In the 21st century, there have been thousands of campaigns and programs aimed at preserving and protecting the environment. Many of these movements and organizations have been around for decades, some even centuries, but while the âgreenâ movement has gained momentum, many people are still unaware of just how much power they have to contribute.
As an overlanding enthusiast, youâre most likely aware of many threats to the environment. You have a duty to help the world in any way you can and this article will help you understand how much your actions affect our planet.
Overlanding Responsibility
Overlanding is very interesting, yet can be an inherently dangerous activity. It requires you to leave the relative safety of your home for weeks or even months at a time, with the sole purpose of traveling to all corners of our planet.
But with this amazing opportunity to see beautiful locations comes great responsibility. As you travel, you have a duty to be as eco-friendly as possible.
In this day and age, itâs not hard to find out the best ways to mitigate your environmental impact. Itâs vital that you do everything you can to protect our environment, so be sure to research the impact of your decisions before going on your next overlanding trip.
Green Practices When Overlanding
Since we have deduced that as an overlander you have a great responsibility to help preserve the environment, letâs take a look at some of the green practices you could incorporate into your next trip.
- Use Alternative Fuels
- Reduce Food Waste
- Watch Out for Vehicle Spills
- Use Green Gear
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Use Reusable Shopping Bags
- Use Rechargeable Batteries
Read more about these green practices:
1. Use Alternative Fuels
As fuel prices continue to rise, itâs important that we begin using alternative options. These fuels, such as biodiesel or ethanol, are made from renewable sources and can be produced without harming the environment. Many people think that biodiesel is just plain diesel with a different additive, but thatâs not the case.
Biodiesel and ethanol are actually cleaner than regular fuel and can be made from things like used cooking oil, animal fats, and even human hair. When you set out on your next overlanding trip, be sure to consider using alternative fuels.
2. Reduce Your Food Waste
Another important green practice is reducing your food waste. Many people donât give it a second thought when they throw away moldy bread or old produce, but throwing away food is a major problem for our environment. Each year, millions of tons of perfectly good food go to waste and it just ends up rotting in a landfill.
In most countries, organic food waste is treated as trash and sent to landfills where it will sit in a toxic soup for decades. When food waste is collected in a landfill, it emits methane gas which can cause nasty explosions.
An easy way to reduce your food waste is by shopping smarter. Buy foods that are in season and wonât go to waste, store food properly, and compost your scraps. When youâre done eating, be sure to always clean up your mess.
3. Watch Out for Vehicle Spills
Many people donât realize that spilled oil is a major environmental threat. Spilled gasoline, engine fluid, and other vehicle fluids can contaminate soil and waterways. As an overlander, itâs your duty to make sure you always clean up after yourself.
4. Use Green Gear
When youâre shopping for gear for your next overlanding trip, make sure to look for items that are environmentally friendly. Some great examples of green gear could be camping accessories. There are many cool green gadgets, like the nifty Biolite CampStove 2, on the market that can make your green experience even better.
5. Dispose Of Waste Properly
When youâre done using a product, dispose of it properly. Always check your local laws before discarding anything in a dump. The last thing you want is to be arrested for polluting the environment while trying to enjoy your next overlanding trip.
Carry out your trash whenever possible. If you pack it in, you better pack it out.
6. Use Reusable Shopping Bags
Another great green practice is using reusable shopping bags. When you go to the grocery store, instead of using plastic bags, bring your own. This will reduce the amount of single-use plastic bags that end up in landfills every year.
7. Use Rechargeable Batteries
You should also consider using rechargeable batteries for your gear. Traditional batteries have a short shelf life, require special disposal methods, and canât be reused. Even small electronics like your GPS draw a surprising amount of power from batteries, so itâs important to use eco-friendly options.
These are just some of the green practices you can use when planning your next overlanding trip. Once you start incorporating these green practices, you will be able to experience the great outdoors with less of an impact on the environment.
Eco-Friendly Overlanding
Overlanding is an outdoor sport with tons of perks. You get to enjoy the beautiful natural world, you donât have to set up camp next to your neighbor, and you get to see some of the most interesting parts of the world.
However, many people donât realize that overlanding can be harmful to the environment. People who arenât as familiar with overlanding donât understand the amount of waste created during a typical trip and might not be aware of other harmful practices. This is where eco-friendly comes in.
What Is Eco-Friendly Overlanding?
Eco-friendly overlanding is the idea that you can responsibly enjoy the great outdoors without harming the environment around you. There are thousands of ways to reduce your environmental footprint, and all of them are easy once you get started.
In order to make your next overlanding trip eco-friendly, itâs important to make some environmentally conscious decisions before you leave on your trip.
Adapting eco-friendly overlanding practices is a great way to create a positive impact on the environment. You can protect the great outdoors and make a difference at your next overlanding site.
Reducing Impact When Overlanding
During your next overlanding trip, youâre probably going to enjoy the great outdoors and see some pretty amazing sites. However, you should also take steps to reduce your impact on the environment.
Steps to Take to Reduce Your Environmental Impact
1. Plan Your Trip Carefully
Before you start planning your next overlanding trip, take a moment to consider how it will impact the environment. If youâre planning on leaving your home for an extended period of time, you should make sure that the items you pack are environmentally friendly. Products like non-chlorine bleach, batteries that are free of mercury, and compostable toilet paper can all help you reduce your impact on the environment.
2. Plan Your Meals Carefully
Another great way to reduce your impact on the environment is by planning your meals carefully. When you go grocery shopping, you should try to stick with fresh, local food. Buying local helps reduce the carbon footprint that your meal leaves behind. This is one of the most important ways to reduce your environmental impact when youâre on the road.
3. Use Reusable Water Bottles
When you go camping, you should try to use reusable water bottles, like the popular Hydro Flask bottles, instead of single-use plastic bottles. Using a reusable bottle can help cut down on the amount of waste you generate during your trip. Itâs also a great opportunity to reduce your use of single-use plastics, which is essential for eco-friendly overlanding.
4. Bring Reusable Utensils
Another way to lessen your environmental impact on the land around you is by bringing reusable utensils. If youâre bringing a cooler, donât forget to pack reusable utensils and dishware in order to reduce or eliminate single-use plastic waste.
5. Bring A Camping Toilet
A camping toilet is one of the best ways to stay environmentally friendly while youâre on an overlanding trip. Itâs a great way to reduce your environmental footprint and it will save you money in the long run, as well.
6. Practice Leave No Trace Principles
No matter where you go overlanding, you should always practice the Leave No Trace principles. This is a great way to ensure that youâre not harming the environment in any way.
7. Dispose of Trash Properly
No matter where you go overlanding, youâll probably generate a fair amount of trash. Make sure that you always dispose of your garbage and waste responsibly to reduce the environmental impact it will have.
The Environment as Part of the Planning Process
Our planet is an amazing place, and you should do everything you can to make sure it stays that way. When you plan your next overlanding trip, the environment should always be part of the process. Make it a habit to plan your trip around the areas that will impact the environment the least. This will help you reduce your environmental footprint, especially if youâre taking your next trip into the backcountry.
If you follow these tips for eco-friendly overlanding, you can have a great time without causing undue damage to the environment. Of course, there are many other things you can do to protect the earth when you head out on your next overlanding adventure.
Research widely and plan carefully, and you can reduce your environmental impact on the land around you!
