Summer is finally here, temperatures are rising and many people are asking a question: can I enjoy a guilt-free holiday when I hear about negative climate impacts, harmful emissions, energy waste and environmental pollution? What form of vacation can be sustainable and respectful of the environment? According to Uwe Frers, CEO of PiNCAMP, the ADAC camping portal, the answer is: camping. He argues that camping is one of the most climate-friendly forms of vacation.
Several studies have shown that a camping holiday has a significantly lower impact on the CO2 balance than cruises, long-distance trips, flights or hotel stays. “Up to ten times more CO2 is produced during a hotel stay than during a camping holiday,” says Uwe Frers, adding that while traveling with a motorhome can have an impact on the CO2 balance, using campsites more than offsets this impact. According to Frers, camping is an experience that allows you to connect with nature and spend a holiday in harmony with it. It is for this reason that campers and campsite operators are particularly attentive to natural resources.
In the campsite, the water used is returned to the water cycle through the area’s supply system. For example, it is used for irrigation or for the operation of sanitation facilities. More and more campgrounds are adopting the use of renewable energy, such as solar energy, to meet the energy needs of the area. Furthermore, many campers are actively committed to protecting the environment by separating waste and trying to be energy self-sufficient thanks to the use of solar panels and modern battery systems.
Here are 11 tips from the greenest campsites in Europe, selected by the PiNCAMP editorial team, that offer a sustainable camping experience:
- Domaine de Massereau (France): Located between Montpellier and Nimes, this 5-star campsite offers a luxurious camping experience that meets high ecological standards. The campsite’s electricity comes 100% from a photovoltaic system, and exemplary waste management is adopted to promote a “zero waste” mentality.
- Camping und Ferienpark Havelberge (Germany): This campsite in the Müritz National Park is a pioneer in the field of ecological campsites. It also offers special activities and tours that allow visitors to fully immerse themselves in the beautiful nature and landscape of the national park.
- Nysted Strand Camping (Denmark): Located on the Danish coast of the Baltic Sea, this campsite offers a sustainable holiday in contact with nature. In cooperation with the Danish Society for Nature Conservation, the campsite offers walks to discover the local flora and fauna, as well as several special activities such as tree planting and outdoor yoga classes.
- Villaggio Cà Pasquali (Italy): Located in the popular tourist region of Cavallino-Treporti, this campsite has long been promoting more sustainable camping, adopting an ecological consumption of resources and enhancing the natural and cultural heritage of the region.
- Camping Las Dunas (Spain): This campsite on the beach of Las Dunas, on the Costa Brava in Catalonia, is strongly committed to ecology. Operators use geothermal energy, disinfect swimming pools with chlorine instead of salts, and hot water in the sanitary facilities is supplied by solar panels.
- Natürlich Hell Ferienresort (Austria): This holiday resort in Fügen is one of the pioneers of sustainable camping in Austria. All buildings are built with a special wood frame construction which reduces energy consumption. Energy and water consumption is monitored daily, and only local products are sold in the store.
- Lanterna Premium Camping Resort (Croatia): This campsite, located in Istria, offers a nature camping experience in Croatia. The entire leisure facility is powered by a solar cell system and there are charging stations for electric and hybrid cars.
- Camping Monte Generoso (Switzerland): Located on the shores of Lake Lugano in Ticino, this eco-friendly campsite has won awards for sustainability and environmental awareness. The campsite offers new recycling bins, an energy-saving heating system and options to offset CO2 emissions.
- Solar Caravan Park (Estonia): This campsite in Estonia is completely powered by solar energy. Hot water is supplied by a special asphalt converter and the showers are equipped with automatic temperature controllers. Wastewater is treated separately in a dedicated treatment plant.
- Ons Buiten (The Netherlands): Located in the Zeeland region, this popular campsite promotes a return to nature. It is located in a nature reserve with many re-naturalized areas and the operators adopt a targeted management of water and resources, mainly using natural materials in the buildings and selling only local products.
- Uhlenköper camp (Germany): This campsite in Lower Saxony has been awarded for sustainability and environmental awareness. It offers a peaceful country experience surrounded by greenery, with a variety of unusual arrangements such as wooden barrels and floating nests. The campsite also organizes canoe trips along the Elbe canal and the Klein Bünstorfer Heide.
Choosing and booking an ecologically sustainable campsite is no longer a problem, especially when they are marked with awards or certifications such as ECOCAMPING. These campsites offer a wonderful way to enjoy an outdoor holiday in tune with your surroundings, proving that the sea and sustainability can go hand in hand.
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