Travel to your campsite sustainably
Exploring ways in which you might be able to reduce or offset your carbon footprint while travelling is one of the more obvious ways to try and make your holiday a little ore eco-friendly. Approximately 8% of the worlds carbon emissions are caused by tourism - whether it's by flying, staying in a hotel, taking a taxi trip or through general waste creation!
Of course, in today's modern world it's not going to be possible to dispense with some of the above completely, although if you have an electric vehicle then congratulations, you've already started. However, if you don't have an electric car, then there are other ways to get involved in eco-friendly and carbon neutral schemes that can offset the carbon emissions you might create by travelling.
Explore your destination in a simple way
Great activities for eco camping holidays include many outward bound pursuits, from hiking and cycling to climbing. Watching wildlife, bird watching and swimming ... there are endless ways to enjoy yourself outdoors without making the environment worse. So actively seek out these opportunities at your destination and enjoy yourself whilst at the same time helping out nature.
Respect the environment
Whichever destination you choose, make sure that you take steps to preserve the local environment. Protecting local wildlife and habitats is essential. Remember, you are a visitor in their home.
Simple steps to preserve nature:
- Avoid littering – take your trash home
- Stay on marked trails
- Keeps noise levels low
- Respect nesting birds and other wildlife
- Do not pick plants or disturb natural habitats
Get into the habit of choosing and using sustainable and all-natural products
Not just a tip for a camping holiday, but very valid all the same - try to pick household products that you might take with you on holiday that are eco-friendly. These include products that could contain chemicals that might pollute the environment such as sunscreen, moisturiser, toothpaste, insect repellent and others.
Choose an eco-friendly campsite
An eco-friendly campsite can be described as any campsite with eco-friendly facilities. This means that the campsite will have implemented an eco-friendly policy that is rigorously monitored and audited, so that guests can be sure that their eco-friendly campsite has been carefully selected.
Green / eco-friendly certification
If you want to ensure that you are booking an eco-friendly campsite, then you should look for a campsite with a recognised certification. There are several of these certifications that can be granted, including the 'Ecocamping Project Award', the 'EcoCert' label, Green Globe, Green Seal and Green Leaf, and several others. These are all internationally recognized eco-friendly certifications that a campsite must pass to be considered eco-friendly. The certification process is rigorous and thorough, making it a great choice for holiday-makers who want to be absolutely certain that their holiday is eco-friendly.
Things to look for when choosing an eco-friendly campsite
Implementation of eco friendly initiatives will vary from campsite to campsite but some of the things to look out for, and make use of, include:
- Use of sustainable / reclaimed materials for buildings on the site.
- Renewable power use, or even renewable energy generation.
- Responsible use of water and sustainable sanitation options.
- Sustainable growth, or even food production on the property.
- Respect for local communities of people, wildlife and ecosystems
Have a great holiday and help save the planet!
At the end of the day we all have a responsibility to look after our environment whether on a holiday or not. But with just a little forethought, and some research, a camping holiday can be not only an enjoyable experience in nature, but also good for the environment.