We are a nation of picnic lovers but unfortunately, much of what we take with us on our outdoor dining trips are not environmentally friendly. Plastic cups and bottles, disposable plastic knives, forks, spoons, and plates, plastic food wrap, and much more end up in landfills and oceans that slowly kill our environment.
Going out for a picnic is such a fun and enjoyable activity to do while appreciating nature but we also need to keep in mind that we have a responsibility to look after it too.
Here are 5 tips for packing an eco-friendly picnic basket!
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Stay Local
If you can, find a quiet, natural spot close to home and cut down on harmful gas emissions. Being mindful of your carbon footprint is one of the best ways to help the environment. Walking or cycling to a nearby picnic area is a great start to an eco-friendly picnic. Or, why not plan a simple backyard picnic? It’s still a fun family activity but you’ll save on fuel, time and travel expenses.
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Ditch Plastic Food Wrap
When preparing your food for a picnic, the tendency is to wrap a lot of items in plastic food wrap or food bags. Plastic wrap is a single-use product made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a plastic which contains a cocktail of harmful additives and chemicals that can leach into your food and into the environment. Swap plastic wrap for reusable waxed wrapping paper. It’s compostable, recyclable, and won’t leach any toxins into your food or the environment.
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Use Wooden Disposable Utensils/Plates
You don’t want to be carrying around heavy cutlery or plates on your picnic, so disposable utensils offer a lighter, and easier way to serve and eat while out and about. Avoid the plastic plates and cutlery, and go green with disposable wooden products.
Choosing wooden silverware and plates means zero plastic and no harmful chemicals coming into contact with your food. WoodU offers a wide range of wooden utensils and plates that are 100% natural, biodegradable, and compostable. Made from sturdy and sustainable birch wood, they can be used with any food you decide to bring on your picnic without splintering or going soggy.
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Eco-Friendly Drinking Containers
Invest in some reusable water bottles so that you can enjoy a refreshing drink outdoors without contributing to plastic pollution. Travel drinking containers are much better than plastic, not only because they reduce waste, but they also keep your cold drinks cold. Perfect for a picnic on a hot summer’s day!
If you leave home without it and have to purchase a drink on the way, opt for a can rather than plastic bottles since cans are made from 70% recycled material.
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Clean up the Picnic Spot Before you Leave
This one is a no-brainer! As the saying goes, “Take nothing but memories, leave nothing from footprints”. Clean up the picnic area before you leave. If others have left a mess, clean that up too. Eco-systems are easily upset by leftover picnic junk, even if it is food waste.
If your picnic area has recycling facilities, then be sure to use them and dispose of your waste in an environmentally friendly way. If there are no facilities, then make sure that you take all your trash home with you. Recycle any cans, bottles, or papers and compost any food scraps at home.
By following these simple steps, you can plan the perfect eco-friendly picnic and ensure that the beauty of nature will stay that way and can be appreciated by picnic lovers of the future!