Saving the world is no longer the preserve of the saintly: now you can protect the planet and indulge in our species’ favourite activity at the same time, thanks to our Good (Environmentally Friendly) Sex Guide. In the mood for some good, green fun? Here’s how to turn up the heat in your love life – without scorching the globe…

Fair trade foreplay

Turn the heat up – without exacerbating global warming – by seducing your playmate with organic massage oils, fair trade chocolate and a bottle of biodynamic champagne.

In a lather

Sharing a sensuous shower with your partner doesn’t just help things get steamy, it also cuts water consumption.

Cold outside?

What better way to warm your cockles than a spot of vigorous love-making? It’s more fun than simply turning up the thermostat and it’s a lot cheaper in the long-run.

Baby, light my fire…

The classic candle-lit dinner for two is the perfect way to set the mood – and it saves electricity!

In the saddle

A bicycle ride for two is a fossil fuel-free way to get the blood flowing and can also be distinctly

Keep it up!

Many triathletes and other super-sporty types swear by a vegan diet for prolonged endurance (never a bad thing, boys) – what better reason to eat your greens?

Toys for grown-ups

Sex toys can be a thrill, but many contain phthalates – chemicals used to soften hard plastics, giving them that gelatinous feel. There is concern about the toxicity and health risks associated with phthalates (the EU banned them from children’s toys in 2004), especially in sex toys that are used in intimate places. Check the label: if it says “for novelty use only”, steer clear. Try alternatives made from glass, metal, silicone, hard plastics or elastomers instead.

Batteries not included?

If your sex toy of choice is a power tool, buy a rechargeable one (there are plenty of rechargeable vibrators available on the internet) or use rechargeable batteries.

Slippery when wet…

A little lubrication can go a long way (towards saving the planet): for the safest, most sensual and eco-friendly slipperiness, go for an organic lube. Avoid petroleum-based products, along with any artificial scents, flavours or colours.
Condom care

This is one area where the “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra comes unstuck, unfortunately. Flushing used condoms down the loo is also a no-no: they clog pipes, treatment plants and rivers. In the bin it is, then.

The kinks

Pay attention, fetishists: the production of PVC creates and releases one of the most toxic chemicals – dioxin. Stick to natural stuff instead, like leather and rubber.

Do it in the dark

Reducing our reliance on electricity is vital in combating climate change. If you want to see your partner, or what you’re doing, make love during daylight hours (but remember to close the curtains).

Bamboozling

Bamboo bed sheets may sound a little far-fetched, but not only are they silky, absorbent and antimicrobial, they also come from one of the most rapidly renewable sources there is: bamboo is the world’s fastest growing woody plant.

Herbal buzz

Oysters may be considered a potent aphrodisiac, but our planet’s oceans have already been over-plundered. Try guaraná instead: the seeds of this Amazonian plant, grown by sustainable community-based projects, stimulate the central nervous system to give you a real buzz (and you won’t even need any batteries). Other sin-free sexual stimulants include ginseng, ginko biloba, and the aptly-named horny goat weed.

Roll in the hay

Protect your posterior from chemical weedkillers and pesticides by switching to organic products in your garden before going for a roll in the hay: they’re better for your lawn AND your al fresco lovemaking.

Hanky-spanky

Fancy indulging in a little School Mistress role play? Make sure that paddle is crafted from sustainably harvested timber before you apply it to your partner’s bottom, you kinky beast, you…

Fruity!

Before you go re-enacting certain scenes from 9½ weeks (you know the ones), check the fruit and veg you’ll be having fun with is GM-free.

Eco-undies

Organic cotton, hemp silk and bamboo fibres make super-slinky lingerie – and they all come from rapidly renewable sources.

Green sex clubs

Yep, you read it right: a growing number of sex clubs in Japan are now championing environmentalism. Tactics range from shunning the traditional disposable wooden chopsticks to creating a life-sized rabbit mannequin for practising S&M rope-tying techniques entirely out of recycled pillows.

Play it safe

A rapidly expanding human population is the single greatest contributor to global warming. If you’re not ready to add to that population just yet, make sure you play it safe and use protection.

Tie the knot in eco-style

If all went well in the bedroom and you’re ready to take the ultimate step, why not have a green wedding? Courtesy of progressive wedding planners, environmentally conscious couples can now opt for fair-trade coffee and locally grown flowers, or even offset their honeymoon-flight carbon emissions.

Make love, not war

‘nuff said.