Pitch Green: Simple swaps for eco-friendly camping

If you like camping but don’t want the noise and crowds, Small Campsites lists sites eto pitch tents and park caravans and motorhomes, listed by region and type (all-year, family, dog-friendly etc).

Keep dogs on leads where rules apply, walk only on marked trails, keep away from swimming in streams and ponds, and clean up after your pooch, using biodegradable poop bags. Also ensure dogs have good recall (to protect them and wildlife).

Read about pet safety (to avoid toxic plants and hazards). 

Envirotent (a water-resistant cardboard tent)

Envirotent makes sturdy cardboard tents that are warmer, sturdier and darker than nylon (plastic) tents. And a lot easier to put up, without the bother of tent pegs! They are insulated and water-resistant (not totally waterproof). And are easy to dismantle and recycle, at end of use.

Obviously don’t smoke in or near it (that goes for any kind of tent). Any cooking should take place at least 2 metres away from the tent. 

These tents are not the same as cardboard boxes. They are made from a high-performance board that has fewer surface holes, enhancing water resistance.

So they can brave heavy rainfall (and survive up to 4 weeks outside in winter) without need for coatings. A great ideal also for rough sleepers, to keep warm and dry. 

This company does not ‘sell tents’ to the public, but rather sells them to sites for music festivals, then collects and recycles them at end of the event, to stop the 1 in 4 plastic tents being left and littered. Campers are welcome to take their tents home, but they are not easy to transport due to their size.

Wild camping without permission, is actually illegal in England. So councils need to clamp down.

• Read The Little Book of Building Fires, a nice little guide on how to safely build fires, and just as importantly, how to safely put them out.
• Read The Green Camping Book and follow camping etiquettes (don’t drop litter, camp on durable surfaces and respect others and wildlife).
• The Greener Camping Club lists over 70 sites, and plants a tree for anyone who pays the £12 membership fee.

There are sites where you can camp in people’s gardens, but care must be taken to ensure dogs and wildlife are safe, with secure organic lawns. 

The Quiet Site (a sustainable campsite in Cumbria)

The Quiet Site is a holiday campsite with a difference. Located on beautiful Ullswater in the Lake District (Cumbria), since 1963 it’s been eco-friendly, way before it becamse fashionable!

Although sustainable with glamping and eco-lodges, it still has all modern comforts and free fast wifi if needed. There is e-van charging on site, on-site food (including many vegan options) and a muddy corner to give dogs a bath, if they are covered in mud!

Read more tips on greener camping.

The first zero waste campsite shop!

The Quiet Shop is the first zero waste shop at a holiday campsite in England. So instead of buying plastic bottles of milk and Mars Bars, here you’ll find:

• Glass bottles for drinks (with 20p back on returns)
• A gravity dispenser for cereal, rice, nuts etc (bring your own containers)
• Zero waste toiletries and cleaning/laundry

Many of the food and drink is locally-made

• Muesli is made 18 miles away
• Coffee is roasted 20 miles away
• Beers are brewed 15 miles away
• Seasonal veg is from just a mile away
• Marmalade is made 3.5 miles away
• Relish is made 17 miles away
• Spirits are distilled 30 miles away

The shop also sells house plants (read of unsafe plants to pets). Also never face foliage to outside, to stop birds flying into windows.

 

Helpful tips for greener camping

• If you smoke, use a personal ashtray (to safely stub out butts).
• Choose unscented biodegradable beauty and laundry products.
• Pee at least 30 metres from rivers and streams (if there no loos nearby, poo at least 60 metres away (away from farm animals), and cover your ‘business’ with soil and leaves!)
• Wild camping is illegal in most parts of England (to protect private land, plants and wildlife from trespassing, fires and barbecues.

Low-waste swaps for cooking and eating

• Bring a reusable water bottle for each person, plus one larger refill bottle (or a water carrier)
• Use a mug, bowl and spoon from home, over disposables. A basic-wash-up kit only needs a small amount of biodegradable dishwash liquid.
• Use soap sparingly, and keep it well away from streams, lakes, and drains on the pitch.
• Use lidded containers to store leftovers, and use take your rubbish home.
• Take reusable cutlery and mugs, and a small flask for hot tea.

Low-waste swaps for washing and toilets

• Use washable flannels over disposable wipes, even an old cotton t-shirt cut into squares.
• Use biodegradable soap and shampoo. Wash at least 60 metres (around 70 adult steps) from water streams and follow toilet disposable rules.
• Choose zero waste feminine care, packed in sealed bags.
• Use wind-up and rechargeable torches and lanterns.

