The days are getting longer and the weather warmer which means it’s time to plan those summertime camping trips! The best way to enjoy nature responsibly is by bringing along eco-friendly camping essentials. You’ll find yourself having less to pack and minimal trash to bring back home. These essentials are simple yet make a huge difference in reducing our waste. No one wants to have a gigantic garbage bag to tote home anyway. Let’s dive in!
Camping Waste and Pollution
It’s common for campers to leave behind plastic utensils, paper products, and other waste. This not only disrupts the ecosystem and wildlife but causes a huge mess for others to clean up. It’s so easy for a paper napkin to fall out of your bag without ever meaning to litter. The best way to prevent this from happening is by packing eco-friendly camping essentials! You’ll protect the environment while making it easier for you to keep your campsite clean.
Eco-Friendly Camping Essentials
There are tons of eco-friendly camping items out on the market but in this blog post, we’re sharing a simple list. This way it’ll be easy to pack and won’t create feelings of overwhelm. From ditching bottled water to plastic bags, we’re covering a little bit of everything.
No matter where your summer camping trip is, packing eco-friendly essentials will help you enjoy nature sustainably. With space and money-saving items, you’ll have more flexibility with your trip. Who knows you may even inspire other campers at the camping area to make a few swaps!
Filtered Water
Using active charcoal to-go-sized pieces in a reusable water bottle is a perfect swap for plastic water bottles. You can pack a few reusable bottles and a jug that you can refill for plastic-free drinking water. You’ll save space in your cooler and you don’t have to worry about running out!
Bamboo Utensils
Packing a few sets of reusable bamboo utensils will save the headache of lunchtime cleanup at camp. You can wash and reuse them for every meal instead of throwing them in the garbage like plastic. Another bonus is when eating hot foods you won’t be ingesting microplastics.
Stainless Steel Divided Plates
To go along with your bamboo utensils, pack a set of stainless steel divided plates for meals. You won’t need to use plastic plates which will reduce your waste greatly. These stainless steel plates are small enough to bag in your tote bag and simple to wash and reuse. They also look super cute for eating at your campsite! If you have kiddos, they’re sure to love the camping vibe while eating.
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Solar Powered Lantern
Say goodbye to disposable batteries and hello to harnessing the power of the sun. These innovative lanterns not only provide bright and reliable light throughout the night but also reduce your carbon footprint. With their compact and lightweight design, solar-powered lanterns are easy to carry and perfect for illuminating your campsite, creating a cozy ambiance, or even serving as a reliable backup light source.
Reusable Unpaper Towels and Napkins
Reusable unpaper towels are one of my favorite things! They are so simple to use and throw in the laundry when finished. When heading out for this summer’s camping trip, you’ll never be without a napkin and there’s no trash to clean up. They fold down super small so packing is a breeze.
Reusable Drinking Straws
There’s always a time when someone doesn’t get a straw when dining out or packing a lunch. So while packing for your next campsite getaway, throw in a few stainless steel straws. You won’t have the headache of keeping track of those pesky plastic ones.
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Get 10% off your first zero waste order and all the latest Tiny Yellow Bungalow news!Natural Bug Repellant
Packing bug repellant for a camping trip is a staple but those aerosol cans can be terrible for the environment. An eco-friendly swap is a natural bug-repellent stick that does the same quality work without waste. It’s DEET-free and small to pack even in a pocket.
Cotton Tote Bags
It’s always super tempting to use plastic grocery bags for packing but they always tend to rip or somehow end up in the garbage. I like packing our snack bags and games in cotton tote bags to have zero waste and keep our things organized.
Stainless Steel Food Storage
Instead of hitting the fast food drive-throughs on the way to your camping destination, pack a delicious meal for the ride. My favorite way to pack food consciously is with stainless steel food storage containers. They keep our food fresh without spilling everywhere.
Eco Friendly Tent
Choose a tent made from durable fabrics like recycled polyester, organic cotton, or other sustainable materials. These tents offer exceptional performance while reducing the demand for virgin resources. With eco-conscious features such as efficient ventilation systems and responsibly sourced components, these tents prioritize both your comfort and the health of our planet.
An even better option would be to shop secondhand for a tent! Check Facebook Marketplace. You will more than likely be able to find a gently used tent in your town.
Hankybooks
If you don’t pack a Hankybook in your camping bags, you’ll wish you did. I use these for almost everything: runny nose, wipe off the face and even clean up sticky fingers in a pinch. They’re super small and replace the need for Kleenexes. When you use a page just turn it and when the book is fully used up toss it in the wash!
Vegan Dry Shampoo
When camping you might not have access to a shower which calls for dry shampoo. The best eco-friendly option for this is a vegan dry shampoo that doesn’t have aerosol. They’re all natural and smell amazing with the addition of essential oils.
Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
If your camping area does have a shower area it’s super important to use eco-friendly shampoo and conditioner. A space-saving, zero-waste option is shampoo and conditioner bars. They lather up and condition just as well as bottles without harmful ingredients or waste.
Reusable Period Products
Ladies we all know how uncomfortable regular period products are but when you’re camping it’s even worse. Instead of worrying about where to put the waste and how to pack all the supplies try eco-friendly options. There’s something for every preference and they pack so well! You can try zero-waste pads and liners or a menstrual cup. You’ll feel much more comfortable during your outdoor adventures.
Zero Waste Sunscreen
When camping, you don’t want to forget the sunscreen! Rather than packing tubes of it full of harmful additives try a zero-waste sunscreen. The ingredients are vegan and handmade in the USA. The jar is already travel-sized and it’s even waterproof!
