5 Sustainable Camping Tips to Follow this Year

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If you are organizing a camping trip this year, it’s important to consider your potential impact on the environment. According to the United States Geological Survey, camping and other outdoor activities have a considerable impact on the natural environment. 

No matter where you are in the world, your actions outdoors may have a negative effect on food chains, animal habitats, and even water sources.

We all need to camp out in the wilderness as a form of escape. However, we need to do so without causing harm to the environment. Here are a few tips you need to follow for a sustainable outdoor experience:

1. Opt for biodegradable packaging

The key to sustainable camping is keeping your plastic waste to a minimum. That means you should refrain from bringing along plastic bottles, utensils, and food storage, especially if you are not keen on disposing of them properly outside of the camping grounds. If you are bringing food along with you, it’s best that you pack them in biodegradable wrappers. It’s best that you bring as little single-use plastic as possible. If you can’t avoid it, you could at least pack these items with biodegradable plastics. Then again, this shouldn’t give you a free pass to dispose of bioplastic products in bodies of water. 

2. Use plant-based hygiene kits

A trip to the outdoors wouldn’t be complete without taking a dip into a lake or river. Depending on where you are, however, you may not be allowed to bathe since chemicals from soap and even toothpaste may seep into natural water wells, get carried to larger bodies of water, and affect aquatic life. Even if you are allowed to, you still need to bathe using environmentally safe products. Opt for biodegradable plant-based personal hygiene kits during your trip so you won’t risk poisoning water sources. At any rate, it’s still a safer option to use packaging made from plant fibers. 

3. Use eco-friendly generators and solar panels

While many national parks allow visitors to light campfires and fires for cooking, you may as well bring along an eco-friendly generator or solar panels. This eliminates the use of live flames that could spark forest fires. Be sure to choose the right products for charging phones, powering induction cooktops, and running other electronics. 

If you are bringing along a portable generator, check out Honda’s line of quiet and environmentally safe inverters. You can also check out Honda generator alternatives that are designed for sustainable camping. If you are looking for a solar inverter and panels, consider the number of electronics you will bring with you. At most, you might want to purchase a 25-watt solar panel if you have laptops with you.

4. Don’t stray from authorized grounds

If you are looking for a perfect spot for setting up camp, make sure it’s within permissible zones. National park authorities define areas that are highly sensitive to human contact. These areas could be wildlife habitats or places where rare vegetation grows. In doing your part in preserving the area’s ecology, make sure to stay within authorized camping grounds and journey along designated trails. Doing so prevents you from disturbing natural features. 

5. Segregate your trash

If you think you are doing your best in keeping waste to a minimum, you can actually do more by taking your trash with you. You will need to account for every scrap and segregate them into biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and recyclable. For biodegradable waste, you might want to prepare a compost bag instead of leaving these to rot on site. As you exit the grounds, check with park officials on where to bring your trash for proper disposal. 

The purpose of camping out is to enjoy nature. If you are going on a trip to a popular camping site this year, be sure to show respect by following these sustainable tips.