Eco-Friendly Beach Products – Sustainability in the Sand!
Estimated reading time: 16 minutes
I love to travel and explore, and I’m all about sustainability at the beach. To me, it’s more than a trend – it’s a lifestyle that ensures our coastlines thrive. Join me in exploring green summer beach essentials, a world I like to call “green seaside fun.” We’ll uncover sustainable recreation options that enhance your beach experiences while safeguarding the planet. Let’s make your next beach outing planet-friendly!
Today, we are all becoming more aware of living more sustainably. From ethical production to environmental concerns, we can have a more responsible coastal lifestyle. There are plenty of earth-friendly beach gear alternatives to the ones that many of us already carry in our beach bags.
jump ahead:
WHAT ARE SUSTAINABLE BEACH ESSENTIALS?
ECO-FRIENDLY BEACH TOWELS & BLANKETS
ECO-FRIENDLY WATER BOTTLES & REUSABLE CONTAINERS
SUSTAINABLE SANDALS, SUN HATS, SWIMSUITS & SUNGLASSES
key takeaways:
- Avoid bringing plastic and chemicals to the beach. Environmentally conscious coastal products are natural, organic and chemical free.
- Beach bags should be made of organic material such as woven straw, recycled cotton or bamboo. Consider this one from “Life Without Plastic”.
- Choose a beach towel made of recycled plastic bottles! But to avoid microplastics getting in the water, be sure to wash it in a “Guppy Friend” Laundry Bag.
- Choose a beach chair with an aluminum frame and natural canvas with organic colors.
- The most sustainable beach umbrellas are made from “Repreve”.
- An all natural mineral based sunscreen will keep both you and the ocean happy. I strongly suggest checking out Cocoon Apothecary.
- Many studies have shown that plastic water bottles and containers are loaded with chemicals. Play it safe with Stasher’s Bags and Bowls.
- Purchase sunglasses made of FSC-Certified wood or recycled materials.
What Are Sustainable seaside Essentials?
Sustainability In Brief
If you need to familiarize yourself with sustainability, or sustainable development, here is a brief synopsis. Living sustainably means using resources of all kinds in such a way that future generations will have access to the same resources. Sustainability comprises three pillars, environmental, ethical, and economical. You can learn more about sustainable development and what it means, read our Ultimate Guide: Understanding Sustainability.
Sustainability at the Beach
We should always be aware of our environmental impact, but when it comes to the beach, we think mostly about protecting our oceans. If you love the ocean, then marine conservation might be all the reason you need to make sustainable lifestyle choices. Warming climates, introduction of chemicals, and an abundance of plastic waste are just a few sources of harm to the world’s largest living ecosystem.
When it comes to fun in the summer sun, we can help protect people and the planet by practicing low-impact beach living. The optimal eco-conscious shore supplies are made from natural, organic, chemical-free materials and ingredients. From the beach towel to the sunglasses and sunscreen in our beach bag, we can increase our sustainability with some tips to follow found below.
The Most Sustainable Option
Let’s keep in mind that if you already own these beach essentials, you should wait until they need to be replaced before purchasing a new product. The most sustainable lifestyle is one of minimalism, and the most eco-friendly beach product is one you already own! And, before buying new, I encourage you to try your luck at a second-hand store to find beach essentials you love that will work for you. Not only is thrift shopping fun, but it’s also trendy and sustainable!
Maybe you’re already a pro at sustainable camping? If so, chances are you already have everything you need for your day at the beach! Be sure to take a proper inventory of your camping equipment before heading to the thrift store.
Sustainable Beach Bags
It makes sense to start with the item in which you carry your beach essentials! Many beach bags are made from environmentally harmful materials such as plastics, nylon, and conventional cotton. A beach bag should be light, have lots of room for all your eco-friendly beach needs, and be made from sustainable materials. Fortunately, you can have it all!
Say Yes to Straw!
When it’s time to buy new, consider the fabric first. The most sustainable ones out there are recycled or organic cotton, organic hemp or linen, bamboo, and the newest on the market, Tencel. But we’ll check those out in the other sections below. One that is unique from the other beach essential options here, though, is straw.
Large Straw Tote Bag with Braided Handles – LIKHÂ
This beautiful basket is handwoven from natural seagrass by women weavers in the Philippines using traditional techniques. Vegan and Fair Trade, this bag features a rich herringbone pattern with natural seagrass fiber and braided cord handles. Measures approximately L16″ x W7.5″ x H10.5″ with 9″ handle drop.
