Summer is here! With kids out of school and families planning trips to relax and have fun, there is no doubt that summer is one of the peak seasons to travel. However, with covid still lingering around, many families have moved their oversea travel plans closer to home. With activities like hiking, camping, picnicking, and visiting beaches closer to home. But did you know traveling to nearby destinations can still leave a considerable environmental footprint?
Whether a day trip to a nearby beach or a scenic group hike, there are many ways to reduce our carbon footprint. Here are some ideas to consider when planning sustainable outdoor activities for the summer.
Say No to Plastic Straws
When visiting a hot summer beach or having a picnic on a hot summer day. A cold beverage is a must-have for you to feel refreshed and keep you away from a heat stroke. However, most drinks come with plastic drinking straws. At first glance, you might think it’s just a tiny piece of plastic that won’t do much harm to the environment. However, it is exactly that piece of plastic that created the most harm to the environment. A study has shown that, on average, 500 million plastic straws are used daily. These short-lived tools are usually dropped into the garbage with no future thought, instantly becoming a source of plastic pollution.
To reduce our carbon footprint, we can search for biodegradable straws for one-time usage. Several different plant-based material compostable straws are available in the market, from sugarcane, bamboo, to agave available for purchase. With the Canadian government taking action in eliminating single-use plastic and world organizations joining the movement of The Last Plastic Straw, you can be a part of the solution as well.
Bring Reusable Supplies/ Pack Green
This may sound like a lot of work, but statistics show that almost 40% of plastic waste is produced just for packaging, and more than half of it ends up in landfills. Therefore, bringing your own reusable supplies not only reduces the chance of leaving unwanted trash behind but reduces the stress of not knowing if you still have enough supplies to go for your planned trip. Items like cloth napkins, reusable food and drinking containers, and washable cutleries can greatly reduce your carbon footprint.
Carpool or Public Transportation
Choosing to carpool or take public transportation to your destination is one of the most sustainable ways to travel. We have all experienced the inconvenience of visiting a popular location where parking is limited or unavailable nearby. This situation always results in an extremely long search time for parking. This not only reduces your time to enjoy the place you have planned to visit but creates extra carbon emission that contributes to global warming.
Leave it Better Than You Found it.
This is very straightforward, always make sure that you clean up after yourself after your stay. Never leave unwanted trash and waste around the area, including food. Many people might be under the assumption that certain things are biodegradable. However, these things can make a surprisingly significant difference when it comes to environmental impact, depending on the location. Therefore, always carry out food waste and not leave it in your path.
Cleaning up after yourself is a must do but taking an extra step further to clean up after others is even better. After all, the philosophy is “Leave it better than you found it” that emphasis on the better. You can simply do so by keeping an eye on your surroundings when leaving.
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