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Meet edie's Sustainability Team of the Year 2019: Innocent Drinks
With entries now open for edie's Sustainability Leaders Awards 2020, this new feature series showcases the achievements of the 2019 winners and reveals their secrets to success. Up next: our Sustainability Team of 2019 from Innocent Drinks.
Quiz: How much do you know about sustainable festivals?
With festival season now in full swing, many of us will be either heading off for a long weekend of music or watching big-name artists longingly on catch-up TV. But how much do you know about the environmental impacts of festivals?
Government-led taskforce of business leaders to bolster supply chain sustainability
The UK Government has launched a new "taskforce" aimed at helping businesses decarbonise their supply chains and operate within the planetary boundaries in regard to natural resources.
Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2019: Stuart Gascoigne, Clarks
This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Next up: Stuart Gascoigne, global energy & waste manager at shoe giant Clarks.
Survey: Business failing to keep pace with public pressure for climate action
The UK public does not believe that big businesses are acting rapidly enough to mitigate or help society adapt to the 'Climate Emergency', a new survey has concluded.
Zara pledges 100% 'sustainable' fabrics by 2025
Fashion chain Zara is set to switch all collections to 100% "sustainable" fabrics by the start of 2025.
Environmental damage of tourism comes under MPs' spotlight
Holidaymakers' responsibility for foul beaches, overcrowding, traffic, aeroplane emissions and other environmental impacts will come under parliamentary scrutiny.
How ethical and sustainable are UK universities?
Gloucestershire, Manchester Metropolitan and Nottingham Trent are among the highest-scoring universities in a new league table which ranks higher education establishments on their ethical and environmental ambitions and actions.
How Burberry joined the business elite in setting a 1.5C science-based target
EXCLUSIVE: As Burberry became the latest corporate to set a science-based target aligned to the Paris Agreement's most ambitious pathway, the company's vice president of corporate responsibility outlined how the goal was set, and what happens next.
CDP: Food and retail giants failing to disclose forest impacts
CDP has criticised a string of big-name brands including Ikea, Sports Direct and Domino's Pizza for failing to provide data on their forest impacts.
Toyota's solar Prius and bee-friendly bus stops: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
How sustainable is Wimbledon 2019?
With the summer's biggest tennis event set to draw to a close on Sunday (14 July), edie explores whether the Wimbledon organisers have aced their sustainability efforts in the face of the 'Climate Emergency'.
Meet edie's Sustainability Leader 2019: Janice Lao, The Hongkong & Shanghai Hotels
With entries now open for edie'sSustainability Leaders Awards 2020, this new feature series will showcase the achievements of the 2019 winners and reveal their secrets to success. First up: Janice Lao, director of CR at The Hongkong & Shanghai Hotels and our Sustainability Leader of the Year.
Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2019: Joshua Davies, Multiplex
This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Next up: Joshua Davies, sustainability manager at construction giant Multiplex.
EU Council calls on Member States to embed SDGs in national strategies
The Council of the European Union (EU) is urging the bloc and its member states to place the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework at the heart of their national and international environmental and economic strategies.
edie's Sustainability Leaders Awards 2020 open for entries
Entries for edie's 2020 Sustainability Leaders Awards are now officially open, with some exciting new categories added to the scheme which recognises excellence across the spectrum of sustainable business.
Swarovski turns to natural capital accounting to measure environmental impact
Jewellery giant Swarovski has calculated the monetary value of the natural resources used to produce its namesake crystals, in a move towards its overarching aim to supply "the world's most transparent crystal".
Paul Polman co-founds Imagine venture to drive corporate action towards SDGs
Ex-Unilever chief executive Paul Polman has launched a new global initiative aimed at combatting poverty and climate change as part of efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Sustainable Business Covered podcast: The London Climate Action Week relay
Episode 67 of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast sees the edie team travel to numerous events during London Climate Action Week, securing exclusive interviews with the Green Finance Institute, Microsoft, the Green Alliance and more.
Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2019: Jess Ainley, Little Freddie
This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Next up: Jess Ainley, environmental & sustainability manager at organic baby food firm Little Freddie.
Tideway's super sewer project is slashing transport emissions and combatting plastic pollution
The annual report for the Tideway super sewer project has revealed that more than 110,000 heavy goods vehicle journeys have been avoided and that more than 33,000 plastic bottles have been collected from the Thames river.
