Zero-waste backpack for a nature outing: pack without plastics

Heading out into nature should be an act of connection and respect for the environment. Yet too often our excursions leave a trail of rubbish behind: plastic bottles, aluminium containers, bags, cling film, paper towels… Every year, natural areas across Catalonia accumulate a great deal of abandoned litter, most of it single-use plastic.

At Granja Natura (Navàs, Barcelona province), we promote responsible and sustainable nature tourism. That is why we have put together this practical guide for packing a zero-waste backpack that has everything you need for your outing, without generating any unnecessary rubbish.

Why single-use plastics are a problem in nature

Impact on wildlife

Plastic litter in the countryside kills animals:

• Ingestion: Birds, tortoises, hedgehogs and other animals mistake plastics for food. Seabirds and turtles are documented ingesting plastic fragments, with serious consequences for their health
• Entanglement: Animals become trapped in netting, can-ring holders or plastic bags
• Poisoning: Plastics release toxic substances that contaminate soil and water
• Microplastics: Plastic pieces fragment into microscopic particles that enter the food chain

At Granja Natura we explain to visitors how waste affects animals. It is one of the lessons that has the greatest impact on children, and on adults.

Environmental impact

• A plastic bottle takes 450 years to decompose
• A plastic cup takes 75 years
• A plastic bag takes 150 years
• A paper napkin takes 3 months (but we use so many!)
• Aluminium foil can take up to 400 years

A visible problem in natural areas

• Forest and beach clean-up campaigns collect large amounts of plastic every year
• Most of that waste is single-use plastic
• Much of it fragments into microplastics that end up in the soil, the water and the food chain

The zero-waste backpack: complete checklist

Hydration

Instead of…	Bring…	Why
Plastic water bottles	Reusable bottle (stainless steel or glass)	Lasts years, keeps temperature, zero waste
Juice cartons	Bottle with cold-brew tea or fresh juice in a reusable bottle	Healthier and packaging-free
Plastic cups	Collapsible silicone cup or drink straight from the bottle	Takes up almost no space

Tip: Double-walled stainless-steel bottles keep water cold for hours, perfect for summer hikes. An investment of EUR 15-25 that lasts a decade.

Food

Instead of…	Bring…	Why
Cling film	Beeswax wraps	Reusable, biodegradable, keep food fresh
Aluminium foil	Stainless-steel lunch box	Lasts forever, easy to clean
Plastic sandwich bags	Fabric bag with waterproof lining	Machine-washable
Plastic tupperware	Steel or glass food container	More durable, BPA-free
Plastic cutlery	Reusable cutlery (bamboo, steel or wood)	Sets with cloth pouch from EUR 5

Easy recipes to pack without packaging:

• Sandwich wrapped in a beeswax wrap
• Whole fruit (banana, apple, tangerine, nature’s own packaging!)
• Nuts in a small glass jar
• Homemade biscuits or energy bars in a lunch box

Cleaning and hygiene

Instead of…	Bring…	Why
Wet wipes	Cloth flannel + small water bottle	Wet wipes contain plastic and are not biodegradable
Paper napkins	Cloth napkin	Washable and lasts years
Paper tissues	Cloth handkerchief	Classic and functional
Sunscreen in a plastic tube	Sunscreen in a metal tin or solid bar	Less packaging, same protection
Liquid soap in a tube	Natural solid soap in a travel case	Zero packaging

Other essentials

• Large fabric bag: To take ALL your rubbish home (including organic waste)
• Small fabric bag: To pick up litter you find along the trail (bonus eco-karma!)
• Paper map or downloaded route on your phone: Avoids printing guides
• Binoculars: To observe wildlife without getting too close (reusable by definition!)
• Notebook and pencil: For the children, drawing what they see, taking nature notes

Preparing the backpack with kids: an educational activity

Preparing a zero-waste backpack can be a family activity every bit as educational as the outing itself:

Step 1: Explain the why

Before packing anything, spend 10 minutes explaining to the children why it matters not to bring plastics into nature:

• Show them age-appropriate photos of animals affected by litter
• Explain how long a piece of plastic takes to disappear
• Try a little experiment: place a banana peel and a piece of plastic in the garden and check a few weeks later what has happened

Step 2: Take an inventory

With the children, review what you would normally bring on a hike and find the sustainable alternative:

• “Plastic water bottles? No, we’re taking our steel bottles!”
• “Sandwich in cling film? No, we’ll wrap it in the beeswax cloth!”
• “Shop-bought biscuits in plastic wrappers? No, we made our own and put them in the lunch box!”

Step 3: Personalise the items

Children are far more engaged when the items feel like theirs:

• Let them choose the colour of their reusable bottle
• Put stickers or their name on the lunch box
• Draw a design on the fabric bag

Step 4: The “Zero Waste” challenge

Set a family challenge: “Come home without leaving a single piece of litter!”. Every family member is responsible for their own waste. At the end of the outing, review together: did you generate any rubbish? How could you do even better next time?

On guided tours you see families arriving with backpacks full of plastic and others who bring everything in reusables. The difference is often that someone has shown them how, which is why it is worth explaining at home before you set off.

The 5 Rs rule

For a zero-waste outing, apply the 5 Rs:

1. Refuse

Say “no” to what you do not need:

• Do not buy bottled water: fill your bottle at the tap
• Do not accept plastic bags: bring your own fabric one
• Do not buy individually wrapped snacks

2. Reduce

Bring only what you will actually need:

• Calculate the right portions (less food = less waste)
• Do not pack “just in case” items, plan ahead

3. Reuse

Everything you bring should be reusable:

• Lunch box, bottle, cutlery, cloth napkins
• The backpack itself, which works for every outing

4. Recycle

If some waste is unavoidable:

• Sort it properly (organic, packaging, paper)
• Take it home and recycle it

5. Rot (compost)

Organic waste can be composted:

• Fruit peel, food scraps
• If you have a home composter, perfect
• If not, use the organic-waste bin

The perfect backpack for visiting Granja Natura

If you are coming for the guided visit, here is the ideal backpack:

Essentials:

• Reusable water bottle filled at home
• Sandwich in a beeswax wrap or lunch box (for a picnic brunch)
• Reusable cutlery (if you are bringing food)
• Cloth napkin
• Bag for your rubbish

Recommended:

• Hat and sunscreen (in sustainable packaging)
• Camera (instead of your phone, for a proper screen detox)
• Nature journal for the children
• Binoculars for birdwatching

No need to bring:

• Single-use plastic water bottles (bring your own reusable one filled at home)
• Wet wipes (cloth flannel + water)
• Individually wrapped food

Beyond the backpack: sustainable habits for everyday life

The zero-waste backpack is a first step towards a more sustainable lifestyle:

• Buy in bulk: Fruit, vegetables, pulses, cereals, without packaging
• Bring fabric bags when you shop
• Use reusable bottles in your daily routine too
• Buy solid hygiene products: Shampoo, soap, deodorant bars
• Avoid single-use products: Disposable razors, straws, single-use tableware

Every backpack counts

You do not have to be perfect. You do not have to eliminate 100 % of plastics overnight. What matters is starting. Every reusable bottle that replaces a plastic one, every cloth napkin that replaces a hundred paper ones, every lunch box that replaces cling film… is a small step that multiplies its effect when thousands of families do the same.

At Granja Natura (Navàs, Barcelona province), just one hour from Barcelona, we promote a respectful and sustainable way of enjoying nature. Come and visit us with your zero-waste backpack and show your children that enjoying nature and protecting it go hand in hand.

Book your visit to Granja Natura and bring your zero-waste backpack!