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BEACH GEAR GOES ECO
Nowadays, even the cleanest beach has its share of litter—scraps of plastic bags trapped
by the fence, candy wrappers, empty chip bags, broken bits of plastic milk bottles.
The juxtaposition of serene sand dunes with the wanton abandon of selfish individuals
is a glaring—startling, actually—problem.
But before you get too bummed, consider this: There are some ingenious eco-conscious companies that can at least help you to be part of the solution. With an environmentally smart beach bag, a waste-free lunch, hot organic duds or chemical-free bug spray, when I go to the beach, I aim to keep my carbon footprint low and leave nothing but footprints in the sand.
Here's how I do it:
I Carry Eco
Ecogear has cute child-sized bags that are PVC- and toxic-dye-free. Their Ecozoo line, available in panda, pig, elephant or dog, has bags that are just the right size to hold a reusable water bottle, some sunscreen, a snack and a toy or two.
If you're just planning a short stop at the beach, the bag from Dandelion Earth-Friendly Goods is a perfect option. With an outer pocket that snaps shut to hold items such as your keys and perhaps a phone, you don't have to go digging when the sun starts hitting hard and the kids are melting or melting down. There are two outer pockets for water bottles or baby bottles as well. The bags are made of organic cotton and can be machine washed. What more could an eco-parent want?
If you want something a little different and you have a penchant for picking up every floating plastic bag that comes in with the tide, then you have to see Sheila Odessey's work. Her totes and clutches are made out of plastic bags—and are so chic! These handbags not only make a statement with their "fabric," but they are truly works of art. Each bag is carefully designed to be completely functional by being lined with a fabric that can be wiped down and made with plenty of little pockets.
To go truly nautical on the beach this summer, then perhaps a Sea Bags tote, an Ella Vickers backpack, Re-Sails' bucket bag or Second Wind Sails’ duffel bag is what you're looking for. These super-strong, completely spray-off and hose down-able bags are sturdy yet elegant. Made out of old sails, they are the perfect material to withstand year after year of beach days. You can even wash most of them in your washing machine. (As for washing the kids, you're on your own.) You keep old sails from becoming garbage while taking advantage of the sails’ best properties: waterproof, durable and totally seaworthy.
For a more stylish beach town look, then Five Accessories is the way to go. This fair-trade shop (online) donates $5 of every handbag sold and 15 percent of all other sales to the local community of artisans. With bags from five countries—Bali, Honduras, Cambodia, India and the United States—there are plenty of styles to choose from and causes to support. I'd go with the gorgeous wicker beach tote from Bali for a great summertime purse to bring along with the beach bag. Five dollars of your purchase goes to support schoolchildren in Bali, where the bags are made. Lined with an elegant fabric, the bag cinches closed to keep things from falling out as you run toward that perfect spot on the sand.
Fair Indigo is a fair-trade, eco-friendly shop that has the cutest bag for the beach. It comes in three colors and is just so soft and summery. The bag is made in Santiago de Surco, Peru, in a woman-owned factory. If the kids (or you!) drip some ice cream on it, you can toss it in the washing machine and hang it out to dry for tomorrow.
And speaking of things to carry, once you've chosen how you want to lug your stuff, you can turn your attention to how you are going to tote your tot. If you have a non-walker or a new walker, getting him from the car to the beach blanket is not always an easy feat. Don't even waste your time trying to get your stroller through the sand—it's a drag, literally. Enter: baby-wearing. Wearing your baby means free hands to carry all of the above essentials, which is a very useful bonus. A few top summer options include the ERGObaby or the BabyHawk—both also work for carrying a tired toddler. For summer, I also like the Maman Kangourou pouch. Throw a sling, pouch, wrap or carrier into the diaper bag and you'll be able to get on and off the beach with ease—and in style.
I Picnic Eco
My favorite beach snacks are fresh fruits and veggies and something salty and crunchy like crackers, pretzels, rice cakes and the like. To keep it all cool, I love to bring at least one insulated bag. For a short trip or if it's just a father-child or mother-child outing, then the EasyLunchboxes are a great choice—plus, they’re BPA-, lead- and phthalate-free as well as dishwasher safe. The cooler bag is a reasonable price at less than $8, and the containers are $13.95 for a set of four.
If the beach day is a whole family affair, you'll definitely need a bigger cooler bag. If your meal requires utensils, I suggest the Bambu forks and spoons. If I'm worried about losing or breaking my bamboo utensils at a beach party, for example, then I opt for the best plastic I can find. The utensils by Mint will biodegrade in any conditions in a year or two as opposed to regular plastic utensils that take more than 100 years to degrade. If you have to cater to each kid’s tastes, then pack a lunch box for each child. Use their everyday lunch box or something like the Yubo lunch box, which has a layer for an ice pack and is completely dishwasher safe. You can even stick the entire thing in the freezer.
As for water, be sure to pack plenty of it in your reusable water bottles. CuteSip's water bottles even include transitional bottles for the littlest beach babies. These ones by Vapur are great because, after you are done drinking, the water bottle can just be rolled up and tucked away. I like to keep wipes on hand to try to get sticky sand off, and some hand sanitizer as well. CleanWell's hand sanitizers are gentle, plant-based sprays, and the scents are less perfumed than most.
I Dress Eco
Horny Toad makes some of the softest summer clothing out there. Along with Nau, one of their sister brands, the company works to offer clothing that is made responsibly. With Horny Toad’s focus on decreasing their environmental footprint, staying active in the community and supporting organizations that care about the earth, you can shop without worrying about the who, what and where of the clothing you buy. Horny Toad's eco-styles are made with organic cotton (for the cotton component of the clothing), often in combination with some Tencel and Spandex for comfort.
Earth Creations are made with mud. Okay, not exactly, but they are made with gorgeous dyes that are all clay dyes—and the colors are surprisingly stylish. The fabric choices are sustainable (like hemp) or organic (the cotton). But what I really love about the clothes is their palette. The colors range from earthy grays and slate to yellows, oranges and pinks. Throw on the Infinity Skirt/Dress or the soft cotton pants and shorts for a beach-chic look that'll keep you eco-cool all day long.
I Spray Eco
Every region has its pests, from black flies to mosquitoes to those strange hopping beach bugs. I like to have essential oil wipes on hand to keep the creepy-crawlies at bay. Earthy Family suggests using drops of eucalyptus oil on the brim of a hat or hem of your pants to keep the bugs away. EcoSmart is a quick-drying spray that is nontoxic and made with essential oils. Another favorite of mine is a citronella lotion. We have California Baby's Citronella lotion in our cabinet.
Leah Klein loves to go to the beach with a lot of water bottles (filled with 2/3 ice cubes and 1/3 water). She likes to wear comfy but stylish clothes to the beach just in case they decide to stop in town or go out for dinner on the way home. She grew up spending summers in Northern Canada, where the black flies were a menace. Now going to the beach in New England, she is glad to be far away from those bugs. She has never been bothered by mosquitoes, except when she was pregnant or nursing, when she became a fan of long pants and citronella lotion and essential oil wipes. Her favorite beaches are Sauble Beach in Canada; Wingaersheek in Gloucester, Mass.; Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass.; and the beaches and ponds of Wellfleet, Mass., and Piriac-sur-Mer, France.
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