megan kalan

Being a friend to the planet doesn’t have to be hard!

The weather is warmer, and we’re all craving more time outside. What better way to enjoy that sunshine than with a picnic? But with close to 80% of all plastic ending up in landfills, let’s make sure we’re part of the solution, not the problem, and take a sustainable approach. With these steps, it’s never been easier to have an eco-friendly picnic!

5 Steps to an Eco-Friendly Picnic

It’s easier than you might think to make your next picnic an eco-friendly outing. Dining al fresco at your favorite park is more than just a time to create memories, it’s an opportunity to practice living an environmentally responsible life. From reusable containers and compostable consumables to selection the menu, a little bit of planning goes a long way. Read on for 5 steps to ensure your next picnic helps promote clean, sustainable living.

1. Source

Having an eco-friendly picnic starts with the menu. Be mindful as you’re shopping to select items that are packaged in compostable, recyclable, or- better yet- no containers. If you’re lucky enough to have a local farmers’ market, this an excellent place to find good, wholesome foods that are ethically sourced.

No local market? No problem! Bring your reusable bags to the grocery store, and focus on produce and bulk items (likes nuts) that tend to come in sustainable packaging or allow you to bring your own containers!

No matter where you shop, be sure you know where the food is coming from and is ethically and responsibly made- check out this farmer’s market guide for more info!

2. Prep

Every good picnic needs a blanket and a basket, but no need to go out and buy one if you don’t have one on hand! Keep it eco-friendly- bring out those reusable canvas bags and take down that washable table cloth (or beach towel!). Instead of single use napkins, grab your cloth ones.

As for food prep- make sure the produce is washed and cut up (if desired), store it back in the container it came in or move to a glass container with lid if you’re worried about it getting smushed in transit. Mason jars make excellent transport containers for salads.

Be sure to skip the cling wrap or foil- reusable beeswax wraps make for a suitable replacement (here’s how to make your own). Keep all the food flavor in place without bringing plastic to the party!

3. Embark

You’re all packed up, it’s time to venture out to your picnic! For a truly eco-friendly event, skip the car. Travel by foot to your nearby park, or if farther away, hop on your bicycles and enjoy the breeze as you go. Soak in that extra time with your people to and from the park, after all, isn’t life about the journey, not the destination?

4. Dish

After you find that perfect spot, it’s time to dig in and eat! Pass out the plates, cups, and cloth napkins (make sure you’re using products that are sustainable and Earth friendly!). Savor the flavors, savor the moment.

5. Clean

After an excellent meal, it can be tempting to speed through this step, but it’s essential to make sure your impact on the natural space you enjoyed is a positive one- be a friend to the earth! Separate what you have left:

Leftover food? Store it back in its container to take home for another day. Food scraps? Use one of the now empty containers to compost at home. Recyclables? Make sure they’re gathered, not thrown away to be recycled appropriately.

Luckily the plates and bowls and cups are easy- Green Gatherings makes truly biodegradable products sourced from locally fallen leaves (maybe even at the park you picnicked in!). These can be disposed of and will naturally breakdown in 4-6 weeks! So easy, so earth friendly.

Living an eco-friendly life doesn’t have to feel impossible. Enjoying a picnic outside doesn’t have to be choice between ease and sustainability- it’s 2024, we can have both! With a little planning, you can enjoy that sunshine filled picnic with ease.