At Homefire, we’re proud to stock an impressive range of smokeless coal products that emit less CO2 and provide more heat. One of our most popular and innovative products is our Homefire Ecoal, which is also one of the most environmentally-friendly products on the market. But how is our Ecoal made? How is it sustainable? We explain the processes involved with the production of our Ecoal below and introduce you to our secret ingredient - olive pits.
How our Ecoal is made
The story behind our Ecoal is a fascinating one. It is made using crushed olive stones, which are a by-product of olive oil production. Annually, the world produces approximately 21.2 million tons of olives, a staggering amount! We eat the fleshy outside of olives or use them to create olive oil, one of the most sought-after products in many European countries. Olive oil production accounts for around 4% of agricultural land in the EU, highlighting its popularity.
Until recently, the stones within olives were simply discarded, as they could neither be eaten nor used for other purposes. However, olive pits are now regarded as an excellent source of biomass, alongside the likes of coffee grounds, rice and barley husks, and grape stalks.
Olive pits are combustible, meaning they’re perfectly suited to heat generation. In addition, the carbon content within the endocarp (olive stone) is higher than in wood, and the ash content is less than 1%. It’s for these reasons that they’re such an excellent source for products like our innovative and sustainable Ecoal50.
We’re proud to source the olive stones that produce our Ecoal50 from olive oil farms that are committed to sustainable practices. Each year, the trees are replenished, and we’re glad to make great use of the pits that would otherwise be discarded.
The benefits of Ecoal
Our Ecoal is one of the most sustainable and environmentally-friendly fuel sources available. It produces less smoke, CO2, and more heat than both coal and wood. All told, using Ecoal50 instead of traditional house coal can save you up to 80% in smoke emissions and 40% in carbon dioxide.
Ecoal also burns for longer than wood and traditional coal, meaning it can work out cheaper than using standard coal. The fact that the UK government recently introduced new measures in regards to the sale and burning of traditional household coal, Ecoal50 is a viable alternative that ensures you are operating within the law.
Our Ecoal is available in 10kg or 25kg pack sizes and can be paired with our kiln-dried firewood or heat logs for the perfect home fire setup. Be sure to browse through our smokeless coal collection today so you can set and maintain your fire at home with minimal fuss and without the negative environmental impacts associated with traditional coal.