Sandvik: Employees are 'crucial' for embedding sustainability
EXCLUSIVE: As it develops a roadmap for its ambitious new 2030 targets on carbon and resources, engineering giant Sandvik's group head of sustainability believes that input from employees will be "crucial" for making the shifts needed to align with the Paris Agreement.
Best Buy to slash customer emissions by 20% as part of science-based targets
Electronics retailer Best Buy has unveiled science-based goals to decrease its own emissions by 75%, its customers' emissions by 20% and save $5bn on utility costs by 2030.
Calls for clean power and cheese-waste-powered heat: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Food and drink giants press for long-term policies on decarbonisation and circularity
A collection of more than 30 organisations across the UK's food and drink supply chain have urged Ministers to bolster policies around long-term decarbonisation, climate resilience and resource efficiency for the sector.
Five tips for building a CSR strategy from scratch
So you've just been hired as your company's first CSR manager, and you're trying to work out where to begin. Or maybe you've been asked to develop a CSR strategy as part of your (already very busy) day job.
HP unveils revised science-based targets, 100% renewables aim and 35% sustainable revenue growth
Revamped science-based targets, a 35% year-on-year growth in revenue through sustainable impact and commitments to source more recycled plastic content and 100% renewables have all been outlined in HP's latest sustainability report.
Government rejects mandatory environmental targets for big-name fashion brands
Recommendations for mandatory carbon, waste and water targets to be applied to all large fashion businesses in the UK have been thrown out by the Government, despite continued calls to action from MPs.
Investors grill business giants over non-disclosure of environmental impacts
A coalition of big-name businesses including BP, Amazon and Exxon Mobil are being targeted by a coalition of investors demanding that they disclose more information on their environmental impacts.
KPMG: European firms leading global drive for sustainable business
European business majors have been ranked among the most ambitious when it comes to tackling climate challenges - and the most prepared for adapting to the risks global warming poses - in a new report by KPMG.
Starbucks' wind deal and Unilever's recycled plastics: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Major shake-up for Adnams' award-winning sustainability team
EXCLUSIVE: Suffolk-based Brewer Adnams has lost its two-strong sustainability team, with environmental sustainability manager Benedict Orchard set to depart the company this summer, shortly after the firm's head of finance and sustainability Richard Carter moved on to take up lecturing.
Costa joins Government-led pledge to halve food waste by 2030
Coffee chain Costa has become the latest company to sign the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs' (Defra) 'Step up to the Plate' pledge, which commits signatories to halving their food waste output by 2030.
Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2019: Henry Cawson, BaxterStorey
This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Next up: Henry Cawson, sustainability manager at BaxterStorey.
Sustainable Living Brands delivered record 75% of Unilever's 2018 turnover growth
Unilever has posted another strong set of annual results for its 'Sustainable Living' brands portfolio, which accounted for a record three-quarters of the company's turnover growth last year.
Queen's Birthday Honours: The sustainability champions who made the 2019 list
The Queen's 2019 Birthday Honours list has recognised the outstanding achievements of a number of senior figures across the UK's sustainability and energy sectors.
How employee engagement is helping PayPal make environmental sustainability 'business-as-usual'
EXCLUSIVE: By gamifying actions such as saving energy and using low-carbon modes of transport, PayPal has been able to "leverage" staff creativity and team spirit to reduce its environmental impact, the firm's global lead for environmental sustainability has claimed.
Ikea's recycled rugs and AB InBev's solar deal: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2019: Harry Ashman, Capgemini
This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Next up: Harry Ashman, sustainability manager at consultancy Capgemini.
The Global Goals: Can the 'long-term North Star' guide businesses to value creation?
At edie Live, experts from the private and public sectors discussed business progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Here, edie explores whether there's still time left for sustainability and energy professionals to harness the Global Goals to truly transform business, for good.
Talking SDG engagement with Ben Kellard, Peter Andrews and Tor Harris
edie's Mission Possible sofa chat show returns for 2019. In this episode, edie discusses the Sustainable Development Goals with leading experts from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Waitrose.
M&S's Mike Barry to step down as director of sustainable business
Marks and Spencer's (M&S) director of sustainability Mike Barry has announced plans to step down from leading the company's 'Plan A' strategy at the end of the month.
Carbon pricing calls and rubbish-fired plastics plants: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Climate action, net-zero advice and edie Live: Top 10 sustainability stories of May 2019
As May draws to a close, we take a look back at May's biggest sustainability and energy stories. The round-up includes Theresa May's resignation, Unilever's black plastic strategy and all the key takeaways from edie Live 2019.