Coiling and binding lengths of straw into baskets and bags, known as lip work, has been around for thousands of years. Straw is a bi-product of agriculture, which means it eliminates waste from the cycle when it’s used in this way. And if it’s organic, then all the better!
Not a fan of the straw look? That’s okay! Check out this PPC Reusable Tote Bag made from 100% heavy cotton canvas from Life Without Plastic; or the Lupa Canvas tote Bag from terra thread.
PPC Reusable Tote Bag – Life without plastic
About This Item:
- Plastic-free lifestyle
- Made of 100% heavy cotton canvas
- Powerful statements through the phrases printed
- Support non-profit plastic pollution coalition
Lupa Canvas Tote Bag – terra thread
About This item:
- Super durable 14-oz organic cotton
- 29L carrying capacity
- Lead-free
- Hanging drop-in pocket
Eco-friendly Beach Towels & Blankets
Whether you’re at the beach to go swimming, sunbathing or to build an epic sandcastle, you’ll need a good beach towel or beach blanket.
Soft and Cuddly
If you want super soft, eco-friendly beach towels, recycled or organic cotton is your best bet for fabric. Find some fun prints to distinguish whose is whose while protecting the environment at the same time. Look out for the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS certified) logo to be extra confident your purchase is sustainable.
Shed Sticky Sand
If you’re more concerned about sticky sand and want something lightweight and thin, consider sustainable beach towels or blankets manufactured from recycled plastic bottles! Even though it’s a great option, it has one downside. Like any plastic material, these will release microplastics while washing, so make sure to use a laundry bag like Guppyfriend that catches and prevents the microplastics from entering the water system and, eventually, our oceans.
Guppy Friend Sustainable Laundry Bag
About This item:
- Sustainable packaging
- Fairtrade Certified
- Tackles microplastic pollution!
- Shipped Carbon Neutral
Sustainable Beach Chairs
As we know, beach chairs come in all shapes and sizes. They can range in materials such as metal, plastic, wood, canvas and more. They can be low-sitting, firm, plush, or even extravagant enough to have two cup holders! So, how to choose the sustainable beach chair that’s right for you?
Finding a Foolproof Frame
Well, let’s take a look at the frame first. If you must do plastic, choose one made from recycled plastic, such as those at LowTides Ocean Products. Aluminum is your best bet for metal since aluminum can be recycled an infinite amount of times. Although every type of wood comes with some environmental concern, if it’s wood you’re after, bamboo might be your number one choice for sustainability.
Satisfying Seats
Canvas made from recycled or organic cotton can provide a nice sling-type seat. Hemp linen or hemp lyocell is another great choice, as hemp uses less water and land to produce than cotton. Linen, made from flax, will also resist bacteria and moths. Be mindful of dyes commonly used with linen that can harm the environment. Opt for organic or natural colours.
Eco-Friendly Umbrellas
Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, or the sun is actually getting stronger, but I can’t survive long at the beach without some shade to protect me from those UV rays.
Aside from some of the materials already mentioned above, there is one that lends itself quite nicely to a sustainable beach umbrella. This fabric is Repreve. A polyester fibre made from sustainably sourced recycled plastic bottles, with certifications from numerous third parties such as the Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). Many popular sportswear brands use Repreve in their activewear, such as Patagonia.
Eco-Friendly Sunscreen
It wouldn’t be a real beach day without some swimming! Just like that beach umbrella offers shade to protect you from the sun, a reef-safe sunscreen will too. And it will protect our coral reefs from the harmful effects of toxic chemicals.
Why Does it Matter?
Many sunscreens contain harmful substances for humans and the environment, such as oxybenzone, parabens, and more. Head over to our Ultimate Guide: Sustainable Health and Beauty for a full list of the dirty dozen ingredients to avoid in these kinds of products. Some of these chemicals are carcinogens (cancer-causing), can cause congenital disabilities in both women and fish, and can disrupt hormonal balances, to name a few reasons to avoid them. Many have been shown to bioaccumulate over time in marine life – building up in the bodies of aquatic species to toxic levels.
So What Should You Look For?
First, avoid the dirty dozen chemicals – keep a copy in your phone to help you check products before purchasing. Next, look for clear, concise organic ingredients that don’t have a lot of names you can’t pronounce. Mineral sunscreens tend to be more natural and won’t irritate your skin. You could use the Environmental Working Group’s website to search for a brand to see how it ranks. When I looked up my favourite, oil-free face sunscreen that I’ve been using for years, it didn’t rank well. Looks like I’ll be purchasing from one of these brands when it’s time!
