Eco-Friendly on Trail. 5 Easy Ways to Be More Sustainable While Backpacking.
Whether you’re looking to make eco-friendly gear swaps, or trying to bring sustainability onto the trail, it’s not always obvious where to start.
Most low-waste changes we make in our kitchen don’t make sense on trail. But with growing demand for ultra-light gear, there are choices you can make with your wallet that have a greater impact than ditching a ziplock for a reusable bag.
1. The brands we support make a difference.
Doing only a little research, you can find out if your favorite brands have a carbon neutral footprint. Like REI, or Cotopaxi. Both have committed to lowering their carbon footprint, and to creating more sustainable products.
This is from REI’s Impact Standards.
While it is their standard, it’s worth checking the label on any new pair of shorts you’re about to buy for one or more of these logos. Use theirs as a cheat sheet!
One of the things to love about Cotopaxi, Osprey, Patagonia, or PrAna is their transparency. You can find everything from impact reports, to sustainability promises, to the locations of their factories.
No digging needed.
Some of these brands also have Return-Reuse programs.
REI has Trade-in, Patagonia has Worn-wear, and Osprey will repair any piece of their gear for any reason, no matter when you bought it.
2. Don’t be afraid of second-hand.
The US Environmental Protection Agency showed us in 2018 that 9,070 tons of clothing and footwear ALONE have ended up in our landfills.
It’s a safe bet that those numbers have grown since 2018. Take a look at plastics, and food!
So if we mean to make a difference, second hand is where it’s at.
Of course there are the superbrands listed above, some of which have really great second-hand options, but a quick look on Facebook Marketplace or Craiglist will show you TONS of used gear, some of it free.
Purchasing clothing on platforms like Poshmark, DePop and ThredUp, is a great way to find specific pieces of gear. Giving them a longer lease on life, and out of our landfills. Not to mention it’s much easier on your wallet than shopping at full price.
Brick and mortar stores are great, but for specific hiking/outdoor clothing you’re better off with a detailed search engine.
Like GearTrade.com. It’s an all in one platform.
From tents to watches, snowboards to bikes, they really have it all. It’s not only a great bang-for-your-buck resource, but you can also sell your used gear.
Or for those undecided friends that don’t want to fork out all that cash for a new setup, you can send them on over to OutdoorGeek.com. This is a rental platform where you can find trekking poles, GPS systems or a whole camping/backpacking package for under $200 dollars!
3. Even the food choices you make have an impact.
Looking at backpacking food brands that are sustainable and earth conscious is important.
So next time you’re looking for a meal to rehydrate, take a look at these brands
- Patagonia Provisions use sustainably sourced foods like free-roaming, grass fed buffalo, and non GMO organic spices. They are a certified B-corp and USDA organic, only to mention a few of their partners.
- Good-to-go is a small brand from Maine. With Vegetarian and Vegan options, they also strive to create healthy food for their customers no matter where they trek. And they are passionate about Leave No Trace principles.
- Backpackers Pantry.
They have a 1% for the planet promise, and their manufacturing facility is 100% solar powered.
While most rehydrating food packaging isn’t recyclable, Mountain House has a recycle program where you can turn in your used packaging. Otherwise, always follow Leave No Trace principles!
4. Buy earth safe products.
When you’re looking for sunscreens, bug sprays or soaps, your skin isn’t the only thing you need to consider.
While you don’t want chemicals on your body, neither do lakes, rivers or reefs.
Oxybenzone is a common chemical found in most sunscreens. It’s unsafe for our oceans. It’s bleaching, and ultimately killing our coral reefs. It’s also linked to hormonal imbalances in men and women. And while it has been banned in places like Hawaii, Palau, Key West and Mexico, we can take those bans anywhere into nature.
Here are some sunscreens that you can swap–
Bug Sprays–
Soaps–
For this category, we really just love Dr. Bronners unscented soap. You can buy it anywhere and in varying sizes. And it’s versatile in any way you choose to use it! They also have balms, hand sanitizers and toothpaste.
(While it’s the best eco-conscious option we would find, don’t go bathing in any rivers or lakes.)
5. Practice.
We know it’s easier and faster to go to REI and pick up what you need. And honestly sometimes second hand is just not an option. That’s okay.
But taking extra time to make a few simple swaps is just what Mother Nature needs right now.
- Take along a reusable water bottle or hydration pack.
- Cutting the weight off a toothbrush? Use bamboo instead.
- Use reusable bags whenever possible. We like LokSak bags because they’re waterproof and odor proof. Use them for things like maps, electronics and toiletries.
- LEAVE NO TRACE! While this may seem like common practice, popular trails are still littered with trash. Pack it out!
- Check local trail conditions. If you know it’s a popular, heavily trafficked route… find something literally ‘off the beaten path’. Flora and fauna and nearby wildlife are impacted by crowds that aren’t as conscious as you. This also means–
- Set up camp in designated and approved camping sites. Responsible setup includes camping at least 200 feet from water, and setting up in areas where you won’t impact vegetation.
- Beware of your food waste. Tossing an apple into the woods doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it can impact wildlife. Bears, for example, often have to be removed or in some cases put down because of irresponsible food waste.
So whether you buy responsibly or second hand or watch the chemicals you’re putting into our waters, that’s a difference made. By supporting brands and communities that are striving to create a cleaner environment, that’s change.
However small those changes, they are still for good and you should be proud of that.
We only get one earth, let’s treat her right.