10 Best Eco-Friendly Beach Essentials [Family Edition]

Heading To The Beach? Here Is A List Of Everything You Need For A Sustainable Beach Day!

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Living in Northwest Florida allows our family to frequent the beach year-round. Even in the winter months, the beach is a great place to spend quality time with your children, or on your own for some much needed self-care.

I particularly love the color of the ocean water here on the Emerald Coast. It is a reminder of the power and beauty of nature, and it always brings me a sense of peace and tranquility whenever I spend time there.

The white sands and mesmerizing Emerald color of the water is also a reminder of the importance of protecting our precious environment. We must take care of our oceans and beaches if we want to keep them looking as beautiful as they are today.

The beach is a beautiful place, and it is essential that we take steps to keep it that way. With that said, there are a few simple ways to be eco-friendly at the beach that can make a big difference.

How To Be Eco-Friendly At The Beach

First, it is important to be mindful of your trash. Bring reusable or biodegradable trash bags to store and carry your items. This will help to reduce the amount of plastic and other materials that end up in the ocean. The key is to leave behind only your footprints.

Avoid disposable drink containers, as well as disposable plastic straws, and bring liquids in reusable containers. The wind at the beach can get very strong, and lots of lightweight items can get blown into the water—plus, they’re bad for the environment, wildlife and your health.

Thirdly, be mindful of the local wildlife, and refrain from feeding the birds. Seagulls always land near people with food in an attempt to get fed, but some human food can make them sick, so it’s best to resist the urge.

Next, be sure to use natural sunscreens and other skincare products that are biodegradable. Many of the chemicals found in traditional sunscreens can be damaging to the environment—especially corals and marine life, so it is important to use natural alternatives.

Lastly, Opt for beach toys that are made from plant-based fibers like bamboo or wheat straw. I can’t count how many times my kids’ toys got swept away into the ocean, and plastic is so bad for the environment. Hence, I started buying non-toxic, biodegradable beach toys.

By following these simple steps, we can all help to protect and preserve our precious environment for years to come. And with that said, below are my recommended environmentally friendly beach essentials for a sustainable beach day!

Sustainable Beach Essentials For An Eco-Friendly Beach Day

1. Eco-Friendly Beach Tote

If you plan on visiting the beach, you need a tote bag that holds all of your essentials (towels, drinks, books, sun screen lotion). And if you’re a mom heading out with the kids, you’re going to need a large one.

I love this large tote by Sand and Love on Etsy. It’s made with non-dyed natural jute fibers, non-toxic ink and recycled paper. It’s also lined on the inside for easy cleaning, and spacious enough for kids’ stuff.

If you’d rather not purchase a new beach tote, by all means, use something you already have. I often times use my favorite Farmer’s Market bag, and nobody knows the difference.

2. Eco-Friendly Beach Towels

Beach towels are an essential item for any beach trip. Not only do they provide a comfortable surface to lay on, but they also help to keep sand and moisture away from your skin.

If you’re tired of using traditional beach towels, try a Sand Cloud. These eco-friendly beach towels are made from 100% Turkish organic cotton, are super big, and do a much better job at repelling sand (they were featured on shark tank).

For The Kids: Don’t forget to grab my favorite hooded bamboo towel by Kea Babies! Bamboo is more absorbent than cotton, and provides natural UV protection from the Sun. We use ours whenever we go to the beach, and my daughter stays warm and cozy on the car ride home.

3. Non-Toxic Sun Screen

Sunscreen is an essential item for any beach day. Applying sunscreen before you head out for the beach is a great way to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable day. However, not all sunscreens are safe for your skin, nor the environment.

Last year, I’ve discovered Evereden skin care, and raced to buy their non-toxic premium mineral sunscreen. It’s reef safe, and it’s the perfect tote bag essential, packaged with a convenient clip-on ring for easy portability.

For The Kids: We love using the Evereden Premium mineral sunscreen lotion. It protects delicate baby and kid skin from the sun’s damaging effects, and its chemical-free ingredients are reef safe.

