Many people enjoy camping as a recreational activity.
Some people enjoy experiencing nature and wildlife in the outback or off the grid. These people go on camping trips regularly, perhaps to their favorite hunting grounds or hiking trails. Then there are casual campers who don’t do it frequently but may try it out on vacation. Whatever category of camper you fall under, it is critical to plan your trips ahead of time.
One of the most important considerations is whether your camping trip has been planned sustainably. People’s awareness of environmental issues has grown and they now understand the importance of sustainability. But with camping, people overlook some of the things they do that are not environmentally friendly and could be changed to make camping more sustainable.
The increasing number of people interested in going off the grid posits society to be more watchful of how it interacts with Mother Nature. Sustainability aims to ensure that camping activities don’t hurt the environment. Fortunately, there are steps campers can take to make their trips more sustainable while still having fun.
Buy Organic Food
People usually give little thought to the food they bring on camping trips. But, if you care about the environment, consider buying organic foods.
Although organic foods are usually more expensive, they are much healthier for you and the environment because they are produced more sustainably. Organic food is typically free of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, making it a much more environmentally friendly food source.
Rent Or Borrow Camping Equipment
If you’ve ever planned a camping trip, you’ll know that it often necessitates a significant investment. This is especially true if you plan on hiking trails or mountain climbing. You’ll require a tent, a recreational vehicle (RV), a stove, a solar generator for RV, an internet connection, and hiking or climbing gear among other things.
It’s important to be prepared when you go camping. But, new camping equipment can be costly to purchase. Therefore, renting or borrowing may be a good idea, particularly if you aren’t a regular camper. Instead of buying an RV, look for a company that rents them out. If you have a friend that camps out a lot, consider borrowing the gear from them. Alternatively, look for a nearby store that rents out used camping equipment.
Use Environmentally Friendly Body Products
When going camping, you’ll undoubtedly require a few camping essentials to help you cope with life off the grid. Depending on where you’re camping, you might need lotion, insect repellent, sunscreen, and even makeup. However, you probably haven’t considered how these products may negatively impact the environment.
Some products, for example, may contain a water-soluble compound known as permethrin, which is known to be toxic to aquatic life. Products containing permethrin are usually used in malaria-prone areas because it acts as an insecticide. Nevertheless, if your products contain it, you should probably leave them home. Instead, choose a natural sunscreen or insect repellent that still protects while being environmentally friendly.
Discard Plastic Water Bottles
Water is essential for human survival, and you’ll need it on camping trips. While purchasing plastic water bottles is convenient, remember that these bottles are bad for the environment. According to some studies, making one bottle takes three bottles of water. That’s one illustration of how unsustainable bottled water is.
Furthermore, the chemicals used to manufacture polyethylene terephthalate (PET) water bottles have been found to be particularly harmful to humans. Plus, they’re non-biodegradable. This means that, unlike other organic waste, they don’t decompose easily. To make matters worse, animals may end up ingesting these plastic bottles, which isn’t good. As a result, it’s best to avoid purchasing plastic water bottles altogether
Bring Reusable Dishes
While disposable plastic or paper plates are convenient, especially for camping trips, understand that simply throwing them away isn’t good for the environment. Consider bringing reusable dishes on your next camping trip instead.
Doing dishes isn’t the most exciting thing in the world. Furthermore, it’s probably not ideal if you’re going camping to relax. However, it’s far better for the environment. It’ll also allow you to save money you would’ve spent on disposable paper or plastic plates.
Consider The Location And Travel Distance
There are numerous camping locations to choose from. Long road trips are enjoyable for many people. They may actually have some mental health benefits according to some studies. However, while such long road trips are enjoyable, they should ideally be done occasionally. The more you travel, the more fossil fuels you’ll have to burn. However, if you travel shorter distances, you’ll use less fuel. As a result, your carbon footprint is reduced.
A lot of planning goes into successful camping trips. However, for the sake of Mother Nature, consider incorporating sustainable measures into your travel plans the next time you go on a trip. The majority of the suggestions listed above require little effort. It all comes down to being intentional and committing to making the world greener, one action at a time. So, the next time you go camping, consider purchasing food with sustainable packaging, solar power cells, and recyclable jars.
