Green Living Tips: The Outdoor Enthusiast

Learn more about green living with this second post in our sustainability series. The series kicked off last month with a feature on The Animal Lover . Green living tips can be helpful for planet-loving people with all types of passions — even those already engaging in green activities.
If you rate your adventures by trails conquered, fish caught or vertical feet climbed, it’s safe to say you’re in the category of The Outdoor Enthusiast. Your adventure-seeking self has a love for the planet — and we’re here with sustainability tips so you can leave an even smaller footprint.
Get out while going green
Hiking, biking and even walking are great ways to spend time outside without leaving a large footprint on the planet. On top of getting exercise, you’ll soak in the great outdoors and much-needed vitamin D.
For an outdoor activity at home, get a garden up and running. Plants absorb harmful carbon emissions and can grow without harsh pesticides. Plus, growing organic fruits and vegetables saves you a trip to the store. If you don’t have a yard, potted plants can get the job done as well.
Protect yourself the natural way
Spending time outdoors is good for the soul, but can be interrupted by those pesky mosquitos. Bug spray is a must and can be used sustainably if you buy a natural one free of harmful chemicals. Choose products made from essential oils like those from Wondercide .
Make sure you’re protecting your skin when you’re outside. More exposure to the sun means you should kick up the SPF. Find natural and safe sunscreen, free of harmful chemicals — and do the environment a favor by picking a nonaerosol variety.
Get your green gear
The Outdoor Enthusiast prioritizes the planet — and it’s easy for you to go the extra mile with sustainable gear. The less synthetic materials the better. Try to buy materials made of natural fabrics like cotton, linen or wool.
Synthetics release CO2 and nitrous oxide into the air during production — plus they’re not normally recyclable. Opt for clothing, water bottles, bags and gear made from renewable, organic, upcycled and recycled materials like those found at EarthHero .
Sustainable snacking
Snacking helps thwart off those hunger pangs between meals, but between processing, packaging and transporting it to you, it can be a real bummer for the environment. Local products with organically sourced ingredients are the way to go. They tend to be fresher and chemical-free.
Up the ante by finding food with reusable or compostable packaging — the wrappers will be good for the planet, and the snacks will be good for your taste buds. Cut down on plastics, making sure your cookware and utensils are eco-friendly — like bamboo or stainless steel — and reuse them each time you venture out.
Give back to your planet
Preserving the environment is important because people outnumber the...