Innovation

Sale of Green Investment Bank contributes to fall in green spending, say MPs
Sale of Green Investment Bank contributes to fall in green spending, say MPs

A new report from Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) suggests that the government’s sale of the Green Investment Bank (GIB) has contributed to a fall in green investment over the past two years, with investment in clean energy falling by 56 per cent. This means that annual investment in clean energy is now at its lowest since 2008.

Is embarrassment contributing to plastic bottle waste?
Design
Princes to use 51 per cent recycled plastic in bottles

One of the UK’s key plastic bottle producers is set to use 51 per cent recycled content in all its bottles by September and wants to move to 100 per cent.

Cromwell Polythene helping councils boost organic recycling rates
Cromwell Polythene helping councils boost organic recycling rates

James Lee, Managing Director of Cromwell Polythene, explores the simple steps that can be taken to reduce food waste.

Innovative bio-based materials up for award
Innovative bio-based materials up for award
By
Kate Dickinson
| 3 May 2018 |
Six innovative bio-based products using materials including cellulose, soy beans and watermelon sugars are on the shortlist for the 2018 Bio-based Material of the Year award.
Global circular economy database launched to coordinate circular innovation
Global circular economy database launched to coordinate circular innovation
By
Gethin Roberts
| 2 May 2018 |
The landmark database will showcase over 3,000 worldwide initiatives and aims to become a significant tool in improving coordination of future circular economy efforts.
Compostable alternative to plastic packaging uses wool as insulation
Compostable alternative to plastic packaging uses wool as insulation
By
Kate Dickinson
| 1 May 2018 |
Woolcool is a packaging innovation for the transport of temperature-sensitive items from the food and pharmaceutical sectors, using wool in place of polystyrene, bubble wrap, gel packs or other non-recyclable insulating materials. 
Applications open for 2018 Green Alley Award
By
Rob Cole
| 23 April 2018 |
The European award for circular economy startups and innovators has launched a call for applications for this year’s competition ahead of October’s Berlin final.
H&M makes progress towards circular model
By
Rob Cole
| 13 April 2018 |
Fashion retail giant H&M has revealed that 35 per cent of the materials used by the company in 2017 were recycled or sustainably-sourced materials in its new Sustainability Report 2017.
Barking to reduce bins by 98 per cent with underground waste system
By
Kate Dickinson
| 11 April 2018 |
Barking Riverside London, a new housing development on the River Thames, will soon boast an Envac automated underground bin system, the UK’s largest, when it launches in 2019.
Is embarrassment contributing to plastic bottle waste?
Unilever trials circular technique for PET plastic recycling
By
Kate Dickinson
| 4 April 2018 |
A new method of recycling PET plastic is being trialled by global consumer goods company Unilever, PET producer Indorama Ventures and Dutch startup Ioniqa, with the aim of eventually recycling all waste PET back into high grade food packaging.
New Dutch group says collaboration is key to fighting food waste
New Dutch group says collaboration is key to fighting food waste
By
Kate Dickinson
| 27 March 2018 |
A new Dutch collective with members from across industry, academia and government has been set up to help the country cut its food waste in half by 2030 in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 
New Dutch group says collaboration is key to fighting food waste
By
Kate Dickinson
| 27 March 2018 |
A new Dutch collective with members from across industry, academia and government has been set up to help the country cut its food waste in half by 2030 in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 
The grass is greener: FIFA promotes recycling of artificial football pitches
The grass is greener: FIFA promotes recycling of artificial football pitches
By
Kate Dickinson
| 23 March 2018 |
FIFA is taking steps to make football more sustainable, starting with the pitches: the organisation has recently recycled the artificial turf at its Zurich headquarters and hopes that others will follow suit.
Tactile expiry labels could prevent food waste
Tactile expiry labels could prevent food waste
By
Kate Dickinson
| 21 March 2018 |
Mimica Touch, a tactile label that shows when food is no longer safe to eat, is going to be trialled by the UK arm of Arla, which owns Cravendale, Anchor and Skyr.
Circle Economy and eBay launch circular economy crowdsourcing platform
Circle Economy and eBay launch circular economy crowdsourcing platform
By
Rob Cole
| 19 March 2018 |
Dutch social enterprise Circle Economy has launched a new online crowdsourcing platform to pull together new circular solutions to global challenges.
Everyday waste becomes 'trash art' in Norfolk gallery
Everyday waste becomes 'trash art' in Norfolk gallery
By
Kate Dickinson
| 9 March 2018 |
Waste and recycled material is given a new life as art in a show at GroundWork Gallery in King’s Lynn, the UK’s only gallery to specialise in art and the environment.
New Dutch facility to turn waste into chemicals
New Dutch facility to turn waste into chemicals
By
Kate Dickinson
| 7 March 2018 |
Plans for a groundbreaking ‘waste-to-chemistry’ facility in Rotterdam to recycle waste into methanol are moving forwards after the project received £8 million of funding.
SUEZ streamlines with integrated data platform
SUEZ streamlines with integrated data platform
By Resource |
2 March 2018 |
SUEZ recycling & recovery UK has begun utilising a new data platform, bringing together information from across the entire organisation to better facilitate moves towards increased circularity.
Recycled plastic road surface trialled by Enfield Council
Recycled plastic road surface trialled by Enfield Council
By
Kate Dickinson
| 1 March 2018 |
Enfield Council is on the road to greener infrastructure with the news that it has begun resurfacing its roads using asphalt made from recycled plastics.
White goods recycling: Coming in from the cold
White goods recycling: Coming in from the cold
By
Anthony Sant
| 20 February 2018 |
Anthony Sant, Sales & Marketing Director at AO Recycling, gives an update on the recycling of white goods.
Electric wheels: A future without petrol for waste collection fleets?
Electric wheels: A future without petrol for waste collection fleets?
By
Edward Perchard
| 20 February 2018 |
With a government pledge to ban all new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040, the use of electric alternatives is on the rise – and refuse collection vehicles could be changing too. Edward Perchard looks into the risks and benefits of turning electric for the UK’s fleets.
Disruptive trends set to shape the future of sustainability
Disruptive trends set to shape the future of sustainability
By
Rob Cole
| 7 February 2018 |
Plastic waste and regenerative agriculture have been identified as two of seven ‘areas of dynamism’ shaping the future of sustainability, according to a new report by sustainability non-profit Forum for the Future.
Hot 100 2018: Who are the leaders of the pack?
Hot 100 2018: Who is leading the pack?
By Resource |
6 February 2018 |
Our annual power list of movers and shakers in the waste and resources industry attracted a record number of votes this year. Here, you’ll find the winners from 100 to one, each accompanied by a voter’s glowing review. Read on to discover who has played their cards right and proved to be our Top Trump for 2018