Plastics

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The webinar will be available to watch on demand

Sky confirmed for edie's single-use plastics business transformation webinar

edie is bringing together a selection of leading retailers, manufacturers and circular economy experts for a special one-hour webinar to discuss how business can collaborate, innovate and actuate to eliminate single-use plastics.
Hubbub's flagship waste-cleaning boat, Poly-mer, has taken more than 1,000 people on plastic fishing trips since November 2017

Hubbub to launch third waste-cleaning boat as part of UK 'plastic fishing' tour

Environmental charity Hubbub has unveiled plans to launch its third waste-cleaning boat made from recycled plastic, after partnering with media giant Mirror Group to launch a nationwide "plastic fishing" tour.
pladis UK & Ireland is the 69th UK business to sign WRAP's UK Plastics Pact since it launched in April

Confectionary giant strengthens packaging commitments

The snack manufacturing company behind brands such as McVitie's and Jacob's has today (7 December) joined WRAP's UK Plastics Pact, committing itself to making all plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
The webinar is available to watch on-demand

Available on demand: edie's 'Preparing to lead' sustainable business power hour webinar

Sustainability professionals seeking advice and insight on how to hit the ground running in 2019 to transform their approach to CSR and increase actions and ambitions can now watch a free edie webinar, featuring speakers from Ball Corporation, Canary Wharf Group and PwC.
The funding forms part of the Government's Industrial Strategy, which aims to address issues of pollution and resource scarcity

Government pledges £60m to spur development of bioplastic innovations

The UK Government has today (5 December) unveiled plans to invest £60m in projects aimed at developing closed-loop bioplastics made from industrial or post-consumer food waste.
Rupert Maitland-Titterton has worked at Kellogg Europe for almost five years, leading the firm's packaging sustainability strategy

How Kellogg Europe is targeting a sector-wide shift to sustainable packaging

EXCLUSIVE: As consumer and investor demand for sustainable packaging rises, companies within the global food and drink sector must co-create solutions to resource efficiency and recycling infrastructure challenges with their competitors, consumers and supply chains.
The webinar will be available to watch on demand afterwards

Canary Wharf Group, Ball and PwC complete speaker line up for edie's sustainability leadership webinar

Sustainability experts from manufacturing firm Ball Beverage Packaging Europe, property giant Canary Wharf Group and professional services firm PwC will appear on a free sustainability leadership webinar, taking place next week.
edie rounds up the key facts from Pro Carton and Coleman Parkes Research's survey on sustainable packaging

In numbers: The growing consumer demand for sustainable packaging

A new survey of 7,000 consumers across seven European markets garnering their views on plastic packaging, packaging recyclability and related green policies has been published. Here, edie rounds up the key facts and figures.
During the Theos annual lecture in London, Gove said he would carry on as Environment Secretary “for as long as I can be useful” to Defra

Michael Gove confirms further single-use plastic measures to feature in Resources & Waste Strategy

EXCLUSIVE: Environment Secretary Michael Gove has revealed that the Government is set to unveil new restrictions on single-use plastics before the end of the year.
Merlin Entertainments operates more than 120 attractions worldwide, including Thorpe Park and Legoland in the UK

Merlin Entertainments begins single-use plastic phase out, starting with straws

The Legolands, Sea Life and Madame Tussauds operator has launched a review into the sale and distribution of single-use plastic items across its global estate, pledging a removal of plastic straws from its operations by the end of 2018.

