Science

BBC criticised for coverage of oxo-biodegradable plastics

The BBC has attracted criticism for its coverage of ‘oxo-biodegradable’ plastics, with both proponents and detractors of the controversial material technology questioning the broadcaster’s reporting on the subject, including naturalist Chris Packham’s appearance on The One Show in support of ‘oxo-biodegradables’.


The criticism relates to a segment in last Thursday’s BBC News at 10 (19 July), as well as a special plastics episode of the BBC’s The One Show, broadcast on 16 April, where... More

It’s time to vote for your Legends of Waste in this year’s Hot 100!
It’s time to vote for your Legends of Waste in this year’s Hot 100!

Who across the waste and resources world has done enough to etch their name into the pantheon of greats as this year’s Legend of Waste? You can tell us now by voting in this year’s Hot 100.

New kitchen appliance can transform household waste into energy
New kitchen appliance can transform household waste into energy


A solution to household waste promises to save up to 1,200kg of carbon per year by converting domestic debris into energy.

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.
Start-ups redefining sustainability on the shortlist for circular award
Start-ups redefining sustainability on the shortlist for circular award
By
Kate Nicholson
| 26 September 2018 |
The 2018 Green Alley Award shortlist has been published, nominating a range of start-ups. From the company reinventing plastic to technological enterprises tracking a product’s sustainability, there’s a great range of creative solutions vying for the prize.
Car battery recycling: Staying in charge
Car battery recycling: Staying in charge
By
Giles Kirkland
| 14 September 2018 |
Giles Kirkland examines what the changing automotive industry means for car battery recycling in the UK.
Researchers at Swansea University unlock plastic waste car fuel potential
Swansea University researchers unlock plastic waste car fuel potential
By
Kate Nicholson
| 6 September 2018 |
Scientists at the University of Swansea have discovered how to transform waste plastics into hydrogen, which could then be used to fuel hydrogen cars.
Compostable cups can now be composted in windrow facilities
By
Gethin Roberts
| 1 August 2018 |
The move, facilitated by compostable packaging company Vegware, means that both hot and cold certified compostable cups and lids are now allowed to be processed in any of the UK’s more than 100 windrow composting facilities
All-electric waste collection vehicle tours UK
By
Gethin Roberts
| 31 July 2018 |
FCC Environment are promoting the benefits of electric refuse collection vehicles, which include energy savings of up to 60 per cent over conventional vehicles.
BBC criticised for coverage of oxo-biodegradable plastics
BBC criticised for coverage of oxo-biodegradable plastics
By
Rob Cole
| 26 July 2018 |
Critics have panned the BBC’s coverage of the controversial material, which the EU is in the process of restricting, with naturalist Chris Packham failing to declare his paid position as adviser with an oxo-plastics company during a televised discussion on the material.
Resource Association’s awards celebrate recycling achievements
By
Gethin Roberts
| 18 July 2018 |
The Quality Recognition Award winners were announced at the association’s Annual Lecture in London. 
£20m government fund for plastics research and innovation
£20m government fund for plastics research and innovation
By
Kate Dickinson
| 21 June 2018 |
The government has announced a new £20-million Plastics Research and Innovation Fund to develop cutting-edge and circular approaches to plastics manufacturing in the UK.
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.
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. 
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.
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.
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  
MPs urge Education Secretary to include Sustainable Development Goals in curriculum
MPs urge Education Secretary to include Sustainable Development Goals in curriculum
By
Rob Cole
| 8 December 2017 |
EAC Chair Mary Creagh has written to Education Secretary Justine Greening urging her to include the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the National Curriculum.
Industrial Strategy sets out plan to strengthen secondary materials market
Industrial Strategy sets out plan to strengthen secondary materials market
By
Edward Perchard
| 27 November 2017 |
The government wants to position the UK as a world leader in maximising the value we extract from our resources, strengthening the market for secondary materials and moving towards a more circular economy, its new Industrial Strategy has said.
It’s time to vote for this year’s Resource Hot 100
It’s time to vote for this year’s Resource Hot 100!
By
Edward Perchard
| 22 November 2017 |
Voting for this year’s Resource Hot 100 is now open. This is your chance to vote for the waste and resources industry’s biggest influencers.
Grub’s Up: Meet the Entomics team using insects to seek new solutions to the food waste problem
Grub’s Up: Meet the Entomics team using insects to seek new solutions to the food waste problem
By
Rob Cole
| 27 September 2017 |
Resource talks to Entomics co-founder Matt McLaren about the origins of the Cambridge-based start-up’s insect-derived protein product it hopes will provide another solution to the world’s growing food waste problem.
Ugandan school successfully lit in urine-powered energy trial
Ugandan school successfully lit in urine-powered energy trial
By
Rob Cole
| 6 September 2017 |
A team from the University of the West of England has successfully carried out a field test of a urine-powered form of electricity generation in a remote rural location in Uganda.
Search for sustainable waste-based jet and lorry fuels gets government backing
Search for sustainable waste-based jet and lorry fuels gets government backing
By
Rob Cole
| 29 August 2017 |
The government has launched a competition offering the opportunity to win funding for research into sustainable waste-based fuels for planes and lorries.