Beach, Please… Everything You Need for a Sustainable Day in the Sun
- Words by Peppermint
The platonic ideal of a perfect summer’s day has got to include heading to the beach to soak in some essential sun, surf and sand.
But what about the other essential S-word, sustainability? The beach is, not to state the obvious, a natural environment. And like all natural environments, we’ve got to be considerate of our consumption if we want future generations to experience the sea, shores and skies the way we get to.
So, as we head deep into sunshine territory, we’ve put together the ultimate roundup of everything you could possibly need for a jubilant day of beachside frolicking and the best places to buy them from – brands that are keeping the seaside stylish and sustainable! Get ready to be beached as, bro… and don’t forget to Take 3 for the Sea while you’re there!
SUN SAFETY
As Australians, beset by a particularly persistent seagull with a fondness for sibilance, we understand the importance of sun safety. We all know to Slip, Slop, Slap and the younguns among us may even know about Seeking and Sliding. Protect yourself from the ominous sky orb with these awesome accessories.
Seek shade by erecting a beautiful beach umbrella that will make you the envy of the beach.
Slap on a hat to protect your precious head. Explore the incredible options on offer, from practical and plain to colourful and eye-catching, or create your own with the Peppermint Bucket Hat DIY Project.
Slide on some sunglasses, preferably a pair that meet the Australian Standard for UV protection, look cool as hell and are recycled from some unexpected materials like wood or even… old blue jeans?
Slop on sunscreen to look after your body’s largest organ. Sid the Seagull, Baz Luhrman and, um, any dermatologist would agree, you gotta wear sunscreen. But not all sunscreens are created equal – make sure you’re picking one that is good for your skin and for the sea, and say, “See ya!” to those reef-bleaching chemicals!
WHAT TO WEAR
One can hardly go to the beach without a sweet set of swimmers (bathers, togs, cossies, if you’re fancy). Peppermint has already put together the ultimate guide to sustainable Australian swimwear, but there are always more brands popping up on our radar. We’d also be remiss if we didn’t mention our beloved founder and editor-in-chief Kelley Sheenan’s side hustle Waverley Swim – wrap rashies made ethically in Australia from recycled nylon!
Tempting as the alternative may be, you’ll also need clothes and cover ups – the very first rule of sun safety is slipping on a shirt after all. If your beach time is also sporty time, you can check out our roundup of sustainable activewear. If you’re the crafty kind, you could try your hand at making the Peppermint Beach Coverup. Or if you’re more into lounging, lying back and relaxing, there are some gorgeous ethical resort wear options on offer.
A pair of stylish, sustainable shoes should also be on hand – or foot, rather – to protect your toesies from piping hot sand and bastardous bindies!
WHAT TO BRING
Now you’re safe from the sun and dressed to the nines, it’s time to start packing your proper provisions and paraphernalia. To start with, you’re going to need a trusty towel for drying off and lying on.
Also necessary is a suitable (and sustainable) bag for bearing all your belongings to the beach and back again.
Staying hydrated is important. So is sitting down for tasty eats and drinks. Everything you need for an idyllic shore-side picnic is here, from crockery to cutlery to beach blankets and mats.
Now it’s time to kick back and relax. Are you the kind looking for an eco-friendly beach game like Finska? Or you prefer to sit your booty down in a sustainable beach chair and crack open a book? We’ve got a great roundup of reading recommendations for our stitchy pals, or here are a couple of great long reads we’ve published on the website recently. Of course, and we may be a tad biased, but our summer issue is also perfect for lazy beach days
Talking about a Revolution by Yassmin Abdel Magied
My Father and Other Animals by Sam Vincent
Together We Can by Claire O’Rouke
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“My piece of advice for makers and designers? Run your own race… make sure your key decisions stay anchored in your brand’s core beliefs.”
- Bec Bligh
Quick show of hands: who’s opened a water bottle expecting a refreshing sip… and instead been greeted by the unmistakable whiff of uh-oh?
Because for something that follows us everywhere (desk, car, hikes, yoga…), the humble drink bottle is strangely prone to becoming a science experiment. Hard-to-clean corners and gaskets. Mystery smells. Bec Bligh and her husband Tim know it well. A six-month sailing trip along the Queensland coast left them with a lifetime of memories and one stubborn annoyance: mouldy water bottles they couldn’t properly clean.
So they did something about it.
