Eco-friendly Fire

British arms manufacturer producing green weapons

One of the world's biggest arms manufacturers, British Aerospace, is investing heavily in eco-friendly weapons. Soldiers and civilians may now be blown up by a recyclable explosive, hit by a reduced-toxin rocket, or bombed by a fuel-efficient fighter jet. Biodegradable land mines and their victims both turn into compost over time. Quieter warheads reduce noise pollution, less smoky grenades reduce air pollution, and reduced-lead bullets, if left in the environment, "do not cause any additional harm," says Deborah Allen, director of corporate social responsibility at British Aerospace. Meanwhile, British troops will stay safe in their armored vehicles -- hybrid, naturally. "No company, regardless of what they make, can now just make a product, bung it out there, and then forget about it," says Allen. "We all have a duty of care to ensure that from cradle to grave products are being used appropriately and do not do lasting harm."