Eco-Friendly Green Picnics

At first thought, eco-friendly green picnics may seem a bit ridiculous. After all, aren't you simply just enjoying the outdoors to share a meal with your family and friends?

Have you ever noticed how much garbage that can accumulate after an outdoor picnic or barbeque? Disposable dishes, napkins, beverage containers, and even used diapers are ever present in our parks and on our beaches. And, because most of these are made of non-renewable petroleum-based products, they release contaminants into the environment as they break down in the land-fill.

Here are some guidelines for eco-friendly green picnics:

Getting There:

Consider biking, walking or hiking to your picnic destination. Less pollution in the air and exercise for you.

What To Pack:

• Green picnics do not include styrofoam! It is a suspected carcinogen, it endangers wildlife and it's not biodegradable. Please avoid styrofoam coffee cups, plates and coolers.
• Reusable cloth napkins are the most earth-friendly (especially if they are made of organic natural fibres!). A good second choice is 100% recycled paper napkins, which can be composted.
• Corn and other vegetable-based cutlery and plates are becoming more available which are 100% biodegradable. Or why not consider bringing all your cutlery (plastic or otherwise) back home to be washed and reused.
• If you would like to use paper plates, look for ones made with recycled paper.
• Instead of purchasing bottles of water (which are made from non-renewable resources and shipped long distances), buy a collapsible water bag or simply fill your own reusable water bottle. I highly recommend the eco-friendly BPA-free Choose To Re-Use Better Bottle. It is impact resistant (which is important on picnics/hikes!) and can be used for both hot or cold beverages.

• For small groups and family picnics, use a picnic basket, backpack or picnic cooler filled with reusable dishes and cloth napkins. And don't forget the picnic blanket !
• Minimize your food packaging as much as possible. Place your picnic sandwiches, salads and dessert into reusable containers whenever possible.

Remember to take a trash bag or two along (consider super-strength vegetable-based garbage bags which can be tossed into the composter). Pack all trash and leftover food with you when you leave. Sort recyclable and compostable waste whenever possible. And please, don't hesitate to pick up another person's trash as well.

Respect the Environment:

Teach your children to admire and smell those wild flowers, but not to pick them. Allow them to be amazed at the colors in the rocks, but to leave them in their natural homes. Do as little damage to nature as possible by remaining on established trails.