4. Eco-Friendly Beach Toys

Beach toys are an essential part of a beach trip if you have kids. Not only do they provide hours of entertainment, but they also help keep the kids occupied and out of trouble. However, a majority of beach toys are made from plastic, and many get swept out to the ocean.

After noticing that my kids would lose most of their little shovels to the sea, I decided to start buying biodegradable beach toys, and the brand LoveLotte makes really cute sets out of bamboo fiber. Plant fiber is BPA-free and non-toxic, so these beach toys are perfectly safe for babies.

5. Eco-Friendly Beach Umbrella

Beach umbrellas are an essential item for a day at the beach. They provide much needed protection from the sun’s harsh rays, as well as a bit of shade to rest in. However, not all beach umbrellas are created equal, and some are just made from flimsy cheap plastic that end up in landfills.

The Business & Pleasure Co beach umbrella is a fabulous eco-friendly essential to your beach day. It’s made from cotton, premium teak wood and aluminum, and offers UPF 50+. Currently, you can get this boho-chíc beach umbrella on Amazon for 30% off.

6. Eco-Friendly Cooler

A cooler is an essential item to bring to the beach. It is a great way to keep food and drinks cold and fresh, and it can also be used to store wet items such as towels and swimsuits. A cooler can also be used to store snacks and other items that you may need for your kids throughout the day.

If you’re shopping for one, Igloo has a fun new line of sustainable soft coolers made from recycled plastic water bottles called the Repreve Avery Tote. These coolers are so versatile that you can bring them along to play golf, a softball game and more.

7. Collapsible Beach Wagon

Beach wagons are a great way to make a day at the beach easier and more enjoyable. They provide a convenient way to transport all of the beach essentials, such as towels, sunscreen, toys, and snacks. This can save you from having to make multiple trips back and forth from the car to the beach.

If you’re on a budget like me, you want a great quality wagon for an affordable price. Moon Lence is a collapsible all-terrain wagon that will help you transport your kiddos and your beach essentials with ease. And on days where you’re not heading out to the beach, you can reuse this wagon on walks, in the garden or transporting groceries into the house.

8. Cloth Swim Diapers

Cloth swim diapers are an essential item for any beachgoer looking for an eco-friendly option. Not only are they reusable, but they are also more absorbent than disposable diapers, making them a great choice for keeping babies and toddlers dry while they enjoy the beach.

One of my favorite reusable swim diaper brands is Nora’s Nursery. You can get 3 adorable boho-chíc swim diapers along with a reusable wet bag for storage, for under $30. These swim diapers are really great quality, and they’re so much better for the environment than disposables.

9. Sustainable Swimwear

Sustainable swimwear is becoming increasingly popular as people have become more aware of the environmental impact of their clothing choices. It is also a great way to look stylish while helping to protect the environment.

I love the sustainable swimsuit line for women on UrbanKissed. They use discarded fabric to create sexy beach wear for women: “The fabric of this bikini comes from dead stocks from our suppliers. We give them a second life through recycling, avoiding its destruction and the related contamination”.

For The Kids: it is extremely hard to find sustainable swimwear for kids. Luckily, there is Primary. Primary is a sustainable kids clothing line, and their sustainable swimwear is also UPF 50+, which is amazing!

10. Wildwood Kids Polarized Sunglasses

Going to the beach is a lot of fun, but it is important to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays. Kids need to wear sunglasses when they go to the beach to protect their eyes from the bright sunlight. Good quality sunglasses will help keep their eyes safe from the sun’s UV rays, which can cause damage to the eyes over time.

I LOVE the Wildwood polarized sunglasses. They are super stylish, and they are made with solid wood, and BPA-free recycled plastic. These sunglasses are for boys and girls aged 3 to 9 years, and are lightweight, comfortable and contain high quality TAC polarized lenses that provide full UVA and UVB protection. Match with your child with these polarized bamboo glasses for mom and dad!