Zero-waste Picnics
Picnics are a great way to enjoy time outdoors with friends and family. Whether you’re on a beach, in a park or even in your own back garden, there’s something fun about eating al fresco.
We all know how important it is to clean up afterwards and dispose of litter properly, but did you know you can go one step further?
This National Picnic Month we’re looking at zero-waste picnics. What if, instead of throwing the rubbish away afterwards, we didn’t generate any in the first place?
What’s a zero-waste picnic?
The ultimate goal of a zero-waste picnic is to create no waste at all. You can achieve this by choosing items with packaging that can either be recycled at home or washed and reused or, better yet, opt for no packaging at all!
How to create your zero-waste picnic
Zero waste is the goal, but we all start at different places and move at different paces. You may already do some of these things, or you may only be able to make a couple of changes but, at the end of the day, progress in the right direction is what matters. Here are a few tips to help you on your zero-waste journey:
- Make your own sandwiches and wraps, pasta salads, potato salads, dips etc and store them in a reusable container.
- Buy loose fruit and vegetables from a greengrocer or farmers’ market
- Make refreshing drinks like this traditional lemonade and store in a thermos to keep cool
- Buy cheese, yoghurt, crisps, crackers, cooked meat etc in large packs (as opposed to individual portions) and decant the amount you need into reusable containers
- Take reusable lightweight cups, plates and cutlery
- Make your own reusable wet wipes using wash clothes or cut up old towels and a gentle spray solution to clean grubby hands and faces
- Bake a cake or tray bake for a sweet treat
- Invest in a picnic hamper or cool bag to store all your goodies
- Take home any glass, plastic, paper, cardboard and cans for recycling if there aren’t any recycling facilities nearby.
Now you’re ready to picnic like a pro, why not set yourself a zero-waste challenge? Even just a couple of changes will make a difference!
Let us know how you get on and if you have any tips to add, we’d love to hear them!
