A few tips for eco-friendly summer joys with love for our planet

Summer is quickly approaching, bringing with it outdoor adventures, festivals, trips, and long days full of sunshine. We all want to enjoy this season to the fullest, but it’s important to think about our planet as well. Many common summer activities can have an unintended impact on the environment. Therefore, we bring you some practical tips on how to enjoy summer ecologically and with a clearer conscience, knowing that we are not forgetting nature.

Summer Reading Without Wasting Resources

Summer vacations are a great opportunity to relax with a good book. The most sustainable reading is electronic, as it saves not only paper and ink required for printing but also the extra weight (and thus fuel) in all the means of transport we travel with a book in hand. However, even phones have an impact on our planet. So consider upgrading your phone sustainably this year – by getting a refurbished model. Swappie offers high-quality refurbished iPhones, which are a great ecological choice. You get a top-notch device without contributing to electronic waste. This process significantly reduces the demand for new materials, saves resources, and minimizes environmental damage caused by mining and manufacturing processes. Each refurbished phone also saves almost 63 kg of CO2 that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.

Pre-Loved Books Smell Even Better

If you’re looking for a way to read more sustainably but don’t want to give up the smell of paper and the feel of a physical book in your hand, try getting your summer reading second-hand. Knihobot allows you to find a wide selection of pre-loved books that are not only cheaper but also more environmentally friendly. By buying used books, you help reduce waste and support the reuse of resources. Choose your next holiday novel, biography, or non-fiction from second-hand sources and enjoy reading knowing that you’re helping protect our planet.

Glitter and Sparkle That Don’t Harm Nature

Summer celebrations can be full of sparkle without harming the environment. Traditional glitter is often made from tiny plastic particles (which break down into micro and nano plastics), harming both nature and humans. That’s why the EU issued a regulation at the end of last year that will gradually ban non-biodegradable glitter and other microplastics. Instead, try biodegradable glitter made from plant materials. This ecological alternative reduces plastic pollution and is safe for your skin. It’s a change that won’t be visible, but the planet will feel it.

At your celebrations, you can avoid confetti made from synthetic materials and enjoy the satisfaction of protecting the planet. Traditional confetti, often made from PVC or foil-coated plastic, takes hundreds of years to decompose and contaminates soil and water bodies when thrown around. They can also be dangerous for wildlife, which might ingest them by mistake, leading to serious injuries or even death. Paper confetti decomposes easily, but the dyes used can be toxic and leach into the soil during decomposition. A much better alternative is uncolored confetti made from natural materials like rice paper or dried leaves. They can easily be made at home using special punch cutters in various shapes.

Joy from Natural Skincare

Protecting your skin from harmful UV radiation is essential in summer, but it’s important to choose products that are kind to both us and the environment. Recent studies have highlighted chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate, which can be potential endocrine disruptors and are harmful to marine life, contributing to coral bleaching. To protect your health and the environment, consider using mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which are safe and effective.

When it comes to exfoliation, try making your own. A sugar or coffee scrub is easy to make at home – just mix the exfoliating ingredient with oil and soap, and you have a zero-waste cosmetic that, unlike exfoliants with microplastic beads, does not harm nature. Fortunately, the EU is gradually banning products containing microplastics, which are the most polluting to the environment. However, you can already save plastics not only in the products but also in their packaging by choosing wisely.

A Sustainable Summer Look with a Good Feeling

Slow fashion is a great choice for those who want to have style and also think about our planet, but not everyone can afford to spend a lot on a wardrobe. A cheap and ecological alternative is second-hand shops, swaps, and online platforms for buying and selling clothes. How can you make this sustainable activity even better? Buy clothes made from natural materials instead of polyester, even if recycled. Polyester clothing releases harmful microplastics during washing, which get into the water cycle.

For even greater benefit to nature, dry your clothes outside in the summer instead of using a dryer. This not only saves electricity but also avoids the heat emitted by the dryer (and other active appliances) during operation. Additionally, air with lower humidity feels cooler, which is especially handy on hot days.

Staying Cool Without Air Conditioning

Summer heat can be exhausting, but there are several ways to stay cool even during the hottest months. Using blinds and curtains can significantly reduce the heat entering your home, as up to 30% of the heat comes through windows. It’s also important to ventilate properly – close windows and doors during the day and open them at night to let in cooler air. Fans are a great help, and you can enhance their effect by placing a bowl of ice in front of them. And don’t forget hydration – drink plenty of water and refresh yourself with a spray bottle during the worst moments. For those who have trouble sleeping in the heat, moving to a cooler room or using cold compresses on the neck and wrists can help. There are also cooling pads that cool when under pressure; although mainly used for pets, some people swear by placing these cooling aids under their bed sheets. With these simple tricks, you can enjoy even the hottest summer days in pleasant temperatures and fully enjoy the summer.