A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from edie!

edie's editorial team will be back to bring you more news and views from the UK's green business community on 2 January

Usually, December is a time for winding down and planning for a fresh year of sustainability ambition and action. Amid the UK’s general election, the impeachment of President Trump and the COP25 summit in Madrid, however, this year’s festive season has felt somewhat more hectic. 

In these fast-moving times, it’s worth reminding ourselves of the great lengths many organisations went to drive positive progress over the past 12 months, and the ways in which policymakers and the public have helped – rather than hindered – green action. 

edie has therefore rounded up the biggest sustainability stories of the year – from the rise and rise of Greta Thunberg, to the growth of the science-based targets movement – for those who are craving clarity and reflection. 

And, as the end of 2019 marks not only the closure of a year but of a decade as well, we have also analysed the key moments and announcements that have pushed sustainability and climate action from a niche activity to a global necessity over the past ten years. 

— READ OUR DECADE IN REVIEW AND VOTE FOR YOUR DEFINING MOMENT HERE — 

Readers keen to get into the festive mood, meanwhile, will be happy to know that we’ve lined up several Christmas-themed articles to help you get into the spirit of the season.

The first of these is our Christmas-themed Sustainable Business Covered podcast – a special episode which includes exclusive interviews with Tinggly’s co-founder Alex Gibb, Team London Bridge’s chief executive Nadia Broccardo, Neighbourly’s chief executive Steve Butterworth and UK Stakeholders for Sustainable Development (UKSSD) Network Director Emily Auckland. 

What better way to while away your Christmas break than with some inspirational insight from those seeking to solve some of the festive season’s biggest sustainability challenges – namely food waste, logistics and gifting? 

— LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST HERE —

For those concerned about the environmental impact of this time of year – or perhaps those looking to convince their colleagues, families or friends that there are problems in this regard – we’ve also taken a look inside the UK’s Christmas waste problem. From binned sprouts to unwanted stocking-stuffers, there are some shocking statistics to be seen. 

And what would Christmas be without a quiz? Take our 20-question big fat quiz of the year to test your knowledge on some of the biggest moments in the global sustainability agenda over the past 12 months, from Earth Overshoot day to the cabinet reshuffle. 

— TAKE THE BIG FAT QUIZ: 2019 EDITION HERE — 

Aside from reflecting and taking part in festivities, December is also a time for celebration. After a record-breaking year of entries, we recently announced the shortlist of finalists for the 2020 Sustainability Leaders Awards. You can read their stories and learn more about who’s who in terms of sustainability excellence here. 

And, last but not least, ahead of the upcoming awards season for music, film and TV, we’ve published a feature exploring how pop culture has responded to the climate emergency in 2019 – and how the narratives we see each day could change over sustainability concerns in 2020. 

So, that’s it for another year. We’ll be back on 2 January 2020 and in the meantime, from all of the edie team, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Luke Nicholls, Matt Mace, James Evison and Sarah George