Talking ethical and sustainable fashion with Sarah Ditty and Neliana Fuenmayor
edie's Mission Possible sofa chat show returns for 2019. In this episode, edie discusses how transparency can help create a more ethical and sustainable fashion industry with Fashion Revolution's policy director Sarah Ditty and A Transparent Company's founder Neliana Fuenmayor.
Talking sustainability leadership with Gudrun Cartwright, Steve Kenzie and Rosanna Cole
edie's Mission Possible sofa chat show returns for 2019. In this episode, edie discusses what it means to be a sustainability leader with Business in the Community's environment director Gudrun Cartwright, N Global Compact's UK network director Steve Kenzie and supply chain expert Rosanna Cole.
Utility leaders support UK bid to host UN climate conference
Leaders in the energy and water sectors have pledged their support for the UK's bid to host the 2020 UN Conference of the Parties climate conference (COP26).
Cemex commits to align strategy with the SDGs
Multinational cement and building materials giant Cemex has pledged to align its business and sustainability strategies with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework, after identifying key focus areas through mapping exercises.
Co-op issues £300m bond supporting Fairtrade movement
Retailer Co-op's parent organisation Co-op Group has raised a £300m green bond which will be used to support the Fairtrade movement's bid for more sustainable farming supply chains.
Estée Lauder targets sustainable palm oil supply chain through farmer empowerment
US-based cosmetics giant Estée Lauder has launched its first sustainability programme for palm oil supply chains, which will see the company work with Indonesian farmers to champion better social conditions and environmental conservation.
Coca-Cola's rooftop solar and Urban Outfitters' rental boxes: The sustainability success stories of the week
Published every week, the new series charts how businesses and sustainability professionals are working to achieve their 'Mission Possible' across the campaign's five key pillars - energy, resources, infrastructure, mobility and business leadership.
UK public want chief execs to lead on climate action, survey finds
Almost two-thirds (60%) of the UK public believe that the chief executives of corporations should be leading the national fight against climate change, a new survey has found.
LIVE Sustainable Business Covered podcast: Leadership in the post-CSR era
The Sustainable Business Covered podcast returns, this time we're broadcasting LIVE from a panel discussion at the UK's largest sustainability and energy exhibition, edie Live. In this episode, four industry experts discuss how sustainability leadership is undergoing a transformation.
As it happened: edie Live 2019 (Day One and Day Two)
Relive the biggest sustainability and energy event of the year - edie Live 2019 - with our blog, which captured all the key talking points, quotes and discussions from expert speakers as they happened.
13 top tips for strengthening sustainability leadership in the face of 'Climate Emergency'
EXCLUSIVE: During Day One of edie Live 2019, a panel of expert speakers gave their top tips for businesses looking to "ride this green wave" and become more resilient climate leaders during an era of unprecedented public awareness.
edie Live 2019: Green ambitions to be turned into ACTION as show doors open
Thousands of energy, CSR sustainability professionals are descending upon the NEC Birmingham today (21 May) as edie Live 2019 officially opens its doors - and there's still time to register for a free two-day pass to the conference.
Teemill's closed-loop T-shirts and carbon-neutral cement: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
How SDG alignment helped Tideway engage key investors
EXCLUSIVE: Several companies to have aligned their strategies with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have claimed that doing so has improved communications and created a more joined-up approach - but for Tideway, a further benefit has been gaining investor buy-in.
New Wall's tool lets consumers track positive vanilla supply chain impacts
Unilever-owned ice cream brand Wall's will launch a new digital tool enabling consumers to track how their purchases are empowering people in the communities which form its vanilla supply chains in Africa.
Tesco slashes food waste by 17% in one year
Supermarket giant Tesco has published its annual food waste figures, revealing that it wasted 17% less food by weight during 2018-19 than during the previous 12-month period.
The Body Shop launches in-store take-back scheme for plastic packaging
Health and beauty retailer The Body Shop has launched a multinational take-back scheme for its plastic packaging, after consumers voiced concerns that not all of the brand's packaging is accepted by local authorities under kerbside recycling schemes.
Report: Mismanaged waste 'kills up to a million people a year globally'
Mismanaged waste is causing hundreds of thousands of people to die each year in the developing world from easily preventable causes, and plastic waste is adding a new and dangerous dimension to the problem, a report has found.
