If you love something, you should treat it well. And we all love the outdoors, right? So being eco-friendly is a no-brainer. Except…that doesn’t always happen.
Between single-use plastic, harmful chemicals, and the general trail of destruction humans tend to leave, the environment isn’t really feeling our love. Fortunately, there are tons of eco-friendly products on the market that are reusable, easy to carry, and totally practical for camping.
6 Eco-Friendly Camping Products You’ll Actually Use
Here are six of our favorite products that can help you reduce your impact on the outdoors this summer—and all year round. We have a feeling you’re going to love these, too.
1. Beeswax Food Wraps
OK, hands up if you’ve ever used plastic wrap, plastic bags, or aluminum foil to pack food for a camping trip. (*sheepishly raises hand*) Single-use plastic is incredibly convenient, but so are beeswax food wraps.
Fight plastic pollution with these reusable food wraps made with beeswax, organic cotton, jojoba oil, and tree resin. Keep your food fresh, wash them after your trip, and use them again next time! Wraps last for about one year.
2. HydroFlask Tumbler Straw Lid
Image from Hydroflask.com
There’s something about drinking an icy cold drink through a straw in the summertime that can’t be replicated. But our penchant for straw sipping is doing serious damage to our oceans as Americans use over 500 million straws a day. Those tiny pieces of plastic are too small to recycle, and they turn into a big mess as they kill marine life and pollute our water.
You don’t have to give up your iced coffee on the way to the campground. Instead, swap your plastic straw for a reusable alternative that’s easy to clean, BPA- and Phthalate-free, and overall eco friendly.
This lid from Hydro Flask is insulated so it’ll keep your drink cool (or hot) and it comes with a lifetime warranty.
3. Herbal Armor Insect Repellent
If you’ve ever woken to the sound of a whining mosquito in your tent, I’m willing to bet that you’ve also used insect repellent. It’s a camping staple, and sometimes it can be hard to enjoy nature without it. But the ingredients in many bug sprays are harmful to the nature we’re trying to enjoy
Herbal Armor’s insect repellents use natural repelling oils that are free of DEET and GMOs. So you can spray away without any fear of harming your surroundings or sensitive skin; these have been tested and shown to be non-irritating. Bugs, be gone.
4. GoToob+
Disposable, travel-sized toiletries and food items are convenient for their compact size. No one wants to bring a big bottle of shampoo to the campground for two nights. But those small containers turn into a lot of garbage when we’re constantly tossing them and buying new ones.
The GoToob+ gets bonus points for having a name that’s fun to say, but that’s not its big selling point. These soft silicone bottles come in a range of sizes and colors and can be used over and over again. They’re food-safe and squeezable, so you can store anything from ketchup to sunscreen.
5. MANDA Organic Sun Paste
Sunscreen is a must-have if you’re spending time outdoors, but many products on the market contain synthetic chemicals that are toxic to the environment and coral reefs. MANDA Organic Sun Paste is going back to nature for an eco friendly solution to sun protection. It uses an ingredient called Thanaka, a tree bark that comes from a sustainable source in Myanmar. The non-toxic, reef-safe, waterproof paste has an SPF 50 and suits an active lifestyle.
6. Luci Inflatable Solar Light
Let me introduce you to Luci. She is going to be your new best friend. Luci is an inflatable solar-powered light with an adjustable strap for hanging or carrying and multiple brightness settings. Forget about batteries; all you need is a sunny spot for Luci to hang out. The light is fully charged in 7 hours of direct sunlight, and can last up to 24 hours. Once the sun goes down, Luci can act as a portable torch or an overhead light in your tent.
