It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

Happy National Great Outdoors Month!

Since 1998, June has been a nationwide celebration of outdoor recreation and America’s parks — highlighting the landscapes that inspire exploration and adventure.

From Acadia National Park to the Florida Everglades, from the towering Redwoods to the snow-capped peaks of Mount Rainier, there’s no shortage of places to explore.

But Great Outdoors Month isn’t just about getting outside. It’s about protecting the places that make those experiences possible.

With U.S. National Parks welcoming over 300 million visitors each year, the way we travel matters. Small, intentional choices can go a long way in preserving these incredible landscapes for generations to come.

So this month, we hope this inspires you to get out there, explore somewhere new, and do it in a way that’s more sustainable and even more meaningful.

In this blog, we’ll break down simple ways to make your outdoor adventures more sustainable this year.

Plan Smarter to Reduce Your Environmental Impact

Sustainable travel starts before the trip begins.

Like eating healthy, it doesn’t just happen by accident (and if it does for you, we need the secret). It comes down to intentional choices and a bit of planning.

Whether you’re heading out on an extended camping trip or building life on the road in a van or RV, you already know (or quickly learn) that preparation makes everything smoother. It’s not about being rigid. It’s about being ready so you can actually enjoy the journey.

When you start thinking about conservation and sustainability this way, it becomes second nature. Planning well not only makes travel easier, but it also helps protect the parks, landscapes, and places you’re there to experience — and ensures they stay that way for the years to come.

So how do you put sustainable travel into practice?

Choose reusable gear over disposable supplies — Reusable camping essentials like metal utensils, washable plates, rechargeable lanterns, refillable propane tanks, and durable food storage containers help cut down on waste and reduce the use of single-use items.

Bring a refillable water bottle — A simple switch that significantly reduces plastic waste.

Stick to established campsites and trails — Staying on marked paths and designated sites helps protect fragile habitats and prevents long-term environmental damage.

Carpool or optimize your route — Traveling efficiently reduces fuel use, lowers emissions, and makes your trip more sustainable overall.

Use a portable toilet for lower-impact travel — Portable travel toilets can make camping and road trips more self-sufficient while reducing the use of public facilities that rely heavily on water and chemicals.

The best part? None of these requires a complete lifestyle overhaul. Every traveler can choose a few (or all) of these habits. It just starts with a little intention before you hit the road.

Reducing Waste for Long Travels

It’s easy to plan a weekend trip. But what about when the road becomes home for weeks or months at a time?

Once you’re living out of an RV, van, or tiny home, sustainable habits stop being optional extras and start becoming part of how you move through the world. Out there, everything you use (and everything you throw away) matters a lot more.

So what does reducing waste actually look like when you’re living on the road?

Pack it in, pack it out — Whatever you bring with you goes back out with you. Always use designated bins when they’re available, and when they’re not, hang onto your waste until you find a proper place to dispose of it.

Choose products that won’t leave a trace — Go with biodegradable soaps, shampoos, and everyday essentials that break down safely once they hit the ground or water systems.

Watch your water use — Shorter showers, mindful dishwashing, and not letting the tap run add up fast — especially in places where every drop is shared by people and the land around you.

Handle waste the right way — Use designated restrooms when they’re there, and when they’re not, follow local guidance for leaving no trace. Even better – choose a composting toilet for a lower-impact way to handle waste.

As more travelers settle into life on the road or outdoors, composting toilet systems are becoming part of the conversation as a practical way to cut water use and reduce reliance on shared infrastructure.

Traditional RV systems like black tanks get the job done, but they come with tradeoffs. They rely on water every flush (typically around 0.5 to 1.5 gallons per flush) and require regular dumping, often paired with chemical treatments to control odor and help break down waste.

For full-time travelers, that adds up quickly. A couple on the road can easily generate roughly 30–100+ gallons of black tank waste per week, depending on usage and system type.

Composting toilets take a different approach. Instead of relying on heavy water use, they separate and manage waste using natural materials, like coco coir or peat moss. Over time, it breaks down into a soil-like material that still needs to be disposed of properly, but without the water and chemical use of traditional systems.

Choose What You Value, and Live it Out

“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit.” - Edward Abbey

Sustainable travel isn’t about having fewer options — it’s about choosing the ones that align with what matters to you.

Because when your actions are rooted in your values, they stop taking extra effort and start becoming second-nature.

At OGO, that’s the direction we’ve chosen. We’re always looking for a better way forward — designing systems that reduce waste, eliminate unnecessary water use, and help travelers leave a lighter footprint wherever they go.

That’s why we built a simpler, waterless, chemical-free composting toilet.

We believe Earth is our home and is meant to be explored. And every time we head out, we get the responsibility and privilege of taking care of it.

So here’s the question: what do you value, and how does that show up in the way you travel?

If you’re looking for a practical next step, OGO composting toilets are built for different kinds of travel:

• OGO Origin — best for longer-term setups like RVs, vans, tiny homes, and boats

• OGO Nomad — a portable option for camping, short trips, and off-grid travel

Across just one week, switching from a traditional RV black tank system to a composting toilet can:

• Save an estimated 20–60 gallons of freshwater per RV

• Eliminate the need for toilet-related chemicals

• Significantly reduce the amount of wastewater that requires treatment

Explore OGO composting toilets and start traveling more sustainably.

And again, Happy National Great Outdoors Month. May your time outside be wild and unforgettable.