Eco Friendly Summer - How to Have a Sustainable Trip

The sun is shining, schools have broken up, and the warmer nights are stretching out ahead of us. The season of summer holidays is here! 

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With warm, lazy weeks in store you’re probably starting to plan fun days out, make plans with friends, and maybe pack for a holiday. We’ve put together a guide to having a sustainable summer, with some tips and suggestions to help minimise your impact while maximising your fun!

1. Start with Swimwear

Swimwear can be a difficult one to make sustainable due to its reliance on synthetic fibres to help maintain shape and stretch without absorbing lots of water. Salt water and chlorine can be harsh on swimwear as well, so fabrics like polyester and nylon help give it some durability. Unfortunately, all of this means that the fabrics not only make use of finite resources and use high amounts of energy to produce, they can also release micro plastics into the environment. 

Although it is difficult to find more sustainable options when it comes to swimwear, there are brands making use of new technology to produce beautiful swimwear with a lighter impact. Recycled synthetic fabrics have a greatly reduced production impact and high quality options will often be more durable and maintain their shape better. This way, plastic waste can have a life beyond pollution with plastic bottles recycled into polyester, or discarded fishing nets transformed into nylon. Look out for brands making use of these recycled fabrics and using sustainable and low impact processes in the rest of their business, such as non-toxic dyes, and recycled packaging.

2. What's in your Bag

When you’re packing for the beach, consider the items you’re bringing with you. Having sustainable and high quality summer essentials can make all the difference. Investing in a good quality beach towel, one made from sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, means investing in an item that will last and will be durable against the salt water, sunshine, and chlorine. 

You could also consider investing in a pair of recycled plastic sunglasses or recycled rubber flip flops which will again last longer while making use of discarded materials. These items can make a big difference to the environmental footprint of your summer accessories and are far more likely to stay with you year after year! And don’t forget to pack your reusable water bottles!

3. Rent a dress!

Clothing rental services have become very popular in recent years and are a great and sustainable option for keeping your wardrobe fresh over a packed wedding season. Platforms like By Rotation and Loan the Look offer customers the opportunity to browse garments from a wide range of brands and pay a rental fee to borrow them for a short period. This is a great option that allows for much more wear per item, and prevents you feeling guilty about letting a dress you wore once sit at the back of your wardrobe.

These hire services can also be a great budget option, depending on the brands you opt for, or a chance to wear a look from a brand you would never normally be able to try. Some high street providers like John Lewis and Selfridges now also provide in house rental services, meaning you can try items on in person. 

4. Kind to Oceans

It's so important to keep your skin safe in the sunshine by regularly applying SPF. But it's also important that your sunscreen isn't having a negative impact on the oceans you're swimming in. Make sure to check the labels of your suncream to avoid chemical UV filters which are damaging to marine and reef wildlife, and instead opt for mineral ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Avoid nano particles or parabens. It's also a good idea to choose a lotion or cream rather than sprays as these can contain ingredients harmful to both people and oceans. 

If you're heading off to festivals this summer, try to avoid stocking up on plastic based glitter which is also damaging to the environment. Some brands make biodegradable glitter now, meaning you can get dressed up and sparkle without negatively impacting the wildlife around you!

5. Pack Light

If you can master the art of packing light for your holidays, then you can be sure to reduce the environmental impact of your travel. As tempting as it is to pack a new outfit for every day and bring lots of options for evening dressing up, consider how much you will actually be able to wear everything. Lighter luggage will not only make your travel experience a breeze, it will also reduce your emissions however you travel. Heavier luggage requires more fuel and more space to transport so pack light to reduce impact. 

Go for fabrics like cotton, bamboo, or modal which can pack down small and travel well. Invest in reusable bottles and containers for your wash bag essential so you can fill them up at home and reuse them with every trip. Items like shampoo bars and toothpaste tablets a great space savers and won't weigh you down.

Give some of these eco friendly alternatives a go to have a more sustainable summer. Most of these are quick and easy swaps you can build into your usual holiday routines and they might even save you some money. Let us know if you have any of your own tips for having a greener summer and make sure to send on to family and friends to spread the word!

Get more eco-friendly living tips from Y.O.U Underwear:

Check out some simple and creative plastic free swaps

Have a look at our expert guide to making your underwear last longer

Pop into our Oxford Covered Market shop for lots of eco friendly swaps and gifts

Images courtesy of Canva & Y.O.U Underwear