How to Go on an Epic Adventure (Sustainably, of course!)

When we embark on an adventure of any size - no matter if it’s a day in the British countryside or an epic month long trek in the jungle, it’s our responsibility to protect the natural world. With these easy tips, you can take your trip to new levels of environmentally positive, minimise your ecological footprint and make sure the places you explore remain preserved for future generations.

Reskinned are proud to partner with adventure brand Finisterre, who share our commitment to sustainable adventures. Their clothes and accessories are made with the great outdoors at heart, from using Yulex natural rubber instead of plastic as the fabric for their wetsuits to selecting only the finest eco-friendly organic cotton, linen and wool, they’re the perfect choice for all sorts of adventures. Shop our latest pre-loved Finisterre drop here.

Why not check out our best tips for an eco-friendly festival season or learn how you can save the ocean with your shopping habits.

WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE SUSTAINABLE ADVENTURES

We know, there’s enough to organise when you’re taking a trip, without adding sustainability to the mix. But it doesn’t have to be difficult, and in fact, some little changes can make a big difference to ensure you’re an eco-friendly traveller.

The advantages of a sustainable adventure:

1. Preserve nature. By adopting sustainable practices you’re actively contributing to the preservation of our precious natural world. That means future generations will be able to enjoy the same breathtaking scenes as we enjoy today.
2. Create natural connection: Most of us don’t get out in the natural world even half as much as we want to, and by choosing your adventure sustainably, you’re able to form a stronger connection and more deeply appreciate the beauty and fragility of the natural world.
3. Support local communities: When you’re a sustainable tourist you can feel proud that you’re supporting local communities. By making sure you’re picking tours and guides that provide jobs and money for the local community, and learning about ancient practices.
4. Personal growth. There’s nothing better than coming away from a holiday feeling nourished in your mind, body and soul. A sustainable adventure can be a transformational experience, offering opportunities for personal growth, self reflection and a heightened feeling of gratitude for the world around you. 
5. Be the example. Living in alignment with your moral code is the best way to feel good about yourself, and making a conscious effort to travel sustainably has the knock on effect of inspiring other people to make changes too. The positive ripple effect can be huge, and you’ll be well on your way to creating a greener future for everyone.

PLANNING YOUR SUSTAINABLE ADVENTURE

The trick to adventuring sustainably is all in the planning. Follow our tips for pre-travel, and you’ll be sure to have a positive eco impact.

BUY YOUR TRAVEL GEAR PRE-LOVED

Shop pre-loved instead of buying new things for trips, and you’ll already be off to a great start. 

Not only will you save some money that you can invest into your adventure, but you’ll also be able to save great clothes from going to landfill, and buy tried-and-tested kit that’s already had a few experiences of the great outdoors. If you need more convincing, we’ve written 12 reasons to shop pre-loved here.

Check out our Finisterre range for some great lightly-loved quality gear that's perfect for all sorts of outdoor adventures into the wilderness. We especially love their coats and jackets to keep you toasty on treks and trips. 

DO YOUR RESEARCH

There are plenty of great charities and companies out there making it easier than ever to plan your trip with sustainability at the centre. 

Take time to research eco-friendly tour companies that offer employment opportunities for locals and fair wages, or do their bit to conserve the local environment in their work.

Investing your money into this kind of tourism means they’re able to keep investing it back into the local communities, and you can have an adventure that you know benefits everyone.

BEG, BORROW (BUT MAYBE DON’T STEAL)

Some of us are outdoor enthusiasts and seasoned adventurers, and will use our gear multiple times a year. But most of us aren’t quite at that level, and can end up buying tons of new gear for our trips that are only used a handful of times (or sometimes even once). 

An honourable mention here to the cropped scuba suit sitting in the back of my wardrobe (I don’t think it’s actually even seen the sea once).

Call up your most outdoorsy friends, and ask if they have anything you can borrow for your trip, to save you from buying something new. This is especially great to avoid buying kids clothes and accessories that they’ll grow out of by next summer, or specialist bits and bobs that you know you’re not going to be using again soon. 

