Green Food Guide

Green Credentials

Cook fantastic food with fresh ingredients that don’t cost the earth, sourced from environmentally-friendly suppliers that are doing their bit for the planet. The suppliers featured in this guide are aware of the impact they have on the planet. Each listing shows the company’s green credentials so you can see exactly what they are doing to help the environment - from recycling, saving energy and water, growing organic food and saving food miles by using local suppliers. Here's why its important: Local suppliers & producers Reduce your carbon footprint and make a difference to climate change, by finding suppliers in your local area.The scary truth is that almost as much greenhouse gas is created by moving food than by all the power stations in the UK. Seasonal food Food grown out of season has a greater environmental impact on the planet because of the energy used in growing  crops in greenhouses, transporting them half way around the world and storing them. Organic food and drink Organic farmers use natural methods that are environmentally friendly, encourage wildlife and consider the whole eco system in their farming methods. Fair trade products Buying fair trade products ensure the producers of the food get a fair price, improved working conditions and a better future. Sustainable fish Intensive commercial methods and over-fishing have led to species such as cod, haddock and whiting being fished to the brink of extinction. Sustainable fish come from managed stocks, caught using methods with minimum impact to the environment. Vegetarian or Vegan food Producing meat is a highly energy intensive process. Not only do animals need food and water while they’re growing, but the meat will also have to travel a long way to reach the supermarket. The animals themselves generate 18% of our greenhouse gas emissions - that's more than transport. Recycled packaging Packaging using recycled cardboard, plastic, glass and metal has a lower environmental impact as the raw materials have already been used and have been given a second life rather than filling up a landfill. Reusable bags UK supermarkets hand out about 17.5 billion plastic bags every year, many of them ending up littering our streets or in landfills. Made from polythene - they are hazardous to manufacture and are reported to take up to 500 years to decompose. Never use air freight Aviation accounts for 5% of the UK's carbon emissions. Buying local food rather than buying produce that has been transported across the world not only helps local suppliers and producers in your area, but is more environmentally friendly. Efficient water use Water is a natural resource we should never waste - green measures such as collecting rain water, re-using water, and fitting water-saving devices to appliances can make a difference - reducing the demand for the large amounts of chemicals and energy needed to get the water to our homes. Energy efficient appliances & heating Appliances with a good energy rating use less energy, therefore have a lower environmental impact. Green measures include - never leave appliances on standby, keep your fridge and freezer full, turn your thermostat down, switch off lights, and wash laundry at lower temperatures. Low energy lightbulbs Around 10-15% of every household’s energy usage is for lighting, and by fitting low energy lightbulbs you'll use a fraction of the energy of normal bulbs. Renewable energy supply Burning fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide and other gasses, which are the main contributors to global warming - 25% of the UK's carbon emissions are from the energy we use in our homes. Onsite renewable energy supply From wind, hydroelectric, or solar - using the power of nature to  power our homes is one of the most environmentally friendly measures we can take to help the planet. Environmentally friendly cleaning materials Using eco-friendly materials reduces the amounts of damaging pollutants entering our environment. Either use natural methods, from lemon juice to vinegar, or an eco-friendly brand. Waste reduction & composting When food waste mixes with other materials in the landfill it can create methane gas which contributes to the greenhouse effect. If only a quarter of Britons changed to home composting we'd save 2.5m tonnes of C02 from entering the atmosphere. Recycling Some waste still contains valuable materials, many of which are easily recoverable  - cardboard, paper, glass, metal and plastic can all be recycled and the elements used again. Promote wildlife As many species throughout the UK and the world are brought to the brink of extinction, we should be aware of our impact on our local wildlife and ecosystem, safeguarding our environment and landscape for future generations. Carbon offsetting Still worried about your environmental impact? Calculate the C02 emissions from a particular activity and pay into an offsetting scheme which invests the money into green projects such as tree planting or sustainable energy production.