6 EASY OPTIONS FOR ECO FRIENDLY CAMPING
While camping is supposed to help us connect with nature, the trip itself can have unintended effects on the very thing we wish to preserve and enjoy. We may not even realize that the products that we choose to bring on a camping trip are not environmentally friendly. Many of the products we do bring can be harmful for the air, water, plants and animals that we have come to admire and the search for eco friendly camping gear alternatives can be daunting.
Products like disposable plastic utensils and water bottles end up in landfills and waterways. These products can take 450 years or more to decompose. The more we use, the more difficult it becomes to find places to dump this waste.
We don’t want to leave a pile of garbage that will still be around for fifteen generations of our families to deal with!
Furthermore, the soaps and detergents that we use can have a negative impact on our waterways, getting into the internal systems of fish and other wildlife.
Luckily, there are plenty of options that are environmentally friendly and offer the same convenience as their counterparts.
BAMBOO UTENSILS
Bamboo has been gaining a lot of popularity among environmentally conscious people around the world and for good reason. It is highly renewable as the plant does not die when it is cut. In addition, it grows faster than wood which keeps the supply chain running smoothly.
Bamboo utensils such as forks, spoons and knives have many intriguing qualities that make it the perfect material for a camping trip.
- Lightweight: this makes them perfect for packing without adding unnecessary weight to your camping gear.
- Durable: bamboo is much more durable than plastic and can be reused over and over without breaking. If you have ever tried eating a steak with a plastic fork, you will know the struggle.
- Clean: bamboo doesn’t stain and doesn’t absorb water or other liquids that can cause odours.
- Cost: bamboo utensils are a cost effective material.
- Biodegradable: If you prefer to use these as a one time use or if you forget to bring them home from the campsite, no worries, they will decompose, making them a perfectly environmentally friendly alternative.
Eco friendly dinnerware sets such as plates, cups and bowls are also available and have all of the same benefits as the utensils made from bamboo.
BIODEGRADABLE DISH SOAP
Washing dishes is not what you want to think about while planning your camping trip, but nevertheless, it will be a job that needs to get done.
Traditional detergent soaps are harmful to ecosystems and waterways. When we use them in our homes, they are treated at the sewage plant and removed before releasing the clean water back into the ecosystem. But when we are out camping, they do not get the benefit of that treatment. This can result in harmful impacts to fish and other animals, as well as plants and waterways.
In order to avoid spilling chemicals and toxins through everyday soaps, it is to everyone’s benefit to use biodegradable soaps while camping.
There are tons of biodegradable soap products that can be used for everything from hand washing and dish cleaning, to hair shampoo and moisturizers. Look for something without synthetic preservatives or detergents.
LIFE STRAW WATER FILTER ADAPTOR
Clean water is essential to life, and packing enough for a family camping trip usually means a ton of plastic bottles to dispose of. However, there are alternative options that both allow us to pack lighter and save on all of that plastic waste.
The LifeStraw is a portable water filter attachment that connects to most standard reusable water bottles and filters out 99.999% of bacteria. It can be used anywhere to ensure you are drinking clean, filtered water.
Packing one water bottle sure sounds better than packing a whole case to me!
SOLAR LANTERN
Nobody likes to trip over a log in the dark of night while moving from the campfire to the tent at the end of the evening. Traditional lanterns most often burn gas or propane to fuel the light. Some may also use batteries. All of these have their own environmental concerns.
With advancement in solar energy, solar lanterns have become an inexpensive alternative that doesn’t require handling fuel. These lanterns also weigh less which is ideal for any camping trip.
There are a number of types and brands that are extremely efficient, quick charging and offer tons of brightness. Many brands now come with charging ports so you can charge your phone as well.
ECO FRIENDLY CAMPING TARP
Staying dry and warm is usually another ideal situation for any camping trip. But sometimes, it is going to rain on our parade. It is difficult to find camping tarps that have not been produced using some type of plastic, while still being effective in keeping us dry.
Although we will probably still have to bring plastic, there is an option that will reduce the amount of new plastics being produced and left in landfills. Tarps made from reprocessed plastic products are now available with the same effectiveness as their counterparts.
Taking a recycled plastics camping tarp on your camping trip will have a positive effect on the environment while still keeping you and your belongings dry on those rainy days.
ECO FRIENDLY BUG REPELLENT
It’s hard to enjoy being outdoors when you’re getting eaten alive by mosquitoes and blackflies. Most of us would do anything to keep the pesky little critters away. Unfortunately, the products we use most often are harmful to both our own health and the health of the environment around us. Nevertheless, what keeps us going back to the harmful items is that it is hard to find eco friendly alternatives that actually work.
Luckily for us that is all changing. As people become more aware of the harmfulness of the products we’ve been using, eco friendly bug sprays have become more and more common.
There are a variety of eco friendly products as well as natural bug repellents that really do work while also keeping us from spraying harmful chemicals onto ourselves and the air we breathe.
When choosing an eco friendly alternative, avoid sprays that contain DEET and opt for a pump bottle instead of an aerosol can. DEET is a known harmful substance for our bodies, while aerosol cans emit chemicals into the air as they spray.
Every decision we make has an effect on the planet. When we’re out on a camping trip in nature, the last thing we intend to do is harm the very place we’ve come to enjoy. If you can, switch to any one of the eco friendly options provided and you will be making a difference in the health of yourself, your family and the world as a whole.
