A trial conducted by Lufthansa using biosynthetic fuel has shown that Biosynthetic kerosene is just as reliable as conventional jet fuel but with more positive environmental effects.

During the course of the six-month trial, 1187 flights were operated between Hamburg and Frankfurt. According to initial calculations, CO2 emissions were reduced by 1471 tonnes.

“If we want to protect our climate and thus our future in a sustainable manner, we need innovative ideas and technologies and an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels,” Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG Chairman Christoph Franz said.

Due to the higher energy density of biofuel, it has been possible to reduce the fuel consumption by more than one percent. Biosynthetic kerosene is also free of sulphur and aromatic compounds.

The principle behind biofuel is simple and based on the carbon cycle. Plants withdraw CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. When aircraft engines burn biofuel, this CO2 is released back into the atmosphere. Biofuel emits about 50 percent less CO2 than conventional fossil fuels.

For more information about the project  click here.

Try the following suggestions to making your dishwashing more environmentally aware:

• Do a full load. Before loading and running the dishwasher, wait until you have a full load. This will help to reduce the number of washes you do and the water and energy you use with each.
• Choose an energy-efficient dishwasher. Most of these have stickers on them to alert you of their ability to reduce energy and water usage. While these appliances can be more expensive, they are investments that pay off in the long term.
• Try to choose dishwashing liquid and powder that is environmentally friendly. Normally this means that it is natural, biodegradable and free from petroleum and phosphates. Products bought in bulk will also help to save on packaging.
• Use fewer glasses, dishes and utensils during the day. This will cut down on the loads needed and save energy, water and detergent.

To make your own eco-friendly dishwasher detergent, click here.

One of the biggest perpetrators is the freezer, as it runs constantly. Try the following tips to reduce your freezer’s energy use, save money on your energy bill and help out the environment:

• Make sure it works properly. All seals should be fitted properly – this will help to ensure food hygiene as well as cut costs. You can test this by placing a piece of paper between the door and the freezer. When closed properly, this should ideally remain in place.
• Keep the freezer between -15 to -18ºC.
• Defrost regularly. This will help to remove excess build-up, make the freezer work more efficiently and cut down on its energy usage.
• Keep freezers in a cool, well-ventilated spot – well away from the oven and other heat sources such as direct sunlight, heaters and dishwashers.
• Scatter food packages, and avoid stacking or grouping them together until they are completely frozen.
• Regularly clean the coils on the back of the fridge or freezer. These are used to discharge heat and a build-up of dust on these can act as an insulator and force the appliance to work harder.

For more information on fridges and freezers, click here. 

Unfortunately these can often leak into the waterways, affecting both wildlife and nature. For a more environmentally friendly option, there are a number of natural ways to unblock the sink without detrimentally affecting the environment.

• Try pouring lemon or bi-carb soda down the plug hole, followed by some vinegar. Make sure that you flush these out with some boiling water. In general this should help to remove any build-up. You could also try half a cup of salt, half a cup of bi-carb, one cup of vinegar and one cup of hot water. As these ingredients are harmless to the environment, the process can be repeated as often as required.
• Alternatively, many health-food stores and pharmacies stock bacteria-based enzyme cleaners, which will also help to get the job done.
• You could get physical. Try the old-fashioned plunger to force the block from the pipe. There are many hardware stores that sell hand or drill-operated screw-action rods for home use.

The easiest way to remove a blockage is to prevent it in the first place. Weekly, try to pour a tablespoon of bi-carb soda and a cup full of vinegar down the plughole. Just remember to flush it out with boiling water.

To unblock a toilet the natural way, click here.

While paper towels and hand-dryers involve about the same amount of energy, and produce the same amount of CO² over their lifetimes, in the end making paper takes more resources and produces more pollution.

Hand dryers also have the potential for recycling; simply take them to a scrap yard. This is in comparison to paper towels, which can be regarded by recycling companies as contaminated, making them general waste.

If you do choose to use paper towels, remember to use rolls of paper instead of folded sheets, buy recycled brands or those that are bleached without chlorine.

In reality, both options have an impact on the environment. While a hand dryer may marginally beat paper towels, they both use a similar amount of energy. If you are looking to reduce environmental impact, the best choice is to let your hands air-dry where possible, or use a hand towel.

For more information on this argument, click here. 

