Dilema

I have this burning question which I can't seem to find an answer to.

Am I better buying a product in a can or a glass jar?

Now we know that both can be recycled fairly easily, but which is the better in terms of energy used for initial manufacture and then the energy used to recycle .

I have not been able to answer this and would like to know .

Palm Oil Follow Up

I was pleased to see in Sainsburys the other day that their own label frozen fish products not only have the Marine Stewardship Council label but now a flash on the packaging stating that the Palm Oil used is from a sustainable source.

Hopefully other manufacturers will folow suit.

Sainsburys Crisps

I had to do a shop yesterday, and as I was near Sainsburys went into there.

I noticed that all their own label crisps are now made solely with British potatoes.

This is something I had never thought about before, assuming that as we are a nation of farmers that crisps would be made from British potatoes.

Now though when I need to buy crisps I will purchase these as it ticks one of my boxes for my grocery shopping.

Palm Oil and DeForestation

I have read an article in the Independant online today which really made me think again about which foods I'm going to buy.

I wholeheartedly support the Orangutan conservation and would love to go out to Indonesia to see the work there.

The article lists some of the everyday foods which use Palm Oil but is listed in the ingredients as Vegetable Oil.

It is the DeForestation of the Rain Forests to enable Palm growing which is killing out the Orangutan and other species and affecting the Eco-systems in South East Asia.

Here is the link to the article
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/how-britons-fuel-destruction-of-the-rainforest-1677096.html


Here is a snippet which lists the main household brands which use this crop:

Household names: Big brands and palm oil

Kellogg's (US) Uses palm oil in 50 products, mostly cereal bars but also cereals such as Special K and Crunchy Nut, where it binds together clusters. Does not buy sustainable palm oil.

Cadbury (UK) Pours palm oil into chocolate bars, including Cadbury Dairy Milk, where it is listed as vegetable oil. Uses 40,000 tonnes a year, none certified as sustainable.

Mars (US/UK) Uses palm oil in Mars Bars, Galaxy and Maltesers, where it is labelled "vegetable fat". Does not buy sustainable palm oil. Says it wants to.

Procter & Gamble (US) Makes Ariel, Daz and Fairy Liquid, where use of palm oil is suspected but unproven. Says it will have a sustainable supply by 2015.

Unilever (UK) World's biggest user of palm oil, which is found in Flora margarine, Pot Noodle, Comfort and Persil. Buys 1.6m tonnes a year – 4.2 per cent of global production. Acknowledging the damage to its reputation and the environment, Unilever set up the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.

Kraft (US) Says it does not use palm oil in Dairylea cheese but does in other products. Buys half a per cent of global supply. Says it will move to sustainable palm oil by 2015.

Heinz (US) Uses palm oil to fry potatoes for Aunt Bessie's Potatoes, which it makes under licence.

United Biscuits (UK) Uses palm oil across its range including McVitie's Digestives and McCoy's crisps. Says it is reducing quantities.

Nestle (Swiss) Palm oil in KitKat, Quality Street, Aero and other brands.

Premier Food (UK) Uses in Hovis, Mr Kipling Cakes, Bisto Gravy and Cadbury cakes (made under licence). Hopes to move to a certified sustainable supply by 2011.

Pepsico (US) Makes Walker's crisps. Has one of the best corporate policies, only using palm oil in Quaker Oat Granola and Nobby's Nuts. Intends to phase out use on those two products.

Dilema

Today I have a dilema.

I try to support the British famers as much as possible buying British produced goods. If not my next tick box is Fairtrade.

I had been getting my granulated sugar from the Co-op when near there as they sell Silver Spoon which is made from British sugar beet.

I however also try and support my doorstep milkman as the convenience and not having to use my car usually outweighs the price difference.

Now to my dilema.

The milkman sells sugar which is the same price as Co-op , but it is I am told (after ringing Whitworths) only half British sugar beet, and half imported sugar cane. The sugar cane is not Fairtrade. Both come in recyclable paper bags.

Should I stick with buying British and bulk buy to equal out the petrol usage? or

Should I buy from the milkman knowing it doesn't tick all the boxes, but helps keep his delivery round going?

Dave and the boys have said it is up to me as I do the shopping, big help there!!