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Sector insight: The state of sustainability in manufacturing
This edie Insight report explores some of the key drivers, challenges and opportunities facing sustainability in UK manufacturing.
edie Energy Insights 2017
EXCLUSIVE REPORT: edie's latest report offers an insight into business energy procurement, planning and purchasing priorities from efficiencies to onsite generation.
Manufacturer 3M joins Ellen MacArthur Foundation's CE100 initiative
Multinational consumer goods, healthcare and industry manufacturer 3M has pledged to champion the circular economy and make the best use of the planet's resources by joining the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's CE100 initiative.
Record 11 million people now employed in renewable energy sector
Renewable energy now accounts for more than 11 million jobs worldwide, according to the latest set of official figures on the sector.
Waitrose posts impressive energy savings from innovative fridge tech
New in-store fridge technology has enabled Waitrose & Partners to reduce its energy use for refrigeration by more than 40%, the supermarket has claimed.
How 'inclusive capitalism' can create prosperity for people, planet and profits for Firmenich
EXCLUSIVE: Fragrance & flavour company Firmenich is using an "inclusive capitalism" business model to deliver benefits for profits, the planet and people in a way that is causing others to "rally" behind the concept of sustainability.
Business Energy Barometer: April-May 2019
edie's brand-new Business Energy Barometer report maps out the key energy drivers, challenges and opportunities facing UK businesses, based on an in-depth survey of energy managers across the country.
SEAT to double down on waste reduction efforts
Spanish car manufacturer SEAT has announced new plans to boost its efficiency in reducing waste at all key facilities, with select initiatives set to nearly double waste reduction levels by 2025.
Bosch targets carbon neutrality by 2020
Engineering and electronics giant Bosch has committed to achieve carbon neutrality across its direct global operations by 2020 - a move it claims will mitigate the emission of 3.3 million tonnes of CO2 within the next 12 months.
The climate turning point: 8 sustainable business gamechangers for 2020
With the UK having just declared a climate emergency and Government advisers calling on policymakers to set a net- zero carbon target by 2050, edie's latest report explores eight potentially game-changing innovations that will help businesses lead the charge towards the so-called 'climate turning point'.
edie Explains: The circular economy
This new and updated edie Explains guide breaks down everything there is to know about achieving a circular economy for your business.
SDGs In Action: How Tetra Pak is achieving Goal 13 - Climate Action
Welcome back to edie's new editorial series which breaks down exactly how businesses are turning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into action. Up next: multinational food packaging firm Tetra Pak unveils how it is protecting futures by championing actions to mitigate climate change.
Three-course meal: How addressing food waste can deliver a triple win for sustainable business
Following the revelation that food banks around the world helped mitigate more than 10.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions while reducing food costs, edie explores whether the conversation on food waste needs to change to capture heightened calls for action on climate change.
Apple to exceed 4GW renewable energy goal for supply chain
Apple has almost doubled the number of suppliers that have committed to 100% clean energy, as part of a wider goal to deliver 4GW of renewable energy into its supply chain by 2020.
Jaguar Land Rover updates closed-loop aluminium initiative
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is developing the next phase of its aluminium recycling strategy, having processed more than 300,000 tonnes of scrap back into vehicles over the last six years.
The trends transforming mobility’s future
Four trends - autonomous driving, connectivity, the electrification of vehicles, and shared mobility- are disrupting how we move about in ways not seen for 100 years. We call what's happening mobility's "second great inflection point".
Europe risks 'second mover' status on battery tech, auditors warn
Europe could be left behind in the international battery-building race, the EU auditors have warned in a report and stressed that better storage is needed if the bloc is to hit its climate and energy targets.
'I certainly didn't do it for sales': Iceland boss sheds fresh light on palm oil phase-out
Iceland's managing director Richard Walker has discussed his decision to ban palm oil from the retailer's own-brand products for the first time since the phase-out was completed in January, claiming that the move has helped to "democratise environmentalism".
