It’s one thing to desire to be more eco-friendly. Putting it into action is sometimes easier said than done. Sure, you can invest in eco-friendly utensils, separate your trash, and use biodegradable household supplies. But what about when you’re not at home? Have you ever stopped to think about how your actions outdoors affect the environment either positively or negatively?
Whether you’re on a camping trip or taking a stroll in the park, it’s crucial to know how your actions affect the environment. You should find ways to be more eco-conscious and implement them during your next outdoor adventure. This way, you’re intentionally doing things to safeguard the environment. Consider the following practical tips.
1. Get Eco-Friendly Subscription Boxes
If you’re new to the eco-friendly lifestyle, gathering products for your next outdoor adventure can be a lot like pulling teeth. There are many products to consider and a lot to learn to differentiate environment-safe products from hazardous ones. Luckily, you don’t have to go through the hassle.
Outdoor subscription box Canada companies provide an opportunity to discover new eco-friendly products. The thoughtfully curated boxes contain different products that are specifically designed for sustainable and green living. The only thing you’ll need to do is to find a company that deals with outdoor adventure packages and leave the rest to them.
2. Separate Your Waste
Most environmentally-conscious individuals ensure they remove everything they brought on the trip when they’re done with their outdoor adventure. Getting rid of litter is a great way to reduce your impact on the environment. But you can do more.
Instead of just removing all traces of your trash from the area, go a step further and separate trash, recycling, and compost in different trash bags. Take these bags with you home and dispose of them appropriately.
Don’t forget to pick fruit peels. While they may seem harmless because they’ll degrade over time, some fruit peels take a long time to degrade and may pose a risk to wild animals.
3. Invest in Biodegradable Bathroom Essentials
Soap and toothpaste containing harmful chemicals pose a threat to the environment. Therefore, stay on the safe side by investing in biodegradable bathroom essentials. These are safer alternatives that won’t have any negative effect when they sip into the ground.
However, even when you’re using biodegradable bathroom essentials, always use them about 200 feet from streams, rivers, and lakes. This way, you don’t contaminate the water bodies with the products. If you need to use the water, fetch it in a container and use the soap and toothpaste at a distance.
4. Rent or Repair Your Gear
Aggressive consumer behavior is beneficial to the economy. People in business worldwide want you to ruin your outdoor gear fast so that you can go back and get more. This behavior negatively affects the environment. It takes an abundance of energy, raw materials, water, fuel, and other resources to make new gear.
Therefore, instead of buying new gear every time you have a new adventure, consider repairing old items. The products that pose the least risk are the ones that already exist because you’ll only need a few things to repair.
If you want something you don’t have, such as a portable stove, consider renting one instead of buying a new product.
5. Ditch the Single-Use Plastic
Single-use plastic is one of the major problems impacting the environment. When planning your trip, avoid single-use plastic at all costs. Instead of packing your food in numerous single-use plastic containers, opt for reusable sandwich bags. These bags are lightweight and come in various sizes, thereby allowing you to carry enough food. Besides, they’re easier to pack.
Alternatively, you can store dry food in a bandana. This handy item offers a lot of flexibility out of food storage. You can use it to hold nuts or jerky and other items. Besides, it’s equally lightweight and convenient for a trial.
6. Invest in Portable Stoves
It’s also important to minimize fire production during your outdoor adventure. The cases of wildfires are on the rise in the US. Besides, burning aluminum cans and other trash releases harmful chemicals to the environment. It’s better to bring a portable stove. These are easier to manage, and you can do many things, from purifying water to making nutritious meals with them.
However, the type of fuel you use matters depending on your environment. Research and find out if propane and butane fuel sources will be a good choice for your outdoor adventure, depending on the climate. If not, find more eco-friendly options.
Wrapping Up
Safeguarding the environment involves making conscious decisions to protect the environment whether you’re indoors or outdoors. The tips in this article will help you make eco-friendly decisions during your next outdoor adventure.
If you’re traveling in a group, communicate and let everyone know what they’re supposed to do to ensure an eco-friendly adventure. This way, everyone will be more aware of the items they bring and their actions during the trip. Besides, the less eco-conscious individuals will learn of the different things they can do to safeguard the environment.
Author: Lisa Dinh
