Best eco/sustainable drive

[KatyMac]

The house i might buy needs a new drive surface, so i have turned my thoughts to its structure

Im guessing concrete/brick weave/tarmac are all much of a muchness for sustainability
Im really not a resin fan as I perceive them to be worse

Mud/grass is not my preferred option - is there something relative sustainable, reasonably priced that downt look awful?

Edited as i can't spell!

I'm interested in your view about resin - I had been considering that as an option for ours because I thought it was eco-friendly, because I thought the main thing to look out for in environmental terms is whether a surface is permeable, so that water can drain through it? (Which apparently resin is) But maybe there's unpleasant chemicals in it or something - what's your concern? I suppose another option that is natural and allows drainage is gravel?

I would say gravel. In terms of allowing drainage and not having unpleasant chemicals either in the production or disposal of. Energy used in production of gravel is low.

But maintenance is higher and you will probably need metal grids to help keep it in place (but anything made of metal is easily recyclable).

We have gravel on a grid with a membrane and cobblestone banding. Our grid is some kind of very stiff woven plastic, which isn't ideal from an eco standpoint, but beyond that it's pretty sustainable (and light coloured gravel is better than anything dark or black from a climate perspective). We've had ours going on 5 years without it needing any maintenance. It's also great from a drainage perspective as nothing builds up.

Well resin is plastic, so despite water permeability and recycleabilityid rather minimise plastic use

I was wondering about gravel the grids/edging sound good too

I'd half thought about comfrey/chamomile but im struggling to find info

You can get mats which you sink into the ground which then allow you to plant through them. It means you don't lose any permeability but the car doesn't damage the ground either. You can plant grass or another low growing plant or fill with gravel.

Yes this i what im thinking - but im not goggling the right words to find them

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226967471573?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338590836&toolid=10044&loc_physical_ms=41402&customid=53c233ad65991fb9de5e5a048c7797dc&gclid=53c233ad65991fb9de5e5a048c7797dc

Gravel but be sure to use eco-friendly grids

Like these?

https://www.pavingdirect.com/grasspark-permeable-paving-parking-grid?gmf=4886&infinity=ict2~net~gaw~cmp~PMax%20%7C%20All%20Products%20%7C%20Smart%20Shopping%20-%2020241113%20-%20resumed%2020250609~ag~~ar~~kw~~mt~&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21904247954&gbraid=0AAAAADG_fSSl9LXSxRaTeFqQKX6XdZPto&gclid=Cj0KCQiA8KTNBhD_ARIsAOvp6DJr8F_KNUCcwKkvTZJl5-PPG5XnsDT4lum7nzDxDpjwqDhMVSqHLNIaAgpzEALw_wcB

Im not sure i want plastic even if its preloved

I wonder if preloved block paving/concrete and plants might be the way to go

Or some one mentioned metal but that has decay/rust doesnt it

I understand your concerns about the plastic but is the car not more of an issue in terms of ecological impact?
/totally misses point of thread/
Obviously I am being a bit tongue in cheek but what I am tying to say is that you are going to need to compromise somewhere and I think the grids are a good compromise. The area will still be able to absorb lots of water to prevent flooding and plants can grow which will be good for the wild life. Yes you are putting plastic into soil which isn't great but I think the benefits outweigh the issues. In fact i think you might even be able to get rubber grids which would then be a natural product themselves.

https://www.slip-not.co.uk/products/non-slip-rubber-grass-mat-roll-1m-x-10m

Rubber grids! Now you're talking

But yes the cars are an issue

We will be a 4 adult, 2 car, 4 bike household - with the bikes doing most of the commute/day to day transport - with a trailer and a child trailer adding to flexibility

We make the sustainable changes where we can and plastic or metal or rubber might be the best choice but ill play about with options til it works for us physically and emotionally

With my morals i always look for the preloved or sustainable option first but with my disability, DD insists that we spend money not spoons so if there is an easier, quicker way that costs money we pay it (if we can) rather than expend the extra energy!!

It's all a balance - on good days trips to the hospital by bike, on bad days by car

That sounds like a very sensible practical way of doing your best whilst not being a martyr to the cause.
If you did decide the plastic grids aren't too bad, you can just do two tracks of them where the tyres will go and leave the rest as open soil.

Bricks/blocks can be recycled, if you buy the 'correct' ones they are permeable, and have good durability. I have a new build and our whole street and drive are permeable blocks. It is amazing how water just seeps away into the sub base and into the ground.

I too am trying to minimise plastic where I can, but it has its place. However, once it has been recycled once it is likely just landfill at the end of life. And I do not know how long the grid and gravel drives last for....

Ours is going strong 5 years in, and we have a heavy car (embarrassingly, a Tesla X). I can't imagine it ever needing anything more than a gravel top up. The grid bits don't show any wear at all. I know there are companies that can come and drill down between the grids if the gravel gets too compacted and the drainage slows. And the grids are made from recycled plastic, or at least ours are.

Don't bother getting those bricks as you'll spend every 4 months weeding in between them or using copious amounts of weedkiller. Not great if you are ill or time poor and actually want your drive to look presentable.

I know you don't want to use plastic grids but I'm sure you should be able to source some that use recycled plastics?

It is what a gas torch is for...or a once a year cold beer and hook tool...

I & my neighbour (identical houses) have gravel drives - but no grids, just the base (I'm guessing compacted rubble) and gravel on top.
Houses are about 27 years old.
I had me drive widened and some extra gravel about 25 years ago.
My neighbour had some extra gravel about 5 years ago.