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It has been a slow transition for me, but I have finally found the best zero waste essentials for beach trips!
These are my favorite zero waste beach essentials that I keep in my beach bag in order to cut down on plastic waste.
They are kind to the environment and more specifically the ocean.
When we bring products to the beach that have toxic chemicals in them they can get into the ocean and negatively effect the animals and natural ecosystem. You may not think that plastic water bottles, plastic straws or plastic bags do much harm but when it is all added up it can turn marine life’s home into a landfill.
Simple swaps like the ones listed below will ensure that you leave the beach leaving minimal harm!
Sustainable Packing Tips For a Beach Trip
Borrow or thrift items
Before you start purchasing new items for your vacation or beach trip be sure to shop second-hand or borrow items from a friend.
This is the most sustainable option because more resources do not need to be used to create new products.
Items like beach chairs, umbrellas and beach toys for the kiddos can easily be found at the thrift store or borrowed from a friend.
Be mindful of the trash you bring to the beach
Everyone loves beach snacks! The downside to bringing these items is that they are generally wrapped in plastic and can easily get swept up and drift into the ocean. Plastic in the ocean is harmful to animals and the natural ecosystem.
Try to buy snacks zero waste or put your snacks in reusable containers before heading to the beach.
If you do end up bringing some items that are in single-use packaging, bring a trash bag to collect your trash that way it is guaranteed to not be left behind.
How Does Plastic Pollution Harm the Ocean?
Out of the 400 million tons of plastic that is produced every year, 14 million tons of that finds its way to the ocean each year.
Although plastic makes our lives easier and safer in many ways, when it is done being used it can find its way into the ocean in many ways. Littering, stormwater runoff and illegal dumping are just a few ways that single-use plastic can end up in our oceans.
Here are just a few ways plastic pollution is harmful:
- Increasing emissions like carbon dioxide and methane which contribute to climate change
- Microplastics end up in human water and food due to fish being a part of many people’s diets and the plastic making its way up the food chain
- Ingestion by marine animals which harms individual animals and the greater biodiversity of the ocean.
We live in an interconnected system with the earth so our choices affect the ecosystem we call home, along with plants and animals.
Source: Marine Plastic Pollution IUCN
The Best Zero Waste Beach Essentials
1. Reef safe Sunscreen
Sunscreen is essential every day, but especially when you’re at the beach! Unfortunately, a lot of sunscreens that are currently on the market have harmful chemicals (like Oxybenzone) that can impact coral reef.
A lot of those sunscreens also come in plastic packaging. Instead, opt for sunscreens that are reef safe and can be refilled or come in sustainable packaging.
I have tried my fair share of natural sunscreens and All Good Sunscreen is by far my favorite! The white cast isn’t too bad and I feel like the price is pretty good for what you are getting.
Here are some other low waste sunscreen options!
I am super lucky and I have a zero-waste store near me that has sunscreen refills. If you are new to zero waste shopping you can check out my post here for tips on getting started!
2. Thrifted beach blanket
Are you a beach chair or a beach blanket kind of person? I personally love beach blankets and it took me over 6 months to find the perfect one.
I probably could have found one sooner, but I really wanted to thrift one because all of the sustainably made blankets I was finding were really expensive! Finally, I found a brand new (to me) beach blanket and I love it!
All this to say, sometimes choosing to thrift items can mean you may have to wait a while to find the perfect item.
{RECOMMENDED POST: 9 Must Have Zero Waste Travel Essentials For Your Next Trip}
3. Reusable water bottle
This is the original go to sustainable swap and for good reason! It cuts down on so much plastic waste since you are not using plastic water bottles.
If you are blessed to live in an area with clean drinking water there is no reason to purchase bottled water. Besides, putting your water in an insulated reusable water bottle will keep it nice and cool anyways.
I personally use a hydro flask. Unique, I know. They just work so well! You can find hydro flasks here.
4. Snack container
What is a beach trip without beach snacks? I love bringing fresh fruit, chips and hummus or sandwiches to the beach.