Why Heineken is championing water circularity as its contribution to the SDGs
EXCLUSIVE: Brewer Heineken has called for more collaborative and circular approaches to water use, after launching a new 2030 strategy aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation.
It’s time to turn off the tap
Greenpeace recently tweeted, 'If your bath was overflowing you wouldn't immediately reach for the mop - you'd turn off the tap'. In this instance, they were referring to the spiralling impact of single-use plastics but in truth, this statement holds true for pretty much any type of waste, as Richard Gillies explains.
Mission Possible: edie launches new construction sector report
The key drivers, challenges and opportunities facing sustainable business in the UK construction sector are revealed in edie's latest Mission Possible report, today (6 March).
3M pledges to source 100% renewable electricity
Multinational consumer goods, healthcare and industry firm 3M has become the latest corporate to join The Climate Group's RE100 initiative, pledging to source 100% renewable electricity for its global operations.
Government unveils deposit return scheme blueprints as part of waste management revamp
The UK Government has launched a 12-week consultation to explore how a "world-leading" tax on plastic packaging, standardised waste collections across the country and varying deposit return schemes for single-use items could overhaul and modernise the national waste management system.
Zero-waste and carbon-neutral: £35m programme launched to transform UK steel sector
UK steelmakers and university experts are teaming together on a seven-year research programme aimed at boosting the productivity of the steel sector by championing carbon capture techniques and minimising industrial waste streams.
UK food and drink sector moves closer to 2025 sustainability goals
Food and beverage giants such as Coca Cola, PepsiCo and Lucozade Ribena Suntory made great strides in slashing their carbon and water impacts in 2017, according to the industry trade body.
Tommy Hilfiger unveils 'world's first' 100% recycled luxury jeans
Global fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger has unveiled plans to launch a range of 100% recycled jeans this spring, in what it claims is a first for the luxury fashion sector.
'A 1.5C world is circular': Nations urged to drive resource productivity to reach climate goals
A new report released today (22 January) at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos has outlined the urgent need for nations to "wake up to the potential" of the circular economy in order to push the world towards the Paris Agreement's more ambitious pathway.
Lucozade Ribena Suntory to fit UK factory with water and waste-saving bottling technology
Multinational beverage firm Lucozade Ribena Suntory (LRS) is investing £13m in new bottling technology for its Gloucestershire factory, in a bid to minimise the facility's waste output and water footprint.
In 2019, businesses will need to embrace sustainability, or risk being left behind
What would you do if you only had 12 years to stop catastrophic climate change? At COP 24 in Poland earlier this year, 200 nations formed plans to collectively tackle this issue, and their message is clear: as nations, we will go beyond our commitments and ambitions from the 2015 Paris Agreement to further reduce emissions and tackle one of the world's greatest challenges.
Food waste chief to target 'scandal' of 250 million binned UK meals
The Government has appointed a food waste champion to tackle the problem of 250 million meals being thrown away in the UK each year.
Palm oil bans, sustainable fashion and edie's 30 Under 30: The top sustainability stories of November 2018
As November comes to a close and we begin to think about putting up our Christmas trees and wrapping our presents, edie rounds up some of the best-read sustainability stories and standout pieces of content from the past 30 days - from Iceland's now-infamous popular palm oil advert to the launch of our exclusive new networking group for young sustainability professionals.
edie Explains: Energy-from-Waste
Is Energy-from-Waste (EfW) right for your business? What are the different EfW technology options, and how do you choose the right one? This edie explains business guide, produced in association with phs Group, has the answers.
Five ideas to achieve your flexible energy future
This report showcases the output of edie's SPARK! event, where roundtable participants explored what lies ahead for electricity systems flexibility, and discussed the practical steps that can be taken to achieve flexible energy, today.
ASOS boss: The circular economy is the only way forward for fashion retailers
Fashion retailers that fail to adopt circular economy principles and encourage consumers to make their clothes last longer will fail to survive in a new era of consumer awareness, ASOS's chief executive Nick Beighton has argued.
