Materials

Tech solutions to the food waste problem
Organics
Tech solutions to the food waste problem

Zero hunger by 2030 is the focus of this year’s UN World Food Day (16 October), organised every year by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).


The FAO estimated in its latest ‘State of Food Security’ report that over 820 million people across the world were living with chronic undernourishment, while in the UK, 4.7 million people live in severely food insecure homes, where food intake is reduced and children regularly experience hunger.

Previously pristine South Atlantic Islands now swamped with plastic waste
Plastic
Previously pristine South Atlantic Islands now swamped with plastic waste

The rising tide of plastic waste continues unabated as ten times more plastic waste finds its way to remote South Atlantic Islands compared to ten years ago.

The new 'eco-labelling' concept from SUEZ
Packaging
'Traffic light' labelling could improve packaging recycling, says SUEZ

A new ‘traffic light’ system for on-pack labelling could be the solution to reduce recycling confusion among consumers, according to waste management company SUEZ.

22m pieces of furniture thrown out every year in the UK
22m pieces of furniture thrown out every year in the UK
By
Kate Nicholson
| 10 October 2018 |
New research shows that across the UK, fewer than one in 10 people attempt to repair or restore broken items, resulting in nearly 22 million small items of furniture being thrown away each year.
Walkers to recycle crisp packets after public outcry
Walkers to recycle crisp packets after public outcry
By
Kate Dickinson
| 9 October 2018 |
Following the viral campaign that saw members of the public posting their empty crisp packets back to Walkers, the company has announced plans to launch a recycling scheme for the much-littered packaging. 
Tesco scrapping ‘best before’ labels to reduce food waste
Tesco scrapping ‘best before’ labels to reduce food waste
By
Kate Dickinson
| 9 October 2018 |
Tesco will be scrapping ‘best before’ dates from more than 100 lines of fruit and veg in a attempt to help customers reduce their food waste.
Retail giants back campaign to reduce Leeds litter
Retail giants back campaign to reduce Leeds litter
By
Kate Nicholson
| 9 October 2018 |
Hubbub has launched a new campaign, Leeds By Example, to trial new ways to improve rates of recycling for people on the move.
Fashion bosses to be questioned over industry sustainability
Fashion bosses to be questioned over industry sustainability
By
Rob Cole
| 9 October 2018 |
As part of an EAC inquiry, fashion bosses will be asked to reveal the steps they are taking to improve the sustainability of their operations and reduce the environmental impact of the clothes that they sell.
NLWA to fund energy recovery facility with public borrowing
NLWA to fund energy recovery facility with public borrowing
By
Rob Cole
| 8 October 2018 |
The North London Waste Authority has announced that funding for the construction of its new energy recovery facility will come from direct public borrowing, in a move to provide clarity to companies bidding for the construction of the new plant.
Scottish brewery turns unwanted bread into craft beer
Scottish brewery turns unwanted bread into craft beer
By
Rob Cole
| 5 October 2018 |
A Scottish brewery is putting circular economy principles into practice with a new craft ale made out of loaves of unsold bread.
NHS waste backlog sees human body parts pile up
NHS waste backlog sees human body parts pile up
By
Kate Dickinson
| 5 October 2018 |
A waste disposal company is under investigation after it was found to have built up a backlog of hundreds of tonnes of medical waste, including human body parts.
UK environment agencies focus on waste crime across borders
UK environment agencies focus on waste crime across borders
By
Kate Dickinson
| 4 October 2018 |
A new environmental campaign, ‘Drive out waste crime’, has been launched by SEPA to tackle the illegal transport and disposal of waste in the UK.
Gove pledges £15m to reduce UK food waste
Gove pledges £15m to reduce UK food waste
By
Kate Dickinson
| 3 October 2018 |
The Environment Secretary has announced a new scheme with businesses and charities to increase the amount of edible surplus food being redistributed to those in need.
Drowning in Plastic: BBC documentary explores dangers of marine plastic
Drowning in Plastic: BBC documentary explores dangers of marine plastic
By
Kate Nicholson
| 3 October 2018 |
BBC One’s one-off documentary delves deep into the consequences of our plastic waste and the severe impact it has on sea life, habitats and, subsequently, humans. 
EU beverage carton recycling rate rises for 12th consecutive year
EU beverage carton recycling rate rises for 12th consecutive year
By
ACE UK
| 2 October 2018 |
The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) UK welcomes the continually improving rates for carton recycling.
Right Waste, Right Place campaign teams up with Dsposal
Right Waste, Right Place campaign teams up with Dsposal
By
Kate Nicholson
| 2 October 2018 |
Green tech start-up Dsposal becomes the latest recruit to the Right Waste, Right Place Ambassador programme.
Bryson Recycling celebrates 25 years cleaning up Northern Ireland’s waste
Bryson Recycling celebrates 25 years cleaning up Northern Ireland’s waste
By
Rob Cole
| 2 October 2018 |
Northern Irish social enterprise Bryson Recycling celebrated its 25th anniversary last week and has pledged to stay at the forefront of delivering innovative recycling services to Northern Ireland.
Innovative biodegradable materials could replace microplastics in cosmetics
Innovative biodegradable materials could replace microplastics in cosmetics
By
Kate Dickinson
| 2 October 2018 |
Italian bioplastics company Novamont has developed a new range of biodegradable materials designed for use in cosmetics.
New model needed to set ‘robust and realistic’ WEEE targets, says white paper
New model needed to set ‘robust and realistic’ WEEE targets, says white paper
By
Rob Cole
| 1 October 2018 |
Socio-economic factors and changes in product design should be considered when setting new WEEE collection targets, according to a new white paper commissioned by REPIC.
Food waste recycling key to reducing carbon emissions, says ZWS
Food waste recycling key to reducing carbon emissions, says ZWS
By
Kate Dickinson
| 28 September 2018 |
Zero Waste Scotland has revealed that food waste has the highest carbon impact of all waste streams in the country, calling for a move away from solely weight-based recycling targets to a metric that considers wider environmental effects.
Tesco tackling plastic bottle waste with reverse vending machine
Tesco tackling plastic bottle waste with reverse vending machine
By
Kate Dickinson
| 27 September 2018 |
Tesco has launched a trial return scheme for plastic bottles as part of a plan to implement a more environmentally-friendly approach to packaging.
Consumers want greater transparency around UK waste and recycling, report finds
Consumers want greater transparency around UK waste and recycling, report finds
By
Kate Nicholson
| 25 September 2018 |
A new study from Viridor reports that public concern over plastic waste is at an all time high, with four out of five of consumers calling for greater clarity about where their household waste ends up.
UK businesses sign up to ‘world first’ food waste reduction roadmap
UK businesses sign up to ‘world first’ food waste reduction roadmap
By
Kate Dickinson
| 25 September 2018 |
Organisations from across the UK food industry have committed to a wide-reaching plan to get the country on the path to halving its food waste by 2030.