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Summer camping is a nice way to get away from our modern priorities and experience the beauty of mother nature. It’s also the time to appreciate nature and look for ways to conserve the environment. So regardless of your reasons for camping, it's crucial to limit the carbon footprint of our activities to help protect and preserve nature for the future.
There are a few swaps and essential tips that come in handy to ensure that you have a sustainable camping experience without sacrificing comfort and convenience. This article covers some of the ways you can limit your impact on the environment when camping in the summer.
A tent is essential for camping unless you're sleeping in a hammock or going with a camper van. However, finding a sustainable tent is not as easy, as you can't afford to overlook even the smallest features.
The tent material is the most important thing, though the benefits of one over the other can be hard to distinguish. This is because conventionally-grown fabrics like cotton and hemp require too many pesticides and dyes, while synthetic ones come with toxic finishes.
Natural fabrics are the most suitable if you are looking to camp sustainably. Moreover, they are the best during the summer as you are camping in a dry environment with no rain. However, they can be hard to find, expensive, and heavier to carry, but the stress is worth it if it means having an environmentally conscious summer camp.
A sleeping pad or mat is another essential item for your camping trip. There is nothing more annoying than realizing that you forgot yours at home when you arrive at your camping destination. If you would like to camp sustainably, look for mats and pads from brands that aim to reduce the carbon footprint.
An eco-friendly sleeping mat has to be made from the most sustainable materials possible to minimize the impact that they have on the environment.
The best sustainable sleeping mat is the TwisterCane BioFoam Sleeping Pad which has been developed from sugarcane biomass. The mat is made from natural sugarcane resin and solution-dyed fabric that reduce the chemicals used in making it. Moreover, sugarcane is a renewable material, meaning it contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gases to help combat climate change. Try this and other sustainable sleeping mats and pads instead of synthetic fabrics if you intend to have a sustainable summer camp.
When you're going camping, you need to find as many lighting options as you can. Having a headlamp instead of a flashlight is highly advisable as you don't have to keep one hand busy holding it all the time. It is also a good addition to a camping lantern if you want to focus light on what you're doing.
Portable solar lighting provides pollution-free electricity and is, therefore, a clean alternative. Get a solar lantern that you can charge during the day and use to light up at night. Afterall, it's summer, and you'd better get the most out of the sun. Additionally, a rechargeable lantern will provide a quick and easy way to light up an entire campsite if you don't want to light a fire outside.
Your water supply is crucial, and so is the fact that you need to get sustainable storage for your water. If you can get hold of clean water near your campsite, be sure to carry a reusable water bottle instead of relying on single-use ones. Get one that keeps the water's temperature, as you don't want to end up having to heat water every now and then.
However, if you have no access to clean drinking water or you can't bring enough water to refill your bottle, go for a reliable filtered water bottle to keep your carbon footprint at a minimum.
Here are some bonus tips during a summer camping trip
Renting or borrowing camping gear is an eco-friendly way to go camping since you are using gear that has been in use by someone else. Buying new gear means that manufacturers have to replenish their stock, meaning more resources need to be extracted from nature. Moreover, it is a great way to save money for those who haven't had any prior experience and want to dip their toes into camping. Also, too much gear can cause clutter at home, so why not just borrow or rent! This means that you only need to buy a few supplies for camping, and you can save money while conserving the environment.
Bring extra rechargeable batteries for a summer camp. In case your headlamp or lantern batteries die, you can use the batteries and recharge them during the day when the sun is shining. Not only have rechargeable batteries been found to be better for the environment, but they also make more financial sense. So make sure to get extra rechargeable batteries to avoid bulk buying and constant disposal of single-use batteries.
How you eat when camping is essential as it is not something you can avoid. Several habits come in handy if you are looking to camp sustainably. Firstly, it's a great idea to bring ready meals that you can warm on a stove, instead of raw packed food, if you are going on a short camping trip. Alternatively, you can decant shop-bought food into reusable containers in case there are no bins where you are camping.
Secondly, if you have to cook, be mindful of where you are cooking. Disposable barbeques can cause fires, especially during summer, and are not great for the environment. The best option is to use a stove instead of an open fire. Lastly, carry utensils you can clean and reuse. They cost less and don't cause much harm to the environment.
Buying high-quality camping gear and products will ensure that you get more longevity out of an item. Camping gear can easily get too expensive, and you can be tempted to buy cheap off-brand equipment that won't last you long. Getting quality durable equipment means that you can camp sustainably by reducing the impact of broken gear in the landfill.
It's crucial to leave nature as we have found it when we go out camping in the summer. But there are more benefits of being an eco-friendly camper. Here are some of them.
The biggest benefit of eco-friendly camping is that it conserves the environment. With the increase in camping activities during the summer, the natural landscape is becoming increasingly corrupted. However, sustainable camping involves getting eco-friendly gear, using solar energy, and minimizing toxic waste that goes into the landfill.
Summer is not only the best time to go out and explore the beauty of wildlife, but is also the best time to help preserve its majesty. When you leave plastics in the wild, animals may consume them and this causes major health problems. Moreover, even organic waste such as banana peels and apple cores may seem harmless, but they can cause diseases and disrupt wildlife habits when consume. By cleaning up and avoiding toxic wastes, you can help save wildlife.
We all like to save every penny we can. Going on sustainable camping in the summer, you give yourself a chance of saving some cash. Bunking in the wilderness is better than paying for a hotel room. Moreover, you save money when you buy reusable camping gear that will serve you for a long time. While most gear may look expensive to buy, it's a one-time investment that will last long. Alternatively, you can also buy used gear as it reduces the landfill, conserving the environment and saving you money.
We all need to relax and unwind in the outdoors every once in a while, and summer camping is an effective way of doing that. However, it doesn't have to come at the expense of the environment, as we can still maintain environmental consciousness while camping. If you plan to camp during the summer, these tips and gear suggestions will help you camp sustainably.