Great Ways To Pack a Plastic-Free Picnic
If you are looking for something fun to do, pack a picnic and take your family or friends to a park or other beautiful place to eat.
There's something about sharing food outside in nice weather that makes a meal tastier than home-cooked, not to mention giving you a wonderful memory to keep in the winter months that come back so quickly.
However, the downside to modern picnics is the plastic waste they tend to generate.
Find the Perfect Decor for Your Patio and Garden!
There is an unfortunate tendency to view picnics as an excuse to transport food in single-use disposable containers, serving it in disposable plates with silverware and plastic cups.
Of course, this means that cleanup is easy for now, but it's really only postponed for a later time when cleanup takes the form of landfill management and voluntary beach cleanups to collect disposable plastic waste.
1. Place food in reusable containers
Pack homemade foods the same way you would keep them in the refrigerator for storage, using reusable containers with sealable lids or glass jars (note the emphasis on homemade foods, as this is the easiest way to reduce waste of plastic containers).
Place them in the fridge with ice (see below) and bring some serving utensils straight from the container.
2. Pack your own ice
Place ice cubes from the freezer in a stainless steel food storage container and use them as an ice pack in the refrigerator.
As such, it serves a dual purpose: keeping food fresh and providing ice for drinks.
For longer trips, you can freeze a block of ice in a sealed container and use it to keep things cool.
3. Get a tablecloth
The invention of disposable plastic tablecloths is an outrage. Instead, bring a cloth to spread out on the picnic table or floor.
This makes the entire dining experience that much more enjoyable and is easy to wash with the next load of laundry. Hang to dry.
4. Use real plates and cutlery
Using washable plates and silverware for a picnic doesn't require much more work than disposable ones.
You'd have to take the disposables out in a garbage bag anyway, so why not pack your dirty plates and silverware in a sturdy bag or trash can and put them in the dishwasher at home?
If you're concerned about chipping your ceramic plates, bring some light camping plates.
5. Think about drinks
Skip the single-use and single-serve beverage bottles. They create a lot of waste and can be easily avoided. Fill a large insulated thermos or individual water bottles with water, punch, or lemonade ahead of time.
If you serve a wider audience, consider investing in one of Life Without Plastic's beautiful stainless steel beverage dispensers with a capacity of up to 2 gallons.
6. Use reusable cups
Say no to red Solo glasses! If you have insulated wine glasses or glasses, pack them for drinks.
They have the added benefit of keeping liquids colder longer than using disposable plastic cups, and it avoids waste.
7. Make good use of cloth bags
Drawstring fabric bags are amazing. Use them for much more than just grocery shopping. They are perfect for wrapping sandwiches, wraps, nuts, dried or whole fruits, and other snacks.
You can use them to wrap glass jars or bottles to prevent breakage if jostled during transport, or to wrap loose items like silverware and bottle openers.
They can double as an emergency napkin, tea towel, or garbage (dry) bag if needed. Be sure to add a few to your picnic basket.
We hope you enjoy watching this video about 13 clever picnic hacks you must try:
Source: Emily Norris
Did you find this post useful or inspiring? Save THIS PIN to your HOME Board on Pinterest! 
Once again, thank you for visiting our website!
We hope you've enjoyed exploring the content we've created for you.
Give yourself the chance to learn, get inspired, and have even more fun, keep browsing...
Last update on 2025-04-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
More Home Tips 👇🏼👇🏼