Should you switch to bio-fuels?

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So-called green fuels may sound like an eco-friendly alternative to petrol, but beware of the hype, says Amy Sims of practical environmental charity Global Action Plan

Does your car drive through the countryside or does the countryside drive your car? Those beautiful yellow patches in the rolling landscape are not just harvested for healthy cooking oil – 60 percent of the rapeseed oil produced in the EU is now used to create bio-diesel. Fuel is becoming the hot crop of choice as people cling to their cars and holidays abroad while ‘going green’.

From soya to palm oil to pig fat, there seems to be no end to the flow of ideas for powering vehicles in ways other than petrol. Within the UK and Europe bio-diesel technology is being encouraged at a governmental level and is perceived as playing an important role in terms of carbon abatement and representing a secure alternative fuel option.

And now, the true mark that this hot trend is upon us; celebrity endorsement of the stuff. Country star Willie Nelson has launched ‘BioWillie’ fuel in an effort to keep US farmers farming, and reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil. Singer Sheryl Crowe went on a tour of college campuses to alert students to the perils of global warming – travelling the country in a tour bus powered by bio-fuel. And on a BBC series ‘It’s Not Easy Being Green’ the patriarch of the cheery hippy family in Cornwall converts used chip fat into bio-diesel to power his 4x4.

A report recently commissioned by Global Action Plan concluded that growing fuel can be incredibly destructive to the environment and the communities from where it is imported. UK-based bio-diesel remains less contentious at the moment, but bio-diesel corporations are increasingly looking to overseas markets to procure cheaper sources of bio-diesel and to guarantee supply, with many procuring as much as 50% to meet projected demand.

With no seal of approval for bio-fuel that is sustainable, orang-utan friendly, vegetarian, etc., how can a consumer know if what they are putting into their car is any better for the earth than traditional pump fare? This has great business implications as many now boast that their deliveries are made with vehicles powered by bio-fuels, and as people are trying to commute to work in a greener way, turning to bio-diesel seems an easy way to do so.

Richard Branson recently announced that planes in his Virgin fleet will use ‘green fuel’ in two years. Just calling bio-fuel ‘green fuel’ is sending out a message that doesn’t begin to tell the whole story of how that fuel was developed, transported, and the emissions produced in that process. At an event Global Action Plan held at the House of Commons this week, director Trewin Restorick spoke about the importance of using clear language and treading carefully with phrases such as ‘carbon neutral’ and ‘offsetting’ as these issues have many more contentious layers than the labels imply.

‘Green fuel’ is contributing to the destruction of the Amazon rainforests (that aren’t just a beautiful home to wildlife but also efficient carbon sinks, soaking up loads of emissions), and to deforestation throughout other parts of the world including Indonesia and Malaysia where palm plantations stretching for miles have replaced forests, leaving the orang-utan and other species near extinction. And it’s not just wildlife that suffers; demand for bio-fuel is now having negative effects on society, growing in value as a fuel source thus competing as a food source for many poorer communities in production countries.

At Global Action Plan we are by no means experts on bio-fuel, we are just encouraging people to be aware of the actions behind the hype and do some research before making a choice. First and foremost we encourage people to change their behaviour so less fuel – whatever the type – is used. Cut down on short trips in your car, try taking holidays that don’t require flying, and dust off the bicycle. Then research bio-fuel to find out more, so you can make an informed decision for your travels and the environment.

Amy Sims is Communications Manager at Global Action Plan.

Created in 1993, Global Action Plan is a practical environmental charity that has worked with thousands of people and organisations to help them make positive changes to reduce their environmental impact at home and at work