Climate-conscious travel

It goes without saying: one of the best things about travelling by camper is connecting to nature and the outdoors. There are so many special places to discover and enjoy, whether on a solo adventure, a couples getaway, or a big family outing. And to preserve this beauty, it is especially important to travel with sustainable intentions. At FreewayCamper, climate consciousness is built into our DNA. We work to empower our customers and our team to leave a smaller ecological footprint. As we grow, so will our dedication and ability to be part of the solution. Together we can make a difference, one unforgettable adventure at a time.

Your next question might be: what does “climate-conscious” mean to FreewayCamper?

We tackle this from a few perspectives, so we can address the topic comprehensively:

Who we are

Climate-conscious from the ground up

Camping travel, compared to most other forms of traditional travel, inherently leaves a smaller overall carbon footprint. In fact, it can be up to 50% smaller than a holiday using air and hotel!

While driving any vehicle has its own environmental impact considering the fuel and energy emissions as well as the tire residue, your full camping journey uses fewer resources overall and prioritizes nature preservation.

New campers have improved dramatically!

All of our vehicles are under two years old, meaning they meet the current rigorous EU emissions (Euro 6d-TEMP) and safety standards, unlike older models of campers and cars. The current benefits are:

• Better mileage and overall energy efficiency
• Reduced emissions: AdBlue is required in all vehicles, which drastically reduces the emissions of the camper!
• More ecological vehicle manufacturing processes
• Smaller lifetime carbon footprint than predecessors, meaning that your camper will continue to make a difference long after your booking is over!
• Incorporation of new vehicles each season, thus ensuring that our fleet is continuously improving its overall emissions.
• 57% of our fleet is equipped with solar panels, reducing those vehicles’ dependence on fuel-generated power. You can also book our self-sufficiency package (power station with solar panel) for your journey at some stations.

Shared mobility optimizes camper usage

Shared mobility provides a sustainable and cost-effective transportation option, while also reducing environmental impact and improving overall mobility. With our shared mobility model, we maximize the use of our campers, instead of being used by one owner for sporadic trips.

• Camping holidays are accessible to a bigger group of society
  
• Lower number of circulating vehicles and maximized use of existing vehicles which results in CO₂ reduction
• Contribution to reducing the number of vehicles in cities and hence the problems with urban density

What we do

Climate-conscious in our actions

• Remote teams: Many of our corporate employees work remotely or with a hybrid setup, reducing the use of office space and daily commutes
• HQ team: Our Munich office team commutes by public transportation or cycling, not by car
• Paperless Priority: We are a digital-first team, only printing when absolutely necessary
• Business Travel: For longer journeys, our team uses the excellent European railway system. Flights are only used in urgent situations or when rail travel is not possible.
• Carbon Offset & Environmental Improvements: We completely offset our own campers’ CO₂ emissions in past years. We are in the process of identifying new sustainability partners that can grow with us, allowing us to continue to honor our goal of becoming a pro-active carbon-neutral company.
• Conscientious Business Partners: We prioritize choosing business partners for additional equipment, services, and products who are also active in ESG, to ensure that our sustainability intentions are aligned.
• Staying informed: We are committed to informing ourselves of the current best practices for camping travel, e-commerce, and general business, in order to meet the moment and ensure we’re taking the most effective actions.
• Implementing & Testing: We have already started implementing new procedures & products and will test others, including ecological cleaning products, digital handovers (paperless), e-camper fleet options as well as participating in volunteer activities and events.

Where We’re Headed

ESG as essential to our future success

ESG, which stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance, is a well-respected framework for building a sustainable business from multiple angles. While it focuses primarily on environmental impact, it also recognizes the need for businesses to improve in other areas. The social topics of diversity, inclusion and safety as well as the focus on ethical governance are essential and interconnected to sustainability. Watch this space, as we are building an ESG initiative that will grow with us, ensuring that FreewayCamper prioritizes holistic sustainability going forward.

What you can do for the environment when camping

While driving

• Drive less, experience more: Spend more time in one place or explore beautiful places closer to home and experience the area more deeply. This way you reduce the overall emissions of your journey. Also, since our station network is the broadest in Germany (and soon Italy), you can be confident that you won’t have to travel far to pick up your camper and get on the road. Every station also offers a pick-up and drop-off service on request.
• Pack properly: If you have a long journey ahead of you, it is worth packing your vehicle as lightly as possible. Keep your fresh water tank to a minimum and fill it when you arrive at the campsite. Limit your food supplies and buy your food on site.
• Drive as fuel-efficiently as possible: Drive at low revs and use the air conditioning only when absolutely necessary. Switch off the engine in traffic jams. Only use your camper for excursions if there is no other way - otherwise switch to a bike.

While camping

• Choosing a campsite: Eco campsites are becoming more and more popular. With a little research, you can consciously choose campsites that specifically focus on environmentally friendly camping. Our Eco campsites can be found here.
• When free-standing: a good rule of thumb is always to leave the site cleaner than you found it - it can make a difference if you collect some extra rubbish at each overnight stop and dispose of it properly.
• Supplies on the road: you can also make sure that your supplies are as plastic-free as possible - refillable bottles, jars, or jerry cans and reusable shopping bags and vegetable nets are useful supplies for any camping holiday.
• Waste management: It’s best to separate your waste as much as possible. Some campsites have strict rules about this as well! Paper, plastic, organic, and metal waste separation varies from location to location, so please research your exact destinations for rules.
• Water management: Be conscious with your fresh water. Rinse only once a day and collect the dishes instead of rinsing several times. It is best to use a bowl for this. When showering, don't let the water run while you are soaping up. It is also very important to dispose of grey and black water correctly. Read more.
  
• Use solar power: The majority of our vehicles are equipped with a solar cell. Alternatively, you can also book our self-sufficiency package, which includes a mobile solar panel. This would allow you to compensate for the lighting and charging of electrical appliances with the solar energy generated, for example.

You can find more ideas and inspiration on our blog: Environmentally friendly travel with the camper. And remember, these actions are great to incorporate into your everyday life, after your camping trip is over!