Barbecuing is great family fun, but have you ever considered whether you are having a green barbecue? Charcoal is the favoured fuel for a barbecue although gas barbecues have become quite popular, but even the charcoal option doesn’t necessarily make for a green barbecue. And the gas versions, of course, are using a fossil fuel as well as not giving that authentic barbecue flavour!
So what makes a green barbecue? Well, instead of just picking up the nearest or cheapest bag of charcoal next time the sun is shining (or not, as wet barbecues are also a British institution!), find out whether it is UK sourced and Forest Stewardship Council marked. But what is the problem with other charcoal? There are a number of environmental issues as the vast majority of the charcoal we use in the UK is from places such as South Africa, South America and South East Asia. In these places there are concerns over deforestation and damage to mangrove swamps and other vulnerable habitats. In addition, the transportation of the charcoal produces carbon emissions, so overall not leading to a very green barbecue.
UK sourced charcoal from well managed sources (as approved by the Forest Stewardship Council) removes these issues and is also often easy to light, this reducing the need for additional chemicals, less dense meaning it will burn hotter for longer, and the ash is cleaner and better for your garden.
Your green barbecue is also easy to come by as many major supermarkets and DIY stores sell UK charcoal, including B&Q and the Co-op. For a list of places where you can buy Forest Stewardship Council approved charcoal, visit their website. Also visit the Bioregional Charcoal Company website for more information on charcoal sources.
