waste.

The Playground: As well as your eco-snacks, reusable containers and reusable water bottle (which this far into the article should be well and truly drilled into you), pack some reusable wipes or cloths for cleaning hands, faces and messes instead of disposable wipes. Pack durable toys made from sustainable materials. Finally, bring a small reusable bag to collect any litter you find and teach the kids the importance of keeping public spaces clean.

The Dog Park: Make sure you bring enough compostable dog waste bags to clean up after your dog (plus a few extra, just in case) as dogs’ droppings contain harmful bacteria and nutrients which can wash into waterways, and they look gross! Bring durable dog toys (ideally, they will last more than 5 minutes before being torn to shreds!) and choose toys made from natural or recycled materials.

A Sports Match/Concert: Check the weather and pack a rain jacket or umbrella if conditions are uncertain to avoid needing to buy a plastic disposable poncho. Purchase and use digital tickets to reduce paper waste, if you need to print tickets you can use recycled paper and print double sided. It’s exciting to get dressed up on theme for a concert, but to keep it sustainable choose clothing made from sustainable materials, secondhand items or items you already own wherever possible. Last one (you guessed it!) pack your own food or snacks from home in reusable containers and bring your own water bottle!

Hopefully you’re catching our drift – avoiding single use plastic items and minimizing waste while you’re out and about, takes planning before you leave. So go forth and enjoy the great outdoors; but when the sun is setting, or the day is winding down, with everyone feeling tired but grateful, remember to leave nothing behind but your footprints by taking all your rubbish with you. Happy adventuring!

Image by @tilialucida