10 Sustainable Beach Essentials For Eco-Friendly Fun Under the Sun
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Sustainable Beach Gear
We are getting closer and closer to beach season, so I thought a list of sustainable beach items would be useful for your next trip! It is incredible how we can have sustainable beach chairs, umbrellas, towels, and even coolers to keep all our food cool. This certainly was not around when I was growing up, but I’m ready to see my son sitting on his little eco-friendly beach chair with non-toxic sunscreen all summer long :)
What to look for when shopping for sustainable beach products
First, use what you have or borrow from your friends & family. We make a lot of shopping guides & think it's necessary to remind consumers they probably already have something they can use, which is the most sustainable option.
Since you are enjoying the beach, you want to make sure the products you bring with you respect the environment they are in. For example, you don't want to get toxic sunscreens that could potentially harm sea life, so why not use a product that positively impacts the oceans by removing plastic from them? Whenever I look at a brand that creates products to use in nature, I love knowing they give back to the planet through either the materials they use or environmental organizations. Every brand listed in this post highly regards the environment and keeps the planet's health at the forefront of their business.
why is it important to protect our oceans?
According to conservation.org, we dump 8 million metric tons of plastic annually into the oceans. This is equivalent to 57,000 blue whales. You may have heard this statistic, but by 2050, more plastic will be in the sea than fish. Much of this plastic will break down into what is known as microplastics. Animals will then ingest these tiny pieces of plastic, and if fish is part of your diet, you will then consume this plastic.
We must not only be aware of the packaging we bring to the beach (& cleaning up after ourselves) but choose items made from natural materials or recycled plastics taken from the ocean rather than virgin plastics. While we aren't always a fan of recycled plastic in clothing because of the thread of microplastics in your washing machine, the material can be found in many other products we don't have to continuously launder.
Now, our favorite eco-friendly & sustainable beach accessories:
1. Foldable Eco-Friendly Beach Chairs from LowTides
I could not be more excited to find a sustainable beach chair brand!! With a truckload of plastic being dumped into our oceans every day (yeah, it’s terrible), there has to be something positive to come from all the waste.
LowTides uses this ocean plastic to create their collection of Sandbar Low Chairs, Dune High Chairs, Gully Child Chairs - and the prints are so fun! Their newest collections include one with global fashion brand Laura Ashley and New Jersey based beloved surf brand Jetty. To date, LowTides has removed 28,000+ lbs of plastic from our oceans.
These chairs are effortless to carry with their two back straps. They also have two cup holders to enjoy refreshing drinks while looking at the waves. LowTides has also recently launched some new eco-friendly accessories. We love their Multipurpose Beachpac you can attach to your beach chair!
2. Eco-Friendly Beach Towels
Of course, the most sustainable beach towel option you have is the one you already own, but if you need a new beach towel, we have a couple of brands for you to check out below…
Coyuchi: Inspired by the striped sarape blankets of Mexico, these beautiful towels are ethically made in Turkey out of 100% GOTS certified organic cotton.
Affina: Inspired by our coral reefs, Affina's Seaweaves™ colorful beach towel collection is woven from natural brain coral and sea fan patterns on 100% Organic Cotton.
3. Bassk Umbrella
I have wanted a beautiful, big beach umbrella for years. But I haven’t bought one yet, and I’m glad I waited because I found this fantastic brand recently!
These beauties are made with Recycled Plastic Bottle fabric called Repreve® that offers UPF 50+.
The sweet tassels are 100% cotton, and the hardware is made from recycled plastic.
They also come with a super easy assemble click-in pole mechanism, and it’s rust-resistant.
4. Igloo Repreve Coolers
I love that Igloo has started using more eco-friendly materials with its products. These coolers are great because they are made from recycled plastic bottles and come as a tote that is much easier to carry to the beach. In addition, the Packable Puffer features REPREVE® performance fiber exterior material made from recycled post-consumer plastic bottles and Primaloft® Gold insulation made from 90% post-consumer recycled fibers. It has 8 hours of ice retention and can hold 20 cans. Find it in 5 different colors - teal, magenta, black, blue, purple.
5. Eco-Friendly Beach Bags
You may already have a bag that works just fine, but I thought I would include a few sweet ones.
Made Trade has some lovely ones, whether you’re looking for a sturdy basket-bag or a canvas tote. My favorite type of beach bags are ones made from natural fibers like rattan. (use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC for $20 off your first order of $150+).
We also love this Pom Pom Tote from The Little Market. It's made with hand-woven raffia, and each purchase empowers artisan women at Razafindrabe Collections in Madagascar.
6. Sustainable Swimwear
I have an entire post dedicated to sustainable swimsuits; there are so many to choose from.
However, it has been almost impossible to find swimsuits made without some synthetic fiber (if unfamiliar, these fibers are petrochemical-based and do not biodegrade like natural fibers).
Micro-plastics are still an issue in ethical swimwear, BUT brands are working to ensure not to use virgin synthetics. One of our favorite brands for sustainable swimwear is Vitamin A.
7. Sustainable Sandals & Flip Flops
Are you looking for a new pair of flip-flops? When I think of the beach, I automatically think of flip-flops, but you could wear any sandals.
I have a post with all my favorites here, and if you prefer something easy to clean and slide into, I highly recommend Oka-B.
Third Oak is another great brand to look into.
Avoid virgin petroleum-based materials when looking for new flip-flops, and remember that investing in quality is worth it.
8. Non-Toxic Sunscreen
Like myself, you are probably worried about the environmental impact of some of the conventional sunscreens.
For example, sunscreen will stay in the water when swimming in the ocean, and some ecosystems are very fragile. So we need to respect their space as much as our own space.
Another big reason for the switch would be skin irritation. I’ve had a few sun breakouts with sunscreens, so I’ve become picky over the years.
Here’s my list of favorites.
9. Sustainable Sunglasses
I’m terrible at keeping track of my sunglasses, so I try to have a couple of pairs on hand.
Luckily, several brands make eco-friendly, durable sunnies that are super cute.
So if you’re looking for new sustainable sunglasses this year, check out my recommendations below.
This list showcases eco-friendly sunglasses made with recycled and plant-based plastics.
Our favorites are from MITA.
10. Sustainable Sun Hats
A wide-brimmed sun hat is perfect if you want more protection from the hot summer sun.
The Ombre Holiday Papale Sun Hat is handcrafted in Bali from palm leaf.
It’s easy to wear with your hair up or down!
We also love the Rattan Sun Visor, a vintage-inspired piece with a modern and playful twist.
code: SUSTAINABLYCHIC for $20 off your first order of $150 at madetrade.com
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