7 Ways You Can Be an Eco-Friendly Beach-Goer!

Beach days are approaching quickly and it's important to remember how we can maintain the cleanliness of the beaches we visit! Millions of people go to the beach each year...and without precautions and cleanups, the beaches we love can very quickly turn into a mess.

Keep reading for some easy ideas on how you can be a more eco-friendly beach-goer this summer!

Leave Nothing Behind

You wouldn't go to a friend's house and leave a huge mess, right? Then the same should go for a visit to the beach. We are essentially visiting the wildlife's home, and we should all respect that by not leaving any trash behind! Before you head home, take another look behind and make sure you picked up any plastic cups, cans, utensils, straws, etc.

Pack Lunch in Reusable Containers

Another way to avoid leaving anything behind is by packing your lunch and snacks in reusable containers! You won't have the risk of an empty Ziploc bag flying away in the wind, plus there won't be as many little wrappers that can accidentally bury under the sand.

Use Eco-Friendly Sunscreen

Look for chemicals such as avobenzone and oxybenzone in your sunscreen as they've been proven to harm our ocean's coral reefs. Of course you must protect your skin from UV damage, so instead wear Tutublue UPF50+ swimsuits and use mineral based sunscreen on areas where you aren't covered by the suit.

Don't Touch or Feed Wildlife

Let the animals be! This is their home, so avoid touching or feeding them as it can be very harmful to their health and to the beaches. Feeding seagulls can cause them to swarm the beaches where they've been fed, increasing the amount of animal waste which can damage the beach. Wild animals also have very different diets than humans, so the food that we ate can harm their stomachs.

If Showering Outdoors, Don't Use Bath Products

Some beaches have outdoor showers and the water you're using to shower drains straight into the ocean. Just rinse off the sand and avoid using soap or shampoo to avoid chemicals seeping into the ocean!

Don't Collect Shells

As pretty as they may be, shells are also very important to beaches because they provide homes and hiding places for animals, as well as stabilizing the beach. By removing shells, it changes the environment and has negative impacts like erosion and a decrease of animals who need the shells.

Use Eco-Friendly Beach Toys

Any sand toys that are brought to the beach should leave the beach with you (remember tip #1!). Sometimes though, beach toys get lost in the sand or float away in the water without you knowing. Avoid the impact of this by looking for eco-friendly & biodegradable toys that will break down naturally over time!