How are food and drink manufacturers adapting to Industry 4.0?
EXCLUSIVE: As the fruits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution continue to alter how businesses operate within society, how are some of the world's biggest food and drink manufacturing firms adapting, growing and using new technologies to minimise their environmental footprints?
10 ideas to make energy innovation work for your business
This report showcases the output of edie's SPARK! event, where roundtable participants discussed the role of innovation in achieving a sustainable future for business energy and debated which new technologies could hold the key to clean growth.
Available on demand: Sustainable manufacturing webinar featuring Mondelēz & Quorn Foods
Sustainability and energy representatives from Mondelēz International and Quorn Foods are among the speaker line-up for edie's one-hour webinar. now available on demand, which will explore the challenges and opportunities facing low-carbon, resource-efficient manufacturing.
Disruptive plastics firm Polymateria backed by £1m Innovate UK funding
BT's former chief sustainability officer Niall Dunne's vision to create the "Tesla of plastics" has moved a step closer to reality, after securing more than £1m in Innovate UK grants to research and scale-up compostable plastics.
The challenges have been set, now business must rise to them
In the food business, Mission Possible should really be 'Mission Necessary'. We'll have to feed nearly 10 billion people by 2050. And we'll have to do so without destroying the natural resources on which food production depends.
Five ways food and drink firms are manufacturing a sustainable future
As a teaser for edie's latest Mission Possible sector insight report, edie rounds up five key trends within the food and drink manufacturing sector which prove the industry is striving to achieve as sustainable future, today.
Mission Possible: Achieving a sustainable future for FOOD & DRINK MANUFACTURING
This brand-new sector insight report provides an end-to-end overview of the steps that organisations within Britain's food & drink manufacturing industry can take to achieve a sustainable future, today.
Perfume giant Firmenich unveils approved science-based targets
Perfume company Firmenich has had a goal to reduce Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 39% approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).
Scotland's cities can unlock £1bn circular economy boon, says report
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged Scotland's largest cities to transform waste processes and operations to capture a £1bn economic growth opportunity highlighted by a new Zero Waste Scotland report, released today (31 October).
Clorox exceeds carbon reduction target three years early
The Clorox Company has surpassed its 2020 goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20%, according to the consumer goods giant’s latest annual report.
The Industrial Strategy roundtable: What impact is it having on manufacturing sustainability?
Sustainability and energy managers from a range of businesses recently gathered in London for an exclusive roundtable hosted by edie and Centrica Business Solutions to discuss the impact the Government's Industrial Strategy is having on manufacturing sustainability.
Britvic switches to 100% renewable electricity
Britvic has announced that every UK manufacturing site will be powered by 100% renewable electricity from October 2018.
Report: UK manufacturers could save £540m through clean technologies
New technologies such as battery storage and solar could "inspire a new industrial revolution" and save the manufacturing sector at least £540m on its energy bills.
Green tech task force launched to improve resource efficiency of UK businesses
Think tank Green Alliance has launched a new green technology task force in a bid to encourage the development of innovations which will improve resource efficiency in the UK's manufacturing sector, which could unlock up to £10bn in profit in the process.
Meet the Sustainability Leader: TerraCycle, P&G and SUEZ - Sustainable Supply Chains
With entries closing this week for edie's revamped 2019 Sustainability Leaders Awards, this new feature series will showcase the achievements of the 2018 winners, revealing their secrets to success. Up next: our 2018 Sustainable Supply Chains winners, TerraCycle, P&G and SUEZ.
Dude, where’s my EV?
Coinciding with government's Zero Emission Vehicles Summit, the Aldersgate Group published a briefing which sets out the major barriers to decarbonising UK road transport. Will Tricker, Policy Officer at the Group, considers what further support is needed from government to ensure UK businesses are best placed to accelerate the transition to zero emission vehicles (ZEVs).
Theresa May's £100m pledge: Will the UK lead the world on zero-emission transport?
