Ethically Kate – How To Pack For A Sustainable Picnic

Written by Kate Hall from Ethically Kate

Almost everything is better when done outdoors. Think about it. The outdoor bathtub craze, BBQs in most backyards, the novelty of outdoor showers, the adrenaline of exercising under the sky instead of a roof; most things bring more joy when carried out within a natural environment. That’s why instead of using our purpose-built kitchens and comfortable dining rooms to eat our food in, we consider it an absolute treat to bundle up drinks and nibbles, a rug or two, and eat our food outside.

‘Picnic’ : an excursion or outing with food usually provided by members of the group and eaten in the open.

With summer still keeping us warm into the late hours of the evening, picnics are a popular pastime for New Zealanders right now, but it’s important they’re done right! Packing a sustainable picnic means it will be possible to enjoy the gorgeous outdoors for many more decades, and the space is left less disrupted. Less waste, healthier food, and reusable service ware are brilliant ways to have an eco-friendly picnic.

Here’s exactly how it’s done…

What to pack

What you love to eat and treat your tastebuds is totally up to you! The trick to making your picnic food (no matter what it is) more sustainable, is to think local, low waste, and mainly plants.

Visit your local package free bulk bin store to grab delicious seeds, nuts, and dried fruit that are already prepared and ready to eat straight away. If you’re feeling creative, purchase ingredients at the bulk bin store to make your own bread or snacks. Some simple low waste foods to make yourself include hummus, pesto, fruit slice, and seedy crackers.

Not into baking? Visit a local bakery or purchase premade snacks in glass or readily recycled (plastics #1 and #2 are the best) packaging. Consider snacks like Loving Earth Chocolate which are vegan friendly and comes in home compostable packaging! It’s one of the easiest ways to impress your friends at your sustainable picnic, and a great conversation starter.

Time saver hack: depending on how hungry you are, picking up a range of loose fruit from the supermarket is a time-friendly way to ace a picnic in an instant.

How to pack it

Picnics can get messy if you don’t prepare your food thoughtfully; no one wants hummus leaking through their picnic bag! If you stick to the concept of reusing, you can spend more time enjoying your picnic rather than hunting for a rubbish bin, plus your picnic setup will look way more classy too.

Pack your low waste snacks in an Ever Eco Stainless Steel Bento Snack Box or Stainless Steel Nesting Containers. The nesting containers are especially helpful for an easy packup. Once empty, stack them into each other and save room on the journey home.

If you’re taking a thermos (Nutra Organics range of hot drinks are delish!) or a flask of juice on your picnic adventures, instruct the rest of your group to bring their own reusable cup or come prepared with a stack of Ever Eco Stainless Steel Drinking Cups. Do you like your hot drinks super hot? The CaliWoods Tumblers are best at keeping in the heat, even on chilly days.

Avoid bringing along items you don’t need to your picnic, but consider investing in a reusable straw or bamboo cutlery set which are lightweight and help you eat your food with ease. When you’re at the bakery picking out a loaf of bread to nibble on at your idyllic sustainable picnic location, whip out a Rethink Reusable Bread Bag to keep your bread fresh and avoid waste too.

No matter what you plan on eating at your picnic, consider investing in a The Swag- Lunch Bag. This stores all sorts, from fruits to sandwiches, hot to cold food. The Swag has a nifty back pocket for a mini icepack, and is easily washable in a cold machine wash.

Extra sustainable picnic tips

• Pick a local spot that doesn’t involve lots of travel to get to.
• Take home ALL your waste, or better yet, do a clean up of the area before you leave (even if it’s not your rubbish).
• Let your friends know that they can borrow your reusable picnicware if they go on a picnic by themselves in the future.
• Don’t trail off paths to get to picnic spots (this can disrupt natural habitats negatively).

Eating outdoors is special. There’s something about the feeling of eating food with the breeze blowing, birds chirping, and grass beneath your toes that makes everything taste better. The crinkling of plastic and a bag full of waste can ruin the vibe. Next time you venture out for a picnic excursion, pack a sustainable, low waste picnic.

If you go, let us know! We’d love to hear about it.