As we step out of lockdown and into summer, it’s time to celebrate in the sun with an eco-friendly picnic. Picnics are the perfect way to reconnect with friends and the environment, and it’s a great opportunity to show off those delicious recipes you mastered during lockdown.
Studies actually support the healing and reinvigorating effect of picnics – simply being in green space has positive effects for your mental health. You can also couple your picnics with a relaxing nature walk to get the most out of your excursion and to improve your cognition.
If this sounds like the perfect way to spend a sunny weekend, read on! We’ve done all the difficult planning for you – from easy picnic snacks to the reusable cutlery, here is everything you’ll need to make your next picnic a success.
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Cutlery and Utensils
Metal or bamboo, not plastic
It is shocking to think about the sheer quantity of disposable plastic we use in a day. For example, did you know that we use 0.5 billion plastic straws per day? We bin a comparable amount of plastic forks and spoons per day as well. None of this plastic biodegrades and when our single use plastic ends up in the oceans, it wreaks havoc with the marine ecosystem. In fact, in their ‘Fighting For Trash Free Seas’ project, the Ocean Conservancy labels cutlery as one of the ‘most deadly’ items to sea life.
One of the most responsible things you can do on your picnic and in everyday life is to bring your own cutlery and straws. A handy tip is to buy foldable cutlery to carry around in a reusable coffee cup. This way, you are prepared to say “No worries, I have my own” to any food vendor lucky enough to serve a conscientious customer like you.
Ecobuy also features a great collapsible straw that is hygienic, mess-free, and portable, and you can buy it right here.
Reusable collapsible straws
The second best choice is to opt for bamboo utensils. These are far superior to plastic utensils because they are compostable and biodegradable. This means they won’t lie in landfill or bob around in the ocean forever.
Packaging
Containers, beeswax, or silicone, not plastic or cling film
Bringing your food in a tupperware container is a great option because the lids become makeshift plates and you can store scraps and used cutlery into the empty containers. Alternatively, collapsible products are a handy and efficient option to save space. It is easy to find collapsible cups and containers.
Some foods, like wraps or sandwiches, may not be suitable for a container. If that’s the case, use beeswax or silicone wraps instead of cling film.
Anyone who has used cling film before knows that it’s flimsy, sticks to your fingers, and just can’t be reused. Being single use is not the only downside of cling film. Cling film is terrible for the environment and for human health. Not only can it choke sea life and birds, but it is made from a material called PVC and PVDC that leaches a toxic chemical called dioxin into landfills and incinerators. Cling wraps that claim to be ‘organic’ or ‘eco-friendly’ on the label may not have actual benefits.
A natural alternative to cling film is beeswax wrap. It is typically made of cotton coated with beeswax and natural oil. You can use the warmth of your hands to fold and wrap it around foods and it is reusable. Etee, a US start up that makes beeswax wrap among other sustainable products, says their products have replaced the use of more than 100 million square feet of plastic film in two years.
Eco-friendly products for your picnic
Check out Ecobuy’s Directory for great beeswax products. A highly-recommended local brand is Apiwraps, which has been operating for eight years and has helped save more than 4 million metres of plastic wrap.
Sustainable Beeswax Wraps
Silicone wraps or bags are another great option if you want something airtight and leak-proof. Silicone is preferred to plastic because it more long-lasting and doesn’t contain toxins that are suspected to leach into its surroundings. Its durability and heat resistance makes it a popular material for kitchen utensils like spatulas and tongs. Read the FAQs to find out more about silicone.
My Humble Earth is a Western Australian business that makes resealable silicone pouches – perfect for carrying picnic snacks. If you’re more interested in bowl covers, Ecobuy recommends Us and The Earth.
Silicone covers for an eco-friendly picnic
Picnic Snacks
Another amazing way to have an eco-friendly picnic is to pack foods that are less harmful to the environment. Instead of buying plastic-wrapped snacks for your picnic, consider making your own food or designing a sustainable menu. There are plenty of eco-friendly recipes online that cater to all tastes. Take the load off your shoulders by having everyone BYO and make your picnic a potluck. You can also ask people to bring their own water bottles instead of buying disposable cups and soft drinks in plastic bottles.
The sustainable lifestyle is about making small conscious choices that can change the world. Choose practical, durable, and sustainable products and you will find that it is easy and enjoyable to plan your eco-friendly picnic. Furthermore, all the products in this article can be used in everyday life for a long time to come, instead of being thrown away at the end of the picnic. Reconnect with the environment and your friends this summer with the perfect eco-friendly picnic.
FAQs
Is silicone actually good for the environment?
Silicone has many benefits over plastic, which is well-known to be enviroenmentally distructive. Firstly, silicone is made from silica, which comes from sand. In comparison, plastic is made from crude oil, which requires extraction from the ground. Secondly, unlike plastic, silicone does not break down into micro-plastics that end up in the ocean, and it is recyclable. Thirdly, a major environmental benefit of silicone is that it is not made for single use. Silicone is hardy and durable, so it can be used over and over again. Its resistance to heat and cold also means you don’t have to worry about it cracking or melting.
Can't I just reuse single use plastics?
Reusing single use plastics is bad for your health. For example, reusing single use PET bottles are shown to have harmful effects on your body, as the bottles leach heavy metals into your drinking water when exposed to the sun for too long. Don’t risk it and buy a reusable bottle instead! Furthermore, the waste generated by single use plastics is not their only issue. A major benefit of opting for reusable products is that we show big businesses that we value the environment. Continuing to buy single use plastics condones the manufacturing of them.
