Surf’s up, treehuggers 🏄

Quick tips for day trips

We’re smack dab in the middle of getaway season, and whether you’re “remote working” over the long weekend (don’t worry, we won’t tell the boss) or actually cashing in on that hard-won PTO, know we’re with you all the way.

…Right up until the point that that aerosol sunscreen comes out. Chances are, you already know the impact of propellants on the environment. But were you aware that that same off-the-shelf sunblock is doing realtime damage to our reefs?

As always, the shock and awe only gets us so far. Here’re three beach day tips that’re even easier to apply than an SPF30:

Slather

It’s best to avoid the aerosols, but even better to lean toward mineral sunscreens. Chemical UV blockers often contain compounds like oxybenzone, which has been known to do harm to local marine life and its surroundings. Moreover, destinations like Hawaii and Thailand have already prohibited its sale.

Pack

The beach can be a wasteland of cheap plastics, non-biodegradables and one-time usage, so do your part to bring some renewability into the fold. Pack a lunch, a water bottle, a towel and do your best to avoid those last second purchases. If the Great Pacific Garbage Patch feels too abstract, consider this fact: It would take 67 ships an entire year to clean up less than one percent of the North Pacific Ocean.

Preserve

Whether it’s a flashy conch or a glitzy piece of sea glass, there’s always a temptation to bring the beach home with you. Studies show that a living shoreline—aka an uninterrupted shoreline—is one of the best defenses against flooding and other ecological risks that come with rising water levels. Leave the beach at the beach, and know you’ll both live to see it another day.

Let’s move,

Kris