Henkel's black plastic solution and Amsterdam's diesel ban: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Seven top tips for aligning your business strategy with the SDGs
During a "power hour" webinar hosted by edie on Wednesday (8 May), experts from Hilton, Thai Union, Asia Pulp & Paper and Centrica Business Solutions advised on aligning business strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Here, edie rounds up the key takeaways.
M&S, Tesco, rank among top UK businesses for modern slavery compliance
Supermarket giants Marks & Spencer (M&S) and Tesco have been named among the corporates leading the FTSE 100's drive for better compliance with the Modern Slavery Act (MSA), in a new ranking of the nation's largest publicly listed organisations.
Manchester's NHS Foundation Trust launches gamification staff behaviour change scheme
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) has become the first NHS Trust to sign up to the JUMP employee engagement initiative, in a bid to encourage its 20,000+ employees to develop habits which improve the organisation's environmental impact while also boosting their own wellbeing.
Cambridge University agrees to explore fossil fuel divestment plan
The former archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has welcomed an "urgent change" by Cambridge University, after it agreed to provide fully costed plans setting out how it could divest multibillion-pound endowments from fossil fuel corporations.
Report: Fashion sector stalling on sustainability progress, with high street giants holding industry back
The global fashion industry's overall efforts to operate more sustainability have slowed by one-third on a year-on-year basis, with actions failing to decouple emissions from the sector's rapid growth in a way that would align with the Paris Agreement's aims.
Selfridges completes palm oil phase-out nine months ahead of schedule
Department store Selfridges has announced that it has achieved a goal of removing palm oil from 100% of its own-brand grocery products nine months ahead of schedule.
Etihad's plastic-free flight and Uber's public transport push: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Seven top tips for making your organisation a purpose-led business
As businesses start to redefine their role in society, purpose has become an essential part of any company's social licence to operate. Here, edie rounds up seven top tips from green economy leaders on finding and communicating your organisation's reason for being.
Report: Oil and gas firms failing to disclose climate-related financial risks
The world's largest oil and gas firms must disclose more information on the financial risks that climate challenges will pose to their business, or face losing investment and stakeholder trust.
Water firms urged to collaboratively develop "net-positive" vision for the sector
UK water firms are being urged to co-develop and jointly adopt a new long-term sustainability strategy for the sector, set to have an overarching aim of the industry "having the most positive impact possible on society and the environment".
Environment ranks behind health and wellbeing as main business priority
Environmental issues such as the circular economy and net-zero carbon targets have been highlighted as a main priority by more than one-third of UK businesses, second only to health and wellbeing, according to a new Responsible Business Tracker.
Seven tips for turning your organisation's green ambitions into ACTION
During a sustainability leadership webinar hosted by edie last week, representatives from Tideway, Business in the Community (BITC), WSP and EDF Energy gave their advice for sustainability and energy professionals looking to turn green ambitions into tangible actions. Here, we round up their key takeaways.
London's low-emission buses and Ralph Lauren's recycled plastic shirts: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
In numbers: How businesses and consumers are adapting to the war on plastic
Plastics is a sustainability topic that rarely dies down and the past few weeks were no different. Here, edie rounds up the key findings of several new surveys on attitudes to plastics, capturing the changing opinions of businesses and consumers alike.
Fashion Revolution Week: Adidas, Reebok and Patagonia top sector transparency rankings
Sportswear giants Adidas and Reebok and outdoor clothing brand Patagonia have been named as the corporates leading the fashion sector's drive for greater transparency around supply chain activity, in a new ranking of 200 of the industry's largest companies.
Walmart partners with HSBC to launch green finance programme for suppliers
As part of a partnership with HSBC, US-based retail giant Walmart has developed a green finance initiative that rewards suppliers for setting, meeting or exceeding ambitious sustainability aims.
Xerox's reforestation drive and KFC's science-based targets: Sustainability success stories for Earth Day
While many of us in the UK will be enjoying the bank holiday break today (22 April), the global business community has been busy making pledges, events and announcements to mark Earth Day. This round-up highlights some of the best sustainability success stories to mark the occasion.
Sustainable Business Covered Podcast: Who Made My Clothes? A Fashion Revolution Week special
To mark Fashion Revolution Week 2019, episode 61 of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast sees reporter Sarah George quiz some of the key figures helping to make the fashion sector a more planet-friendly and ethical industry.
