With summer just around the corner, it’s time once again to pack those swimsuits and head to the beach! But not so fast—tourism can be a double-edged sword. The way we travel has an impact on the environment and sometimes a simple trip to the beach can cause more harm than good if we’re not careful. Let’s make sure we do our part to preserve our beautiful beaches for future generations with these eco-friendly beach essentials.

1. Natural Sunscreen

Sunscreen is, of course, an absolute necessity but did you know that some chemicals in it can be harmful to the environment? A study in 2008 linked common components like oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor and butylparaben to coral bleaching and death. So to be safe, avoid sunscreens with these ingredients or better yet, look for 100% natural sunscreens like Human Nature’s SAFEBLOCK to help protect our reefs.

A photo posted by Human Nature Philippines (@humanheartnature) on Mar 21, 2014 at 5:51pm PDT

2. Reusable Utensils

Plastic is the #1 enemy of the environment! Limit your use by bringing your own reusable water bottles/tumblers to the beach. Plastic straws are also especially harmful since they’re almost always used just once then thrown away. They’re also made of petroleum bi-product polypropylene which doesn’t degrade easily and so they usually end up floating in the ocean until some poor marine animal mistakes them for food and eats them. The good news is, there are now reusable alternatives to plastic straws like bamboo, glass, or stainless steel straws that you can purchase so you can still enjoy coconut juice or your favorite fruit shake by the beach.

A photo posted by Authentic Mason Jars (@etcbycami) on Jan 5, 2015 at 5:08pm PST

3. Sand-Repellent Beach Bags and Towels

Coastal erosion has become a leading environmental concern in the Philippines, especially in tourist-heavy areas like Boracay whose shoreline keeps diminishing as tourists visit. You can help lessen your contribution to this by using sand-repellent products like Lagu‘s beach blankets and bags which prevent you from accidentally taking the beach’s precious sand with you when you go home.

A photo posted by Lagu (@lifeonthesands) on Nov 28, 2014 at 3:24pm PST

Know more environment-friendly products for the beach? Share them with us in the comments below!