Plan your route to avoid unnecessary travel and reduce your environmental impact.
Tip 2: Avoid disposable plastics
No summer road trip is complete without an assortment of driving snacks, but there’s a downside to that. The disposable plastic packaging. As we all know, plastic packaging is a huge detriment to the environment, and causes problems for wildlife, sustainability and the preservation of natural landscapes.
There’s no other way of putting this but avoid using plastic as much as you can. The planet will thank you. Forget about disposable water bottles and packaging and equip yourself with reusable containers. Choose between more eco-friendly and reusable alternatives to plastic, such as metal, compostable packaging and reusable cutlery and plates whenever possible. It’s more convenient and more sustainable!
Bonus tip: For longer trips, bring a water filter or sterilizer, so you can refill your water anywhere.
Tip 3: Be holistically mindful of your emissions
Your car matters. So be sure that your vehicle is in its best shape for the road: check the engine, air filter, oil level and fuel filter before your trip. Changing your oil regularly and keeping your tires at the right air pressure also helps improve fuel economy. Use the available functions in your car such as cruise control, which can help you to maintain your speed and reduce excess emissions. While it may seem small, every little bit can work towards making your trip that little bit greener.
Even better, if you can drive an electric vehicle, your road trip will be free of tailpipe emissions! Just make sure to check available charging stations on your route.
Tip 4: Think about how you drive
What you drive can have a massive impact on how eco-friendly your summer’s road trip is. But how you drive is incredibly important too.
Over long distances, being careful with the throttle and easy on the brakes can help to manage your speed more progressively can help cut down on tailpipe and brake dust emissions. It will also decrease the wear on your tires and your passengers will probably have a nicer trip too.
Bonus tip: If you're curious about going electric, why not rent an EV for this year’s road trip and cut your tailpipe emissions completely?
Tip 5: Leave no trace
Ok, so this one is a little more philosophical rather than practical advice. We should always, especially on road trips, aim to leave no trace. What is it they say? Leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but photographs? The same should go for our summer road trips.
A good way of living by this philosophy is to leave wherever you’re visiting cleaner than how you found it. If you see some litter that someone else has dropped, why not pick it up and dispose of it properly?
When discovering rural areas be respectful of the land and leave it untouched. Avoid walking off marked trails as this can be dangerous and disruptive to the local environment and wildlife. After you experience the wild, dispose of everything you use in an appropriate waste bin. If you can’t, hold on to it until you find a suitable spot.
