Eco-friendly cruises: Le Boat’s green transformation on the French Lot River
As global warming accelerates, we understand the growing importance of sustainable travel on our houseboat vacations. Recognizing that our boaters also share a keen interest in green living vacations and are actively searching for sustainable travel destinations, we’ve launched a green travel initiative at our Douelle base in the Lot, France, to offer sustainable boating experiences. Building on our established efforts for eco-friendly houseboat vacations, we’re improving and transforming our approach to cruising on the Lot with an eco-friendly pilot program.
Changes that meet our clients' expectations
The Lot River, an exceptional natural destination, is seeing big changes at Douelle, aligning with our boaters' growing awareness of their cruises' impact on wildlife and vegetation. Choosing Le Boat becomes not just a choice but a civic gesture towards supporting sustainable values and philosophies, marking a significant step towards greener and more responsible cruising experiences.
What changes have been made to the boats at the Douelle base?
Le Boat unveils two key initiatives for greener travel, minimizing our ecological footprint and promoting sustainability.
1. Introduction of HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil)
A major stride in sustainable boating: the switch to HVO, with 30 boats in the fleet making this eco-transition. This is a synthetic fuel derived from reused fats and vegetable waste that slashes CO2 emissions by up to 90% when compared to the standard diesel fuel. The full rollout for the 30 HVO boats in the Lot is a result of extensive testing on Le Boat’s fleet in Ireland in 2023. This renewable and sustainable energy source harmonizes perfectly with our fleet, embodying green living and ensuring an eco-friendly vacation.
2. Reduction of single-use plastic through UV water filtration
In an effort to further green travel and eco-tourism destinations, Le Boat has installed UV water filtration systems aboard its vessels. This technology surpasses the highest standards of purity and safety, enabling boaters to enjoy purified water without relying on commercially bought bottles. Rigorous checks during boat preparation ensure the system's flawless operation, significantly diminishing plastic usage and enforcing the principles of green tourism.
And what about the rivers?
Since water scarcity affects us all, Le Boat is committed to conserving clean water resources. In our 2024 Lot pilot program, we are installing a new water pump that will allow boats to be cleaned using river water. This enables us to manage resources responsibly without incurring additional costs. It has been enthusiastically received by boaters, particularly sensitive to drought and global warming issues.
Sustainable boating for the future
We're excited about the launch of the pilot program on the Lot River and look forward to seeing its effects in the region before extending these measures across all our destinations in close collaboration with our local partners.
These initiatives are a reflection of Le Boat's commitment to transforming boating vacations into sustainable travel destinations. By embracing these changes, travelers partake in a movement towards sustainable travel tips, contributing to the conservation of eco-tourism destinations like the Lot River. Each vacation on a boat with Le Boat becomes a testament to sustainable living, offering a houseboat vacation that is as responsible as it is memorable.
Book your green getaway!
Book now to enjoy a green getaway aboard our HVO-powered fleet.
