Reduction

Two people sorting usable food at a foodbank in Hackney
North London community fund awards £168,111 to waste prevention projects

A box full of recovered vegetables and fruits from hypermarket waste
Waste intensity falling in EU, but member states advised to tighten regulation

The European Environment Agency report finds many countries overly reliant on voluntary measures and failing to utilise regulatory instruments to prevent rising waste volumes

Jeans with sewing equipment in pocket
London Textile Action Plan sets nine-point strategy for sustainable fashion

Cross-sector coalition unveils roadmap that outlines circular vision for capital’s £11 billion textile sector

Clothes on hangers
EU requires ‘systemic shift’ for its Textiles Strategy to tackle rising consumption
By
Beth Jones
| 26 March 2025 |
The clothing, footwear, and household fabrics industries are the fifth largest consumer of raw materials, water and land, and produced over 159 million tonnes of CO2 in 2022
Person reviewing food quality in production
Courtauld Commitment rebrands as UK Food and Drink Pact
By Resource |
28 February 2025 |
WRAP renames flagship food sustainability programme to align with global initiatives and strengthen sector recognition
Fruit and veg in plastic bags
Cutting single-use plastic in shops emerges as top public priority
By
Beth Jones
| 12 February 2025 |
Hubbub study urges businesses and government to help households adopt sustainable living by providing clearer information and financial support
Zero Waste Community Fund Clothes Swap Cafe project in Wirral
Liverpool community groups offered £165,000 for waste reduction projects
By Resource |
10 February 2025 |
Zero Waste Community Fund opens applications for projects targeting priority materials including WEEE and textiles
Pact Network Connect delegates at Mexico event in front of food waste
Food and plastics networks unite in global effort to cut waste
By
Charles Newman
| 24 January 2025 |
Representatives from 15 countries gather in Mexico to accelerate action on food and plastic waste reduction
Young man examining interior of renewable equipment part
ZWS launches plan to tackle Scotland's overconsumption crisis
By
Beth Jones
| 8 November 2024 |
Zero Waste Scotland's Corporate Plan 2024-2030 aims to rewire economy which currently consumes resources at three times sustainable levels
Fruit in packaging
FDF outlines Ambition 2030 sustainability strategy
By
Beth Jones
| 25 October 2024 |
Food and drink manufacturing sector to aim for net zero emissions, nature restoration, sustainable commodities, food waste reduction, and packaging recycling system
Shopping trolley in a supermarket aisle
Green Alliance report urges Government to adopt multiple metrics to tackle consumption
By
Charles Newman
| 24 June 2024 |
Environmental think tank recommends a suite of indicators, including material footprint, to direct comprehensive policy change for reducing the UK's environmental impact
Worker pushing Royal Mail warehouse trolley incorporating new reusable sleeves
Royal Mail reduces waste by 2,000 tonnes a year with reusable trolley sleeves
By Resource |
20 June 2024 |
The company exceeded its waste reduction target by replacing single-use cardboard trolley sleeves with durable, recyclable versions designed and manufactured in-house.
Circle of clothes to represent idea of sustainable fashion
Clothing brands commit to ‘The Fashion Remodel’ to develop circular economy
By
Charles Newman
| 21 May 2024 |
Leading fashion brands join forces with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to transform the industry by scaling circular business models and decoupling revenue from production
Empty Conveyor Belt highlighting reduced consumption
Call for Europe to adopt new Materials Framework Directive
By
Charles Newman
| 28 March 2024 |
Eunomia report outlines strategies for the EU to adjust its material and waste management laws that will help meet targets to limit global warming to under 1.5°C
Volunteers in Podgorica, Montenegro conducting Brand Audit after a cleanup action 2023
International Day of Zero Waste promotes switch to circular economy
By
Bella Zanin
| 28 March 2024 |
With the cost of managing waste expected to rise by half within a generation, the UN hopes 30th March will highlight the benefit of reduction programmes
Europe unlikely to meet 2030 circular economy targets
By
Bella Zanin
| 26 March 2024 |
EEA report says binding policies, rigorous monitoring and greater government support are needed to help Europe’s shift to a circular economy 
food waste reporting
Open letter from UK companies demands mandatory food waste reporting
By
Becky Goodall
| 19 March 2024 |
Too Good To Go, a leading anti-food waste organisation, has spearheaded a coalition comprising over 30 companies from the UK's food, retail, and manufacturing sectors to issue an open letter calling for mandatory public food waste reporting. 
bioplastic spoon fork and disposable lunch box
£50k initiative to assess barriers to bio-based materials
By
Bella Zanin
| 13 March 2024 |
Bioeconomy experts will investigate how to speed up the development and adoption of bio-based plastics and chemicals, in bid to reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil resources.
Collection of disposable vapes
Draft legislation on the ban of disposable vapes published
By
Bella Zanin
| 12 March 2024 |
New regulations, intended to crack down on youth vaping, mean individuals supplying single-use vapes could be hit with £200 fine.
EU legislators strike deal to tackle packaging waste
By
Charles Newman
| 5 March 2024 |
The European Council and Parliament provisionally have agreed to update rules for recycling and reuse of packaging.
Keep Brtain Tidy campaign image to promote waste prevention
Keep Britain Tidy reframes waste hierarchy to encourage circular economy behaviours
By
Charles Newman
| 29 February 2024 |
New approach accompanies publication of KBT’s ‘A Guide to Improve Public Understanding of Waste Prevention’
Tesco Aluminium Rolls without a cardboard inside tube
Tesco rolls out UK’s first tubeless kitchen foil
By
Bella Zanin
| 20 February 2024 |
Supermarket chain claims the move will save 330 tonnes of cardboard waste per year
Compostable Coalition UK releases successful compostable packaging consumer trial
By
Becky Goodall
| 15 February 2024 |
The trial reported a five-fold increase in consumers disposing of compostable packaging in their food waste bins.