The world's first zero-emission vehicle summit will be headlined by a £106m investment from the UK Government into low-emission vehicle development. But, how will the UK's transport ambitions fare in light of new EU legislation and continued uncertainty over post-Brexit trade deals?
Manufacturing the future: We must chase the positive and reverse climate change
Interface's vice-president and chief sustainability officer Erin Meezan recently provided the foreword to edie's brand-new sector insight report, which provides an end-to-end overview of the steps that organisations within Britain's manufacturing industry can take to achieve a sustainable future, today.
Sustainable business futures: edie launches new series of sector insight reports
edie has this week launched a brand-new series of industry-focused reports which map out the pathways for businesses to achieve a sustainable future – with the first report exploring what that future looks like in manufacturing.
Dairy giant to power cheese plant with 100% renewable energy
Northern Ireland-based dairy manufacturer Dale Farm has announced that it is now running one of its cheese manufacturing plants with 100% renewable energy after bringing a self-consumption solar farm online earlier this month.
Meet the Sustainability Leader: Wessex Water Services - Water Management 2018
With entries now open for edie's revamped 2019 Sustainability Leaders Awards, this new feature series will showcase the achievements of the 2018 winners, revealing their secrets to success. Up next: our 2018 Water Management winners, Wessex Water Services.
edie Explains: Onsite solar
What is onsite solar and how could it work for a business? What are the business benefits from installing onsite solar? And what considerations and funding opportunities need to be examined to build the business case? This free edie Explains guide gives you everything you need to know.
What's the business case for climate science?
Let's be honest, the transition to a low carbon economy is going to require some difficult and far-reaching change from most companies and sectors. But emerging leadership from the corporate world is showing that remodelling business strategies around climate science is already driving innovation, growth and other business benefits.
China dwarfs Europe on EV investments, figures show
European carmakers have invested seven times more in electric vehicle production lines in China than at home, according to industry figures collected by Transport & Environment (T&E), a green campaign group.
MPs to examine environmental footprint of UK fashion industry
MPs are to investigate the environmental impact of throwaway "fast fashion" in the UK amid growing concerns that the multi-billion pound industry is wasting valuable resources and contributing to climate change.
Volvo to use 25% recycled plastic in new vehicles
After recently pledging to ban single-use plastics across its premises and events by the end of next year, Swedish carmaker Volvo has announced a new target of using at least 25% recycled plastic in all new vehicles it produces by 2025.
Renault pledges €1bn of funding for EV research and manufacturing
French carmaker Renault has announced that it will pour more than €1bn of funding into electric vehicle (EV) research, design and manufacturing at four of its plants by 2022.
Recycled plastic could supply three-quarters of UK demand, report finds
Plastic recycled in the UK could supply nearly three-quarters of domestic demand for products and packaging if the government took action to build the industry, a new report said on Thursday.
Interface goes carbon neutral for entire product range
Flooring giant Interface will only offer carbon-neutral products as standard to buyers, with the firm’s entire product range now listed under a Carbon Neutral Floors programme.
Report: Circular economy a 'powerful force' to meeting Paris Agreement goals
Circular business models and greater material efficiency of products in the transport and built environment sectors could reduce emissions by 3.6 billion tonnes annually - putting the globe on course to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement.
SEAT installs air-cleaning pavement at Barcelona plant after surpassing emissions goal
After hitting its key environmental goals two years ahead of schedule, Spanish car manufacturer SEAT has installed 4,000sqm of air-cleaning paving slabs at its Martorell plant in Barcelona.
Diesel is not dead: BMW sees 'clean' diesel in its vehicle portfolio
EXCLUSIVE: BMW Group UK's i and iPerformance national corporate sales manager, Hannah Bishop, has claimed that the car manufacturer continues to see clean diesel as an important part of its vehicle mix, despite the Government's commitment to phasing out the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles by 2040.
Princes commits to make bottles with 50% recycled plastic
Consumer goods giant Princes has pledged to increase the proportion of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content in its plastic soft drink and oil bottles to more than 50% within four months, as part of an ongoing goal of using 100% PCR plastic in all its packaging.
