Enjoy summer in a planet-friendly way

Summer is here, and it’s time to make the most of the vacation season with meals with family and friends. At Save us, we’ve tried to give you a few tips on 

how to make these moments of sharing a success, while taking care of the environment.

The eternal barbecue, but smart, colorful and eco-responsible: just like summer…

What could be more pleasant in summer than to take to the garden and sit down to a barbecue with friends and family? The tradition is well-established in Europe and North America, where 70% of people aged 25 and over own the necessary equipment.

But barbecue doesn’t have to mean meat! Seasonal vegetables are also perfect for grilling or plancha: eggplants, zucchinis, peppers, corn or potatoes, summer offers a wide range of choices. Tofu is another great alternative. It’s not such a crazy idea when you consider that in France, our food is responsible for a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions, and that the environmental impact of grilling a piece of red meat, for example, is equivalent to over 5,000 g CO2 per plate, compared with just over 300 g for a skewer of vegetables and tofu…

If you do opt for meat, don’t forget to give preference to meats from more sustainable, high-quality sources.

5 tips for a waste-free picnic

Summer is also vacation time, a time for picnics in the mountains, forests or on the beach. A dolce vita that should delight you without impacting on the beautiful nature that surrounds us. Here are a few tips for a responsible picnic:

Prefer homemade products: savoury tarts, mixed salads, sandwiches, wraps…:

Opt for reusable boxes to pack and take away your own dishes: metal or plastic tins, jars, cloth napkins: no more aluminum or disposable stretch film:

Bring your own plates, glasses and cutlery. Single-use plastic plates and cutlery are now banned, but the best thing is to produce no waste at all… :

To stay hydrated: think of a flask instead of plastic bottles, a refreshing and sweet drink, a thermos for hot drinks…

And if you’re short of time to prepare something? You can buy a sandwich at the bakery and wrap it in your own cloth napkin, or bring your own containers to collect the food you buy.

Practice ECO-JOGGING

Get fit this summer and help fight plastic pollution at the same time! If you don’t know what eco-jogging is, it’s a zero-waste activity that involves jogging as you normally would, but carrying a bag and collecting as much garbage as possible.

Try getting a few friends together on the weekend to go eco-jogging, then have brunch afterward! You can even make it a weekly challenge. Each week, the person who collects the most waste eats brunch for free, and everyone else pays for it!

Explore the region by bike

It’s much more fun to discover places by bike. You take your time to enjoy them, and you can stop wherever you like to take in the scenery. You can also cycle to places you already know. You may discover your usual places in a new light 😉
For something a little more challenging, why not try an electric mountain bike? Then you’re sure to explore new areas.

Going hiking

Pack a backpack, fill it with Bee Wraps and bulk bags with snacks, water bottles and compote! And off you go, ready to begin your hike.

For even greater respect for the environment, take eco-designed clothing (from Patagonia or North Pole, for example) and eco-friendly sneakers (the Adidas TERREX, for example, designed in part from recycled plastic collected on beaches, or Veets shoes, made in France from recycled polyester) and/or second-hand shoes).

When hiking, touch only with your eyes. Try, as far as possible, to avoid physical interaction, just feel the energies.