1. Eat Like a King
Image: Canva/igishevamaria
When you go camping, you have to pack in a space-saving and efficient way. Light but sturdy tableware is especially essential for campers. Instead of relying on plasticware, you can now buy biodegradable bamboo tableware and cutlery from a variety of producers.
EcoSouLife and LEKOCH, for example, offer a variety of stylish products that are sustainably produced and that break down within two to three years after disposal. You can get a matching set of bamboo cutlery from EifelYeti, and it even comes with a nifty bag and carabiner for easy transport. Even after multiple uses, these bamboo and cornstarch tableware sets still look great and make you feel like the king of the camping kitchen.
2. Patagonia — Sustainably Styled from Head to Toe
Image: Canva/Galyna Andrushko
Build the best products and cause no unnecessary harm in the process: That’s the philosophy of the outdoor company Patagonia. All articles of clothing that you buy from this US label are produced according to fair trade regulations, and they frequently use recycled wool or cashmere in the process.
Since this outdoor specialist knows that campers wear their clothes until they’re threadbare, you can return broken or worn items by post or in person. The piece will then be repaired, sold as second-hand clothing or, if nothing can be salvaged, completely recycled to make new jackets or shirts.
3. Good on Your Feet and Completely Without Leather
Image: Canva/MNStudio
All over hill and dale, through creeks and across muddy fields: Campers love walking cross-country. To keep your feet dry and your ecological conscience clear, Lowa has released a vegan trekking and hiking boot.
The Innox GTX Hiking Shoe is breathable, waterproof and provides plenty of support to keep your feet steady and stable on uneven ground. No animal materials are used to produce this boot, making them a perfect alternative for those looking to avoid leather.
4. Sleeping on Cloud Nine
Image: Canva/Goodshoot
When you’re camping, there are already enough things that can disrupt a peaceful night’s sleep, like mosquitoes, a thunderstorm or other noisy campers. To ensure that you sleep as though you were sleeping on cloud nine and feel as snug as a bug, even on the shortest of nights, Big Agnes created the Sunbeam sleeping bag.
This sleeping bag is made with FireLine™ ECO synthetic insulation, but it’s not just the materials that reflect the company’s philosophy towards sustainability: They also offer a repair service and provide maintenance and repair information for DIYers.
5. Nice and Clean, Thanks to Natural Cosmetics
Sure, when you’re camping in the great outdoors, you have the chance to put your survival skills to the test… But that’s even more enjoyable when you smell nice, too. Unfortunately, many cosmetics and cleaning products contain chemicals that are not biodegradable.
Natural cosmetics, as the name implies, are made with natural ingredients and are typically also vegan. Savion sells no-poos, as these most sustainable alternatives to traditional shampoo are called. Their products are also available in unpackaged stores.
6. A Radiant Smile Without Water
Image: Canva/Bogdan Kurylo
To get clean and bright, white teeth while camping, you should turn to eco-friendly dental care products: Hydrophil has a sustainable toothbrush made of bamboo, a natural resource that regenerates quickly. Plus, they don’t use any water in the production process!
To go along with your sustainable toothbrush, consider purchasing the natural and organic toothpaste made of coconut oil by Georganics. You’ll also find solid toothpaste tablets in unpackaged stores and sometimes even at your local chemist’s. Or, if you’re a proud DIYer, you can make your own organic toothpaste using sea salt and mint leaves!
7. Keep Yourself Dry with Norrøna
Your camping trip should be a success, no matter the weather: To make sure your favourite raincoat is fully prepared for any bad weather, the outdoor clothing manufacturer Norrøna developed a sustainable waterproofing spray.
Their Water Repellent Tech is made without CFCs or any propellants that could damage the ozone layer. This makes it a great alternative to other waterproofing sprays available on the market today.
8. A Roof Over Your Head
Image: KarTent.com
Camping doesn’t always mean heading into the mountains or relaxing by the sea. For many, it means going to a festival. Since many of these campers are knackered and unmotivated by the end of the festival, they tend to leave their tent behind as a relic… and as a waste problem.
The next time you go to a festival, though, you have the chance to set a good example. Spend the night in a KarTent: This tent is made entirely out of cardboard and can be recycled completely. Don’t worry; the cardboard is thick enough that you’ll have a dry place to sleep, even if it rains. Now nothing can keep you from fully enjoying the next festival!
9. A Stylish Way to Avoid Mosquito Bites
It’s a tale as old as time: You’re sitting in front of your tent or motorhome, it’s evening, you’re enjoying the peace and quiet when… you’re bitten by a mosquito! To cut the story short and avoid irritating itches, there are now vegan, biodegradable alternatives for bug spray available on the market.
If you’d rather skip the spray entirely, try out a mosquito repellent bracelet. A variety of essential oils keep mosquitoes and other insects away naturally. If the effect starts to wear off, you can always add a few drops of essential oils onto the bracelet to reactivate it.
10. A Friend of the Sun
Sunshine not only puts you in a good mood and provides you with vitamin D, but it can even bring light into the darkness of night. In your tent and on the campsite, it can get quite dark at night, but rather than using a torch with environmentally unfriendly lithium batteries, you can shed some light on the subject in an eco-friendly way: With a solar lamp, you can charge your camping lantern in the sunlight throughout the day.
On rainy days, you can recharge the lamp with your smartphone, and some solar lamps have a hand crank for manual charging, too. Once the sun is out again, you can charge your smartphone, tablet, camera and other devices using a solar-powered charger like the one from CHOETECH.
Where can you go “green” camping with your new, eco-friendly gear?
On camping.info, you’ll find over 200 campsites that have the ECOCAMPING Award. We’ve also put together a list of 11 campsites across Europe where you can camp sustainably.
If you’re looking for more ways to make your camping trip more environmentally friendly without breaking the bank, check out our nine tips for sustainable camping. For even more inspiration and campsite reccomendation you can visit our topic page about eco-friendly camping here.
