Reduction

Applications open for 2018 Green Alley Award
Applications open for 2018 Green Alley Award

The annual Green Alley Award for circular economy startups has launched its 2018 competition with a call for entries by 1 July.


The Green Alley Award was set up by the Landbell Group in 2014 as the first European award for the circular economy, encouraging innovation and startups to advance the transition from the current linear model of the economy towards one imbued with... More

England to explore ban on plastic straws and cotton buds
England to explore ban on plastic straws and cotton buds

A ban on plastic straws, drinks stirrers and cotton buds could be in place in England next year after a consultation was announced by Theresa May today (19 April).

European Parliament votes through Circular Economy Package
European Parliament votes through Circular Economy Package

One of the final hurdles in ratifying new European circular economy legislation has been cleared as the European Parliament votes through the Circular Economy Package, fixing a 65 per cent recycling target for 2035. 

Clothes recycling app has designs on textile circularity
Clothes recycling app has designs on textile circularity
By
Rob Cole
| 18 April 2018 |
reGAIN, the UK’s first app for the recycling of unwanted clothing, has been launched today (18 April) as research claims 73 per cent of consumers no longer wear up to half of the items of clothing they own.
Survey reveals Britain still addicted to plastic
Survey reveals Britain still addicted to plastic
By
Kate Dickinson
| 17 April 2018 |
The British public has not changed its behaviour towards single-use plastic, and action is needed to make tap water more accessible, says a report by YouGov for BRITA and Keep Britain Tidy.
H&M makes progress towards circular model
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.
Waitrose to scrap disposable coffee cups
Waitrose to scrap disposable coffee cups
By
Kate Dickinson
| 11 April 2018 |
In a bid to cut waste and pollution, UK supermarket Waitrose has announced plans to scrap disposable coffee cups from all its stores, which it says will save 52 million cups from being thrown away every year.
Plastic bag litter on UK ocean floor has fallen by a third
Study claims plastic bag litter on UK ocean floor has fallen by a third
By
Kate Dickinson
| 5 April 2018 |
A new scientific study shows that the number of plastic bags on the ocean floor around the UK is dropping, which could be proof that the five pence plastic bag charge is having an effect.
Government doubles maximum fine for littering
Government doubles maximum fine for littering
By
Rob Cole
| 5 April 2018 |
The maximum on-the-spot fine for littering and graffiti has been almost doubled from £80 to £150 as the government cracks down on this anti-social and environmentally damaging behaviour.
Government to introduce deposit return scheme in England this year
Government to introduce deposit return scheme in England this year
By
Rob Cole
| 28 March 2018 |
A deposit return scheme for drinks containers will be introduced in England later this year subject to the results of a consultation, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed today (28 March).
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. 
UK coffee cup waste to rise a third by 2030
UK coffee cup waste to rise a third by 2030
By
Rob Cole
| 26 March 2018 |
The UK is set to throw away a third more single-use coffee cups by 2030, according to a new report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Eunomia Research & Consulting, which predicts the UK’s total plastic waste will increase by 20 per cent.
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.
European Commission makes circular economy monitoring proposal
European Commission makes circular economy monitoring proposal
By
Rob Cole
| 21 March 2018 |
The European Commission has agreed on its proposal for a Circular Economy Monitoring Framework to track progress towards the EU’s circular economy goals, and has also released a rundown of the EU's progress up to this point. 
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.
London trial for free tap water ‘refill’ scheme
London trial for free tap water ‘refill’ scheme
By
Rob Cole
| 15 March 2018 |
Shops and businesses across London have signed up to take part in a trial scheme that offers free tap water ‘refills’ to members of the public as part of the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s efforts to tackle single-use plastic waste.
Wales to explore 80 per cent recycling target by 2035
Wales to explore 80 per cent recycling target by 2035
By
Rob Cole
| 15 March 2018 |
Wales could be set to target an 80 per cent municipal waste recycling rate by 2035, according to Welsh Minister for Environment Hannah Blythyn at the CIWM Resource Conference Cymru yesterday (14 March).
Industry welcomes consultation on fiscal measures to tackle ‘scourge’ of single-use plastics
Industry welcomes plastic tax consultation
By
Rob Cole
| 14 March 2018 |
The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement of a consultation on how the tax system can be used to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics has received widespread acclaim from the waste and resources industry following the Spring Statement yesterday (13 March).
Manchester river has worst microplastics pollution in the world, study finds
Manchester river has worst microplastics pollution in the world
By
Rob Cole
| 13 March 2018 |
The River Tame, which flows through the Greater Manchester area was found by geographers at the University of Manchester to have a microplastics concentration of 517,000 particles per square metre. 
Chancellor to launch consultation on plastics tax
Chancellor to launch consultation on single-use plastics tax
By
Rob Cole
| 12 March 2018 |
Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond is set to announce a public consultation on a plastics tax, along with a £20-million innovation fund to develop alternatives to the problem material.
Government ‘lacks ambition’ on coffee cup waste, says EAC
EAC says government ‘lacks ambition’ on coffee cup waste
By
Kate Dickinson
| 9 March 2018 |
The government has offered “warm words” but “no real action” today (9 March) in response to the report by the Environmental Audit Committee on disposable coffee cup waste, according to the committee’s Chair Mary Creagh. 
EU environment ministers agree terms of Plastics Strategy
EU environment ministers agree terms of Plastics Strategy
By
Rob Cole
| 8 March 2018 |
Progress on the EU’s Plastics Strategy continues unabated as Europe’s environment ministers reached agreement on the content of the strategy at a meeting of the Environment Council on Monday (5 March).
PG Tips to ditch plastic for fully biodegradable tea bags
PG Tips to ditch plastic with fully biodegradable tea bags
By
Rob Cole
| 2 March 2018 |
The UK’s leading tea brand PG Tips is switching to fully biodegradable tea bags in a bid to reduce plastic pollution, it was announced on Wednesday (28 February).