A sustainable summer
Are you looking for ways to step up your sustainability this summer? I have a couple tips that will help you get into the conservation mindset as summer gets underway! In light of world ocean day yesterday, let’s start with chemical pollution in the water.
Coral bleaching: before (left) and after (right); Source: The Ocean Agency
Reef Safe Sunscreen
I’m sure almost everyone has had an experience where you put sunscreen on, then went straight into the water and watched as it all came right off your body and into the water. Although this is definitely a skincare concern, there are major environmental implications to sunscreens getting into bodies of water. Sunscreen is full of harsh chemicals that can be very toxic and when it is introduced into the aquatic ecosystem, can pose health challenges to the corals! The chemicals that are primarily to blame are oxybenzone and octinoxate—these chemicals decrease the corals ability to protect itself from bleaching and cause DNA damage which can impact their development. Studies have shown that the equivalent of one drop of oxybenzone in the equivalent water volume of 6.5 Olympic swimming pools can cause serious damage to coral reefs! Concentrations more than 10x that amount have been recorded in Hawaii as the reefs there are exposed to over 6,000 tons of sunscreen every year. If corals keep dying, so will all the marine animals that rely on the corals to survive. The fix is easy, look for sunscreen that is reef safe; these are sunscreen lotions without harmful chemicals but will still protect your skin! Next time you’re shopping for sunscreen look at the ingredients and for ‘reef safe’ or ‘reef friendly’ on the packaging. You can find reef safe sunscreens in any store that sells sunscreen and on amazon. There are so many affordable eco-friendly brands but a couple of my favorites are:
Bug Repellent
Especially for people who are getting outdoors a lot doing things like hiking, camping, or traveling somewhere with lots of mosquitos, bug spray is a summer staple. Unfortunately, most insect repellents use DEET—a chemical that is effective at warding off mosquitoes and can be slightly toxic to humans. DEET can cause skin and eye irritation and can even cause confusion, disorientation and mood swings. On top of that, it can be toxic to the environment; persisting in soil for long periods of time and often found in waterways, DEET can be toxic to land and aquatic animals. Be aware of what ingredients are in your bug repellants and be cautious of where you’re spraying. Try to avoid putting on bug spray before getting into any body of water as it can majorly contaminate the ecosystem or try a more natural method for bug repellent! Essential oils can be useful in warding off bugs (especially citrus oils) as well as garlic and apple cider vinegar. Mosquitos are attracted to dark clothing so try to keep it light and wear looser fitting clothes so bugs can’t get to your skin through your clothes!
Traveling
Carbon emissions are a major concern when traveling and in the summer it can be especially hard to keep your carbon footprint as small as possible! Luckily, there are a lot of ways you can practice sustainability while still enjoying all your travels.
How are you going to reach your destination? Transportation by plane is responsible for the highest carbon emissions of all transportation options, by utilizing a different means of transportation you are reducing your footprint significantly. What kind of public transportation options are there? By taking a flight over a high speed train you could be responsible for 29x more emissions! Can you drive? You could cut your carbon footprint in half by driving instead of flying to your destination. And who doesn’t love a good road trip?! With the water warming up, is your destination close enough to get outside and bike or walk? This option has so many benefits for the health of the environment and for your health!
Stay aware of your waste! If you’re driving to your destination, bring two waste containers so you can separate trash from recycling. Also, fill up lots of reusable water bottles before heading out so you don’t need to buy plastic or single use items along the way. Waste also includes the resources you’re using during your vacation. If you’re staying in a hotel be conscious of how much of their resources you’re using, treat every hotel like your home. Just because you aren’t paying for water and electricity does not mean you shouldn't stay aware how much you’re using! Hang up your towels after you use them so they don’t get washed daily, this can significantly cut back on water waste and make sure you’re only using your share of water. Make sure to turn off lights/televisions when you leave so you aren’t wasting energy, these are such simple ways to cut back on your use of resources! Also, by keeping light off and closing your shades you can keep your living area cooler and avoid needing to use the air conditioning as frequently, cutting back harmful emissions.
What are you supporting along the way? Do research on any tourist activities you may be engaging in to make sure they are conscious of their environmental impacts and pay close attention to any tourism activity that involves wildlife! Make sure you’re supporting ethical and sustainable businesses to give back to the region you are visiting rather than taking away from it. Look for locally sourced food to cut back on the emissions that go into food transport! By eating locally you’re supporting the local farmers, producers, workers and are not adding shipping of food to your carbon footprint! This is often overlooked but a great way to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
By keeping these simple tips in mind when traveling you can make sure you are contributing to conservation and living as sustainably as possible!