Put simply, the climate change theory refers to the warming of the Earth’s average temperature. This is a result of an increase of gasses in the atmosphere, enhancing the impact of the greenhouse effect.

The greenhouse effect is the process where natural gasses, including carbon dioxide and methane, hold some of the sun’s heat in the atmosphere. This is a natural process that has always happened, but since the Industrial Revolution the amount of gas in the air has steadily increased. The increase in the logging of trees has led to the magnification of this issue. Trees are useful for filtering the air, but the logging of trees reduces the capacity for carbon dioxide to be removed from the atmosphere.

The result is an increase of gas in the air, trapping extra heat in the atmosphere.

Click here for information about how you can reduce your carbon emissions.

When you are planning to start an organic garden, the soil will need to be prepared at least one month in advance. Some commercial soils have been heat treated and can have traces of non-organic matter within the soil. To make your own garden bed, start to fertilise the soil with compost or manure. Alternatively, you could source organic soil from your local nursery.

When making a raised garden bed, be careful to buy natural materials and avoid treated pine, as the chemicals used to treat the pine can leach into the soil.

When the time comes to plant the garden, look for organic seeds and heirloom varieties of vegetables. Heirloom vegetables can be resistant to local pests, making them an attractive option for a chemical-free garden. It can also be easier to collect and replant seeds from heirloom vegetables.

Once the garden is in full swing, you can experiment with natural pest repellents and keep the soil fertile with compost. At the end of a season you can also consider creating a second garden bed to start practising crop rotation. Click here for more information about crop rotation.

From its beginnings in a small town in Switzerland in 1961, it has grown remarkably and is now active in more than 100 countries with close to five-million international supporters.

Originally it was born from a partnership of scientists, business and government leaders who supported the cause of preservation of life on Earth. Their relationship with world leaders and communities continues to this day, as does their dedication to this conservation.

Their continued campaigning promotes international environmental issues and has greatly assisted in the preservation of the world’s natural resources. This, in a large part, is the result of the hard work of their volunteers and sponsors who have financially assisted the not-for-profit organisation since its beginning.

As an organisation, they continue to work tirelessly at funding and managing thousands of conservation projects, as well as conducting research and working with governments, policy makers and industry leaders to attempt to overcome the local and global environmental issues threatening to destroy the planet.

For the World Wildlife Fund homepage, click here.

Choosing sustainable furniture is a great way to continue to be green around the home and encourage its practice in the average household.

Sustainable furniture is an object that is made from a recycled, re-purposed or a renewable material. It is also considered sustainable when it has been made or sold by a company that has paid attention to its environmental impact during the manufacturing process. This includes the furniture’s transportation and the fact that it has been efficiently transported, has not used excessive space or energy throughout, and is generally locally produced and sourced.

While this furniture is certainly made in a manner more conscious of its effect on the environment, it is no less practical and should also still be usable and durable for years to come. Something of long-lasting quality will always be more energy efficient as it helps to reduce landfill and carbon emissions.

For the Sustainable Furnishings Council homepage, click here.

The mass consumption of fashion can be particularly unhealthy for the environment as, in some instances, it creates mass waste and carbon-emissions. This is specifically apparent in the clothing chains found in the ‘high street’ or shopping mall, which works on a continued cycle of clothing consumption.

Often clothes found in the chain stores in shopping malls are designed for minimal use and created from lower-quality fabrics. This can mean you are buying quantity over quality, and the garments are intended to be replaced almost immediately, which is bad for the environment when unwanted clothes end up in landfill.

To minimise the fast fashion mindset and turn your wardrobe more green, try these tips:

• Choose quality. While most of us can’t afford a designer-only wardrobe, try to invest in a few quality garments that will go with most things and can be used over and over again, keeping you prepared for every occasion. These items include a white blouse, good jeans and a tailored blazer.
• Avoid anything trend-driven. What is ‘in’ will only be that way for a very limited time. It is much better for your budget, and the environment, if you buy classic pieces that you can wear for much longer than a single season.
• Buy vintage. Luckily vintage has become a beloved passion of the fashion set and finding a unique item with a history is cool again. Not only can this be great for your bank account, but it is fantastic for the environment as it is essential to the recycling of clothing.
• Do some research. Where you can, support the local economy and buy locally from nearby boutiques or stores where clothing from local designers is sold. This can also help to boost the career of a lesser-known designer.