ON YOUR OUTINGS
STAY HYDRATED BY TAKING A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE ON YOUR TRAVELS. From fresh fountains in cities to refill stations at airports, topping up is cheaper and greener than buying plastic bottles on the go. The Closca Water app has mapped out more than 240,000 refill points worldwide.
AIM TO BUY PRODUCE FROM LOCAL MARKETS rather than large supermarkets, where food has been imported from overseas. This will help to curb your carbon footprint while also contributing to small businesses and giving you a flavour of the local culture.
IT CAN BE TEMPTING TO TAKE A SHELL, SAND OR STONES from beaches to keep as mementos, but take photos instead. Natural beach materials are important for protecting land against erosion and are crucial to the local ecosystem, providing a home for creatures and critters – it’s illegal to remove natural materials from beaches in the UK.
AN ASTONISHING 5 TRILLION PLASTIC BAGS ARE USED EVERY YEAR WORLDWIDE***.
Remember to pack a few reusable bags for your shopping and groceries while you’re abroad to avoid contributing to this figure.
WEARING SPF PROTECTS US WHILE WE’RE ENJOYING THE SUNSHINE, but choose one that doesn’t harm marine life. A whopping 72% of sunscreens contain microplastics – and that’s not including the packaging. Many also contain oxybenzone, which can bleach coral reefs and impact the ecosystem.
Check the ingredients before buying sunscreen and watch out for oxybenzone, octocrylene and octinoxate, which are of concern. Brands such as Upcircle are tackling this problem with reef-safe formulas and plastic-free packaging. Try its SPF25 Mineral Sunscreen, £27.49, upcirclebeauty.com.