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2. PERSONAL ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

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As owners of The Old Camper Company, we lead a life governed by a deep consciousness of our carbon footprint:

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• Decarbonised Home Life: Our commitment to a sustainable future is evidenced by our all-electric home, ensuring our daily domestic energy consumption is aligned with the UK’s transition to renewable power.

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• Aviation and Emissions: Realisation decades ago that commercial flights are very bad for the environment (in fact they represent approximately 7% to 8% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions), co-owner Michael has never taken a commercial flight by choice.  This lifelong commitment ensures that per capita our total environmental impact is exceptionally low compared to modern day standards.

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• Biodiversity and Self-Sufficiency: We aim to live an environmentally conscious life, whether it be from growing our own vegetables and fruit, to maintaining dedicated wilding areas.  We have intentionally left a spinney untouched to leave a habitat for wildlife.  We have planted trees including an additional 5 fruit trees over the last 2 years to actively encourage pollinators and insect biodiversity.

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• Expert Traditional Craftsmanship: Michael has worked for over 30 years as a cabinet maker and antique furniture restorer, specialising in sustainably sourced and reclaimed timber. This expertise is the foundation of our restoration process, ensuring our van interiors are preserved using authentic, low-impact materials. Everything we have added in the interiors is either handmade or vintage.

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• Any waste from Michael’s furniture making business is very minimal and in true “The Good Life” style we also “trade” sawdust with our neighbours who have hens, for eggs!

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3. THE SUSTAINABILITY OF PRESERVATION

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It should be recognised that by keeping our vintage vehicles on the road, we prevent the environmental cost of vehicle disposal and replacement.

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When viewed through a full lifecycle assessment, our 50+ year old campervans offer significant ecological advantages over modern alternatives.

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• Elimination of Manufacturing Emissions:  By way of comparison, the production of a modern mid-sized vehicle, such as a Volkswagen Golf, generates approximately 6.8 tonnes of CO2 before it enters service. The production of a high-end electric vehicle, can create up to 26 tonnes of CO2, a considerable proportion of which is through battery production.

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• Amortised Carbon Footprint: Because our vehicles: Hector, Barney, and Roobarb were manufactured over half a century ago, their initial production emissions have been fully amortised. Research indicates that it would take a typical classic vehicle approximately 46 years of use to match the manufacturing emissions of a single new electric car.

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• Minimal Operational Impact: As a wedding-specific service, our annual mileage is exceptionally low. A typical classic vehicle in the UK, covering roughly 1,200 miles a year, generates only 563kg of CO2 annually. This is a fraction of the carbon cost required to manufacture even the "greenest" modern car but nevertheless we are acutely aware of our unavoidable carbon emissions and we will continue to find ways to offset our footprint either ourselves through our dedication to our current lifestyle or look into other ways off carbon offsetting for example with a UK based tree planting scheme as offered by the Woodland Trust.   

 

4. SUSTAINABLE RESTORATION

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The Old Camper Company acts as a steward of industrial and social heritage. Our commitment to the environment is reflected in how we maintain our fleet:

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• “New Old Stock” Components: Where possible, we use new old stock (NOS) or restored parts (such as engines, radiators, carburettors and starter motors). This practice disassembles old units and cleans, inspects, and rebuilds them to original specifications, saving raw materials and minimising waste.

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• Craftsmanship and Materials: Michael’s expertise as a traditional craftsman ensures that interiors are either original or hand restored.

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• Operational Efficiency: We perform rigorous and regular maintenance to ensure our vintage engines run at peak efficiency, thereby minimising exhaust emissions and preventing mechanical waste.

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5. CARBON MITIGATION & FUTURE GOALS

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• Carbon Offsetting:  We are proactive in addressing our own carbon footprint. Planting new trees and the restoration of forests is one of our best lines of defence against climate change, but trees can take years to fully develop and reach peak C02 absorption and so whilst crucial this cannot be a substitute for reducing carbon emissions directly. Our own choice not to fly commercially, living a planet conscious lifestyle and minimising our travel distances in our vintage campervans is for us essential in taking responsibility for our own CO2 emissions.

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• Sustainable Fuels: We are closely monitoring the development of 100% fossil-free sustainable fuel.

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6.  REPAIR, REUSE, RECYCLE & THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

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We believe that through a combination of diligent maintenance, active carbon offsetting by continuing to live a greener lifestyle and the eventual adoption of synthetic fuels, our vintage VW campervans represent a responsible and sustainable choice for the modern wedding industry.

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• The "Repair, Reuse, Recycle" and Reduce Waste Ethos: This philosophy is at the heart of the classic car movement. By choosing to restore existing vehicles rather than scrapping them, we are minimising waste and preventing the environmental cost of new manufacturing.

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• Localised Operations: Based in Rugby, we focus our services on Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire to minimise travel distances and reduce the overall carbon cost of each individual wedding booking.

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• Protects Heritage: By maintaining iconic vehicles for future generations.

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• Prioritises the Circular Economy: Through our use of reclaimed materials and the reuse of vintage components.

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7. CONCLUSION

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The Old Camper Company is dedicated to working with venues and couples who value genuine environmental stewardship. By choosing our service, you are supporting a business that lives and breathes sustainability; from our all-electric home and rewilded garden and outdoor spaces, to our preservation of iconic vehicles for future generations.