What is an ecological or ecoresponsible trip?
Ecological travel, or sustainable tourism, is the set of practices that help limit the ecological impact, including CO2 emissions, generated during your vacation or simply a trip. In general, when we go on vacation, our carbon footprint increases drastically, and helping to reduce it is an important factor in sustainable tourism. According to a a recent studythree quarters of emissions from the tourism sector in France are linked to transport, and 41% are generated exclusively by air travel.
So if you want to fit in with the codes of sustainable tourism, you have to go local! Visit landscapes that are in France or more widely in Europe, while avoiding air travel as much as possible! However, the eco-accommodation model should be avoided: they offer stays in faraway countries that help reduce waste, but this doesn't compensate for the CO2 emissions and ecological impact generated by flying.
It's not enough to pay attention to the means of locomotion, you also need to have respect for the local population. Take care to preserve local biodiversity, don't leave garbage lying around and try to keep the local economy going!
How to travel eco-responsibly
Now that we've defined what eco-responsible travel is, we're going to give you our advice on how to best prepare your vacation, taking into account your ecological commitments.
Finding the right means of transport
It's the number 1 cause of CO2 emissions when we go on vacation, and the part that has the biggest impact on our ecological footprint: the means of transport.
So it's crucial to find the right means of transport that will emit the least CO2 and get you to your destination without too much trouble.
If you want to travel close to major European cities such as :
Choose the TGV! In short, the TGV is the ideal solution for long-distance intercontinental journeys. A TGV gets you to your destination faster than a car, and with far less pollution! All of Europe's major cities have stations, and most journeys are direct. The downside of TGV travel is usually the price. This is especially true if you book at the last minute. Trains are one of the most popular means of transport in France, and they are often full to bursting. As a result, the last few seats are snapped up at a premium. So we recommend that you book well in advance!
Another solution that can satisfy most people: car journeys!
Ideally, the best way to get to your vacation destination is by electric vehicle! In fact, as Greenpeace so aptly illustrated in its latest magazine to promote eco-friendly travel, the electric vehicle is the least polluting means of locomotion, second only to the train.
The electric vehicle is therefore the ideal mode of transport for vacations in small towns that are difficult to reach by train.
Choosing the right destination
Finding the right means of transport will ultimately depend on your destination. Not all addresses can be reached in the same way. For example, getting to the Ossau valley will be much more complicated by train from Paris than by car. You might be able to get there, but the journey time and connections will make the trip very unpleasant, and our aim is not to take away your desire to go on vacation!
Choose destinations that are not too far from home, to reduce your carbon footprint as much as possible, whatever means of transport you use. Favoring destinations that promote ecology and sustainable development! This is the case in many destinations, such as Sweden, which is the second country to have introduced an ecotourism charter into its constitution. Sweden has also created "Nature's Best", the first eco-label to guarantee the quality of some 147 tours offered by the country's 87 eco-certified tour operators.
With this you're sure to enjoy your vacation without having to worry about your ecological footprint, which is kept to a minimum.
Finding the right home
Inevitably, a vacation means a hotel or Airbnb, so you can relax in the best possible conditions! Here too, you'll need to make some choices. Make sure you choose the most energy-efficient accommodation to limit your energy impact this time! In fact, if you weren't aware, some homes consume less electricity or heating when they're better insulated, or fitted with more recent equipment, than others.
Quite often, finding a more energy-efficient home will guarantee you greater living comfort! For, as explained above, this means more modern equipment. It's also likely that the home will be better insulated, which will reduce your energy bills for heating or air conditioning.
If you're going on vacation with your electric car, choose accommodation that includes a charging station! This will enable you to recharge during your stay without too much hassle, especially if you use your vehicle frequently during your vacation. What's more, you can now filter accommodations with charging stations on Airbnb or booking.com.
If you're a hotel or campsite, installing a charging station can help you increase your customer base by attracting electric vehicle drivers!
Want to go electric?
Beev offers multi-brand 100% electric vehicles at the best prices, as well as recharging solutions.
Green travel doesn't mean spending more!
It may come as a surprise to you, but planning an eco-friendly trip can cost you less than a more conventional holiday! Today, many travel sites include in their offers the possibility of taking an eco-responsible trip at a reasonable price! The best way to avoid dipping into your savings is to plan your trip months or even a year in advance! You don't have to wait until the last minute to plan a vacation that won't cost you an arm and a leg.
We invite you to take a look at sites such as Greengo voyage, Cercle des Voyageurs and Vaovert to find exotic, eco-friendly destinations.
What's the ideal length of your vacation?
There's no ideal length for your vacation, but taking longer trips can help cushion the CO2 emissions generated by your trip. So don't hesitate to leave for 2 or even 3 weeks, at least that way you'll be sure to enjoy your vacation while doing the environment a favor!
Visit the Mediterranean aboard a ferry, a mixed option
What if sea travel were the solution? In France, you can take a boat from many coasts, from the ports of Marseille, Toulon, Le Havre or Bordeaux! Here, we'll focus on Mediterranean crossings to Corsica, Elba, Majorca and Sardinia. So what's the advantage of taking a ferry to these destinations? Quite simply ferries emit far less CO2 than air travel. In fact, as a study by the EEA (European Environment Agency) shows, rail and sea transport emit the least CO2. But the problem lies elsewhere for Ferries and other ships: they emit ultrafine particles on board and in the vicinity of ports, which are just as dangerous for the environment.
It's an avenue worth exploring, but one that can't be considered a sure thing in terms of sustainable tourism. We'll have to wait until ferries are forced to limit air pollution by limiting the use of heavy fuel oil, electrification of shore power and other ultra-polluting resources. However, there are much less polluting and more environmentally-friendly initiatives on the horizon. Indeed, some organizations are offering to transport you from sailing boats! You use the force of the wind at sea to get around, no fuel is used, everything is done in coordination with nature! However, these solutions are still too slow compared with what's on offer elsewhere, and far too expensive.
Electric ferries in Norway
It's now over a year since Norway commissioned the world's largest electric ship. It is 139 meters long and can carry up to 200 cars/24 trucks and 600 passengers. It carries a 4.3 mWh battery. To date, it has been used to link Moss and Horten via the 10 km Oslo Fjord. This is Norway's busiest shipping route. Three other ferries operate on this shipping route on diesel fuel, but Norway is planning to switch them too to electric power.
If you'd like to visit the Nordic countries during your vacation, and discover soothing, verdant landscapes, don't hesitate to take a trip to Norway! If you have the opportunity to take this 100% electric ferry, please leave us your feedback in the comments section!
In conclusion
Making your vacation an eco-friendly one is no mean feat, but all is not lost! More and more initiatives are being launched, and many organizations are doing their utmost to develop and democratize sustainable solutions. For our part, we're giving 100% to decarbonizing the European car fleet, developing recharging infrastructures and enabling as many people as possible to travel long distances while preserving the environment!
