For coastal communities, summer means frequent trips to our favorite beaches to enjoy the sun, sand, and waves. For landlocked families, it might mean hitting the nearest lake, heading out on a roadtrip or jetting off to a tropical locale. Whatever beach season means to you, it’s important to be conscious about what you bring to new ecosystems, and to actively prevent any harm your visit might cause. So, to help you have some (environmentally friendly) fun on your next beach day, we’ve created this guide filled with tips for the perfect, and perfectly sustainable beach day. Let’s dive in…

Use Reef-Safe Sunscreen

Any parent knows it is crucial to protect your little one from the sun. But many are unaware that the ingredients in some sunscreens can actually harm marine life. For example, products containing oxybenzone are contributing to the destruction of beautiful coral reefs. That’s why we encourage families to always buy reef-safe, biodegradable, non-toxic sunscreen. With this simple swap you can be rest assured that you are protecting your child and the sea creatures too!

Wear Natural Textiles and Accessories

Aside from littering, one of the easiest ways to damage coastal ecosystems is through your clothing and accessories. Anything from your swimwear to your beach bag can be made of plastic-based materials that wear away and litter the beach with microplastics. We recommend choosing a durable beach bag and towels made of natural materials like cotton or canvas. Try to opt for eco-friendly swimwear and avoid wearing plastics whenever you can.

Play with Eco-Friendly Beach Toys

Just as damaging as your clothes and accessories are the toys you bring along for your little ones. Buckets, shovels, goggles, and other toys are all too often made of plastic. Not to mention, rough play with abrasive sand means those toys are likely to leave behind microplastics too. So, do your best to avoid bringing harmful items that might degrade or get washed into the ocean, contributing to the problem. Instead, opt for safer, eco-friendly beach toys made of wood, silicone, or recycled materials.

Protect Marine Life

Just like you would any time in nature, leave things how you found them — or better! While it might be tempting to take home seashells or other keepsakes, removing items that belong there can disturb the ecosystem. Instead, we encourage families to collect any trash they might see during the day. Always head home ensuring the beach looks more beautiful than before you got there. That includes filling in holes or flattening sandcastles that might become obstacles for marine life.

Choose Plastic-Free Food and Drink Containers

Your day in paradise wouldn’t be complete without snacks, lunch, and lots of water! But, please don't bring more trash to the beach. Instead, bring reusable, eco-friendly products, such as the Pura Stainless plastic-free water bottles and lunch containers! These sustainable items are made entirely of stainless steel and medical grade silicone. Of course, all of our products are Made Safe® Certified, free of over 80,000 toxins! That means it can help keep both you and the marine ecosystem you are visiting safe and healthy.

At Pura Stainless, our mission is to make it easier for families to live healthier, greener lives! We hope these summer sustainability tips help you enjoy a beach day that you can truly feel good about! Before your next trip, shop our 100% plastic-free water bottles and lunch containers by visiting our website. To make an even bigger impact, send this blog to someone you know who wants to practice sustainable tourism or would love to make their time at the beach more eco-friendly!