Due to the silver bullet's aerodynamic profile, Airstream travel is already one of the most environmentally-friendly modes of travel. On average, a cross-country flight generates two to three tons of carbon dioxide per person – the equivalent of almost 15 percent of a person's annual carbon footprint in a matter of hours. Airstream travel trailers create less drag that a typical white box trailer, increasing fuel efficiency.
But the environmental impact of travel extends beyond the fuel consumed to get you to your destination. Single-use plastics, trash, packaging, the food you eat and the water you use to clean up afterward, and the electricity you use to power your devices and light your world all add up.
The good news is that it only takes shifting your perspective, employing a few useful practices, and investing in sustainably produced, low-impact products can make a significant impact on your environmental impact. Even better? The pride you'll feel in making a difference and leaving the world better and more beautiful than before – not to mention less trash to deal with and in some cases less impact on your wallet.
The three-part trifecta of sustainability has made its way into our vernacular as shorthand for living sustainably. But while recycling is an important component of this philosophy, there's increasing consensus that the sequence of that phrasing reveals the relative importance of each practice. The easiest and most impactful practice is reducing consumption and waste.
Luckily for Airstreamers, this practice not only does good for the environment, but it decreases your travel footprint. Reducing consumption of single-use plastic bottles, non-recyclable and non-compostable products, as well as water and electricity consumption all make Airstream travel easier. After all, who wants to cart around a full trash can in their Airstream?
For those who prefer boondocking over the campground experience, reducing and reusing is a key part of your ability to stay off-the-grid for extended periods of time. Eliminating unnecessary showers, limiting water use while cleaning up after dinner, and utilizing rechargeable battery packs reduces the two most important resources while boondocking: water and electricity. And battery-operated lights mean you can still read, cook, and relax at night without wasting your onboard battery.
One of the easiest ways to conserve energy and resources at the campsite is to utilize the quintessential campsite feature: The fire pit. Not only can you stay warm, cook a meal, and tell great ghost stories, but your campfire is also the perfect place to eliminate stray cardboard and paper products that you can use as kindling.
If you need a new wallet because your old one is falling apart at the seams, consider purchasing a sustainably produced equivalent. If you're looking to freshen up your Airstream decor with new soft goods, look for small manufacturers who are producing quality goods with sustainable materials. It may take a little extra effort, but the payoff in the long run is well worth the search.
Even towing your Airstream is an act of sustainability: Our riveted aluminum shells glide through the wind as your cruise down the highway with less wind resistance better fuel economy that other travel trailers. The craftsmanship inherent to the Airstream production process ensures every Airstream will last for years – in fact we estimate nearly 70 percent of all Airstreams ever built are still out there on the road. And Airstream's headquarters in Jackson Center are 100 percent powered by renewable energy credits, and we've implemented a variety of energy-saving upgrades in our new production facility (LED lighting, variable speed air compressors, high-insulated buildings).
If your goal is travel sustainably, then Airstream is a great way to get your foot in the door. And Airstream Supply Co. is ready to outfit all your next sustainable, eco-friendly adventures.
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