Alan Titchmarsh has urged people to swap a certain breakfast favourite in favour of more sustainable options.
The TV presenter and gardener recently spoke about his concern about the amount of avocado consumption in the UK and its environmental impact.
Instead, he recommends people return to breakfast staples such as Weetabix and Corn Flakes, stressing they are better for the planet.
Alan explains he mainly has an issue with avocado production and transportation, telling The Times: “Most of those sold in the UK are grown where the rainforest has been felled at an alarming rate to accommodate them.
“They are then shipped, often more than 5,000 miles across the ocean, as breakfast for supposedly environmentally-friendly consumers."
The Sustainable Food Trust agrees with Alan’s comments, stating: “Despite bold claims that avocados are a clean and sustainable superfood, the reality is that avocados have serious environmental consequences."
It comes as there are growing concerns about the impact of climate change on the world’s biggest avocado-producing countries.
According to a 2024 report from Christian Aid, Mexico could see its potential growing area reduced by 31% by 2025 if temperatures rise by 2°C, or even as much as 43% if they rise towards 5°C.
What’s more, just one avocado needs around 320 litres of water on average, according to Honor Elridge, sustainable food expert and author of The Avocado Debate.
This is particularly important as Dr Chloe Sutcliffe, a research fellow in sustainable horticulture at the RHS, adds that the UK gets most of its avocados from Peru and Chile where water scarcity is high and the demand for avocados has already compromised access to water for some smallholders.
“It is very likely that the impacts of climate change on water availability will further exacerbate water scarcity issues in these areas,” she said.
Best eco-friendly oven cleaners
Dirtbusters Bio Oven Cleaner
This foaming spray's microbial formula claims to digest grease and burnt-on dirt for faster cleaning, meaning less time spent with your head in the oven. It works on hobs, too, with trigger spray for direct application.
Our testers liked its fresh citrus fragrance and found it most impressive on the glass door, with most grime lifted in one sweep.
The packaging is recyclable, but opaque, making it tricky to gauge how much fluid is left.
Eco claims: Eco-friendly carbon and grease digesting microbial formula, recyclable packaging
Astonish Specialist Anti-Bacterial Oven & Grill Cleaner & Sponge
You get a double-sided sponge/scourer with this tub of plant-derived oven cleaning cream.
Our testers rated its light orange scent but found the paste messy to apply to racks, albeit it effective at making their knobbly bits shine.
It sliced through grease on the base to lift most of it with one wipe, but you'll need to buff it with a dry cloth to get it sparkling.
Eco claims: Vegan Society certified, Cruelty Free International certified, plant-derived, biodegradable, plastic packaging can be recycled once cleaned properly
Ecover Oven and Hob Surface Cleaner
Forget headache-causing fumes, this plant-based spray's jasmine and mandarin scent got the thumbs up from our testers.
They found it efficient at cleaning the glass oven door and a first wipe of the interior lifted a good 75% of burnt-on grime. Some gentle scrubbing quickly removed the rest.
Eco claims: Cruelty Free International certified, vegan friendly, septic tank safe, biodegradable, plant-based, produced in a zero-waste factory, 100% recycled plastic packaging can be recycled after removing easy-peel labels
Ecozone Non-Caustic Oven Cleaning Gel
This Peta-certified oven cleaner cuts through tough stains using pumice stone particles rather than caustic chemicals. Its lack of any discernible odour makes it a smart pick for anyone with sensitivities and it proved straightforward to apply.
One sweep lifted about 75% of baked-on mixture from the interior and glass door, but clearing out the remaining foam took our testers a while.
Eco claims: Vegan Society certified, Cruelty Free International certified, Peta certified, pet-friendly, septic tank safe, odour free, non-caustic, plastic packaging can be recycled once cleaned properly
Ecodoo Oven, Fireplace & BBQ Cleaner
Here's another oven cleaner with an environmental stamp to its name, this time from Ecocert. It's a 3-in-1 product that can be used on fireplaces and BBQs as well as ovens, but grab your eco-friendly face covering as our testers complained about its odour.
Overpowering smell aside, it instantly blitzed almost all light soiling, making it a top everyday choice. Heavier stains required more scrubbing, but leaving the solution on for longer should help to soften these up.
Eco claims: Ecocert-certified, no ammonia, no caustic soda, no strong acids, plastic packaging can be recycled once cleaned properly
Lizzie is the Daily Editor at Country Living, where you’ll find her writing about unique property market finds and dreamy UK staycation spots. Her specialisms include interiors, property, wildlife, travel, slow living and more. Previously, she’s written for Metro, Evening Standard, Ideal Home, Woman & Home and various other home and lifestyle titles. Lizzie studied English Literature at University of Liverpool, where she also was a writer and editor for her uni paper.