Black Friday is the antithesis of sustainable business, but there's an alternative

It's that time again. Today is Black Friday, the biggest sales event of the year, as Britain's retailers stack high and sell low before Christmas. Sustainable Development Goal 12 (sustainable consumption and production patterns) seems all but forgotten for the time being.
Up to 32,000 tonnes of microplastics enter British waterways each year, according to the report

Report: Tyres and synthetic clothes 'big cause of microplastic pollution'

Vehicle tyres and synthetic clothing are the two leading contributors to microplastic pollution from UK households, according to a new report from Friends of the Earth.
The webinar will be made available on demand afterwards

Ball and PwC to feature in edie's Sustainability Leadership 'power hour' webinar

Sustainability experts from manufacturing firm Ball Beverage Packaging Europe and professional services firm PwC are set to appear on a free edie webinar to help sustainability professionals hit the ground running in 2019.
Last month, Noorlander stepped down from a role as Coca-Cola’s director of public affairs and communications for the Netherlands to take up the director of sustainability for Europe position

Business transparency needed to help consumers overcome the 'plastics fear'

Coca-Cola's new European sustainability director believes that honest and transparent conversations will help businesses change consumer perceptions on the use of plastics, which in turn will catalyse a movement towards a "world without waste".
Biotransformation does not create micro-plastics and does not impact normal recycling processes

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.
Research from Greenpeace has this week revealed that UK supermarkets put 810,000 tonnes of single-use plastic packaging on to the market every year

Plastics Pact Roadmap unveiled as campaigners condemn high-street plastic action

A roadmap to help UK businesses tackle the global plastic waste problem has been published, on the same day that research has claimed that British supermarkets are still not doing enough to reduce their plastic footprint.
In February 2018, the BBC vowed to “lead the way” by removing single-use plastics from its operations by 2020

Greener broadcasting: BBC builds on plastics pledge with new sustainability strategy

The BBC has unveiled a new sustainability strategy, which sets out commitments to achieve zero waste to landfill and source 100% renewable energy, with the broadcaster also revealing it has cut out more than 500,000 pieces of single-use plastics since April 2018.
In 2017, local authorities spent £700m on collecting and sorting recycling, compared with £73m from major businesses including leading supermarket chains and retailers

Retailers to pay up to £1bn for recycling under waste strategy

Supermarkets, retailers and major drinks brands are set to pay tens of millions of pounds more towards recycling their used packaging under the government's new waste strategy expected to be published this month, the Guardian understands.
The ATP's new plastic measures target staff, players and media representatives as well as the 250,000 attendees

ATP unveils sweeping plastic phase-outs for Nitto Tennis Finals in London

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has unveiled new measures aimed at reducing the plastic waste footprint of its Nitto Tennis Finals event in London this month, in a bid to host its "most sustainable" tournament to date.
The University and Union have already swapped disposable coffee cups for compostable alternatives, and launched a campaign incentivising the use of reusable coffee cups

University of Leeds unveils plan to become 'plastic-free' by 2023

The University of Leeds and Leeds University Union have pledged to eliminate all single-use plastic items, including coffee cups, disposable cutlery and straws, from their operations by 2023.
Thomas Cook operates 190 hotels and resorts worldwide, serving around 20 million customers each year

Thomas Cook unveils plastic phase-out for its airlines and hotels

Holiday giant Thomas Cook has pledged to remove more than 70 million single-use plastic items such as straws, stirrers and cutlery from its operations every year.
The bags will be made with post-consumer recycled plastics from Plastic Bank's Manilla recycling facility

M&S unveils reusable bags made with 75% 'ocean-bound' plastic

Retail giant Marks and Spencer (M&S) has unveiled a new range of reusable carrier bags made with 75% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic in a bid to boost consumer awareness around plastic pollution and raise money for recycling infrastructure.
Joanna Gilroy explained the importance of using the SDGs to drive more ambitious action, rather than

Sustainable Future: How Bunzl is using the SDGs to raise its sustainability ambitions

EXCLUSIVE: Just one year after publishing the inaugural report on its Sustainable Future sustainability strategy, Bunzl Catering Supplies has moved to align itself with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a bid to maximise its positive social and environmental impact.
The scheme will accept empty toothpaste containers and toothpaste tubes, as well as end-of-life toothbrushes, from any brand

Colgate to launch recycling scheme for oral health products

Health and beauty giant Colgate Palmolive has unveiled plans to launch a recycling scheme for empty toothpaste tubes, used toothbrushes and dental floss containers in the US and the UK.
Glasgow City Council is developing initiatives to implement closed-loop practices across the built environment, food, textiles, plastics and energy

