Unlike trains, planes or ferries, motorhomes are one of the most responsible and environmentally friendly ways to go on holiday. So why not keep up the momentum by adopting new behaviours to make your travels even more eco-friendly? Discover how to have a greener travel with the community of CaraMaps!
🌍 CaraMaps gives you the top 10 green and responsible tips to become the perfect camper, vanlifer, camper and participate with small daily actions to preserve our planet!
1. Find an eco-responsible location
The basis for a green holiday is of course to find a responsible pitch. Goodbye to 5-star campsites with heated swimming pools, permanently lit toilets and other energy-consuming facilities… There are labels attesting to the ecological responsibility of the campsites and areas, such as the Green Key label. There are also portals to help you find the right campsite for you, such as Responsible Travel or check the org the Center of Responsible Travel or the best one the portal of CaraMaps with activities around your position.
For super-green trips you can of course opt for the natural areas and car parks for motorhomes to be discovered on the CaraMaps platforms! 😎
2. Making your own washing powder
Making your own washing powder can not only reduce the consumption of packaging, but also give you the personal satisfaction of having done it yourself. Don’t worry, it’s simple, quick and above all economical. Exactly what you need for your greener travel on the road.
To make your washing powder you will need :
- 100g of (white) Marseille soap
- 30g of sodium percarbonate
- 50g of soda crystals
- 50g baking soda
- A few drops of lavender essential oil
When you have all the ingredients, simply mix them together in a bowl and transfer to a sealable container. It couldn’t be easier!
When washing, put a teaspoon in a basin of warm water for hand washing or a tablespoon in the drum of the washing machine in the middle of the clothes.
👉🏼 Discover a tutorial to make your own washing powder by watching this tuto-video here or if you prefer to make your own liquid washing powder, watch this video tutorial here 🧴 A great eco-responsible workshop!
3. Making toothpaste powder
As with making washing powder, making toothpaste powder is a simple, quick and effective process.
For the recipe, you will need:
- 8g white clay (a very mild abrasive that neutralises acidity)
- 5g of calcium carbonate (gentle abrasive)
- 5g of activated charcoal (loosens, sanitizes and, strangely enough, whitens teeth)
- 10 drops of lemon essential oil (antibacterial and whitening)
- 10 drops of spearmint essential oil (for fresh breath)
First you need to mix all the powders together. Once mixed, add the essential oils and stir until smooth. Pour the mixture into a jar and you’re done!
When brushing your teeth, put a little powder on the brush and brush as usual.
👉🏼 For campers who wish to follow the steps by watching a video, for the making of a homemade toothpaste in powder we recommend this tutorial to be found here or for a homemade toothpaste in cream watch this very complete tutorial here. Practical to live and make a greener travel in an autonomous way and not to buy any more products which take part in the mass consumption, with plastic. 😞
4. Use for your toilet the “bouillie bordelaise”
This product is an alternative to liquid WC products that prevent bad odours. These liquids are often harmful to the planet and to humans because of the unnatural chemical components they contain. Bordeaux mixture can usually be bought in garden centres of large chains, in department stores (supermarkets/hypermarkets), in nurseries or on the internet. However, it is also possible to make your own Bordeaux mixture at low cost.
Bordeaux mixture is a mixture of copper sulphate water and lime, which produces a clear greenish-blue spray. It prevents the development of micro-organisms. You should not overuse it, two tablespoons are enough!
5. Installing solar panels
Although solar panels are not sufficient for complete autonomy of the motorhome, they can save a lot of energy. There are kits available, sold on motorhome accessory websites, which you can install yourself if you wish. Think about it in the summer, especially from 11am to 3pm when the efficiency is better. There are different types of solar panels depending on the vehicle. Find out which solar panel is right for your motorhome and get the best possible energy supply!
Find out more about equipping your vehicle with solar panels with our partner Narbonne Accessoires, specialists in finding the best accessories and adapted to your journey and vehicle. Become more responsible for the planet and preserve it at best! One of the best solution for camper desires have a greener travel.
