5 ways to eat green OUTDOORS

Want to enjoy al fresco eating while lightening your carbon footprint? Grab your picnic blanket and start reading

- PAUL ALLEN

DEFINITION SINGLE-USE PLASTICS

An item of plastic that’s used once, then thrown away. Single-use plastics include disposable cutlery, plastic straws and bottles, drink stirrers and crisp packets.

Right now, the idea of ‘al fresco’ might feel, well, a little limited. But if you’re lucky enough to have a garden or patio, a family barbecue or picnic could be the perfect way to create an escape without leaving home. The good news is, there are lots of ways to make your outdoor dining experience as environmentally friendly as possible.

1 Grill power

Unless you have a solarpowered electric grill to hand, your outdoor cooking options likely include a traditional charcoal or gas barbecue (disposable barbecues are very bad for the planet, as they can’t be recycled or composted, and are wrapped in single-use plastic). So, which is better for the planet?

When it comes to air pollution, the answer is gas. Even though it means burning a fossil fuel (typically butane or propane), a gas barbecue creates fewer carbon emissions and less of the nasty volatile organic compounds, particulates and ground-level ozone that some charcoal produces.

And what about the taste? If you can’t do without the smoky flavour of a charcoal barbecue, remember that some coals, such as the smokeless variety, are better for the planet than others.