Thinking about plastic free camping this summer? Whether you are a camper or a glamper, a back country trekker or boater, spending time in nature this summer should be on the list of things to do. It allows you the time to get grounded and reconnect with your family and yourself, appreciate stillness and the simple things, and of course, explore some amazing places near and far! Vacationing is a time to relax, enjoy, and de-stress, but that doesn’t mean sacrificing your low waste efforts - especially when you’re a visitor and need to do your best to leave no footprint behind (except your actual footprints!). Taking your low impact mentality out there on vacation is totally doable and we are so fortunate to live in a time where we have access to so many safer, cleaner, and plastic free options! Here are my top products and tips to get you through the Summer without giving up your efforts to live Low Waste and Plastic Free.

Up Close & Personal

We’re diving right in because Personal Hygiene is a hard one for people on vacation or in the woods, especially if you’re someone who is used to showering everyday or if outhouses and bush pees are a new concept to you! Packing light is important if you’re trekking in or just don’t want to bring out a massive toiletries bag where ever you go so here are my must haves for personal hygiene while practicing plastic free camping:

Mineral Sunscreen

Zinc oxide is a much safer alternative than traditional Oxybenzone chemical sunscreens that harms our environment, so much so that Hawaii has actually banned chemical sunscreens because they have caused irreversible damage to coral reefs and marine life. Zinc Oxide can be added to any lotion or raw oil/butter like Shea and coconut which also have natural SPF properties or if you’re not into experimenting with DIY, I use and highly recommend the brand Beautycounter. I love their formula as it rubs in and doesn’t leave white residue behind (they even have a non-aerosol spray option!).

Bug Repellent

As much as I hate getting eaten alive by mozzies, I try my hardest not to use bug spray and instead I put on layers or use the smoke from a fire to repel them. But a DIY bug repellent can be made super easily from natural and safe ingredients that you can get in bulk from Bare such as Witch Hazel, Lemongrass (or Citronella), and Tea Tree essential oils!

Shampoo & Conditioner

Since solid shampoo and conditioner bars have hit the scene it is now super easy to travel light with your hair care routine! We carry both Onsite Care and Mulberry Skincare all in one shampoo and conditioner bars, which are perfect for plastic free camping - plus they are made with completely safe ingredients!

Body Love

Skin can get super dry and built up with grime very quickly while camping, so a wash (at least your face!) before bed is a nice treat when you’re in the bush. Our Konjac Charcoal Sponges are an easy option for a quick face wash and Luffa Scrubbies or Hemp Soap Saver bags are perfect for a good exfoliation session, and make a great soap holder in between uses! Make sure to use a bar soap free of any Pthalates or parabens and made from organic ingredients such as our Jack & Audrey’s bar soaps. Then add some raw Shea or Monoi butter to your dry skin and you’ll wake up feeling like you’ve just visited the spa!

Toothpaste

Yes, even toothpaste can harm our environment, so make sure to use something natural and be sure to spit into a river, fire or hole so you don’t attract animals while plastic free camping. Nelson Naturals has a variety of options - personally I love the Crush & Brush tabs for travel, as they’re super easy and lightweight!

Toilet Paper

Pretty simple here, choose a single ply or bamboo option if possible and bury your TP if you’re not using an outhouse, RV/Trailer toilet or a compostable toilet! Less is more in the woods, especially with toilet paper!

Hand Sanitizer

Thankfully hand sanitizer is easier to find now than it was last year, and is a helpful tool to have on hand while plastic free camping. If you’re open to it, there are several easy DIY recipes out there for toxin-free hand sanitizer, using isopropyl, Witch Hazel and essential oils! Another option is to purchase a large bottle of hand sanitizer like the one we carry at Bare and refill a smaller one to keep on you in your daily life - this helps cut down on using thousands of tiny hand sanitizer bottles.

Plastic Free Camping Dishes & Dining

The great outdoors can be a great way to escape but let’s face it - we will still have to cook and do dishes so I try to make it as enjoyable as possible. My Mother has drilled into me that “if you have the right tools you can do any job efficiently,” so I make sure I have a setup that is user (aka my family) friendly! I also choose to let go and not take on the constant duty of clean-up. Ditching the disposables and investing in a set of metal dishware for each family member is super key here - you can even have it packed up in their own (natural cotton, hemp or bamboo) mesh bag for them to clean and pack away themselves. It’s an investment that is well worth making early, and, bonus, it will also save you hundreds in the long run (and save the planet even longer)!hand sanitizer isopropyl

A few other key items I take with me to the bush to stay clean around camp are a safe, biodegradable dish soap like the Live For Tomorrow line - Unscented is probably best or add some of our essential oils like Tea Tree. The best for scrubbing pots is our Ecoconut brush line - my fave is the all purpose brush and the donut scourers! They work so well on cast iron and even make short work of your BBQ grill with their intense bristles! No micro plastic left behind means you are being a conscious visitor. My goal is to make doing dishes easy in the outdoors so that everyone is happy to take turns and try out the cool tools! Another great (or possibly evil?) way to make doing dishes a job people line up for is by making sure they have no access to hot water at any other time, so it’s almost like bath time! If disposables are unavoidable, make sure to find bamboo plates and cutlery - its not ideal as it still takes resources and energy to manufacture, but it is better than paper and plastic. Who wants to eat off a flimsy plate anyway?!

A Good Waste System Set Up

Having a good system in place doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, I’ve broken it down into just three bins you need while plastic free camping:

Compost/to burn: this can be smaller if you are able to have fires and burn your own food scraps or I’d suggest something sturdy enough to either hang in a tree or put in your vehicle at night to keep the animals away.
Recycling: this includes paper if a fire ban is in effect and any cleaned out containers and recyclable single use plastics.
Garbage: I try to make a game out of how small this bag can actually be! If you prep your food and your menu doesn’t include a bunch of prepackaged snacks and meals, than you won’t have any need for this bag!

Having a good setup to manage waste anywhere I go is a priority, so even if I’m a visitor in someone’s house, I gently let my gracious hosts know that I do my best to reduce waste and I’m happy to take any recyclables with me when I leave (especially if they live in an area that doesn’t have a recycling system in place) by setting up an extra bag near the garbage can - this can spark some bigger change in a household that may not know how easy it is to reduce our footprint.

Plastic Free Camping Food & Fun

This brings me to food prep and planning fun things to take with you to entertain kids and adults alike. Food prep doesn’t have to mean you make every meal ahead of time but it can mean you prepare things like snacks and buying bulk prior to a trip to cut down on the amount of waste you have to deal with during your trip. My fave snacks to make ahead of time is banana bread (or muffins), nut or seed/dried fruit mix, granola bars (easy to make nut free using sunflower seed butter) and a couple different easy salads like a pasta salad and a rice and bean salad. In addition to making my own, I’ve found some great bulk delivery companies to load up on things like chips and crackers to save me the time and packaging - check out your local options before buying elsewhere! Having these things on hand means I get more time to sit and enjoy a hot coffee or cold beverage!

Games, toys, activities aka. STUFF can be fun but it can also be unnecessary and take away from playing in the natural environment and using our imaginations. If you do pick toys make sure they will withstand the rough and tough outdoors, and try to borrow or buy second hand - so many people have extra sand toys, floaties, board games and even boats that are not being used, so find your local Buy Nothing group or ask around. You’d be surprised what’s out there!

Whether you’re sticking around town and doing day trips and picnics this summer, or hitting the road or sea for a longer journey, there are lots of ways to take low waste and plastic free living with you! Enjoy your summer and R&R time without the stress and lean into these tricks when you’re feeling overwhelmed or not sure where to start.

Plastic Free Camping