Spending time in the great outdoors, surrounded by nature is one of the best ways to relax and switch off from the stress of everyday life. Whether you decide to go traditional camping or glam it up with “glamping” it is important to take care of the environment. Remember, leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but memories!
Here are some tips for a more sustainable and eco-friendly camping trip that allow you to enjoy all the wonders of nature without harming the environment.
1. Stay Local
Try to choose a camping spot close to home to reduce gas emissions. Less travel time means a lower carbon footprint and means you get to enjoy more time spent camping and chilling in beautiful nature. It’s also a great opportunity to rediscover the beauty on your own doorstep!
2. Plan your Meals
With a little bit of forward planning before you go, you can reduce food waste and packaging waste for a more green camping trip. Remember, you can’t store leftovers in the fridge when you’re in the middle of the mountains, so only bring what you can eat! One-pot meals made at home are quick and easy to make on the campfire and save on mess and clean-up.
3. Eco-friendly Tableware
Packing up your best plates and traditional cutlery just isn’t practical, but steer clear of plastic plates and utensils. Instead, for a more eco-friendly camping dining experience, choose disposable wooden items which are 100% natural and compostable. They are lightweight but durable so they won’t break easily or splinter. Check out the WoodU range of sustainable wooden plates and utensils for a green camping trip.
4. Careful with Campfires
Before you light up and start melting your marshmallows, make sure there are no fire restrictions in the area or in the campsite. If there is an established fire-ring available, use it and never leave fires unattended. Forest fires can catch and spread incredibly quickly and can be devastating to nature, wildlife, and human life.
5. Take your Trash Home
Try to bring items and food that have little or no packaging to reduce the amount of trash. If there are recycling bins on site, make use of them or bring a few rubbish bags with you and sort the waste (plastics, paper, cans, and bottles) for easy recycling when you get home. Before you leave the campsite, do a final sweep of the area to make sure you leave nothing behind.
6. Don’t Disturb the Wildlife
Be mindful that you are a visitor so always be respectful of the animals in their natural habitat. Feeding wild animals can lead them to become reliant on humans and upsets their natural instincts and feeding habits. Not only that, but human food can be extremely harmful to them. If you are taking the family dog with you on your camping trip, be sure to keep them on a leash.
7. Use Natural Lotions and Insect Repellents
A camping must-have at any time of year is a reliable insect repellent, and if you’re going in summer, then you’ll definitely need some sun lotion. Try to choose products that are natural without permethrin. If you plan on going swimming this can wash off in the water and can be toxic to aquatic life.