Coalition of central banks urge finance sector to 'raise the bar' on climate action
A coalition of 36 central banks and regulators, including the Bank of England and the World Bank, have issued a rallying cry urging all stakeholders across the global sector to address climate challenges by "greening" the financial system.
Costa joins Hull redistribution scheme to combat food waste and hunger
Coffee chain Costa has joined a collaborative, business-led initiative which uses a food sharing app to help tackle food waste and food poverty issues in Hull.
Unilever reveals mixed progress towards Sustainable Living Plan goals
Unilever has posted strong progress towards its manufacturing waste, low-carbon energy and water abstraction goals, while also revealing that is it off-track to meet its sustainability commitments regarding the consumer-level water and waste footprint of its products.
We Mean Business boss: Companies must 'embed' ESG to survive low-carbon transition
EXCLUSIVE: In the face of pressing climate challenges, the business and finance sectors must now collaborate to ensure that environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues are embedded in all financial decisions to spur the creation of a zero-carbon economy.
Sydney's renewables aim and Ikea's 'Outstanding' store: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Walmart launches reusable bag range and spurs progress on supply chain emissions
The world's largest retailer, Walmart, used its annual sustainability summit to reveal that checkouts at its US stores will offer reusable bags made from post-consumer recycled content for the first time, alongside an update to its Project Gigaton supply chain emissions programme.
SDGs becoming a 'new compass' for sustainable investing, survey finds
More than half of institutional investors to have incorporated environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues into their frameworks are using the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a guideline, a new survey has found.
New World Bank chief confirms commitment to environment
Donald Trump's choice to run the World Bank has moved swiftly to allay fears that his appointment will lead to a softening of the organisation's approach to climate change.
Report: Failure to implement clean air laws cost EU €24bn in 2018
By failing to meet targets and regulations set out in EU environmental laws, Member States collectively cost the bloc's economy almost €55bn last year, a new report from the European Commission's Directorate General for the Environment has found.
How gamification is helping Bournemouth University engage staff with the SDGs
EXCLUSIVE: With 169 targets and 232 indicators across 17 large-scale sustainability challenges, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are often seen as a communications challenge due to their scope and scale. But by using gamification, Bournemouth University has managed to engage the majority of staff with the vast SDG agenda.
Shell taken to court over climate impacts and alleged human rights 'violations'
Oil and gas giant Shell is facing legal actions over "slow" progress in reducing its emissions, improving its human rights protections and eliminating oil spills, with green campaign group Friends of the Earth's (FoTE) Netherlands arm claiming its current business model is "wrecking the climate".
Co-op targets 100% sustainably sourced soy through credits scheme
Supermarket chain Co-op has set a new, ongoing target of sourcing 100% sustainably certified soy across its supply chains, after joining global Roundtable on Responsible Soy (RTRS).
Budweiser's plastic football pitch and Arval's EV chargers: the sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
GRI calls for business and governments to partner on SDGs
The chairman of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) had called for greater collaboration and cooperation between businesses and national governments in order to achieve the aims of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Is it time for the hospitality sector to align to the SDGs?
The Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) has called on the food industry to follow the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in order to achieve the innovation required to accelerate climate action.
Pernod Ricard targets SDGs and regenerative agriculture as part of 2030 goals
Beverage giant Pernod Ricard has today (3 April) launched a new sustainability roadmap aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that commits to ambitious new targets relating to regenerative agriculture and biodiversity, recyclable packaging and a science-based carbon target.
Sustainable Business Covered podcast: In the Green Room with Pernod Ricard's Vanessa Wright
Welcome back to the green room - edie's exclusive interview hub for sustainability leaders, brought to you as part of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast. Up next to provide the insights of a leading sustainable business: Pernod Ricard's vice president of global sustainability Vanessa Wright.
The sustainability communications handbook: Engaging with different audiences
Communication is a vital component of any organisation’s strategy – and an aspect which businesses of all sizes and sectors will have to continually fine-tune as digitisation progresses. Similarly, sustainability is now widely considered to be a business-critical consideration and a must-have for staff, consumers and investors alike.
Fashion firms urged to log global supply chains on new digital open-source map
Fashion giant C&A's charitable arm, the C&A Foundation, has teamed up with geospatial technology firm Azavea to develop a new open-source digital map aimed at helping fashion retailers, suppliers and designers to boost their transparency efforts.
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