8 Solutions for Sustainable Camping
Are you a summer camper or prefer the fall? Either way, it is important to arrive onsite equipt with the necessities to make the best of your time in the wilderness. If you value the experiences and surroundings of camping, you likely know the importance of maintaining it. It is so important to follow the popular motto “Leave it as good or better than you found it”
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In today’s post is offering up great tips on how to minimize waste and impact on your trips into the wilderness. My top 8 solutions for sustainable camping are:
Rent, repurchase, and repair your camping gear
Use old wood from the forest
Repurpose old blankets
Use solar powered tools
Use reusables
Use eco-friendly bug spray and sunscreens
Clean up after yourself
Respect wildlife
Rent, repurchase, repair your camping gear
Depending on where you live and where you are headed there is a good chance you will have a camping rental store near you. If you don’t camp often, consider asking friends, family, or neighbours who do to outfit you with the equipment you need to have a great trip.
I recommend making a list as far in advance as possible from your trip to determine what you need, and make a plan on how to get it. Secondhand stores or online marketplaces are a great alternative to buying new. If you need more second hand shopping tips, you should check out my Guide to Thrifting Right
If you have equipment that has wear or tear, always try to consider repairing what you have before purchasing new as well. There is no need to bring more goods and packaging waste into circulation when there is existing gear available.
There are also a number of things that might SEEM like essentials that really aren’t. Cutlery for example, can be taken from your home. Same with cooking equipment so long as you ensure it is safe for an open fire. The most common materials for cookware that is used over an open fire is cast iron, stainless steel, aluminum and titanium.
Use old wood from the forest
Depending on the type of venture you are looking to have, there are a variety of ideas on how you can make use of the natural materials at your disposal around you. I mean, isn’t that what camping is all about?!
Instead of carrying in your own wood, choose to purchase local and ethically or source from your surroundings. Set aside the time to source to look for
Try crafting your marshmallow or hotdog sticks out of wood instead of buying stainless steel ones. Themanual.com has a wonderful guide on how to gather firewood responsibly you can check out here.
Repurpose old blankets
Spending nights outside can get chilly depending on the area and time of year you are choosing to camp. Instead of buying new sleeping bags, why not repurpose old blankets to outfit your camping sight and sleeping set up? You won’t have to worry about what happens to them and can easy throw them in the wash when you get home.
You could also cut up old blankets for DIY towels or rags while you are out to prevent the need for buying new. Be conscious of their weight while wet - these would not make a good alternative to a tarp, which is definitely a camping essential.
Use solar-powered tools
Solar powered tools can replace the need for fuel, ice, and batteries for essential power. Go Sun has an amazing selection of solar powered tools to help you keep comfortable and connected during your camping experience. They carry solar solutions for literally every camping need under the sun.
From ovens, and coolers, to portable power sources and water generators - they have it all. Having a portable source of energy off the grid can be of huge benefit in emergency situations. Check out some of their best sellers:
Use reusables
Another great tip is to bring a set of reusable containers with you. You never know when you will need them. From storing foraged goods, to leftovers, to wet clothing, you never know when you need a sealed container to keep things safe and dry. Taking into account the wildlife around you, it is important to keep items sealed properly to avoid odor from reaching past your campsite.
On the clean up side of things, its helpful to have containers to use for any trash that might be around your site. I also recommend silicone bags if you have them already. They make great versatile storage solutions for on the go.
Use eco-friendly mosquito spray and sunscreen
When preparing for your trips, you will definitely need to take into account your bug spray and sunscreen supply.
Attitude sunscreen has plastic free- biodegradable packaging sunscreen that works great but is only SPF 30. I have a coupon you can use here.
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I found a two in one sun and bug solution from Apothecary Muse on etsy which is a best seller with plenty of great reviews across other blogs and on etsy itself. It comes in a cardboard tube similar to Attitude’s and is filled with natural ingredients to repel bugs and sun for two hours at a time.
For something with a bit more protection, I recommend Babo Botanicals. Their mineral based sunscreens are vegan, cruelty free, gluten free, and are reef safe (do not contain any oxybenzone or octinoxate). The brand is best known for their baby products so they are very knowledgeable about sensitive skin and avoid ingredients and fragrance irritants. They have a 50 spf that goes on beautifully in both a spray and lotion form.
Clean up after yourself
To seasoned campers this might be a no brainer, but I still believe it is important to include. You should always leave the area you stay at as good, if not better condition than you found it. Leave no trace behind. Leaving belongings or garbage on a campsite or in the wilderness is the opposite of responsible.
A great way to make sure you leave things properly is to take photos of the area before you start setting up gear for your stay. They you are able to replace boulders, logs, and piles of earth exactly where you found them that could be shelters to surrounding wildlife.
Respect Wildlife
When you are camping, you are a guest in someone else’s home. You are coming into a space that inhabits hundreds if not thousands of different types of flora and fauna that were busy minding their own business before you came along.
While camping is a wonderful way to connect with the earth and get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, it is very important to remember while you are on vacation, the wildlife around will be on high alert. Do proper research for the wildlife in the area you are going and be conscious of the way they live. Think about it this way. If you had a guest in your home, how would you like them to act?
Have a plan and think about how your plan might impact your surroundings, and adjust accordingly. Planning on making it a party? Probably best to leave the loud speakers at home. Want to hang up a hammock? Be sure you know which tree types can handle the weight against their bark.
Are you a conscious camper? Share your favourite tip for enjoying time out in nature in the comments below.
Hey, Claudia here
I am a senior graphic designer, a dog mom, an advocate for a zero-waste lifestyle, climate change, and sustainability. My articles are based on personal experience and well researched to give you the best source of information for all things zero-waste.