To save on luggage, you might even want to wait until you’re on your trip and hire things like wetsuits and sports gear. Do your research - mountain hikes in warm climates often offer warm clothes hire to save you from bringing coats and jackets you’re only going to wear once or twice.

CARRY A REPAIR KIT

Disaster has been known to strike at the most inopportune moments, and a repair kit might just be the thing that saves you from throwing away some of your adventure stuff mid-trip.

Carry a bag with a sewing kit, safety pins, carabiners and super glue, and you should be able to withstand bag rips, shoe breakages, and most other dramatic travel disasters.

Always carry broken things with you if you can, instead of getting rid of them, so that you can recycle them responsibly when you get home.

PACK THE IMPORTANT STUFF

Reduce your single use plastics on your trip by carrying some reusable accessories. 

A reusable water bottle will help you cut down on plastic bottle waste, and carrying a Tupperware will allow you to avoid food waste. We also like to carry reusable cutlery (no need to buy the bamboo stuff, the ones in your kitchen drawer work just fine too), so we don't need to use plastic on the go.

USE A TAKEBACK SERVICE AT THE END OF THE TRIP

That leads us onto our next point - out of sight is in fact not out of mind when it comes to getting rid of things! 

Just like with anything you buy, it’s your responsibility to find the best sustainable way to get rid of anything you no longer need when it comes to the end of your trip. 

Luckily we love to make things easy, so why not use our Finisterre takeback scheme to dispose of old Finisterre gear sustainably (we’ll find the best way to resell, repair or recycle anything that’s had its last adventure with you). We’ve also partnered with River Island, who’s takeback scheme accepts clothes from any brands in any condition. To say thank you, both brands offer a voucher to help fund your next purchase.

STAYING SUSTAINABLE ON YOUR TRIP 

Your Out of Office is on, your bags are packed and you’re officially off on your adventure. Hooray! Keep these practices in mind, and you can call yourself an eco-traveller.

LEAVE NO TRACE -  We don’t need to tell you that you shouldn’t leave rubbish when you’re on your trip, but it’s important to also be mindful of how you affect the local environment too.

If you’re planning to make campfires while you’re on your adventure, make sure you’re allowed them in the area you’re in, and there’s a safe space to build yours. Your sweet little campfire could actually be using valuable resources, destroying habitats and producing harmful gases, all without you realising - whoops!

DON’T TAKE FROM NATURE - This on can be painful for travellers, but taking relics from nature can have a negative effect. The shell you pick up could have been an animal’s home, building material or food, and you might be inadvertently disturbing an entire ocean ecosystem. If everyone does it, it makes a big impact - so try not to be part of the problem.

EMBRACE PUBLIC TRANSPORT - When it comes to getting from A to B, it's a great idea to use local buses and trains, instead of hiring a car or relying on taxis. We've made some of our favourite travel memories on rickety buses and the local transport options, and it's one of the best ways to reduce our carbon and give back to the local communities we visit.

LOOK AFTER YOUR THINGS - The best way to make sure your adventure kit is sustainable is by taking good care of it. Repair things instead of throwing them away, when they get ripped or stained. We like to view marks as memories of great times had.

SUPPORT THE LOCALS - If you can opt to give your money and time to locals instead of bigger tourist establishments, do! Choose to eat in local restaurants, shop in local markets and do community based activities that support environmental conservation and social development. Not only will you have a more authentic adventure experience, but you’ll be contributing to a healthier economy, and protecting your favourite destinations.

Support local businesses whenever possible, and you'll also be reducing your carbon emissions, by buying things that are made locally instead of being shipped from far away.

Embarking on a sustainable adventure not only allows you to explore the wonders of nature but also helps preserve the planet too. Buying your adventure gear pre-loved is a great way to start your outdoor adventure off sustainably, protect the natural planet and reduce your carbon footprint. By supporting the local economy, taking care of the natural environment and keeping sustainable living in mind when we're outdoors, we can reduce our use of natural resources and have a positive impact on the natural environment every time we spend time in nature.

What changes will you make for your next trip?

Shop our latest pre-loved pieces on Reskinned.