How to Host a Plastic-Free Beach Picnic

9 July 2019

Tips on how to keep your beach clean and your picnic hamper full, written in partnership with Oceanographic Magazine.

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Sunshine, food and the feeling of sand between your toes… beach picnics are one of summer’s greatest pleasures. If you’re lucky enough to live by the coast – or perhaps you’re just holidaying – have yourself a plastic free feast this year. It’s easier than you think, simply follow these tips from our friends over at Oceanographic Magazine.

1. Preparation is key

Give yourself plenty of time to shop and prep for your beach picnic. Even if you don’t live near a refill shop, it’s easy to design a meal around plastic-free options when you have enough time to do it! Go for unpackaged, seasonal and local veggies for salads and take your own cloth bags to carry them home in. Seek out your nearest supermarket that has a deli counter and fill your boots with freshly made pies and quiches – just don’t forget to take reusable containers! There are also numerous snack options available in jars, such as olives, peppers and artichoke hearts. And thank goodness for boursin cheese. Alternatively, head to farmdrop.com, where you can filter out products that use plastic packaging and have everything delivered to your door.

2. Get planning

As far as you can, make things from scratch. What more could you want than sandwiches using fresh bread from your local bakery, organic crudités dipped in homemade humous, cold cooked sausages, potato salad, handmade pies and coleslaw? Round everything off with a good old British fruit salad, a tin of biscuits, fresh pastries or (if you’re lucky) an ice-cream cone from the beach café.

3. Be quench-conscious

Of course, the obvious option here is a nice and cold reusable water bottle filled with water, but when out enjoying the sunshine, that’s just the baseline. When prepping your beverages for the event, opt for wine in corked bottles as corks are compostable and glass can be recycled. When it comes to drinking beer, draught beer from a keg bought from the nearest pub is probably your best bet – just make sure they don’t give you a single-use plastic cup. If you go for cans or bottles, opt for ones that aren’t bound together in plastic rings or have plastic in the lid, and make sure you recycle them properly afterwards. If you plan well enough in advance, there are also a number of companies that offer a variety of sustainable beer boxes!).

4. BYOC (cutlery and crockery)

Add a little class to your picnic by ditching the plastic bags and cutlery. Opt for a classic wicker hamper (for the Instagram shots, of course) or carefully pack everything into a rucksack or cool bag. If you haven’t invested in some reusable bamboo cutlery yet, simply take bits and bobs from your own kitchen that you can bring home again to wash up. Same goes for plates – just wrap them in a tea towel to save from breakages (these can double as napkins for sticky fingers) or grab a set of bamboo boxes instead.

5. Leave nothing behind

The key thing is to take everything home with you. Any leftovers, pack them back into tins and boxes and enjoy the following day for breakfast. Any cans or bottles, take them away and recycle correctly. Make sure that prosecco cork doesn’t end up flying into the sea, and you’re well on your way.

6. Arrive in style

Carpool or, even better, choose your dining spot based on cycling or walking capabilities.

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