March holidays are drawing near, and you’re already planning activities for your kids. What is fun, involves everyone and improves mental health? Family picnic! 

1. Reduce Use of Disposables

Many disposables are involved in picnics because boy, do we love convenience (use and throw). But, they don't have to be. Here are a few areas where you can reduce the use of disposables:

• Choose reusable containers: Preparing for potluck? You probably considered getting disposable plastic boxes. Let’s put them aside this time, and go for reusable containers.
  
  Need a hand? Check out our Lejos Silicone Collapsible Lunch Box 2.0. They come in three sizes so that you can store a variety of food, ranging from healthy fruits to hearty sandwiches. What's more, every box collapses to just 3cm - perfect when packing up! 

• DIY your cold drinks station: As Singaporeans, we’re ‘blessed’ with hot and humid weather. A cold drink is often the respite we need. It’s tempting to head to the store for a disposable cooler bag, but they’re often lined with plastic foil.
  
  A tip from us: use our Mojo Silicone Bag. When not in use for storing food, it can double up as a cooler bag when you place ice cubes into them. Submerge your drinks in them for a cooling treat. 

• Avoid disposable cutlery: It's hard to avoid cutleries when eating, andm any would go for disposable ones simply because the cleanup process is so much easier. We get that. Opt for natural wooden cutleries like our Kai flatware. They're safe for use and safe for environment - and give a world of picnic-perfect photo opportunities for the gram ;)
  
  Another nifty trick is to simply serve food that doesn't require cutlery - think washed fruits, cookies, sandwiches, etc. Just be sure to bring some hand sanitizer so that you can enjoy them with clean hands!

• Bring your own bag when shopping for ingredients: This is an area of prep which can also lead to disposable waste generation, since people tend to need multiple plastic bags per trip. Bring your own reusable bags instead for a less-waste grocery run. Want to get started today? Our Oliver Park EDC Classic Tote Bags and Provision Mesh Produce Bags will be your best companion in no time.

 2. Go for Local Produce

When items are shipped through sea or air travel, the environmental impacts of consuming them would be taken up a notch. This happens because of the colossal amounts of energy required to fuel ships and planes, which also leave behind them a trail of greenhouse gases as they traverse the globe. The solution? Go local. Local produce is free from these environmental detriments pegged with imported goods. 

In our island nation Singapore where virtually everything seems imported, it may seem like quality local produce is few and far between. That is far from the truth- local produce is available in many wet markets and supermarkets islandwide, and most of them are of high quality due to their freshness. Examples of food farmed locally include fish, eggs, and vegetables.

When shopping for local produce, be sure to keep a lookout for products with the SG Fresh Produce Logo conferred by the Singapore Food Authority.  

(Source: Singapore Food Authority)

3. Buy Only What You Need

When preparing for picnics at the last minute, the temptation to just snag food off the shelves is real. This often leads to food wastage as pre-packaged food may not reflect the portion sizes needed for your family. 

To work around this problem, some pre-planning for the picnic becomes crucial. We suggest drafting up a list of what you need and how much of it you need before you hit the stores, so that you avoid buying more than what your family can finish.

A great place to shop would be bulk stores, where you can buy just the right amount you require. Some of our go-tos include Scoop Wholefoods and The Source Bulk Foods.

Have the rest of the family join you in this process - they know their favourite food and appetites the best! 

Do you have any other tips on how to make your picnics more sustainable? Do let us know in the comments.