Enter @EverVessel. Thoughtfully designed borosilicate glass and stainless steel bottles that keep things beautifully simple: durable materials, wide openings, easy-to-clean parts and none of the techy gimmicks that tend to age badly. Turns out simplicity, done well, is pretty powerful stuff. (Their many design awards agree!)
And lately they’ve added a little extra delight: the Artist Series, where creatives like Paola Castro, Ben Miners and Martin Thompson transform these everyday companions into tiny travelling artworks. There are more colabs in the works, too: hydration, but make it joyful! 🎨💧
We chatted with Bec about the sailing trip that started it all, the philosophy behind Ever Vessel, and why the most sustainable product is often just the one you keep using.
Tap the link in our bio to read the full conversation. 🚰
#EverVessel #ReusableWaterBottle
Pull up a chair… there’s room at this table!
For the first time, Feast for Freedom is bringing people together for a spectacular long-table dinner as part of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival.
A Longer Table is exactly what it sounds like: one beautiful shared table inside the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (@Asrc1), piled with generous dishes inspired by this year’s hero cooks, Noha and Nige.
From 6 to 9pm on Wednesday, 25 March, this is what you can expect:
🍽 A three-course shared feast
🍷 Matched drinks
🎶 Live entertainment
✨ A room full of good humans
Your ticket doesn’t just buy you a delicious dinner. It supports the ASRC’s vital work and helps create a fairer future for people seeking asylum.
Seats are limited, and long tables have a way of filling up quickly – head to @MelbFoodAndWine’s website to book now: feastforfreedom.org.au/mfwf
#FeastForFreedom #MelbourneFoodAndWineFestival #LongTableDinner #FoodForChange
Sew versatile! 🪡
Another great make from Lisa from @SunnySewsEveryday:
My #PeppermintWaratahWrapDress is finished and I’m so proud of it. It has been designed not to flap open and flash your pants in the wind, so I feel confident it will be a great wheelchair or standing dress in English weather.
#PeppermintPatterns #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
Frame your face with the Peppermint Bucket Hat!
Stay safe and stylish in the sun with your very own self-sewn and self-drafted wide-brimmed bucket hat. This beginner-friendly sew is perfect for a sunny day. Get out your pencils – this pattern is created using equations and maths!
This DIY project was featured in Issue 53 and now you can access it for the lovely low price of only $5.
Sun-safe chic is always in style. ☀️
Find it via the link in our bio!
Photos: @KelleySheenan
#PeppermintPatterns #PeppermintBucketHat #BucketHat #BucketHatPattern #DIY
✨ INSTANT CLASSIC ✨
The Peppermint Myrtle Shift Dress is a beginner-friendly make with a few special details based on the ever-stylish shift shape – the perfect dress you need in your wardrobe right now!
Myrtle cuts above the knee with options to customise the length. Don’t think she’s reserved for hot weather either: try a heavier-weight fabric to turn your Myrtle into a pinafore-style garment for layering.
For our fabrics we chose two from our lovely sewing partner @Karmme_Apparel – the bold Rottnest Stripes in a lightweight, soft-drape cotton, and the quality linen in the handpainted Mexico Collection.
Get making the Myrtle – the only question is, can you stop at just one?
Link in bio 🪡
Fabric: @Karmme_Apparel
Sewist: @Laura_The_Maker
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Models: @SerahSews and @Pins_And_Tonic
Location: @ShareTheDignityAustralia
#PeppermintMyrtleShiftDress #PeppermintPatterns
It’s time to Feast!
Some recipes travel a long way before they land on your table to delight your taste buds. This year’s Feast for Freedom invites us to gather our friends, cook something delectable and raise funds for the incredible work of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (@Asrc1) while we’re at it.
The 2026 Feast features recipes shared by two remarkable cooks: Noha, who brought the flavours of Palestine with her when she arrived in Australia, and Nige, a Sri-Lankan Tamil cook whose journey with food began in the most unexpected of places.
You can host your own Feast up until 30 April – simply register online and get planning! Host a dinner, organise a workplace lunch, or gather your community… However you do it, the idea is simple: cook, connect and celebrate the cultures and stories that shape Australia.
Want to find out more? Head to the link in bio to meet Noha and Nige, learn more about their stories, and discover a delicious recipe to try.
#FeastForFreedom #PeppermintMagazine #FoodForGood #ASRC
