What could be more eco-friendly than going to the beach? Well, not all beach activities are as green as you’d think! Here’s how to make your fun-in-the-sun holiday much greener than it used to be.
Lather it up
Why not turn your relaxing time at the beach into a great massage session to really help you unwind? The eco-friendly item that you need for this exercise is SPF. Although SPF is really good for you because it protects your skin from the sizzling sun, regular SPF contains chemicals that aren’t organic. Invest in a green SPF that you can use without any worries about it being bad for your health. Badger is a popular sunscreen, available at Nature´s Colours. It’s certified organic, unscented and safe for the whole family.
Go kayaking
If you think of activities you and your family probably love doing, such as motor-boating, you might not think it poses a danger to the environment, but it does. It’s not uncommon for such boats to leak oil and gas into the ocean, becoming harmful for the plant and animal life that is in the water. Choose something like kayaking instead. The great thing about kayaking is that it’s a self-powered mode of transportation that requires no gas or oil. It’s a great eco-friendly way to enjoy the water. An added bonus is that it’s not as fast as motor boats, giving you a chance to enjoy the scenery and connect with nature.
Stay chilled
Activities like running along the coast and swimming are eco-friendly enough, but your green efforts are ruined when you take into consideration the amount of plastic water bottles you and your family members go through to stay hydrated. Rather invest in an eco-friendly water bottle that will keep you cool and not result in plastic bottles being thrown away. FLOW (For Love of Water) water bottles are made from stainless steel, are refillable and reusable, as well as 100% recyclable. Check out the bottles here.
Flip it
When spending time at the beach, chances are a large amount of that time involves wearing flip-flops. So make sure that you get your feet into eco-friendly ones. Terrasoles are comfortable, whether you’re chilling on the beach or going on a hike. They are made from recycled and organic materials. The microfiber fleece used in many types of shoes is manufactured from recycled materials, the cotton is organic and other materials such as canvas, cork and rubber are recycled. Even the packaging is made from recycled goods. You can get a pair of Terrasoles at Outdoor Warehouse.
Catch it!
Kids love playing Frisbees and they are also great fun for your pet, but let all your loved ones enjoy themselves safely with an eco-friendly Frisbee that is made from recycled materials. Visit E´yako Green’s website for two types of green Frisbees, along with loads of other cool stuff.
Green picnics
It can be fun to enjoy a picnic on the beach with your family, but make sure you keep it as green as possible.
- Use re-usable items only, such as utensils, napkins and plastic containers that will save you money and not be thrown away at the end of the day.
- Choose local produce so that you support local farms and communities, also lowering your carbon footprint since your delicious food didn’t have to travel miles to reach you!
- Don’t leave any litter around! Make sure your kids know that they must not leave their things behind. Litter can end up contaminating water or harming wildlife.
The Live Eco team