The state of sustainability 2018: edie publishes final insight report for UK businesses
edie's year-long sector insight report series concludes today (14 May) with the final edition which rounds up the key sustainability drivers, challenges and opportunities facing Britain's biggest industries.
Apple partners with mining firms on zero-carbon aluminium smelting
Technology giant Apple has announced a new partnership with industrial firms Alcoa Corporation and Rio Tinto Aluminium to accelerate commercialisation of new technology that eliminates all greenhouse gas emissions from the smelting process of aluminium.
Sector insight: The state of sustainability in hospitality & leisure
This exclusive insight report explores the key drivers, challenges and opportunities facing sustainability in the UK's hospitality & leisure industry.
SC Johnson tweaks brand purpose as emissions tumble
SC Johnson, ubiquitously known as "a family company", has updated its identity to place sustainability at the heart of business strategy, as outlined in the company’s latest sustainability report which revealed that emissions have been halved over an 18-year period.
Meet Daisy: Apple's latest iPhone-recycling robot
To celebrate Earth Day (22 April), technology giant Apple has evolved its old recycling robot, Liam, into Daisy – a super-powered AI machine capable of recovering valuable materials from up to 200 devices an hour.
Paving the way to a better built environment
Construction businesses lie at the juncture of some of the world's most pressing environmental and societal challenges. Here, the UK Green Building Council's chief executive Julie Hirigoyen charts the progress being made across the industry in the key areas of climate change, resource use, nature and biodiversity, health & wellbeing and socio-economic impact.
Reef umbrellas and 'unforgettable' bags: the best green innovations of the week
A number of eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations have emerged that could help businesses and nations deliver on resource efficiency, low-carbon transitions and combat climate change. Here, edie rounds-up six of the best.
Unilever to develop closed-loop supply for food packaging plastics
In the latest corporate commitment to target plastic waste, Unilever has agreed a new partnership to develop technology capable of converting PET plastic waste into virgin-grade materials available for use in food packaging.
World Water Day - How we can ensure resilience of our water supplies
Peter Simpson, CEO, Anglian Water, discusses the action we can take together on World Water Day to ensure the resilience of our water supplies
Why companies should make 2018 the year of Creating Shared Value
Last year I spoke to edie about English Tea Shop's unique business model which is based on the premise of Creating Shared Value (CSV) and how it has propelled our business to rapid growth.
Veolia opens 'world-first' closed-loop glass recycling facility
A new £10m high-tech recycling facility which turns glass into insulation has been hailed as a "real boost" for the UK's circular economy.
Energy resilience roundtable: Paving the path to a clean energy future
Energy management experts from some of the world's biggest manufacturers and retailers recently came together for an exclusive roundtable hosted by edie and Centrica Business Solutions to explore some of the biggest challenges and opportunities when it comes to building energy resilience.
L'Oreal signs landfill gas deal to achieve carbon neutrality in US
Global cosmetic firm L'Oréal intends to reach carbon neutrality across all of its US-based manufacturing and distribution facilities, after signing a deal to procure renewable natural gas (RNG) from a landfill site in Kentucky.
EU-backed carbon capture utilisation plant opens in UK
The UK's first carbon capture demonstrator plant has opened today (1 March), providing a new treatment that can convert carbon dioxide into polyol compounds that can be used in various manufacturing processes.
Opening the road to electrification is not as simple as the flick of a switch
Energy companies, the auto industry and businesses need to advance together, supported by government.
Behaviour change – the key to energy efficiency
This blog will discuss behavioural change and what can be done that will have a real impact on the triple bottom line - engaged staff, reduced costs and less impact on the environment.
Trump Administration's 'safeguard' tariff set to damage US solar sector
President Donald Trump has moved to safeguard domestic solar manufacturers by placing a 30% tariff on imported solar modules, however critics believe that it will inadvertently stifle manufacturers that are unable to scale-up to cope with demand.
