Surprising And Sustainable Gear For Spring Break

It’s almost time for spring break, which means sunny skies, warm weather and time to relax with family and friends. While it’s obvious to bring the normal stuff such as bathing suits, sunscreen, shorts and shirts, there are some items that are surprisingly essential, that stand out from the pack, and have a sustainability aspect. That’s where this list comes into play. I dug through some products and pulled a few that I think you’ll fancy, many of which are actually good for the environment.

United by Blue Gear:

@ChucktownOceanGal

Being in the world of conservation with the Surfrider Foundation, United by Blue was a brand that popped up on my radar a few times mainly for their sustainability mission. For every product sold, the brand removes one pound of trash from our world’s oceans and waterways. It seemed natural to me to include them in this piece considering most people head to the coast for spring break. My top picks for your trip—the men’s Reach Boardshort and the women’s Topography Boardshort both of which are made from recycled and organic materials. If you need something to tote your spring break essentials around in, the Weekender Bag is the perfect fit.

Sea Bags of Maine Marine Life Tote:

@ChucktownOceanGal / Via jansport.com

What better to remind you of the importance of protecting our ocean’s critters than literally showing them off on your bag?! Sea Bags of Maine, another incredible sustainable brand, creates these beautiful totes out of recycled sails. As a competitive sailor I see first hand how many old sails end up in the trash. This brand is helping reduce the amount of waste in landfills by reusing those sails. The Marine Life Tote features images of jellyfish, anemones, sea stars, and plankton, all of which are animals we need to protect and respect. The best part is, since the bags are made from sails, they hold up to the elements no matter what Mother Nature throws your way.

House of Marley Chant Mini BT Speaker:

@ChucktownOceanGal / Via thehouseofmarley.com

Bluetooth speakers seem to be a dime a dozen these days, so it’s rare to find a brand that stands out from the pack in sound quality and sustainability. House of Marley has done just that with the Chant Mini BT Speaker. The brand crafts their products from mindfully sourced materials like recycled plastic and bamboo; even the packaging is recycled paper. In terms of sound quality, this little speaker can create quite the listening experience, pouring out the energy, emotion and detail of every song. This is a must-have if you plan to spend a day at the beach with friends, out on the boat, or host a spring break yardy (yard party).

JanSport Digital Burrito Pouch:

@ChucktownOceanGal / Via jansport.com

When I pulled this out in my car and showed my boyfriend he legitimately thought I had a burrito in my car on standby. While that sounds delicious, it turns out I in fact don’t just drive around with a burrito, instead it’s the JanSport Digital Burrito Pouch, a super rad electronic cord organizer. Why is this a spring break essential? Because no one is going to steal your electronic cords since they think you’re just carrying around a burrito. Bonus is it’s super easy to use, and it easily holds all of your cords.

Moissanite Earrings from Charles & Colvard:

@ChucktownOceanGal / Via charlesandcolvard.com

I’m a fan of looking good when traveling, but I don’t always want to bring my most expensive bling with me on trips, especially abroad. Charles & Colvard has you covered. The brand makes beautiful jewelry out of Moissanite—a diamond-like stone, but better than a diamond because it has less of an environmental impact. Instead of being mined like diamonds, the Moissanite is created in a lab making it ethical and sustainable. Plus if you lose them while out exploring, you won’t be out several thousand dollars.

Inika Organic Makeup:

Courtesy of: Inika Organic / Via inikaorganic.com

Speaking of looking good for your spring break trip, you’ll want to be sure to pack makeup that highlights your best features and has minimal impact on the environment. Many people don’t realize that the production of cosmetics has a detrimental effect on our natural world. Inika is a brand I discovered that creates amazing all natural, vegan, organic, and cruelty free products. They are based in Australia and have a cult following due to ethically created products and quality, especially the Long Lash Vegan Mascara, my new favorite.

Sweet Defeat Lozenges:

Via sweetdefeat.com

While on spring break, it’s important to not only take care of the environment through sustainable actions but also make sure that you’re taking care of yourself. I don’t know about you, but as soon as I get into vacation mode I justify all of my bad eating and drinking habits. The Sweet Defeat Lozenges are the perfectly packable tool to help curb those sugar cravings. Instead of pigging out on sugary rum punches, desert, or mid-day candy cravings pop a lozenge in your mouth, let it dissolve and skip those extra unnecessary calories. Your body will thank you later.

Just for Fun: PRYNT Portable Printer:

@ChucktownOceanGal / Via prynt.co

The PRYNT portable printer is one of the most fun technological devices I’ve used in a while. It turns your smartphone into a Polaroid Camera, allowing you to share your spring break memories with friends. All you have to do is plug it into your phone, snap a photo, and you’re able to print anything anywhere. You’ll never have to head to the drugstore to get photos produced again!

Now you can carry on with your spring break festivities knowing that you are having a minimal impact on the environment, supporting brands that are giving back, and having a blast at the same time. It’s a win win for everyone!