8 Sustainable Beach Essentials if You Love a Beach Day (And the Planet)

Most people pack the same things for the beach: a towel, sunnies, maybe a speaker, and usually never enough sunscreen. What often gets forgotten is how much of our beach gear ends up being plastic-heavy, with a short lifespan that’s destined to fall apart after one summer. 

If you love a long day by the water but also care about keeping our pristine Aussie beaches clean, the smartest thing you can do is choose sustainable beach essentials that last, work well and tread lightly on the planet.

So, here are our top 8 sustainable beach essentials that make your day by the water easier while also doing their bit for the coastline you came to enjoy.

1. A Sand-Free Beach Towel

If you only upgrade one thing on your list, make it your towel. Traditional cotton towels hold water, trap sand and take forever to dry. A modern sand-free towel gets rid of all of that.

Nakie’s recycled sand free beach towels are made from a blend of recycled plastic bottles and polyamide, which creates a smooth weave that sand cannot grip onto. One shake and it’s gone. They dry fast, absorb up to a litre of water and fold down small into a water resistant neoprene bag. They’re also 15 per cent larger than standard towels, so you get extra snuggle comfort. 

A towel that dries fast, feels good, keeps sand where it belongs and lasts way longer than one season is one of the most useful changes you can make for a low impact beach day.

2. A Recycled Beach Bag or Backpack

Every beach trip involves more stuff than you planned to carry. Towels, snacks, sunscreen, hats, water bottles, the book you swear you’ll read, the ball your kids insisted on bringing. A good beach bag makes life a whole lot easier.

A sustainable option is one made from recycled plastic bottles that will last more than a season. Nakie’s recycled tote bags and foldable backpacks fit the brief perfectly. They are durable, water-resistant and designed to pack down small or carry a surprising amount. They move easily from sand to shops to road trips, which means you end up needing fewer bags overall.

Choosing a recycled bag cuts waste and replaces the flimsy plastic-backed totes that eventually split and end up in landfill.

3. A Reusable Water Bottle

Hydration is non-negotiable on the beach. Instead of single use bottles from the servo, a reusable bottle keeps your water cold and your waste minimal. Stainless steel is the best pick for long days because it keeps drinks cold even when the sun is aggressive.

It sounds small but swapping to reusable bottles has one of the biggest impacts across all outdoor activities. You will save money, reduce plastic use and avoid that moment when warm bottled water becomes the least appealing thing on earth.

4. Reef Safe Sunscreen

Traditional sunscreen formulas often contain ingredients like oxybenzone and octinoxate, which can damage coral reefs and marine life. Reef safe sunscreen uses mineral based ingredients such as zinc oxide that protect your skin without harming the ocean.

A sustainable beach kit starts with sunscreen that looks after your skin and the ocean. The tricky part is that “reef friendly” is not a regulated term, so plenty of brands throw it on the bottle without changing much. The safest approach is to check the active ingredients yourself. Look for micro-sized or non-nano zinc oxide, which sits on the skin without breaking down into particles small enough to harm marine life. I

Spray sunscreens are also worth skipping. Fine particles drift everywhere, can be inhaled and often end up in the sand or water. Lotions stay where you put them and use far less product. Packaging is also important, so try choosing sunscreens in reusable, recycled or biodegradable tubes, which cut down on single-use waste.

5. A Recycled Picnic Blanket

Sand and picnic blankets have never been great mates. Whether you’re trying to eat lunch without a seasoning of sand, lying down to read or trying to keep your stuff in one clean spot, a picnic blanket is a lifesaver.

Nakie’s recycled picnic blanket is waterproof underneath, soft on top and made from 56 recycled plastic bottles. It is 2 m by 2 m, which means you can actually sit comfortably without everyone squashing onto the same tiny patch of fabric. It packs into its own attached carry bag, has peg loops for windy days and is machine washable, which is ideal when the day includes sunscreen, crumbs and the usual beach mess. 

Instead of cheap rug style blankets that fall apart after one summer, a recycled and durable option means fewer replacements and less waste.

6. A Good Quality Hat Made From Recycled or Natural Fibres

Shade is essential on long beach days, and a hat that stays on your head in the wind is worth its weight in gold. Choosing a hat made from natural fibres like organic cotton or hemp or one made from recycled materials reduces your environmental footprint. A well-made hat lasts for years instead of one summer season and does a great job protecting your face, scalp and hair from the sun so you can enjoy the day without feeling like you have been lightly roasted.

7. Reusable Snack Containers

Beach snacks are a non-negotiable part of the experience. The packaging they come in doesn’t have to be. Reusable containers made from stainless steel, silicone or recycled plastics replace cling wrap and single use plastics. They also stop fruit from getting crushed and save your biscuits from turning into crumbs.

If you want to level up, pack your snacks in a small cooler bag made from recycled materials. It keeps things cold and reduces the amount of packaging waste that ends up blowing across the sand.

Psst – looking for a healthy, yummy snack that keeps you full? Have you tried a Nakie protein bar yet? They’re high in protein, gluten-free and made from natural ingredients. Perfect for beach snacks! 

8. A Recycled Hoodie Towel for Kids

Parents know the drill. Kids get wet, cold and sandy within minutes. A kids hooded towel solves most of that. They slip it on, stay warm, dry fast and actually keep it on because it’s so comfy. Nakie’s hooded towels come in three sizes for kids, and are made from the same recycled sand free material as the adult towels which means no more dragging sand into the car.

They pack down small, dry quickly and work for swimming lessons, pools and backyard fun, which means you get more than one use out of every wash.

Choosing a durable recycled towel means you’re not burning through cheap cotton ones that fade, tear or get super manky after a few uses.

Why Shop Sustainable Beach Gear 

A single beach trip might not seem like much, but summer after summer, the impact grows. Cheap towels that fall apart, umbrellas that break, bags that rip, plastic bottles, food wrappers, everything that gets used once and tossed. Choosing gear that’s recycled, durable and designed to last is one of the simplest ways to reduce waste.

Sustainable beach gear also tends to perform better. It dries faster, packs smaller, handles the sun better and makes your day more comfortable. You end up buying fewer things over time, which saves money and reduces landfill. It is a win for the planet and a win for every future beach trip.

Nakie’s Got Your Sustainable Beach Essentials Sorted 

A good beach day shouldn’t be complicated, and choosing the right gear can make all the difference. If you love the beach and want it to stay beautiful for the next generation, start with the gear you pack.

If you’re looking for reliable, long lasting, planet friendly options, Nakie has most of what you need already covered.

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FAQs

Do sustainable beach essentials cost more?

Sometimes they do cost more upfront because of the quality of the materials.  But because they last longer, dry faster and perform better, you’re most likely replacing them far less often. So, over time, you save money and significantly reduce waste. It’s a win-win all round. 

Are sand-free towels really better for the environment?

Nakie’s definitely are! They use recycled materials, dry quickly (which saves water on washing), and they last for years instead of one season. Less washing, fewer replacements and far less sand in your car boot.

Are sustainable products harder to maintain?

Usually, they’re easier. Recycled fabrics are built for outdoor use, so they resist fading, dry quickly and wash much better than non-sustainable products.

How do I avoid single-use plastics at the beach?

Don’t overthink it and keep things simple. Bring reusable bottles, reusable snack containers and invest in sustainable products you can use for many summer seasons. At the end of the day, small swaps make a big difference over time.