packaging waste

Barbecuing is one of the most popular summer pastimes for many people. But even when barbecuing, you release harmful CO₂ into the atmosphere and pollutes the environment.

Tips on how to reduce CO₂ footprint when grilling

Choose an eco-friendly grill

At a convivial barbecue evening in nature, people often use a cheap disposable barbecue. However, the manufacturing process of the aluminium shells alone causes large amounts of climate-damaging CO₂. In addition, the remains are often left behind in nature and pollute the environment.

A reusable grill is the better choice both for on the go and for the garden at home. The charcoal grill is by far the most popular. However, in addition to climate-damaging CO₂, grilling with charcoal also produces numerous other pollutants such as fine dust. This not only harms the environment but also health. Therefore, gas or electric grills are the better alternatives. You must read a pellet grill review before buying one.

These also offer the advantage that they are easy to regulate. This reduces energy consumption compared to charcoal grills. Those who operate their electric grill with green electricity reduce additional emissions.

Use sustainable fuels

If you don’t want to do without the classic charcoal grill, you should pay attention to the selection of the right fuel. Even if charcoal appears to be sustainable as a renewable raw material, every second charcoal contains valuable tropical wood and thus causes considerable damage to the environment.

You should pay attention to grill lighters. Alcohol and other chemical grill lighters are not good choices. There are environmentally friendly alternatives, for example, made of corrugated cardboard, corn cobs or wood fibres.

Grill vegetables instead of meat

If you want to grill in a climate-friendly way, you should therefore put more vegetables on the grid instead of meat. Many supermarkets also offer a wide range of plant-based meat alternatives. Plant-based sausages and steaks such as soy or wheat provide variety. If you don’t want to do without meat, you can still make a conscious choice. Beef causes a particularly large amount of CO₂ compared to poultry. The main reason for this is the climate-damaging feed production for animal husbandry.

Avoid packaging waste

Barbecue evenings often produce particularly large amounts of packaging waste. At first glance, paper plates, plastic cutlery and disposable bottles are practical companions and save you the hassle of washing up. Just like disposable barbecues, however, they are difficult to degrade in nature and are often left carelessly on meadows and in parks. For the sake of the environment, you should therefore avoid disposable plastic dishes.