Bank holiday weekends are the perfect time for a barbecue, but make sure you take the greenest route for a sustainable feast.

As far as gas barbecues go, the greenest by far are those fueled by LPG, with CO2 emissions about 100 times less than the average charcoal briquette doused in petroleum solvents. The benefit of gas over charcoal (even the non-petroleum doused sustainable charcoal that I’m going to tell you about in just a moment) is that there is no smoke, and so no contribution to air pollution. The rather attractive looking LPG barbecue you see here is the Electrolux EGL2600X Outdoor BBQ Cook Centre.

If you decide that gas grilling is not for you (gas barbecues don’t come cheap after all), then choose charcoal that is sourced ethically. FSC charcoal is widely available, and you may find other charcoal manufacturers close to where you live who used coppiced wood to make their charcoal.

Once you’ve got your barbecue burning sustainably, it’s time to cook. What you decide to cook is just as important in determining whether your barbecue is as green as it could be. Choose local meats, preferably organic, sustainably caught fish and locally grown vegetables for your feast.

Top that off with a glass of fairtrade wine and you can enjoy your al fresco meal without the slightest tinge of guilt.