Issue 12: 10 things we learned

To save washing them, you can store paintbrushes overnight in the freezer. 11 reasons to love your freezer, page 38

Beeswax, cotton and an oven is all you need to make plastic-free reusable kitchen wraps. Step-by-step: Make your own beeswax wraps, page 42

A single engagement ring creates 250 tonnes of waste ore. My dilemma: Gold and diamonds, page 14

More than half of sea turtles now have plastic in their gut. How much plastic are you eating? page 20

China is embarking on a green revolution. When waste is wealth, page 22

You can drink a juice from aloe plants! Summer soft drinks, page 34

Bacteria can turn newspapers into a fuel that runs cars. The green future, page 9

Laser tattoos are replacing plastic fruit stickers in some UK supermarkets. The green future, page 7

There is 1g of gold in every 35 mobile phones. Technological terror, page 26

Mango trees make beautiful, and often sustainable, furniture. Green ideas for outdoor furniture, page 51