Sustainable Picnic Tips and What's Suitable For Composting*
With a sunny Summer ahead of us there will be lots of opportunities for picnics and eating outside.
Years ago I wasn’t aware of the impact that single- use plastic has and just viewed it as something convenient to take with me on-the-go. Now I am more conscious and try to minimise what will ultimately end up in landfill. I recently celebrated my birthday with a picnic and drinks for some close friends and found some great alternatives to the typical plastic party cups but I also wanted to compile a list of what is suitable for composting.
What I love about working as an ambassador for GreenAware is that every month they help me understand a new area of my life where I can gradually improve and make conscious, yet manageable choices, that will all add up over the course of a lifetime.
GreenAware liners are plastic-free and made from plant- based ingredients and turn to compost in 4-6 week so they’re ideal for food waste bins but also durable enough to take out and about. I always have a GreenAware liner to hand both in my car in now in my picnic basket which is so handy.
Here’s what’s suitable to go in your GreenAware liner and then straight into your brown bin:
Firstly note – anything that is certified for industrial composting can go into the brown bin.
I tend to use either reusable or bamboo knives forks and spoons for cutlery.
If you’re wondering what to look for any cups, plates and bowls that are certified to EN13432 will have a little logo on them and carry certification of composability.
With take away hot cups, ie what you might get a take away coffee in look for certification to ensure it’s suitable for composting, this be the OK compost logo, TUV or the seedling logo.
Naturally any food scraps – cooked foods, meats and bones and vegetable scraps can all go straight in your GreenAware bag and then into compost.
When shopping for napkins – best to go for ones with minimal ink and unbleached. Also look for non-shiny wrapping papers.
For food products if it comes in corrugated paper packaging – as long as it is not laminated with plastic - it can compost easily.
Any excess paper and compostable clear salad bowls and straws - as long as they carry certification - can go into your Brown Bin for industrial composting also.
One great tip is to bring a small GreenAware 100% Compostable Food Waste Bag with you when you are having a picnic. Fill it up with food scraps and carry it home and pop it straight into the compost bin. This is great because most places don’t have the facility to compost food waste on site.
*Thank you to GreenAware for collaborating with me on this post.
GreenAware are available in all major Irish retailers. Follow them on Instagram for more tips on how to do bits and help lots.
