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If you enjoy the outdoors like I do, there is no better way to enjoy it like having a picnic.
A perfect way to spend the afternoon with the fresh air, nice view, and good food. However, one aspect I am now more conscious about is making my picnics zero-waste.
I am always having picnics at parks near me because I live in New Jersey, and I always strive to make my picnics eco-friendly.
If you are seeking easy, budget-friendly solutions to have a picnic without plastic, here are some tested tips which will make outdoor meals enjoyable for you and the planet today and in the future.
Must-Have Equipment for a Picnic Without Plastic
It Starts with the Right Gear To Start Your Plastic-Free Picnic. When you choose to invest in some reusable goods, you will save money in the long term and cut down on the waste you create.
Here are my go-to essentials:
→ Reusable Picnic Basket or Bag: Get rid of the plastic bags and pick up a durable picnic basket or an insulated, reusable tote bag. While wicker baskets may be cute, a tote will often stay in the basket longer and is easier to tote around.
→ Recycled or Cotton Picnic Blanket: Choose a blanket made from sustainable materials like recycled polyester or organic cotton. These eco-friendly options provide a comfortable seating area while reducing environmental impact.
→ Food Containers that are not made of plastic — good containers are ones made of stainless steel, bamboo, or glass, which can be used to pack sandwiches, fruit, and more. Glass jars are particularly effective for salads and sides – and they are stackable and simple to clean.
→ Utensils, Plates, and Cups: Get yourself a set of reusable utensils. The bamboo cutlery I carry in my car for unplanned picnics. As well as collapsible silicone cups and plates, meaning ultra-lightweight options for the great outdoors.
→ Cloth Napkins and Tablecloths– No to disposable types of paper products! Cloth napkins and a tablecloth you can wash have a more luxurious feel, plus they won’t blow away in the wind.
Picnic Ideas with Sustainable Food and Drink
On the food side, buy fresh, seasonal, and package-free food. Keeping a simple, healthy menu is one of the secrets of staying plastic-free. Here are some examples of food and drink ideas that do the trick:
→ Snackable Fruits: Chop some apples, strawberries, or grapes small and pack them in a container. For zero-packaging snacking, you can’t beat carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers.
→ Mason Jar Salads: These are salads layered in mason jars and are not just pretty to look at, they help to maintain their crispness. Layer the dressing on the bottom, hearty vegetables next, then greens on top. Shake it up whenever you are ready to eat!
→ Use reusable water bottles – filled with lemonade, iced tea, or flavored water. At home, I usually make a simple infused water with lemon slices and mint — refreshing and cheaper than buying bottled drinks.
→ Hold the Straw, or Bring Your Own: Most of us have no use for a straw, but if you really need one, bring along a metal or silicone straw. These small things help a lot in preventing single-use plastic.
Plastic-Free Packing Food To Picnic
With a few quick swaps, you can make packing your picnic more sustainable. Here’s what I recommend:
→ Eco-Friendly Food Wrap: Beeswax wraps are perfect for sandwiches and snacks. They are reusable, can be bent and conform to any shape, and keep things fresh.
→ Use insulated bags – rather than standard plastic coolers for your portable cooler bags Pop a couple of reusable ice packs in there, or freeze to a water bottle the night before — it’ll keep everything cold, plus you can drink the water as the ice pack melts.
→ Compostable and Biodegradable Goods: In case you should use any disposables, discover compostable varieties similar to bamboo or palm leaf plates. These alternatives are far more eco-friendly, and they will biodegrade naturally.
Games, Activities for Your Plastic-Free Picnic
Food may be the star of the show, but it’s nice to have a little entertainment on a sustainable level as well. Just a few ‘exciting’ activities that I do with family and friends –
Also read 15 Sustainable party games ideas for adults and kids.
→ Games Outdoor: Rather than one-time plastic toys, carry a deck of cards or a classic outdoor wooden game like Jenga or cornhole. They can be reused many times and are easy to pack.
→ Outdoor Activities: You are already out, so you might as well take advantage of it! Take a short hike, pack a bird-watching book, or simply stroll the paths. Picnicking in a park with scenic beauty is a way to experience wildlife and nature simultaneously.
→ Outdoor Crafts for Kids — If you are going on a picnic with kids, you can also do very eco-friendly crafts there, such as painting stones. Bring a small kit of natural paints and allow them to paint the rocks they come across. It is also very fun and does not create any waste.
Wiping Without Generating Plastic Waste
After you have enjoyed that plastic-free picnic, it is equally important to clean up your mess sustainably make sure that you follow that too.
These are the ways I manage to keep it so clean in an environmentally friendly manner:
→ PACK A COMPOST BIN IN YOUR SUITCASE — If you are going to have food scraps, bring a small compostable bag to collect it. When you arrive home, compost them, or dispose of them responsibly.
So a cloth towel and a small spray bottle with either vinegar or some other eco-friendly cleaner. That way you are not using all the plastic wipes or disposables.
Take it all with you, Packing everything out is one of the easier Leave No Trace practices. Take it out with you — it’s a smart habit, and leaves nature untouched for others to enjoy, even if it is biodegradable.
Encourage Others To Have A Plastic-Free Picnic
Hosting a plastic-free picnic is a fantastic way of leading by example. I like to have a picnic with some friends and invite everyone to bring their own reusable tableware and turn it to be an plastic-free picnic.
If you love sustainability, share a photo of your plastic-free picnic on social media. Use hashtags like #PlasticFreePicnic or #EcoFriendlyLiving to connect with other like-minded folks and inspire more people to go green.
A plastic-free picnic is not all that hard to do here in the U.S., and with a little planning, it can become fun and eco-friendly.
The next time you’re packing for a picnic, skip the plastic! and we as a whole can generate less waste, do good for nature, and encourage others to join our eco-friendly way of living. Enjoy some sustainable picnicking, of course!
