Beach Trip

In the heat of summer, the beach is a shimmering paradise that few of us can resist. Once we finally get there—kicking off our flip-flops, running for the cool waves ahead—what we tend to forget is that this paradise is in no way eternal. Beaches are prone to pollution, erosion, and habitat loss. How we treat them matters. Before you hit the sand and surf this season, find out how you can keep your beach a paradise for many more summers.

BENEFITS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: Reduce pollution and carbon footprint .

Cost: Moderate

Time and effort: Moderate

1. Plan Ahead

• Before you go, make sure your beach is open and safe to swim in. In 2009, about 43% of beaches in the United States had at least one advisory or closure because bacteria levels exceeded water standards.¹ Visit the EPA’s BEACON site to check water quality, advisories, and closings at your beach.
  
• Plan to bus or carpool to the beach. If you live within a reasonable distance, you can even cycle. If you’re flying to the beach, consider buying carbon offsets  which typically financially support renewable energy, energy efficiency, or reforestation projects.

2. Pack with care

• Purchase products only if you don’t already have them. Use a picnic basket or a backpack instead of buying a beach bag. Don’t replace your frayed or torn beach chair. Instead, reweave your beach chair for a fraction of the cost and natural resources.
  
• If you’re in need of a new swimsuit, buy a quality item in a classic cut that won’t go out of style before next season. Choose a swimsuit that’s made of bamboo . Avoid nylon and spandex, which aren’t biodegradable.
  
  • For starters, check out these 14 eco-friendly swimsuits.
    
  • Reuse an old t-shirt to make a bikini and a cover up—you’ll save major bucks! Here’s how: “Recycle An Old T Shirt into a Sexy Bikini”, “T-shirt Makeover Swimsuit Cover-up”, “T-shirt Tunic Swimsuit Cover U”. If you’re less crafty, simply cut off the t-shirt’s collar and the top of one of its sleeves to create an off-the-shoulder style.
    
  • You can go even greener by skipping the swimsuit altogether 🙂 Of course there’s a catch—skinny-dipping is not legal on most beaches and it requires absolutely no shame.
    
• Buy sunglasses made of recycled metal and plastic.
  
• Protect your face and neck from the sun with one of those promotional give-away hats that’s gathering dust in the depths of your closet. Or purchase a hat that’s made of sustainable materials, like bamboo . Do the same with your towels!
  
• Pack zinc oxide sunscreen, which provides UVA and UVB protection without all the harsh chemical preservatives and petroleum-based ingredients found in many conventional sunscreens. Check out this review of seven eco-friendly sunscreens. To further protect yourself from dangerous rays, stay under an umbrella when the sun is at its peak, and always wear a hat and protective clothing.
  
• Do prepare yourself for bugs, but do not grab the toxic DEET. Purchase citronella candles and an herbal repellent, which blends bug-fighting oils such as lemongrass and citronella. You can also create a repellent right in your blender or juicer. Throw in either celery or chili and some jalapeno peppers, then apply the juice with a small cloth or spray bottle. Since you are using peppers, make sure to avoid eyes when you spray!
  
• Shun all disposables. That includes those flimsy cups, paper plates, plastic forks, plastic bottles, and styrofoam coolers. Not only are they wasteful, but they’re also prone to flying away in the wind. Bring a reusable cooler, a thermos filled with filtered tap water, and dishware from home. Don’t pack glass, because bare feet and broken glass don’t mix.
  
• Buy juicy summer fruits and veggies at your farmer’s market  before hitting the beach.

3. Play, Relax, Enjoy!

• Use boardwalks and trails, and never wander into dunes, which protect the beach from erosion and are often home to threatened or endangered species.
  
• Always swim at least 100 yards away from storm drains. They collect stuff that you don’t want to dunk your head in—like motor oil, pesticides, and animal waste.
  
• Get the little ones a playset² or Frisbee³ made from recycled milk jugs, or make a kite from recycled materials.
  
• Catch a wave on an eco-friendly surfboard. Seventy-five percent of boards are still made of polyurethane foam,⁴ even though the material uses petroleum and creates dangerous chemicals during manufacturing.⁵ Choose a board made of bamboo ⁶ or a composite of sustainably-harvested wood, fast-growing cork, and recyclable foam.⁷
  
• Ride on wind power. Rent a sailboat instead of a gas-guzzling jet ski or motor boat.
  
• Take only pictures, leave only footprints! Sparkly rocks, slimy seaweed, and rainbow-lined shells are all part of the local ecosystem, and they should not be removed. Keep in mind that sand dollars and starfish are live animals, not souvenirs.
  
• Say no to souvenirs. Avoid the dollar t-shirt or neon-colored stuffed animal. Get high quality items that will last for decades, and refuse to buy anything made with shells or animal parts.

4. Don’t be Trashy…

• The ocean is not one big toilet. Take care of your business in a public restroom.
  
• Don’t use soap in outdoor showers. The soap suds will probably end up in stormwater drains, which may empty into oceans, streams, or lakes. According to the Maryland Department of the Environment, “Soaps [and] detergents (even biodegradable ones) can be poisonous to crabs, oysters, and rockfish, damaging gills and depleting the water of oxygen.”⁸
  
• Pick up your pet’s droppings, which are a source of bacteria that may contribute to beach closures.
  
• Use the trash cans, and bring home your recyclables and compostables if there are no proper bins at your beach. Cut plastic 6-pack holders, which can entrap animals like fish, turtles, and seals. Don’t litter your cigarette butts, which are the most common item found on beach cleanups—each year, cleaning crews find nearly 2.2 million pieces of cigarette debris on coastal shores at the end of summer.⁹ Go the extra mile by picking up other people’s trash. You can even join or start a beach clean up.¹⁰

5. Think beach all year long

Be mindful of the beach even when you’re not at the beach. compost instead of harsh chemicals. Remember that protecting the ocean starts at home!