It can be argued that classic car ownership is already an environmentally friendly choice when compared to buying a new car, but if you wanted to go even further, here’s some things you can do.
ACCOMMODATION: Help save the world while you sleep
Overnight somewhere that has eco-credentials and you can wake up with a clear conscience. HDC members get a discount with Airbnb, so search for a place to stay that features energy-efficient appliances, water-saving fixtures and solar power. Up the adventure ante by booking a pad that’s totally off-grid – we’re talking no wifi and a composting toilet. Don’t fancy that? Independent hotels and B&Bs are more likely to be decent custodians of their coordinates than the big chains. Beware the sales pitch though, check what’s under the bonnet. Certifications that verify standards of practice include EarthCheck, Green Globe and Greenview. B Corp is another one to look out for; it’s a paid-for stamp of approval that basically means they’re considerate to people as well as the planet.
DO GOOD EN ROUTE: Plan eco pit stops
Shopping local and supporting small businesses is an easy way to do a bit of good en route. It’ll reduce your foodprint too. Stock up for goodies in a farm shop rather than scoff on fast food at the motorway services, and make it your objective to seek out places that sell or serve cuisine with a field-to-fork ethos. To experience a comfort break and refuel sans franchises on a major route, the family-owned and farmer-run Tebay services on the M6 needs is a must. The kitchen and food market offer home-reared, homegrown and homemade edibles, which you can dine on while overlooking bucolic upland vistas. With a gift shop, it’s a destination in its own right that last lured me in on my way home from the Lakes and Dale HDC tour last year.
KIT: Use a reusable
There’s a cupboard in my kitchen that’s full of reusable water bottles. Every time I open it, I swear, they’ve multiplied. One of them was even gifted to me during a tour with the Hagerty Drivers Club. So why is it that I consistently forget to take one on a road trip? Approximately 8 billion single-use plastic bottles are bought in the UK every year, that’s more than 20 million every day, and my contribution to that probably totals a fair whack. According to Greenpeace, us Brits produce more plastic waste per person than almost any other country in the world. It’s an expensive wasteful habit that needs to be parked. I also hoard cotton totes, bags for life and coffee cups that are longing to be refilled. You as well?
DAMAGE LIMITATION: Cap your carbon footprint
Everything we do has a carbon footprint. This is the impact on the environment, in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, that our actions have. Carbon offsetting is a process that lets you counteract the damage by funding projects that pledge to repair and protect the planet. Examples include reforestation and renewable energy. Sign up to a carbon offsetting scheme such as Hagerty UK’s Enthusiast Carbon Offset (ECO) program and voila, journeys in your classic car become carbon neutral. I’d need to plant eight trees at a cost of about £15 to counteract 1000 miles in my sixties MGA. The ECO calculator did all the maths: https://hagerty.co.uk/carbonoffset
A MORE SUSTAINABLE DRIVING STYLE: Become a hypermiler
One for those who love the subtle nuances of driving, hypermiling is the art of doing so to maximise fuel efficiency. A qualified hypermiler will still hit the open road with gusto, but more so in the heart than in the car. Maintaining a steady cruising speed and going easy on the accelerator and brakes are golden rules, but as drivers of classic cars we should already be used to anticipating the road ahead. A stickler would take the shortest route to use less petrol, but getting a journey over and done with as quickly as possible isn’t really the road trippers way. Keeping the car well maintained though should be a given, making sure the tyres are properly inflated too. Give the boot a quick clear out and you’ll drop a bit of weight. Combined, it’ll help you go further on less petrol, save money at the pump and become a cleaner, greener driver.
GREENER GO-JUICE: Don’t be scared of sustainable fuel
I know it’ll put a big dent in your holibob budget, but don’t knock it until you try it – even if it’s just half a tank. Last year I drove 2000 miles using a drop-in sustainable fuel in my MGA without complaint. You’ll have read all about it in the Hagerty Drivers Club mag. Available at the pump for £4.65 per litre from Motor Spirit at Bicester Motion in Oxfordshire, or in a 54-litre drum for £40, SUSTAIN’s Classic Super 80 – a biofuel that’s manufactured from agricultural waste and bi-products – is the green go-juice that I used. It can also be mixed with standard petrol, so a trial doesn’t have to involve filling the tank to the top.
Got your own eco road trip tips? Share them with us below.
