Tips and tools for an earth-friendly outdoor picnic

If we could for one blissful moment pretend there were no yellow-jacket hornets, I think most of us would agree that eating al fresco, surrounded by nature—at the beach, in a field of wild flowers, a clearing in a forest, or even a city park—is just delightful.

And what if, for a moment, we could also forget all the waste: plastic cutlery, paper plates and napkins, foam cups and the stinky, toxic lighter fluid for the barbecue? Wouldn't outdoor picnics be even better?

We've found a whole basket-load of eco-friendly tools to help you green-up your next outdoor adventure or party. (Although you may still have to bring along a fly swatter for the yellow-jackets.)

Don't miss our complementary photo gallery: How to make your picnic greener >

Light my fire: Greener cooking options
• The Lokkii Smart Grill with Lokkii eco-friendly and all-natural charcoal barbecue bricks, prices upon request (lokkii.com)
These organic briquettes don't require any ignition fuel, and are 100 per cent nitrate- and petroleum-free. The best part? They're burger-ready in about 15 minutes.

• Charcoal chimney, prices upon request (sobies.com)
Some parks and campsites are already equipped with a built-in barbecue, but be a little greener by bringing along your own charcoal chimney. Using a chimney to start up your coals eliminates the need for toxic starter fluid and takes the same amount of time as preheating a gas grill.

• Basques Hardwood Charcoal, prices upon request (sobies.com/accessories)
Where possible, reach for natural charcoal such as Basques Hardwood Charcoal, as opposed to those perfectly-shaped briquettes which are often full of chemicals for easy lighting. If you do need a little help getting your fire started, choose an all-natural fire starter; you can often find versions made from a combination of beeswax and wood chips.

Better dinnerware, cups and cutlery
• Veneerwear Plates by Bambu, $7-13 (branchhome.com)
Okay, so not as cheap as paper plates. But make the investment in yourself and your planet with these prettier-than-paper, single-use Veneerware plates, serving platters and cutlery from Bambu. Made from 100 per cent organic bamboo - a renewable resource that hasn’t been bleached or dyed - these items will biodegrade in about six months.

Tip: If you must go with paper, choose the brand made with the highest percentage of post-consumer material.

Page 1 of 3: See next page for eco-friendly dinnerware and cloth napkins