People who travel by motorhome mostly do so, in large part, out of love for nature. And precisely because of that, more and more travellers are thinking about how to make their camper life more sustainable, reducing their impact on the places they enjoy so much. Green travel by camper is possible with a handful of habits and decisions. Here's how.
Respect for nature: the most important thing
Camper sustainability starts with a simple principle: "leave no trace". This means:
- Don't leave anything behind: collect all your rubbish and dispose of it properly (recycling what you can).
- Only empty tanks at designated points, never in nature.
- Respect protected areas, flora, fauna and each place's rules.
- Leave every spot as you found it, or better.
Responsible behaviour from everyone is what keeps these places open to campers.
Clean energy
Solar power is the great sustainable ally: it gives you runtime with clean, renewable energy, reducing the need for generators and mains hook-ups (see solar panels). And modern lithium batteries, as well as lasting a long time, can be reconditioned at the end of their life instead of being thrown away, extending their usefulness; we look at this in the second life of batteries.
Responsible consumption
- Save water: it's a limited resource; turning off the tap while soaping up helps.
- Save energy: LED lighting, avoiding appliances that heat, making the most of the sun (see saving battery).
- Eco-friendly products: biodegradable soaps, especially if you wash outdoors in nature.
- Cut plastic: reusable containers, loose products, solid formats.
Driving and vehicle consumption
A motorhome's biggest impact is its fuel. Driving smoothly, without rushing and at a steady speed, cuts consumption a great deal (and fits the camper spirit of going slowly). Planning routes without unnecessary detours helps too. And buying local produce supports the economies of the places you visit.
In short
A sustainable motorhome is built on leaving no trace, using clean solar power, using water and energy responsibly and driving smoothly. The step you can take today: adopt the "leave no trace" principle on your next trip (collect all your rubbish, only empty tanks at designated points, respect every place); it's the gesture that does the most to protect the nature you enjoy and keeps these places open for everyone.
