Eco-Friendly Style Tips for Beach Trips

By: Shamsa Mangalji
YAC & Virtual Volunteer

Here is a step-by-step guide for having fun in the sun in a way that won’t hurt our lovely Mama Earth.

TIP 1:

Got some old sneakers or shoes that don’t quite fit anymore? Be a trendsetter and cut them up to make a pair of beach worthy sandals. Trust me. You will be the envy of all the surfer kids.

TIP 2:

Find a duffel or tote bag from home and avoid the plastic or paper stuff (check your mom’s closet...moms always seem to have them lying around).

TIP 3:

Bookworms: be sure to fill your bag with appropriate reading material...I highly recommend Vanity Fair’s 2nd annual Green Issue (the one with Leonardo DiCaprio posing in front of polar bears) and the waterproof and recyclable book, Cradle to Cradle (by William
McDonough and Michael Braugnart)

TIP 4:

Hit up your local farmers market or organic food store for some goodies to take with you in a portable cooler...Then, you don’t have to buy overpriced and over-packaged food at the beach. (Beach food usually tastes suspiciously ocean-flavored, anyways)

TIP 5:

Don’t forget the sunscreen! If you’re all out, check www.smartsheild.com to buy the biodegradable kind.

TIP 6:

Fill your car to the brim with friends, or just take a bus to the nearest beach to save some energy (and money)

TIP 7:

When at the beach, pick up some trash and recycle whatever you can.

TIP 8:

Use your empty bottles to transport sand from the shore and make some funky sand castles, or fill them with pretty shells to make a quick gift for that close friend or special someone.

TIP 9:

Take a quick shower when you get home (A 10-minute shower uses as much as 60 gallons of water)

TIP 10:

Did all that swimming make you crave fish for dinner? Check http://www.mbayaq.org/ to find sustainable seafood in your region.