FUEL efficiency is at the heart of a product made by a business and it has now been recognised.

Hotmax’s fuel-efficient heat logs have been certified by the Woodsure Ready to Burn scheme.

The DEFRA-supported certification means the Longparish Road, Wherwell, firm can now say its logs demonstrate competence and compliance in helping to reduce environmental impact, in contrast to unseasoned wood logs.

They also have a lower moisture content of six to 10 per cent, which means less smoke, less carbon monoxide and therefore less pollution.

With open fires and wood burning stoves becoming more popular over the last decade, the upsurge in using wood as a heating fuel has also had negative consequences.

Smoke created by burning undried wood logs with high water content is denser so it therefore releases more pollutants and harmful molecules into the air.

The Woodsure label confirms that the heat logs are best for maximising efficiency by producing more heat for less fuel.

Tim Smalley, managing director of BEDMAX Ltd, which makes Hotmax, said: “The Woodsure Ready to Burn accreditation for Hotmax further signals to our customers how as a company we are meeting sustainability commitments by achieving strides in eco-friendly fuel technology.

“We are delighted that Hotmax has been officially recognised, as it is a guarantee to consumers that these fuel logs are dry and ready for use, and that they will burn more efficiently than unseasoned, green wood, along with reducing environmental impact.

“Of course, as well as minimising the damage to the air we breathe, it is also a very heat efficient fuel which is a cost-effective and convenient alternative for all types of wood burning appliances. As the cost of traditional fossil fuels continue to spiral upward cost is something which we know is especially important to customers.”

Bruce Allen, chairman at Woodsure, said: “[We] hope that being labelled under the scheme will make it easier for customers to choose to only use clean dry wood.”