Glasgow unveils ambition to become Scotland's first 'circular city'

Glasgow City Council has this week outlined a plan to become Scotland's first "circular city", by reducing its domestic and commercial waste footprint and implementing measures to encourage reuse and recycling.
The latest MacBook Air. Photo: Apple

Apple unveils 'greenest Mac ever'

Apple has this week launched its latest MacBook product which has been hailed as the 'greenest ever' by the tech giant.
Herbert Fisk Johnson III told edie that business action on plastics would only be effective if compounded by infrastructure improvements and consumer behavior change

SC Johnson boss: Business collaboration on plastic 'just the tip of the iceberg'

EXCLUSIVE: Consumer goods giant SC Johnson's boss has praised the ambition of the organisations to have pledged to tackle plastic packaging under a new Global Commitment, but has noted that behaviour change and closing the loop will help accelerate action.
The Ooho! sachets used by Just Eat have been created by packaging firm Skipping Rocks Lab and can be discarded through home compost or in normal household bins

Just Eat expands trials of seaweed-based sauce sachets to replace single-use plastics

Online food ordering firm Just Eat is expanding a trial of replacing single-use plastic sauce sachets with a seaweed-based alternative to 10 London restaurants for the next eight weeks.
The Government will now look at the best way to tackle the environmental impact of cups in its imminent Resources and Waste Strategy

Latte levy: Was the Chancellor right to reject a tax on disposable cups?

A major talking point of yesterday's Autumn Budget was the Chancellor's decision to rule out a latte levy on disposable cups. Here, edie investigates the extent to which such a proposal could have provided a much-needed boost to the UK's coffers and helped policymakers drive a resource-efficient economy.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beverage bottlea will incorporate 33% recycled PET content by 2025

PepsiCo to use 25% recycled content in plastics packaging by 2025

Beverage giant PepsiCo has revamped its approach to plastics by pledging to use 25% recycled content in plastic packaging by 2025 and working with suppliers and partners to advocate for improved recycling infrastructure and policy across the globe.
The UK and Scottish Governments are among the five governments and cities to sign up

Business giants join Ellen MacArthur Foundation's global commitment to eradicate plastics pollution

Business giants, financial investors, non-profit organisations and national Governments have vowed to eradicate plastic waste and pollution, as part of a new Global Commitment spearheaded by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
edie has provided a round-up of the areas where Chancellor Philip Hammond could deliver for the green economy

Autumn Budget preview: Five green policy predictions ahead of Philip Hammond's statement

A new levy on plastic packaging? A watered-down carbon price? An increase to the Climate Change Levy (CCL)? edie previews the green-related announcements likely to be included in the Autumn Budget on Monday (29 November).
Nestlé is a founding member of WRAP’s Plastic Pact, which will see members ensure that 100% of plastic packaging can be reusable, recyclable or compostable. Credit: Nestlé

Nestlé Waters boss: We are not in competition with tap water

Soft drinks firms have a duty to provide consumers with good-quality bottled water, Nestlé Waters' boss has insisted, in the face of widespread concerns about the sustainability of water bottle production.
Since 2011, the company has reduced overall waste levels by 16%

PZ Cussons outlines plastics and palm oil goals

Healthcare and consumer goods manufacturer PZ Cussons has committed to reduce the amount of plastic it uses by 25% while also setting out an action plan to source all its palm oil from sustainable sources.
The proposed legislation catapults the EU into a leadership position in tackling the growing plastic pollution crisis

European parliament approves sweeping ban on single-use plastics

The European Parliament has overwhelmingly backed a wide-ranging ban on single-use plastics in an effort to tackle pollution in seas, fields and waterways.
Through the partnership, the two companies will invest in recycling structure capacity and develop new, closed-loop processes and business models

