Sustainability

Liverpool University Department of Chemistry
University of Liverpool project targets more sustainable plastic packaging

Researchers from the University of Liverpool have secured £965,000 worth of funding awarded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) for a project that aims to make the plastic packaging for products such as shampoo bottles more sustainable.The funding makes up part of the UKRI’s £8 million investment into sustainable packaging under its Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging (SSPP) Challenge, which is supporting... More

Launch of the Highland WEEE scheme
ILM Highland announces new WEEE service

Initiative funded by Material Focus will collect and refurbish small electrical equipment for people in northern Scotland

Waste falling from conveyor belt at a recycling facility
Innovation
£1.5 million university research project targets plastic waste streams

The University of Manchester has been awarded funding by UKRI to simplify recycling methods and reduce plastic pollution

Food packaging waste
£8 million investment in sustainable packaging
By
Lidia Creech
| 18 November 2020 |
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has announced that ten university-led projects will receive funding to tackle plastic pollution under the Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging (SSPP) Challenge.
EfW plant
XR calls for Prime Minister to decarbonise waste sector
By
Lidia Creech
| 16 November 2020 |
Climate activist group Extinction Rebellion has joined a coalition calling on the Government to decarbonise the waste sector, highlighting ways in which the UK could reduce its reliance on energy-from-waste and meet its net-zero target of 2050.
The University of Exeter
£22.5 million funding announced for new circular economy research centres
By
Emma Love
| 11 November 2020 |
The government has announced the funding of five new research centres, which will explore how major UK industries can become more circular.
Bathroom products
Cosmetic brands urged to rethink packaging recyclability
By
Emma Love
| 11 November 2020 |
In a report made public this week, RECOUP has made recommendations for the necessary redesign of cosmetic and hygiene product packaging.
Clothing in a shop
UK businesses must commit to decarbonising fashion industry, says WRAP
By
Lidia Creech
| 10 November 2020 |
With over half of the UK public agreeing that sustainability is a key factor in choosing the clothes they wear, WRAP has urged UK businesses to demonstrate their commitment to tackling the carbon footprint of producing clothes by joining Textiles 2030.
WEEE
Tackling ‘shoddy’ electronics can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions
By Resource |
6 November 2020 |
Green Alliance research finds that identifying and penalising producers of low-quality electronics could drive efficiencies annually worth up to 800,000 tonnes of avoided carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
E-waste dismantling in Delhi
Fund announced to support informal e-waste dismantling in India
By
Fiona Binns
| 6 November 2020 |
Innovate UK’s Global Challenge Fund awards £9.3 million funding to consortium to develop model to develop sector of informal dismantlers of e-waste.
Blackpool Tower was lit up green for Recycle Week
Recycle Week has 'best ever' social media engagement
By
Lidia Creech
| 4 November 2020 |
National recycling campaign Recycle Now today (3 November) announced that this year’s Recycle Week achieved its ‘best ever’ engagement on social media.
Ecomondo logo
Virtual event: Ecomondo and Key Energy 2020 from 3-15 November
By
Ecomondo
| 2 November 2020 |
Following Italy’s Prime Ministerial Decree on 25 October, which banned physical attendance at exhibitions, the Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) has reorganised Ecomondo and Key Energy 2020 to take place on its digital platform from 3 to 15 November 2020.
Front cover of 'Circular economy and the Covid-19 recovery' report
Ellen MacArthur Foundation report highlights key investment opportunities
By
Lidia Creech
| 2 November 2020 |
A new report by The Ellen MacArthur Foundation advises on how to pave the way for a low-carbon recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
David Newman
A System Change Compass - charting the path to the European Green Deal
By
David Newman
| 29 October 2020 |
David Newman, Managing Director of BBIA, considers the key messages of the new report 'A System Change Compass: Implementing the European Green Deal in a time of recovery', co-authored by SYSTEMIQ and the Club of Rome.
Plastic bottles being manufactured
Britvic announces move to bottles made entirely from recycled plastic
By
Lidia Creech
| 23 October 2020 |
Soft drink producer Britvic has announced intention for all its plastic bottles in the UK to be made from 100 per cent recycled plastic by the end of 2022.
Houses of Parliament
Environment Bill amendment will give Government a 'get out of jail free card'
By Resource |
22 October 2020 |
A proposed change to legislation gives powers to Defra’s Secretary of State to issue and revise enforcement guidance to the regulator responsible for environmental protection.
Unilever's refill machines in ASDA's Middleton store
Unilever announces launch of new refill partnership with Asda
By
Emma Love
| 21 October 2020 |
Unilever yesterday (20 October) announced the launch of a refill trial, as part of the opening of Asda’s first ‘sustainability store’.
British, Scottish and EU flags outside Parliament
Scotland to ban single-use plastics
By
Lidia Creech
| 13 October 2020 |
The Scottish Government’s public consultation on single-use plastics, which opened yesterday (12 October), aims to ban the sale of single-use plastics.
Prince William
Prince William launches prize to reward environmentalists worldwide
By
Fiona Binns
| 8 October 2020 |
WRAP and the Royal Foundation have launched ‘The Earthshot Prize’ to encourage worldwide change with a decade of action to repair the planet.
Pumpkin patch
Halloween campaign to save 12.8 million pumpkins from waste
By
Fiona Binns
| 8 October 2020 |
Thirty per cent fewer households will be going trick or treating this Halloween but 12.8 million pumpkins are still set to go to waste, reveals new research commissioned by environmental charity, Hubbub.
Teesside EfW plant
EfW potentially more damaging than landfill
By
Lidia Creech
| 6 October 2020 |
A new report commissioned by Zero Waste Scotland highlights the climate change challenges posed by the country’s existing energy-from-waste infrastructure.
Plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds now illegal in England
By
Fiona Binns
| 30 September 2020 |
Defra’s announcement that it is now illegal for businesses to supply plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds to customers has been heavily criticised by environmental charities for not going far enough.
Chatham House
Paper calls for a circular and resilient Covid-19 recovery in Latin America
By
Fiona Binns
| 29 September 2020 |
Latin America and the Caribbean must reconsider its economic model in order to fight the long-term impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new research paper by Chatham House.