Eco picnic picks

With Canada Day a little more than a week away and with summer in full swing, chances are you may be embarking on a family picnic. Here’s the vibe on some great eco-friendly gear to have at your next summer outing.

Bamboo Picnic basket

For packing up all your yummy foods and supplies for a picnic, try the bamboo picnic basket. Made in Bangladesh by local artisans, the basket is $45 and is available online or in store at Ten Thousand Villages.

Disposable dishes the eco way

Whether you are having a party or picnic, disposable cutlery and plates are often an easy way to go. However, we often don’t like the eco-unfriendliness of disposable paper or plastic table wear. Lucky for us, Green Planet Parties offers a line up of table wear that is earth-friendly, including the very cool Earthenware Palm Leaf plates. Not only do they look great, the biodegradable palm leaf plates can even be composted with the food waste. Green Planet Parties offers a Party in a (Reusable) Bag. You can get your eco-friendly palm leaf plates, napkins, cups, cutlery, oxo-degradable garbage bag and reusable bag for only $36.75. The set comes in a cotton bag so it makes for an easy transport to your picnic or party site. Green Planet Parties also sells a great line up of other biodegradable disposable table wear, including hot cups, cutlery, cups, and more.

Stainless steel straws

For sipping on cool beverages without using a plastic straw, try a stainless steel straw. Available online at Canadian store No Plastic or The Tickle Trunk , the stainless straws are non-toxic, reusable and dishwasher safe. Available in a set of four.

Portable cutlery set

In order to have some cutlery on hand for an impromptu picnic or any time you feel the urge to eat, we like the concept of the portable cutlery set. The three-piece cutlery set features a fork and spoon, and chopsticks made out of stainless steel. The case is small enough to throw in your bag, car, or just about anywhere. Also available online at The Tickle Trunk.

Eco-friendly picnic blanket

We’re big fans of the eco-friendly SpillProof blanket by Milk Factory. Made in Canada, the blanket is perfect for any outdoor outing as it’s soft and cozy on one side, and wind and water resistant on the other. You no longer have to worry about damp grass soaking through your picnic blanket. The blanket is made with Repreve Recycled Micro-Fleece and wind and water resistant nylon. Available online at www.milkfactory.com.

Drip no more

Summer time means frozen treat time. Whether your frozen treats are made from scratch at home or from the ice cream man, chances are they will drip all over your kids. That’s why we like the dripstik. One end holds an ice cream cone of various sizes and the other holds a frozen treat on a stick, and it always catches the sticky drips. Since you don’t have to worry about the sticky mess, we think this is a great way to let your child keep cool with a frozen treat while in the car during a road trip, perhaps to or from the picnic. Made in the USA, the dripstik is a soft plastic that’s dishwasher safe, and free of BPA and PVC. Available at Organically Hatched. Or for a retailer close to you, visit online.

For packing food

If you are buying your food, we recommend hitting up Whole Foods, Choices or Planet Organic for a healthy mix of picnic treats. If you’re packing your own food, and are looking for alternatives to plastic containers, Canadian e-tailer The Tickle Trunk carries a great line of stainless steel food storage containers.

Just for fun

A picnic isn’t complete without a fun game or two. Keeping with the eco-picnic theme, we love the hemp skipping rope. Made in the USA, the skipping rope features adjustable wooden handles, and will keep your kids active and happy. Available online at Natural Pod. We also like the Skittles set made of solid birch in the USA. Available at Natural Pod as well, the Skittles set contains nine natural pins, one twin-striped headpin, two balls, a cloth storage bag, and instructions for numerous ancient to modern games. Fun for every one. And if you’re having a picnic at the lake or beach, the entire family will be able to build a castle, dig for crabs and more with the Green Toys’ sand play set. Made from eco-friendly materials, the set is free of BPA and phthalates and is available at a variety of online or local retailers. For the full list, visit online.