Unilever partners with Veolia to create circular economy for plastic packaging

Consumer goods giant Unilever has today (24 October) agreed a partnership with waste management Veolia, which will see the companies work together to develop innovative solutions to the plastic waste crisis.
There are more than 86 million tonnes of plastics in the oceans, with up to 12 million tonnes added each year

HP and Ikea join commitment to create global supply chain for ocean-bound plastics

HP and Ikea have joined a business consortium committed to incorporating ocean-bound plastics in new packaging and product materials by developing the first global supply chain for plastics that are seeping into the oceans.
The phase-out will cover all of Costa's 3,800 stores and Premier Inn's 680 hotels

Costa and Premier Inn unveil plan to phase-out plastic straws

Hospitality giant Whitbread has announced that it will begin removing plastic straws from its Costa Coffee stores and Premier Inn hotels from November 2018.
Most local authorities collect plastic bottles, but some councils are on the brink of ending plastic collections amid fears the plastic will end up polluting the oceans

Plastic recycling industry's problems costing councils up to £500,000 a year

Major problems in the plastic recycling industry are costing local councils in England up to £500,000 extra a year, as they struggle to deal with the continuing fallout from import bans imposed by countries who are no longer able to take the UK's waste.
The consultation aligns with the 25 Year Environment Plan's ambition to eliminate avoidable plastic waste

Government proposes UK-wide ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds for next year

The UK Government has today (22 October) confirmed that it will introduce a string of policies aimed at banning the sale and distribution of plastic straws, drink stirrers and cotton buds by 2020.
Two-thirds of our plastic packaging waste is exported by an export industry which was worth more than £50m last year

UK plastics recycling industry under investigation for fraud and corruption

The plastics recycling industry is facing an investigation into suspected widespread abuse and fraud within the export system amid warnings the world is about to close the door on UK packaging waste, the Guardian has learned.
8.5 billion plastic straws are thrown away each year in the UK. Image: IHG

IHG commits to global phase-out of plastic straws

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced that it will remove plastic straws from its global estate of more than 5,400 hotels by the end of 2019.
The new packaging carries a label encouraging customers to recycle it along with their paper waste

Waitrose trials bio-based alternative to black plastic

Waitrose & Partners is set to trial innovative, fibre-based packaging across its range of Italian ready meals as part of the supermarket group's commitment to eliminate black plastics from its own-brand products by 2019.
As a signatory of the UK Plastics Pact, PepsiCo is aiming to ensure that 70% of its plastic packaging is recycled or composted by 2025

PepsiCo to launch range of 100% recycled plastic packaging by 2020

PepsiCo has this week unveiled plans to purchase 100% recycled plastic for some of its packaging lines by 2020, after the company was named by Greenpeace as one of the largest corporate plastic polluters in the world.
This week's best innovations could drive significant change across the packaging, waste management and fashion industries

Plastic-fighting bubbles and AI-powered bins: The best green innovations of the week

A number of eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations have emerged that could help businesses and nations accelerate the transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy. Here, edie rounds-up six of the best.

What we can learn from the BBC’s Drowning in Plastic documentary

This isn't a piece about plastics, or how businesses can and should be reducing their plastics footprint. But, the BBC's jaw-dropping and necessarily bleak investigation into the havoc that plastics are causing the environment does offer some potential learnings for a sustainability professional.
edie spoke with Ferguson as the Co-op launched its new Future of Food ethical strategy

Why Co-op hasn't signed up to the UK Plastics Pact

EXCLUSIVE: The Co-op is one of the two major supermarkets yet to commit to WRAP's collaborative agreement to tackle single-use plastics, but the company's environment manager Iain Ferguson believes that an "enterprising" approach to innovation will enable the retailer to rethink approaches to packaging.
Customers can exchange a 500ml bottle for a 20p discount on their parking fee. Image: CitiPark

CitiPark discounts parking costs in exchange for plastic bottles

Car park operator CitiPark has announced that it will trial a reverse vending system in its flagship facility in Leeds, offering customers discounted parking rates for bringing in plastic bottles.
A recent study found that 75% of flounders in the River Thames had ingested plastic

