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Introduction to Eco-Friendly Camping Gear
Table of Contents
The outdoors are one of the best places to spend time. Whether you’re hiking, camping, or just taking a walk in your local park, being outside has many benefits for both your physical and mental health. The only drawback is that it’s not always possible to be completely eco-friendly when spending time outside. If you want to do as little damage as possible while still enjoying all the great things nature has to offer, then we recommend checking out these sustainable RV and eco-friendly camping gear and products!
Emotional and Physical Benefits of Camping:
There are many benefits to camping outside. Spending time outdoors offers a number of physical and mental health benefits, including:
-A boost in Vitamin D levels
-Improvement in mood and stress relief
-Enhanced creativity through deep thought on personal goals or life problems
Importance of Sustainable Camping Products
It is important to recognize the impact that each camping trip has on the environment. It is up to you, as the camper/ RVer to minimize your negative influence on the beautiful nature that surrounds you when camping. When researching camping products, make sure to look for sustainable RV and eco-friendly options. The reasons to do this include:
– Protecting the environment
-Reducing your carbon footprint by using fewer resources like fuel, water, and food
-Providing safer camping through more durable products that are less likely to break or run out of power mid-trip.
Leave No Trace
What does the statement “Leave No Trace” mean? It means minimizing your negative environmental impact. And, you can do this by reducing the amount of waste that is created when camping and being mindful of how much water or electricity you use during your trip. For more on this topic, check out this fantastic article!!
Tips to help you achieve this:
-Bring reusable utensils in place of plastic silverware
-Store leftovers in reusable food storage bags/ containers
-Clean up after yourself
-Don’t dump waste in the campground. Use only designated areas for dumping.
-Only make fire where legally acceptable. Make sure to follow fire bans and laws.
What Does Fair Trade Mean?
Fair Trade is a movement that promotes ethical trading relationships. It’s based on the idea of “fair” trade and not just “trade.” Fair Trade cooperatives strive to empower small-scale farmers in developing countries by providing them with higher prices for their crops, better working conditions, and greater control over how their products are grown or made.
This is something to consider when purchasing any items including camping and RV items. By purchasing Fair Trade items, you are supporting small-scale farmers in developing countries. Look for these items and feel great about taking care of the planet in a new way!!
What does Ethically Produced Mean?
The term “ethically produced” refers to goods that are made in a socially and environmentally responsible way. This means:
-paying workers for their labor
-ensuring safe working conditions
-limiting the use of toxic chemicals or processes such as dyes, bleaches, plasticizers, etc.
Purchasing products that are marked “ethically produced” is good for the world and the environment because it helps to create a sustainable way of living. It also ensures the reduction of harmful substances being used.
Tips For Choosing Sustainable Products and Eco-Friendly Camping Gear
Here are some tips for choosing sustainable and eco-friendly brands and products for camping and RVing.
-Check the product for recyclability. The more often a product can be recycled, reused, or composted, the better it is for the environment.
-If you’re buying new gear, look for products that are made with sustainable materials such as organic cotton and sustainably harvested wood.
-Look at how much energy each item uses in the packaging, use, and disposal.
-Buy items with less packaging.
-Look for products that are made in the USA or Canada so you know where they come from and who produces them.
-Purchase items that can be used more than once to avoid creating so much waste.
-Do not buy items with toxic dyes, bleach, or plasticizers.
-Avoid buying products that are made from natural resources in developing countries such as wood and cotton unless they’re Fair Trade certified because these people do not have the same environmental protections/ regulations we do here in North America.
What is The Forrest Stewardship CouncilTM?
The Forrest Stewardship CouncilTM is a nonprofit agency that works to ensure sustainable forestry and promote forest conservation. The FSC has developed sustainability standards for wood products including paper, lumber, furniture, and more. To qualify under the Forest Stewardship Council’s program, these items must be made from well-managed forests that do not threaten ecological diversity or contribute to climate change.
REI is one brand that carries FSC approval!!
What about Campfires and Fire Safety For Your Next Camping Trip?
Part of leaving no trace and camping in an eco-friendly fashion is being aware of fire safety. Only build campfires in designated areas. Never leave a campfire unattended. Be aware of local heat and fire conditions. Cover up all ashes before leaving campground area. This will minimize any chance of starting an unwanted forest fire.
On each camping trip only use wood from the local area. This is to prevent the spread of invasive species to new areas.
Other Campfire Tips include:
-Only use firewood that has been cut and dried.
-Do not burn trash or any other items in the campfire (including plastics).
-Campfires should be two meters from tents, buildings, trees and combustible material.
Please note: All of these tips are necessary to ensure you are not contributing to any further damage of the environment.
Should I Use Single-Use Plastic?
Should you use single-use plastic when you are on a camping or RV trip? Probably not.