Circular & Co reusable travel mugs

Circular & Co Reusable Travel Mug is the ideal zero waste swap, for a daily commute or if you use a coffee shop for your morning brew. Made from 90% post-consumer recycled stainless steel, this durable mug is thermally insulated to keep drinks hot for 6 hours or cold for 12 hours.

Sold with a 2-year guarantee (though designed to last 10 years), it’s sold in two sizes, and easily recycled, at end of use.  The mug is designed with a sip lid for easy drinking from any angle, and has an easy one-hand opening. Perfect for life on the go! Dishwasher-safe (do not microwave).

Read our interview with Circular & Co!

Both size cups (8oz or 12oz) are designed to fit most barista machines (you’ll likely get a discount too!) and the trust-lock lid helps it to stay safe in your bag without leaks. Available in many colours. You can also buy spare lids, should you lose or break yours.

Avoid caffeine for pregnancy/nursing.

Why choose reusable travel mugs?

Disposable travel mugs and coffee cups are made from paper (which uses up trees). And nearly all of them are lined with plastic, which means they are very difficult to recycle, due to mixed materials. This leads billions of coffee cups to be littered worldwide.

If you visit a coffee cup for your morning brew, nearly all coffee shops now offer discounts for people bringing their own cup, and this saves you money.

Not litter coffee cups also is safer for wildlife. To prevent them getting their heads stuck (often attracted by sweet caramel liquids).

Klean Kanteen Steel Pint Cups (for camping)

Klean Kanteen camping mug can keep drinks hot for 3.5 hours and iced for 9.5 hours. Beautifully crafted from 90% post-consume recycled stainless steel, this 12oz insulated mug features an ergonomic stainless steel handle, splash-proof lid and award-winning Climate Lock™ vacuum insulation.

This mug’s rugged good looks are ideal from the campfire to the hills for a warming soup! In red or navy. Ideal for greener camping.

Klean Kanteen Steel Pint Cups are 16oz size (also sold in a smaller 10oz size) are sold in packs of four, ideal for your greener camping or picnic trips. Or even a trip to your favourite music festival. The lightweight single wall design is stackable and can be clipped with the optional silicone pint ring.

Avoid hot drinks from wide-mouth cups. Avoid caffeine for pregnancy/nursing.

Free from paint, ink and plastic, the electro-polished interior and rounded corners make these cups easy to clean. They are also dishwasher-safe. Also sold in a bright bubble gum design.

Klean Kanteen Insulated Steel Rise Tumbler

Klean Kanteen Rise Tumbler is made from recycled stainless steel, pairing sleek curves with a splash-proof Slide Lid for easy sipping and cleaning. Fully insulated with Climate Lock™ technology, this keeps your drinks hot or cold for hours, and the impact-resistant base cap provides added durablity.

The cap/lid is not leakproof. Avoid hot drinks from wide spouts.

The 16oz size is designed to flow with your day, then just pop it in the dishwasher when you get home. It has a wide stable base and fits most cup holders. Choose from 5 attractive colours.

The larger 26oz size is ideal for those who like a lot of coffee to get through the day!

It’s sold in several colours including navy and red.

Klean Kanteen Low Ball Tumbler

The low ball tumbler is a smaller 8oz size, ideal for a morning espresso or nightcap by the fire. Classy, compact and ready for anything!

Black + Blum Insulated Food Flask (for hot or cold foods)

Black + Blum insulated food flask is ideal to keep breakfast, lunch, snack or drink hot for 6 hours or cold for 8 hours. The 400ml flask is leakproof.

Made with quality stainless steel that is resistant to corrosion and rust and easy to recycle, it includes includes a spoon that straps to the side (if washed, use a microfiber filter due to being made from nylon).

Sold in a gift box, not suitable for dishwashers or microwaves.

Don’t use this flask to keep milk products (or baby foods) warm or cool, and keep out of reach of children and pets. Ensure the sealing ring is undamaged before storing, to avoid scalding from hot liquids.

How to use this insulated food flask

Pre-fill with hot water for hot food, or cold water for chilled food, for around 5 minutes then empty (do not overfill, and leave enough space at the top to fit the lid).

To clean, just use warm water, a plastic-free sponge and dishwash liquid (do not immerse in water and dry thoroughly, before storing with the lid removed). To remove stains, fill with hot water, add one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda (do not put lid on) and soak overnight, then rinse and dry.

If a vacuum forms and you can’t open the lid, leave it to cool for at least 6 hours to cool, to avoid hot liquid spilling out.

Prevent this happening by ensuring the lid seal is clean and located evenly within the lid channel.