U-Konserve containers are great for sandwiches, salads and wraps. They also have smaller containers that can be good for dips or nuts. And of course, there are stasher bags that can hold cut-up fruits and vegetables really well.
You can find these reusable containers here:
5. Oil for my hair
Depending on the texture of your hair, it may need a little extra love at the beach. I have been loving using Shea Moisture products to help protect my hair from damage when I’m swimming.
This castor oil comes in mostly glass packaging and isn’t too heavy so it’s great for a beach bag. You can find the castor oil here.
If you don’t love castor oil, coconut oil is another great protectant for your hair at the each.
{Recommended Post: How to Care for Your Natural Hair at the Beach}
6. Beach Towel
There are so many fun beach towels to choose from but recently I came across the brand Slowtide. They are made from 100% sustainably sourced cotton and are ethically made.
They have a lot of different towels to choose from but my favorite are the quick drying and sand free ones! It is not like a normal towel that brings the beach with you, the sand just glides off the towel!
7. Thrifted beach bag
I finally found a big beach bag that can fit everything! My pro tip for beach bags is to choose one with holes in it because the sand will just fall out as you pack up to go home.
Also using a simple tote bag that you have lying around is a great option as well. Many times reusable bags are given out for free!
8. Sustainable Swimwear
Fast fashion also includes swimwear. A lot of swimsuits are made of plastic or are dyed with unnatural dyes that contain some not so great chemicals. Choosing a sustainably made swimsuit protects both the health of the ocean and your own.
These are some of my favorite sustainably made swimsuit companies:
9. Thrifted or Borrowed Book
One of my favorite activities to do at the beach is reading!
I try to borrow books from the library, purchase used ones from local bookshops or borrow books from friends.
{Recommended Post: 10 Popular Places You Can Thrift Clothes Online}
10. Sustainable Sunglasses
Can’t forget your sunnies! Pela is mostly known for making sustainably made phone cases but they also make sunglasses. You can find their sunglasses here.
What we love about Pela:
- made out of recycled material & ocean plastic
- you can send in your old sunglasses to be recycled
- uses minimal packing to cut down on natural resources
- B Corp Certified
- Climate Neutral Certified
- 1% For the Planet
11. Reusable Cutlery
When packing your beach picnic or grabbing food to go, be sure to swap plastic cutlery for reusable bamboo or stainless steel cutlery (or even just use your hands!).
It can be so easy for these to fall out of our bags and in the long run harm marine life. Yes it will require a little extra dishes but it is better than dropping plastic on the beach.
12. Cloth Napkins
Rather than bringing a thick stack of napkins that will most likely blow off into the wind, bring a few towels to wipe faces and wrap food.
If using a reusable container like a mason jars is too heavy, you can also use cloth napkins or beeswax wrap to wrap up food and bring it home. This is also a great way to cut down on food waste.
What are other ways we can protect the ocean from plastic pollution?
Of course, zero waste living is just one way of many to help protect the ocean. Buying reusable products (that you need rather than want!) is a wonderful step in the right direction but it won’t solve all of the problems with plastic pollution.
So what can individuals do to protect the ocean to reduce plastic pollution and reduce carbon footprint?
Here are a few examples:
- Volunteering at beach cleanups
- Talking about plastic pollution with friends & family to make it the norm to discuss climate change
- Eating less fish, cutting out fish from your diet or only buying responsibly sourced fish. Overfishing can wreak havoc on the ecosystem of the ocean
- Continuing to learn more about ocean conservation through books, documentaries, and lectures
Remember, saving our oceans is not completely individuals job (companies and governments are responsible too!).
But making small choices like zero waste beach swaps for more sustainable ones can help to sway others to care about the ocean as well.
Do you have any eco-friendly beach essentials that aren’t on this list? I would love to hear them in the comments below!
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Stay well,
Maggie
This post was all about the best zero-waste beach essentials to help protect the ocean.
Other posts you may like:
5 Simple Connections Between Sustainable Living On Your Debt Free Journey
How to Seamlessly Introduce Your Kids to Zero Waste Living
9 Powerful Zero Waste Cleaning Products We Are Obsessed With
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