Plastic is known to take up to 1000 years before it breaks down. Plastic waste can leach harmful chemicals into the ground, and contaminates our waterways. And then we eat fish from those contaminated waters which means that you are eating plastic as well!
Look for eco-friendly alternatives instead such as reusable grocery bags or metal containers for food.
What Are Good Alternatives To Single-Use Plastic?
There are many great alternatives to single-use plastics. They may be a bit more expensive at first, but they will end up saving you money in the long run. They will also save the environment damage in the future. There are a lot of great alternatives out there to plastic! Be sure to look for these when buying camping supplies for your next camping adventure.
- Reusable food storage bags
- Wheat straw plates
- Beeswax food wrap
- Compostable cutlery
- stainless steel water bottle
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
What About Sunscreen?
Can sunscreen be damaging to the environment? Yes, sunscreen can be damaging to the environment.
Sunscreen contains chemicals that are harmful to aquatic life and coral reefs from which we get a lot of our seafood. These toxins end up in drinking water. Sunscreens should only be applied when necessary and then rinsed off with fresh water as soon as possible afterwards!
Is there an eco-friendly sunscreen available?
Yes, there are products out there that use all-natural ingredients and do not contain any chemicals.
A few brands to look for:
-Raw Elements Eco-Friendly Natural Kids Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB Protection – Clear (all-natural zinc oxide)
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-Sun Bum Natural Sunscreen – No Fragrance, Chemical or Paraben (all-natural zinc oxide)
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-Badger SPF 30 Unscented Natural Sunscreen Cream for Face and Body
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Eco-Friendly Camping Gear and Brands
Finding an eco-friendly camping brand may seem like a difficult task.
Luckily, there are many great brands out there that offer eco-friendly camping gear.
Here is a list of some good brands to check out for your next trip:
Clothing:
Patagonia-
They have clothes made of recycled materials. They are also known for their sustainable business practices, including a commitment to using 100% renewable resources and running on zero waste manufacturing.
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Cotopaxi-
They have a strong focus on sustainability. Their clothes are made from recycled materials and part of their sales go to organizations that support sustainable practices.
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REI-
They are the world’s largest consumer co-op. This means they have a strong focus on sustainability and environmental work.
For more on how to store bedroom clothing and items, check out this article!
Toiletries:
Lush-
Lush is a widely known popular store. They sell many eco-friendly products and offer a hand soap that is made from 97% water. Their products not only smell fantastic, they work great, and do wonderful things for the world!!
Ursa Major-
They have all-natural products. The company strives to make products with little impact to the environment.
For more on camping beauty products, check out this article!
- URSA MAJOR ESSENTIAL FACE WIPES - These award-winning, individually-wrapped natural face wipes are the ultimate skin care multi-taskers. Infused with a generous dose of our 4-in-1 Essential Face Tonic formula, they clean, exfoliate, soothe and hydrate - leaving your skin feeling refreshed, firm and alive.
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Water Bottles:
Hydroflask-
They use insulated stainless steel to keep your water cold in the summer and warm in the winter. They are also known for creating a charitable program, Parks For All, that promotes public green spaces.
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Nalgene-
These are made from BPA free plastic, making them a great eco-friendly option!
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Accessories and Outdoor Gear/ Eco-Friendly Camping Gear:
Jade Yoga-
They are known for their sustainable clothing. Their clothes are made from organic cotton and hemp fabrics.
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GSI-
GSI offers sustainable durable camping gear (sleeping bags, tents, and more) that is made from recycled, reclaimed and recyclable materials.
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Marmot-
They offer environmentally friendly products that are made from recycled materials. They produce products are humanely produced.
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Edelrid-
They offer ropes and accessories made from recycled materials. This company doesn’t use any toxic chemicals in the making of its products. Besides using recycled materials, this company also produces less wastewater and uses less energy when making their products. This is a great company!!
- Base made of extremely robust material with internal, reinforced seams for increased durability
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Nemo-
The company Nemo offers camping gear that is made from recycled materials. A portion of Nemo’s income is spent on cleaning up the world’s oceans. For a chair article review, check out this article!
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Goal Zero-
They offer solar-powered products. A portion of their proceeds goes to giving back to the building and educating communities in need. For more on batteries, check out this article!
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Conclusion To Eco-Friendly Camping Gear
If you’re like us, there are two things that come to mind when we think about camping. One is the opportunity for a break from our everyday routine and reconnecting with nature. The other is an excuse to try out some of the new eco-friendly gear on the market! With so many sustainable options available now, it’s easier than ever before to make your next outdoor adventure as environmentally friendly as possible. From solar-powered lights and lanterns to biodegradable toiletries and compostable plates, these products will help you stay green while still enjoying everything nature has to offer in peace and tranquility – without having any negative impact on this beautiful planet we call home. What do YOU use? Let us know in the comments!!
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