Top 10 sustainability stories of March 2018

It was a month of plastic take back schemes, big Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) commitments and high-profile business innovations. Take a look back at March's biggest sustainability stories in this round-up.


In this latest instalment of a new monthly top-10 round-up, edie has highlighted some of the news and features that readers were keen to read and share during March 2018.

March is the end of the financial year for many companies, meaning a final few projects need to be pushed over the line. With sustainability reports beginning to arrive into inboxes you’d be forgiven for viewing the last 31 days as a period of reflection.

As this round-up proves, businesses and politicians are charging ahead with new ideas, frameworks and innovations. So, take a look through all of the month’s most-read news stories, and click the links in the descriptions below to read them for yourself.

Veolia opens ‘world-first’ closed-loop glass recycling facility

In one of March’s most-read stories, Knauf Insulation and waste management specialists Veolia celebrated the opening of a new £10m high-tech recycling facility which turns glass into insulation, which was hailed as a “real boost” for the UK’s circular economy.

Sustainability a competitive advantage for business, says Nespresso boss

edie is committed to speaking to sustainability experts from some of the biggest companies driving change. In an exclusive interview, Nespresso’s chief executive discussed what it takes to become a sustainability leader. A real insightful read.

‘Unanswered questions’: Green community reacts to the UK’s deposit return scheme plans

The Government finally agreed to a consultation that will likely see deposit return schemes for plastic containers placed in UK supermarkets. Despite green groups reacting positively, edie spoke to the experts to uncover that implementing the vision is far from straightforward.

Adidas sold one million pairs of ocean plastic trainers in 2017

One solution to the plastics problem has been successfully commercialised by sportswear giant Adidas. During March, the company revealed that it sold more than one million pairs of trainers made from 95% ocean plastic last year, which was unsurprisingly one of the most-read stories as a result.

Achieving a circular economy: New business guide launched by edie

With plastic pledges a constant in the news, more and more people are being introduced to the term “circular economy”. This ‘edie explains’ guide breaks down everything there is to now about the term and achieving a zero-waste world.

Plastic pledges provide gateway to circular economy, says John Lewis

See, there’s that phrase again. Ahead of edie Live in May (click the link for details), John Lewis’ sustainability manager Ben Thomas discussed the retailers approach resource efficiency and embracing new business models that benefit consumers.

The Crown Estate deploys London’s first air purifying CityTree

Legal air quality levels have already been breached across the country, and edie readers were keen to learn exactly how an air purifying IoT-connected smart “tree” could help the Crown Estate improve air quality in London.

Is it time to kill off the standalone sustainability report?

edie’s Smarter Sustainability Reporting conference saw a number of industry experts discuss the evolution of the sustainability report, with some going so far as to argue that an individual annual report no longer carries the necessary impetus to drive change. So, is the age of the standalone sustainability report finally over?

UK retail giants sign up to collaborative SDG commitment

In a landmark moment to make progress on delivering the United Nations’ SDGs, a group of major retailers, including Ikea, Debenhams and Sainsbury’s, signed up to a series of commitments to collaboratively tackle the goals.

Sustainable Business Covered podcast: Sustainable packaging and the plastics problem

Before it was announced that the Government would introduce a deposit return scheme for plastics, edie travelled to the Museum of Brands to discuss solutions to plastic waste with business representatives from Iceland, Tetra Pak and James Cropper. Listen out for Iceland’s Ian Schofield’s idea for a quick-win solution.

Matt Mace

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