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Bluedot Living’s BuyBetter Marketplace newsletter includes affiliate links, including to Amazon. If you purchase a product through one of our links, we may earn a commission. These commissions help us fund the great journalism that you see on Bluedot. Thank you for supporting us! |
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Dear Readers,
It’s hard to believe, but summer is nearly here. As temperatures warm, tulips fade, and hydrangeas bud, the mannequins in the store windows near me have traded in their pants and sweaters for rompers and dresses. It’s almost time to go to the beach!
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If you’re getting ready to spend time in the ocean this summer, it’s worth knowing that while there are more white sharks in today’s waters than there were when Jaws was filmed, there’s also far less risk than you might imagine. Read on to learn more!
(Universal Pictures) |
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While I enjoy being at the beach, I’m not fond of the associated packing, parking, or schlepping. I need to take the subway for an hour just to get to a crowded beach, and then take the train home after having gotten all wet and sandy. I need to take stuff with me, but I don’t want to carry extra. Having the right stuff for the beach matters.
This week, I’ve decided to mix up my format to better share information about a number of companies whose sustainably made items can help you enjoy your beach days even more. From sunscreens to swimsuits to totes to recycled beach toys, the list includes something for everyone. I’ve also included two recent articles, one on Jaws 50 years after the movie’s release, another on innovative new desalination techniques. Maybe you can read the articles on the beach. Or just take in the sound of the waves.
Happy sunning and swimming, and happy shopping!
– Elizabeth Weinstein, Marketplace Editor
P.S. I’ve got a hot tip for those of you struggling to rub in your mineral sunscreen in less time than it takes to read this newsletter. Moisturize before applying the sunscreen: That will make it rub in more easily and decrease the likelihood of it leaving a white cast. Oh, and to extend the life of your swimsuit, don’t wash it too often. Just rinse it with fresh water, squeeze, and let it hang dry (out of the sun). You’re welcome!
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Enter Bluedot Living’s Sustainable Outdoor Living Giveaway for a chance to refresh your outdoor space sustainably just in time to enjoy the spring weather. One winner will take home a $2,500 POLYWOOD gift card to shop durable, sustainably made outdoor furniture crafted from recycled and reusable plastics. Don’t miss the chance to create your dream Earth-friendly outdoor space — on us! |
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Enter between May 8 at 9 a.m. EST and May 22 at 11:59 p.m. EST for your chance to win. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Open to U.S. residents aged 13 and older. See Official Rules for more details. |
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Water-Resistant Mineral Sunscreens
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Blue Lizard: Kids and folks with sensitive skin should try the fragrance-free Sensitive Mineral SPF 50. The brand has 30 years’ experience making mineral sunscreens.
Thrive: This public benefit corporation’s BodyShield SPF 50 has a lotion-like texture and comes in a recyclable, recycled plastic tube.
Vacation: My personal favorite, Vacation Mineral Lotion SPF 30 rubs in quickly and has a satisfyingly nostalgic, coconutty scent. |
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Women’s Swimwear
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Carve Designs: Perfect for anyone seeking supportive swimsuits and athletic swimwear such as rashguards, boardshorts, and “land-to-sea” clothes.
Seea: Unusual yet functional and surprisingly sexy silhouettes are the hallmarks of this surfer-beloved brand.
Vitamin A: If you like your swimwear to be as sexy as it is sustainable, check out Vitamin A’s classic and contemporary styles. |
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Men’s Swimwear
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Outerknown: Founded by surf champ Kelly Slater, Outerknown makes great trunks, including the new Apex Evolution shorts made from old fishing nets.
Florence Marine X: Innovative recycled materials make these board shorts perform to the standards of the brand’s World Surf League Champion founder.
Prana: A favorite for performancewear of all types, Prana’s swim line offers UPF 50 protection across the board. |
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Kids’ Swimwear
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Hanna Andersson: This Oregon brand has been making cheerful kids' clothes for over 40 years, and offer both new and "hanna-me-down" items.
Quince: You’ll find a great assortment of UPF swimwear and rashguards for babies through kids age 12 from this direct-to-consumer brand.
Green Toys: Facebook Marketplace is a great place to score beach toys for free; if you’re buying new, look for recycled plastic ones like these. |
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Coolers and Beach Bags
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Sea Bags: You won’t mind toting boatloads of stuff to the beach when you do it in a chic, made-in-the-USA bag made from upcycled boat sails.
Laume Linen: These glamorous, machine-washable linen bags weigh next to nothing and are on sale through May 20.
Out of the Woods: Take your own food, drinks, and snacks to the beach in these affordable, easy-to-transport lightweight coolers. Save 15% with code BLUEDOT. |
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Even More for the Beach
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Nomadix Beach Towels and Blankets: Soft, lightweight, compact, and quick-drying, these recycled beach towels and blankets fit into almost any beach bag.
Okabashi Sandals: In addition to being made in Georgia using American-grown soybeans, these sandals are supportive and comfy.
Klean Kanteen Bottles: Don’t forget to stay hydrated! These stainless steel bottles will keep your water cold for 24 hours. |
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Stasher Bags: Packing snacks for the beach is another must. Heavy-duty silicone Stasher bags won’t blow away and end up causing more pollution.
Great Books: We all know what books look like after a day on the shore. You might as well save money and pack your tote with used books.
Wetsuits: If you surf or dive, consider one of Patagonia’s innovative Yulex wetsuits, which are neoprene (aka plastic) free. |
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Fresh Water, From the Ocean
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Two of the biggest wildfires in recent history — in Los Angeles and Maui — burned through areas a stone’s throw from the Pacific Ocean. Firefighting efforts couldn’t make use of that ocean adjacency, though; saltwater isn’t ideal for fighting fires because it corrodes metal firefighting equipment and absorbs moisture from soil, hindering plant regeneration.
But what if water from the ocean could be used to help solve water shortages in times of drought and wildfires? One Quebec company’s desalination platforms aim to boost water supplies in drought- and wildfire-prone communities.
Learn about this innovative new approach to a vexing problem.
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In the years after he directed Jaws, Steven Spielberg came to have regrets about the film. “That's one of the things I still fear,” he said. “That sharks are somehow mad at me for the feeding frenzy of crazy sport fishermen that happened after 1975, which I truly, and to this day, regret the decimation of the shark population because of the book and the film. I really truly regret that.”
Fifty years after the movie’s release, Bluedot Living reporter Lucas Thors took stock of local shark populations — and how the public feels about white sharks so many years later.
Their populations are increasing, but sharks aren’t the bad guys. Learn more.
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Want to get in touch? I’d love to hear from you. Tell me about your favorite sustainable products, topics you’d like to see covered, or anything else that’s on your mind — email marketplace@bluedotliving.com.
I’ll see you again in two weeks.
– Elizabeth |
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Elizabeth Weinstein, Bluedot’s Marketplace Editor, lives in Manhattan with her husband; her papillon, Finley; and her cats, SanDeE* and Modell. When she’s not asking the folks at Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom to try on all of their sustainable sneakers in a size 9½, she can be found at the Union Square Greenmarket or gardening on her rooftop terrace. |
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