Britvic on course for zero-waste status
Soft drinks company Britvic looks set to become a zero-waste company by 2020, with the firm's latest sustainability report revealing recent efforts to cut down on plastic waste, carbon emissions and water use.
Innovate UK backs project to boost EV range to 400 miles
In order to place the UK as a centre of excellence for battery development, a project to boost the range of electric vehicles (EV) to 400 miles and above has received £7m in funding from Innovate UK.
The role of manufacturers and retailers in creating a truly circular economy for the UK
Consumers have long been targeted for their sustainability efforts, from recycling to upcycling and beyond. However, while individuals can make a difference to sustainability targets, businesses, and in particular, manufacturers and retailers are now being called upon to do much more to help create Britain's much needed circular economy.
Nestlé to redistribute site-level food waste set aside for animal feed
A new initiative from Nestlé and food redistribution organisation Company Shop could increase the amount of food redistributed from UK operations by two million meals annually, by using site assessments to reduce waste at its source.
Food and drink manufacturing sustainability: a journey, rather than a destination
The FDF's head of climate change and energy policy Stephen Reeson and environment policy manager David Bellamy provide their take on the key findings from edie's recent sector insight report which explored the state of sustainability in food and drink manufacturing.
ING’s commitment to 'Let’s Talk Water'
The vibe at Amsterdam International Water Week (AIWW) is very unique! You have this larger than life technology exhibition where engineers have "Pipe tapping competitions" (quite thrilling actually!), tons of stands with cool gadgets and solutions to be water-wise, and people of about 160 different nationalities walking around in cool national outfits, murmuring to their translators.
Test-bed: Driving economic growth through a remanufacturing business model
Norwegian firm Norsk Ombruk has developed an innovative business model that remanufactures kitchen and bathroom equipment to offer high-performing electronic equipment at half the cost, all while driving the economy for resource-efficient practices.
Sector insight: The state of sustainability in food and drink manufacturing
This exclusive edie Insight report explores some of the key drivers, challenges and opportunities facing sustainability in the UK's food and drink manufacturing sector.
How business can help halt the rise in global emissions
There's been a lot of media coverage over the past week about rising levels of CO2 and the likely impacts, despite international efforts to cut greenhouse gases.
The impact of the Modern Slavery Act, two years on
The Modern Slavery Act shone a spotlight on the issue of modern slavery and human trafficking when it was written into UK law two years ago. But what effect has it had so far?
Business coalition calls for resource efficiency drive to boost weak UK productivity
Top UK business organisations and green groups have called on the UK Government to close the UK's regional productivity gap and rebalance the economy by backing resource efficient manufacturing.
Raising the bar on sustainability: Not just “the what” you do, but “how” you do it
Sustainable business is on the rise. More and more organisations are realising that they can do well by being good to people and planet. The most recent report on sustainability performance of listed companies, from Carbon Clear, states that the transition towards more sustainable business is happening more because of carrots (demand) rather than sticks (regulation).
Global deposit return schemes
Deposit return schemes add a small deposit on to the cost of drinks which is refunded to the consumer when the container is returned. Hence, the incentive for consumers to recycle their drinks containers is much greater. Containers, such as glass, can be refilled and other such as cans can be recycled, eliminating wastage of the containers.
What does the future hold for sustainable manufacturing
We are witnessing an era of unprecedented technological change, with the fourth Industrial Revolution now well underway.
How AkzoNobel intends to reach carbon neutrality by 2050
AkzoNobel will need to embrace disruptive technologies such as automation and ensure the commitment of customers and suppliers to meet the paint and coating manufacturer's bold vision to become a carbon-neutral business by 2050.
The Secret Sauce to Innovate for Sustainability
Conjuring up images of lone inventors tinkering with new kit in their sheds, or creatives doing a 'late-one' after a day stretched out on the bean-bag, innovation is one of those zeitgeist words that excites and irritates in equal measure. Many of these metaphors make innovation sound like some sort of secret recipe, a black-box only accessible by a few half-crazed or eccentric individuals.
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