Whether you take to the road in a van or motorhome, does your vacation rhyme with ecology or environmental impact?
The covid-19 health crisis has exacerbated the slow tourism trend and our desire to get away from it all. The desire to disconnect is becoming ever more pressing, and a return to our roots is becoming intimately linked to our well-being.
Travel is gradually becoming eco-responsible, with new practices geared towards a more environmentally-friendly approach. It tends to respect the fundamentals: tourism focused on local populations and concerned about its environmental approach.
Van adventure is the perfect way to achieve this convergence between adventure and the need to reconnect with nature. But how can you combine your thirst for freedom with eco-responsible practices?
1. The vehicle and its environmental impact
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When buying your van, why not consider the second-hand market? You’ll save money and protect the environment at the same time. You can also opt for hybrid or electric vehicles, which offer a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.
As with the purchase of a home, you should also pay attention to the composition of your new vehicle: materials used, paintwork, and so on. Environmental standards on the products used (« NF Environnementale » or European Eco Label, for example), and materials produced in France will provide a solid foundation for your desire for a sustainable (re)connection with nature.
Finally, we advise you to pay particular attention to the maintenance of your vehicle, to avoid any pollution that would go undetected without regular checks.
2. Eco-responsible driving
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When planning your itinerary, don’t forget the secondary roads, which will give you the chance to discover different landscapes while avoiding the more polluting motorways.
The van gives a new meaning to travel: the art of taking one’s time, a more « authentic » way of discovering the richness of a region in a different way.
However, there are a few simple principles to follow: check tire inflation (under-inflated tires drastically increase fuel consumption), anticipate obstacles as far as possible to limit sudden braking, and avoid overloading the passenger compartment to reduce energy consumption. Speed also plays a major role. As with your car, don’t press on the gas pedal unnecessarily: driving fast increases CO2 production.
And remember not to heat or cool the cabin unnecessarily (this is where insulation comes into its own). Cool temperatures are the perfect time to wrap up in a cozy blanket and enjoy a hot chocolate-chamallow in a thick sweater!
It may be worthwhile to invest in solar panels at the time of installation, which will enable you to recharge your electrical items with greater autonomy.
Last but not least: getting around once the van is parked. The ideal way to get around is to use gentle means of locomotion. A bike ride to the market or a walk to pick up a baguette for breakfast can all have a direct impact on your carbon footprint.
3. Gastronomy and sustainable van travel: dream or reality?
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The food we eat has a real impact on our environment, with the consumption of products packaged in plastic and fruit and vegetables sourced from the other side of the world… How can we eat more sustainably, especially when traveling?
To start with, it’s a good idea to bring along some cloth bags for your shopping, so you don’t have to buy yet another plastic bag (reusable though they may be, don’t you already have an impressive collection?).
These bags, or tote-bags, ideally made of cotton, are washable, lightweight and allow you to carry your purchases, including those bought in bulk. In fact, you can use these shelves for your shopping, allowing you to take only the quantity strictly necessary. That’s savings for you and for the planet!
Roaming is also a wonderful way of discovering all those artisans of taste who work in the 4 corners of the world. It’s a chance to taste local, seasonal produce, to eat freshly prepared local specialties, and to avoid over-packaging.
And don’t forget to bring your own glass jars to fill at the shops! In addition, there are eco-friendly wraps that replace cling film: bee wrap, which we invite you to discover without further ado!
Last but not least, a few tips when you’re cooking: think of lids to heat your food for less time and limit the time it takes for the water to run out. Investing in mixer taps is also an ingenious way of reducing water flow. Finally, to enjoy the culinary marvels you’ll unearth, plan ahead and bring your own crockery so you don’t have to use disposable containers. And when it comes to washing up, two washing-up bins are the perfect way to avoid wasting water.
4. The vanlifeur’s best ally: his gourd!
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Dmytro Melnyk
It’s made of stainless steel or metal, hermetic and isothermal. Perfect for your daily consumption, while avoiding the need for bottled water, it will also be invaluable for drinking a hot cup of coffee or tea, even when out hiking. You can buy this item on the Internet, but to avoid delivery and the pollution it causes, we advise you to turn to an organic store or a sports equipment manufacturer.
Once you’ve bought your precious water bottles, it’s crucial to ensure your autonomy for 5 to 10 liters of water. You can therefore opt for a water bottle that can be reused frequently, without the risk of plastic micro-particles passing into your water as you go along, as would be the case with supermarket water bottles, which are not designed to be reused.
5. Are eco-responsible housekeeping and touring compatible?
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When you think of home, you think of cleaning, but the products you use are often not environmentally friendly, or even toxic! Yet it’s essential to live in a healthy space, so how do you go about it?
When it comes to household products, you can opt for organic ones, some of which can be bought in bulk (white vinegar in organic stores, for example), but to take things a step further, why not make your own cleaners?
In the end, you only need a few ingredients to clean and sanitize surfaces: white vinegar, lemon, baking soda and a little elbow grease will be your winning combo!
When it comes to washing your clothes, there are plenty of books and recipe websites on how to do it yourself, but a genuine Marseille soap can do you a world of good: cleaning your laundry or dishes, for example. It’s multitasking and, above all, inexpensive! Of course, you should never use disposable products such as single-use wipes!
6. Ecological waste management on vacation
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Even if you pay particular attention to your consumption, you’ll still produce waste. In a van, it’s essential to organize the treatment of this waste to avoid the proliferation of bacteria and their foul-smelling fumes, which are likely to quickly embalm your little cocoon.
With this in mind, it’s a good idea to have several sorting bins on hand, so that you can dispose of glass, cardboard/paper and household waste in the appropriate garbage cans as you go along. To limit waste, take along biodegradable items.
Finally, a glass jar with a lid will serve as a small compost pot, and you can bury your food waste (a gardening shovel-type accessory will come in very handy). Don’t forget that the risk of fire exists in all seasons, and that in the spirit of protecting nature, it’s preferable to collect your peelings or bury them rather than burn them. With this in mind, don’t leave anything behind, and park as much as possible in designated areas.
7. Does hygiene go hand in hand with ecology when traveling?
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Bogdan Sonjachnyj
When you’re on the road, you need to think about personal hygiene. It is possible to shower directly in some vans, thanks to small (but functional) bathrooms! And for those who don’t have such facilities, there are other solutions: solar showers, municipal showers, service stations, or even camping sites and site rentals (or even private individuals who rent a parking space on their property, with access to certain amenities).
The products you use can be solid, to avoid plastic and water pollution. For example, you can use solid soap, dry shampoo, toothpaste and deodorant. This saves space and water, as these products lather less and are rinsed off more quickly. But don’t use them in natural areas (mountain lakes, for example).
The cosmetics you take with you should be limited to the bare essentials, and we advise you to opt for environmentally-friendly formulas. Think all-in-one balms such as coconut- or shea-based ones, which moisturize and repair the skin.