6. Use solid soaps
Say goodbye to plastic packaging when you travel. Very good for the skin, solid Marseille soaps (for example) last a long time and do not need a plastic container. What’s more, they won’t leak into your belongings! You can also use them for washing up.
As for history, “the first soaps certainly date back to the Egyptians and the invention of hard soap is attributed to the Gauls. However, it was in the Mediterranean basin that soap making developed very quickly. During the crusades, Aleppo soap, the ancestor of Marseille soap, arrived on the coasts of Marseille: Marseille soap was born. The rest of this incredible story here.
Today it is a product widely used by French housewives, in daily life, for cleaning, beauty products, but also with many natural virtues for humans.
7. Think about buying second-hand
What could be more responsible than recycling equipment? From vehicles (motorhomes, vans, campervans) to accessories, everything is available second-hand. Before you buy anything, check if it is available in a second-hand shop. ♻️ You can also find websites that sell second-hand accessories. The planet will thank you and so will your wallet!
8. Reduce CO2 emissions
We know that motorhomes are the most responsible way to go on holiday. However, like all vehicles, they also produce CO2 emissions. We’re going to give you the best advice on how to significantly reduce your CO2 emissions from your motorhome, van or camper van. Follow our advice to become a truly responsible traveller and save our planet, our gardens!
Discover the 7 tips to know and to adopt during your responsable travels:
- Don’t drive too fast – Be part of the slow-tourism movement, drive slower, to pollute less and enjoy all the landscapes you visit on Europe’s roads.
- Adopt an eco-friendly driving style – Accelerate gently and shift into top gear as quickly as possible, you save fuel and pollute less. An unbeatable combination!
- Limit the use of air conditioning and GPS – Open the windows, take a breath of fresh air and feel the freedom of travelling in unique natural places.
- Use the engine brake as often as possible – Anticipate traffic and unforeseen events on your route, because accelerating and braking considerably increase your fuel consumption
- Familiarise yourself with cruise control – This will help you to be more relaxed on the road, to drive in an ecological and economical way. Driving evenly, you’ll enjoy the sights and enjoy the ultimate in comfort for miles on end.
- Check your tyre pressure regularly – Keeping your tyres at the correct pressure means lower fuel consumption. This is a very simple and affordable way to save money, but it can be dangerous if left unchecked. Remember that tyre pressure also varies according to the weight of your vehicle!
- Don’t leave your engine running unnecessarily – Not driving but the engine is running? Your vehicle is emitting CO2 unnecessarily! You can do well to warm up the engine before you leave? It’s useless, because if you don’t accelerate unnecessarily your engine will be at the right temperature within a few minutes. In Wallonia, leaving your engine running at a standstill is punishable by an environmental fine of more than 120€, and yes some countries do not joke with the environment, so do the same! 🙂
Small and simple gestures or actions accessible to all travelers, which make a difference, which can do the planet good and reassure your ecological conscience!
9. Use reusable utensils
To be a responsible traveller, forget about plastic (and even cardboard!) plates and cutlery. Buy or use real crockery, one set per person is enough. Favour also bamboo utensils which are generally reusable after multiple uses!
Also, use glass containers such as jam jars to reuse them later as tupperware or to store your homemade washing powder! And don’t forget to recycle the containers in recyclable bins or at the locations listed on CaraMaps.
10. Properly dispose of all waste
A tip that may seem obvious, but is important to remember. When you leave a place, make sure you have thrown away all your waste (plastic, paper, glass, etc.). Even when you take a pee break, don’t throw your tissues and paper in the open. Also try to sort your waste, it’s always better for the planet! It’s better to wait to throw away your waste than to pollute the planet with it. The planet is your secret garden, so respect it as you would your own little piece of paradise.
We hope that these ten tips and best practices will help you to become even more responsible and ecological travelers. There are no secrets, just smart and simple things to do!
Did you like this article? Tell us in comments your opinion and your little tips for everyday life, to preserve a cleaner world and respect the environment that welcomes you, trip after trip. At CaraMaps, we have been committed to this eco-responsible and environmentally friendly approach for years. Do you know an association that fights to clean up our planet and make it more liveable for years to come? Tell us about it, we will be happy to support them!