Picture this. You’re planning a vacation, somewhere where the weather is hot and sky is clear. Where the people are foreign and so is the language, you’re excited and nervous because it’s the first time you’re leaving the country in a while. You start thinking about packing your belongings but you refuse to take anything you’re not going to use. You’re starting to immerse yourself into the eco-friendly lifestyle but you don’t know if you can keep it up on vacation (almost like a vegan that still dreams of cheese). You just want to enjoy your vacation without the deprivation of convenience. I’m going to show you how to do this. We’ll keep your bag light (only bringing the essentials) and make sure every belonging will be used, that nothing is wasted and that your money is stretched for as long as the clear blue sea.
1) Eco-Sunscreen
The very first thing on the list HAS to be sunscreen to prevent any skin damage from the sun’s harsh rays. You’ll be walking along hot pavements and the sun will not spare any flesh. You’ll eventually dip yourself in the clear blue ocean as well, so we have to keep your skin protected. Many sunscreens have chemicals that can damage reef life and marine life. By impacting the health of marine life the health of the oceans will be impacted thus, slowly but surely exacerbating any changes in climate. How can you help?
The California Kids #Supersensitive Lotion SPF 30+ offers UVB protection ($20) and the Badger active Unscented Cream SPF 30 offers UVA protection ($13). Both these mineral sunscreens score offer protection while being less environmentally damaging because they’re made without oxybenzone and octinoxate, both of which are environmental threats and are popular in many sunscreens.
2) Re-usable Water Bottle
You need water to live right? Of course you do. Not many countries have the luxury of crystal clean tap water therefore, it may be easier for people to resort to bottled water. We can go through the reasons why bottled water is terrible for the environment or we can offer solutions instead. Quite frankly, any reusable water bottle that’s BPA free will do. However, my pick would be the Kor Water Bottle. Kor’s bottle is reusable and eco-friendly thus eliminating the use of single-use plastic bottles. It distinguishes itself though its sleek and innovative design by combining the convenience of the handle with its minimalist architecture, thus proving itself to be indispensable for busy people on the go. Oh yeah, did I mention that for every bottle bought, they donate a reusable bottle to homeless shelters? When corporate social responsibility’s done right, we can commend a company fighting for a good cause. You can find my favourite one for $17 on the Kor Website.
3) Eco-friendly Clothing
I’m going to take a wild guess and say that you’re not too keen on eco-friendly clothes? Maybe you find them kind of ugly, a bit drab, either super minimalist or have too much going on, all we know is that, it’s just not for you. Alright then, I guess you wouldn’t want to hear about how soft the recycled fabric is against your skin or how the lightweight organic cotton provides breathability like no other. United by Blue’s eco-friendly clothes are perfect for summer days on the balcony, with deep hues and creative designs and, distinguishing themselves through simplicity and functionality. Also, their fabrics are sourced responsibly and, for every product purchased one pound of trash is removed from sea shores. I’m obsessed with this $36 graphic T-Shirt made from organic cotton and recycled polyester. It’s perfect for an easy, tucked- in-shorts look that will take no more than 2 minutes to put together.
Now I bet your luggage is still pretty full because you’re probably like me, packing all your belongings an hour before your flight because you can’t seem to live without them. That’s understandable but I promise you’ll never regret the feeling of a soft linen gracing your skin, protecting your delicate features from harsh UV rays or hydrating every molecule in your body. It’s what we were meant to do but now, it’s for a purpose greater than ourselves.
Enjoy!
Marie
The Eco-Business 