Reflector SPF 30 Facial Sun Protection – Cocoon Apothecary
This mineral sunscreen is certified ECOcert COSMOS organic and contains hero ingredients like Buriti Oil, Sea Buckthorn, Shea Butter, and Rice Bran Oil.
Get 15% off your first order with code SUCCESSFULLYSUSTAINABLE.
Remember that refillable, recyclable, or minimal packaging is also your most eco-friendly beach product when it comes to sunscreen!
Butter Me Up Organics Natural Organic Sunscreen
About This Item:
- Organic, all natural and safe
- Non synthetic dyes and fragrances
- Shipped plastic free
- Entirely cruelty free
- Zero waste company
Eco-Friendly Water Bottles & Reusable Containers
Beach days quite often mean very long, hot days outdoors. Hydration and sustenance is crucial, and how you bring your water and snacks to the beach can affect your sustainability success.
Aren’t All Reusable containers Eco-Friendly?
Although a reusable water bottle is infinitely better than a single-use plastic one, not all of them would be considered safe and sustainable. First, for your own health, you must be aware of some issues when buying a reusable plastic bottle. A study done at the University of Copenhagen on various reusable plastic bottles wielded some concerning results.
In brief, they discovered that water held in all of the bottles for several hours contained hundreds of chemicals that weren’t present before being in the bottles. The effects of many of these chemicals on human health over time are unknown, but some of them, such as DEET, the active ingredient in insect repellent, was also found. It’s not believed this chemical was added intentionally in production but rather formed through chemical reactions occurring due to heat and degradation of other plastic softeners present in the bottle.
The study also found that more chemicals were created after the bottles had been washed in the dishwasher – so if you must go plastic, make sure to hand-rinse instead.
Best Bottles & containers for Your Bucks
So if you avoid plastic altogether, where does that leave you? Even though they will likely be more expensive than the reusable plastic alternative, glass and stainless steel water bottles are far more sustainable and health-friendly. And if you care for them properly, they will stand the test of time, making their more expensive price tag worth it in the end. Be sure to find out if your brand doesn’t contain lead or cadmium. Most companies will label their products as such if they meet this standard.
Our brand choice: Stasher silicone bags and bowls
Stasher silicone bags and bowls
About This Item:
- Do-it-all reusable bags and bowls
- Radically functional products
- Saved 5.5 billion single-use plastic bags
- Packaging is 70% post-consumer recycled material
- Can be recycled when needed through Terracycle
Sustainable Sandals, Sun Hats, Swimsuits & Sunglasses
Let’s not forget the pieces you need to put on your body! Outfitting yourself for fun in the sun with eco-minded beach accessories is essential too.
Swimwear for Sustainability
Whether rocking a one-piece bathing suit, a classic bikini or opting for more coverage, your fabric choice counts! Aside from the fabrics already mentioned above for beach bags, blankets, and umbrellas, there is one more to consider for your beach fashion needs. Tencel Lyocell and Modal fibres are made from sustainably managed sources of wood pulp and are USDA verified. They are also biodegradable! Not to mention many cute swimsuits, shorts, cover-ups, sarongs, and more are now made from this super sustainable fabric.
Sustainable Sunnies, Sandals and Hats
Just like those water bottles and beach toys, you should avoid plastic, including foam, when it comes to your green beach accessories. There are plenty of eco-friendly sunglasses and sandals made from sustainably sourced FSC-certified wood, cork, plant-based acetate, cotton and wood pulp, or other recycled materials as alternatives.
Grab a second-hand, organic cotton, Tencel, or straw hat to match that beach bag, and you’re good to go for summer at the beach!
Other Considerations
You’ve now equipped yourself with amazingly sustainable sun and sand products that are safe for you and the environment. But let’s remember one of the other pillars of sustainability – social and ethical.
If you want to go the extra mile toward sustainability, investigate the manufacturing and ethical practices followed by the brand before you buy. Where is the product made? Locally manufactured products require less transportation, resulting in fewer emissions, and they’re more likely to have been made ethically by workers who are paid fair wages.
If we are truly sustainable living warriors, we will do our best to protect the environment and our fellow people.
I know that doing our best to live a sustainable lifestyle can sometimes be demanding. Just keep this in mind next time you feel a little overwhelmed – every journey must start with just one step. This one is no different!
All products recommended to you on Successfully Sustainable are independently researched in depth. To avoid waste and lead a minimal lifestyle, we test products only when required. This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission. Learn more about this here.
