We've acknowledged climate change, now it's time to act. Here is how to stay eco-friendly during your camping experience.
According to Mauna Loa Observatory, the CO2 emissions in the atmosphere had reached to 414.83ppm in May 2019. It is stated that when it gets to 450ppm the effects on the earth will be irreversible. Climate change will be disastrous: sea levels will rise, global temperature will increase, oceans will acidify, and natural disasters will become even more extreme. We, as a population, can do a lot more than we currently are to help slow this down, therefore it is important we try to be as eco-friendly as possible. Here’s a list of things you can purchase to replace your plastic everyday camping products...
Bamboo utensils
Bamboo is grown without pesticides, chemical fertilisers and only needs little water. It requires no irrigation, rarely needs replanting and when cut, most species are harvested in 3-5 years! It produces 35% more oxygen than any other tree, it is an excellent soil erosion inhibitor and grows in a wide range of environments. Some of these utensils include a metal straw which is amazing as plastic straws will always end up in landfill. Metal straws can be reused, are easy to clean, are more durable than any other types of straws and cost less overall.
Here are some examples:
children's natural bamboo cutlery
Stainless steel water bottle
Plastic bottles are not biodegradable, meaning the plastic will remain in our environment forever. But this is not all, toxic chemicals in the plastic are released which will forever harm wildlife in the future. In its production, it requires non-renewable fossil fuels, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. This is why it’s good to purchase a stainless steel bottle, even though a glass one is also acceptable it is riskier when it comes to breaking when dropped, etc. This is not only good for camping, but also perfect for everyday use.
Here is an example:
This water bottle is especially good as its 100% BPA-free stainless steel body is reusable. It keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours or hot for up to 10 hours.
Recycled wool blanket/picnic rug
The production of wool requires vast amount of land; energy, water and chemicals. Recycled wool reduces waste, contributes less air and the average life of a wool garment is 2-10 years depending on its use. Reused/second hand products are also a great alternative as it stops them from going into landfill.
Example of a recycled wool blanket:
This product is multifunctional as it can be used to keep you warm and can be used as a picnic rug. Due to it being recycled, all products are unique as no two products can be the same.
Bamboo reusable travel mug
Travel mugs are great in the sense that they can be reused and taken anywhere as they’re usually lightweight and not too big in size. It stops the usage of plastic or paper cups. Yes paper cups are better than plastic but we also have to think about deforestation, which is also a massive problem. Travel mugs aren’t just for camping, but also for everyday use.
An example:
This travel mug is made from recycled bamboo and is also reusable. The product is offered in a range of colourful designs and is amazing for everyday use, not just camping.
Eco-friendly organic firelighters
Fire takes up oxygen and produces CO2, but understandably going camping it’s a nice experience to have. Before starting a fire please make sure you are not destroying an animal’s habitat and that it is kept under control so that you don’t harm the rest of the environment. Eco-friendly firelighters are a good start to being environmentally friendly.
An example of an eco-friendly firelighter:
It is instant lighting, made from sawdust and vegetable oil with no chemical aromas.
Bamboo plates, bowls and cups
This is a wonderful alternative to single use plastic plates, which is what’s often used when going camping and is extremely damaging to our environment. Humans are now producing 150m tons of single-use plastic every year, more than 8m of which are dumped into the sea. More than five trillion pieces of plastic, which is largely derived from food and drink packaging, are floating in the world’s oceans, damaging every part of the food chain.
A great alternative is:
This product has a choice of 4 different designs. It’s lightweight materials means it won’t be a burden when carrying it around with you.
Sunscreen
“Swimmer pollution” threatens coral reefs across the world, anywhere humans get into water or near a reef is a potential avenue for contamination. Oxybenzone, one of the most common ultraviolet-blocking chemicals in sunscreen, damages coral DNA as well as induces severe and lethal deformities. Oxybenzone is toxic to more than just corals. It’s toxic to algae, sea urchins, fish and mammals. Any coral reef near significant human habitation is potentially vulnerable to a plume of pollution. Not only does it threaten the survival of these reefs, but it also can prevent the recovery and restoration of already-degraded reefs.
There are many sunscreens that don’t harm the environment, one example is:
This product is a sunscreen, mosquito repellent and moisturiser all in one. Its UVA and UVB sun protection comes from zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and the repellent is PMD – a naturally occurring substance which is approved by the NHS and Public Health England and does not harm the environment. Its tube is made from renewable sugarcane plastic, it’s certified natural by Cosmos, it’s vegan and it donates 10 per cent of its profits to charities.
Stowaway pots
Stowaway pots are easy to handle, reusable and made from stainless steel, meaning it is not easily dented or scratched. It’s difficult but not impossible to recycle your old pots and pans, but please do look to see if you can (search up on the internet how to do this).
A good stowaway pot may be:
This product weighs around 365g (775l) so therefore it is not too heavy. It’s also 100% recyclable.
Insect repellent
DEET free means that the product does not consists of hazardous diethyltoluamide which is an active ingredient used in insect repellents and is slightly toxic. It can be harmful for pets and the environment, as well as ourselves.
An example of a DEET free insect repellent is:
This product works against mosquitos and ticks. It is vegan and no animal testing took place.
Bamboo toothbrushes
Want to go the extra mile? MOSO bamboo is completely panda friendly, natural and biodegradable, meaning each time you throw a toothbrush that is made of this away you know it will decompose over a short period of time, where a plastic brush might never decompose. Bamboo takes up to only a few years to decompose where as a plastic handled brush can take up to 1000 years! The bamboo handle can even be put on your compost heap, just cut out the bristles first.
A great website that offers these is:
These toothbrushes are made from MOSO bamboo and are ethically and responsibly sourced from a regulated bamboo innovation park in China. From as little at £2.50 per month you will have a new brush delivered to you every 6 weeks. The Pearly White Club teamed up with New Hope, a homeless charity, and for every subscription they will donate a toothbrush to the shelter.
Cloths
Instead of using paper tissues, which helps contribute to deforestation, you can cut out your own cloths out of an old, reused, or recycle fabric. This can then also be reused, all you need to do is clean it after you’re done. This stops the old fabric from going into landfill and helps to stop using so much unnecessary paper.
Tent
As for a tent, understandably they are more expensive than non-eco-friendly tents so just a second-hand one can already help the environment as you are reusing it and saving it from landfill. The same applies with camping chairs.
Inspired to try a leisure vehicle holiday ? See below for links to get you started:
