OIL AND THE ENVIRONMENT
By Ian Mercer

• Oil is natural resources and plays an important part in our everyday lives. We use oils for fuels and in cooking, and to make paints, plastics and many other substances.

• This book looks at where oil comes from, how we transport process and uses it, and what impact this has on our environment

• Unlike vegetable oils, crude oil is a fossil fuel which will, one day, run out. The search for an alternative is, therefore very important.

PLASTICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
By Kathryn Whyman

• Plastics are everywhere. We have thousands of uses for plastics. Cars, computer, clothes, toys and packaging are just some of the uses

Plastics play a vital part in our everyday lives.

• Not all plastics can be recycled, which causes waste problems and pollution. This book looks at how recycling and re-using plastics.

METALS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
By Kathryn Whyman

• Metals are used to build a multitude of things, from cars and electric cables to bicycles, bridges and jewellery. Metals are one of our most important resources

• This book looks at how metals are made from the Earth's minerals, the many different ways metals are used and how the environment is affected by the extraction and refining of metals and their non-biodegradable end –products.

WOOD AND THE ENVIRONMENT
By Kathryn Whyman

• Wood is one of our oldest natural resources. Woodlands and forests cover about one fifth of the Earth's Surface.

• We use wood to make buildings, boats, furniture, carving, paper and many other useful substances

•  This book looks at the impact that wood harvesting and processing has on the environment and the importance of managing forests successfully so that we do not run out of wood in the future.

TEXTILES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
By Kathryn Whyman

• Textiles are all around us. We use fabrics to make our clothes, to furnish our homes and for industrial purposes

• This book looks at the origins of textiles - the natural and man made fibers from which they are made; the manufacturing methods used to make cloths; the special treatments that produce the fabrics we know today; and the impact that textiles have on the environment

ROCKS & MINERALS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
By Kathryn Whyman

• Rocks and Minerals are found all over the world and play an important part in our lives. People have been using this resource for over one million years.

• This book looks at rocks and minerals a-what they are where they are found and what they used for.
• Find out how fossil fuels were formed millions of years ago by dead plants and animals; learn how computer ships are made; and discover how uranium can produce nuclear power.

GLASS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
By Susan Cackett

• Glass has been used to centuries to make many everyday objects, from windows and bottle to glasses and lenses.

• Glass is also cheap to make because it is largely made from sand

• This book looks at the many different uses of glass - how glass is made; how glass products are designed and processed; the future of glass technology; and the impact that glass has on the environment.

GEMSTONES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
By Ian Mercer

• Gemstones are made from rare crystals which are mined throughout the world for their beauty and their value. Some gemstones also have special properties which make them ideal for use in manufacturing and industry.

• This book looks at natural and artificial gemstones - where they come from; how they are processed; how they are used in industry, space, medicine and jewellery; and the impact that gemstones have on the environment.