As of today, motorhome rest areas can also be awarded the EU Ecolabel and thus make a contribution to environmentally friendly tourism. The ever-increasing number of motorhome rest areas means that criteria have to be set to make them sustainable and in tune with the surrounding environment, respecting its authenticity. For this reason, the EU Ecolabel, which distinguishes environmentally friendly products and services throughout Europe, has been busy developing a guaranteed path to certification for such areas, as it has already been doing for some time for hotels, campsites, and open-air accommodations. There are currently 461 accommodation facilities certified with the EU Ecolabel, which have implemented concrete measures for greater sustainability and meet the Ecolabel criteria.
How to make areas sustainable
Existing rest areas can be improved with various measures to protect the environment and new facilities can be built and operated in a climate-friendly manner. The EU Ecolabel provides various options for making parking areas sustainable. Here are some of them.
- Resource management, such as inexpensive sanitary facilities or showers, as well as energy-saving technology (e.g. LED) can be implemented in motorhome rest areas, campsites, and hotels.
- Electricity for guests and for the company can be provided in a climate-neutral manner through green electricity or self-generation.
- Environmental compatibility in site design, such as shady trees and green areas, as well as the use of environmentally friendly detergents are appropriate environmental protection measures.
- Offer alternatives for on-site mobility (e.g. electric bicycles or scooters) and leisure activities.
The guide towards sustainability proposed by the EU Ecolabel aims to make facilities more durable and more efficient as they also use fewer resources.
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