These trends are hot, hot, hot! Embrace your eco-friendly side this summer and be kind to the environment with these warm-weather suggestions:
Metal straws – Move over, plastic! There’s a shiny new straw in town. Invest in some reusable metal straws for your home and not only will you save money by avoiding purchases for replacement straws, but you’ll also reduce the number of single-use plastics that wind up in the ocean.
Sustainable swimwear – Put your best fashion foot forward with a swimsuit made from recycled materials and with eco-friendly and ethical manufacturing processes. From nontoxic dye to the fabric itself, sustainable swimwear will have you feeling cool AND kind!
Screen your sunscreen – Protecting your skin is a must during the summer months, but some of the chemicals used in sunscreen can be harmful to marine life and damage the very delicate ecosystem of coral reefs. Sunscreen tends to wash off, float and gather in these vulnerable areas. Try to avoid sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. Look for mineral sunscreens that use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide instead.
Reusable snack packs – Summer snacks are some of the best parts of the day, but the plastic baggies and plastic film we use to transport them aren’t. Check out your reusable options such as beeswax wraps and washable zip bags. You’ll love their performance and the environment will thank you.
Water bottle conscious – It’s so tempting to just pick up a pallet of bottled water at your big box store, but let’s be honest: Those plastic bottles don’t always end up in the recycle bin. Swap out your throw-away bottles for a stainless-steel water bottle. It will keep your water cool and help reduce waste.
Bamboo utensils – Another single-use product you might find yourself favoring during the summer months are plastic utensils. For your beach picnic, opt to dine with reusable bamboo utensils. They’re lightweight so you won’t have to lug around your metal silverware, but then you can take them home to wash and reuse!
Compostable plates – Serve up some eco-friendly options during your summer BBQ by making good environmental choices for your disposable items. Make sure plates and utensils are compostable and not made from plastic or coated with plastic.
What other ways can you make kind, eco-friendly choices this summer? Let us know in the comments what environmentally minded trends you’re embracing.