London Mayor urged to eliminate single-use plastic packaging from capital

Members of the Environment Committee have urged London Mayor Sadiq Khan to sign the capital up to WRAP's UK Plastics Pact, amid growing public concerns around plastic pollution.
edie rounds up the key facts from Britain Thinks' recent recycling survey

In numbers: the UK public's attitudes towards recycling

Last September, consultancy Britain Thinks surveyed more than 2,000 UK adults on attitudes across a spectrum of questions relating to packaging, recycling and the circular economy. With the survey results released on Friday (28 September), edie rounds-up the key findings.
Aldi is one of the founder members of WRAP's Plastic Pact

Aldi continues phase-out of non-recyclable plastics

Discount supermarket Aldi is switching a range of its cooked meat from non-recyclable packaging to clear, recyclable alternatives in a move that is set to save more than 1,000 tonnes of plastic annually.
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

Plastics, Pledge Walls the potential 'death' of CSR: Top 10 sustainability stories of September 2018

Another month has passed which means it's time to remind ourselves of September's most-read sustainability stories and standout pieces of content from September - from massive plastic phase-outs and circular economy masterclasses to new supply chain commitments and a discussion about the future of CSR.
At present, just 43% of the 13 billion plastic bottles sold each year in the UK are recycled, and 700,000 are littered every day

Tesco offers money for plastic bottles in reverse vending trials

Tesco has announced that it will trial in-store reverse vending machines for plastic bottles, as it calls on the UK Government to introduce a nation-wide approach to recycling.
Signage will also be added to ensure consumers understand what can and can’t be recycled and therefore placed into the bins

Lucozade Ribena Suntory trials giant bottle-shaped bins to improve recycling

Soft drinks manufacturer Lucozade Ribena Suntory has announced a new partnership with facilities operator Sports and Leisure Management (SLM) to trial giant bottle-shaped recycling points at gyms and leisure centres in the UK.
Unilever has committed to increasing the recycled plastic content in its packaging to at least 25% by 2025

Inside Unilever's plastics packaging strategy

EXCLUSIVE: Unilever's chief R&D officer David Blanchard has outlined the company's three-pillar approach to improving the recyclability of its product packaging, focusing on "less", "better" and "no plastics" solutions.

One foot in ‘today’, the other in ‘tomorrow’

The retail sector has done much in the last decade on sustainability, but it is increasingly apparent that all this has just been a dress rehearsal, a beginning not an end.
The phase-outs and carrier bags replacements will see the equivalent of 125 million plastic bottles removed from production

Co-op switches to compostable bags as it pledges to eliminate single-use plastics

The Co-op has revealed it will swap around 60 million plastic carrier bags with compostable alternatives that can be used as food waste caddy liners, as part of a wider goal to "remove" single-use plastics from its product offerings.
Ryan McDonnell, Lidl’s commercial board director, said the “significant move away from black plastic demonstrates our dedication to tackling this important topic”

Lidl to stop using black plastic fruit and vegetable packaging

Lidl UK says it will remove black plastic from its entire fruit and vegetable range by the end of the month.
edie's weekly round-up explores how businesses across the world are ramping up efforts across all areas of sustainable development

Carbon-negative goals and hydrogen-powered trains: 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.
This episode of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast features not one, not two but three exclusive interviews

Sustainable Business Covered podcast: Snap packs, green dry-cleaning and SDG cities

Episode 49 of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast sees edie discuss plastic-free packaging with Carlsberg, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with Canary Wharf Group and features a whistle-stop tour of a new and ultra-green dry-cleaning facility in Watford.
Waste service providers Bywaters will collect and take the items to a composting facility

UK Parliament to replace single-use plastic items with compostable alternatives

The UK Parliament will replace single-use plastic cutlery, coffee cups and lids, drinking straws and containers with compostable alternatives that will be treated at a specialist waste facility.
Of the 2,000 consumers surveyed for the report, 57% believe that all bottles contain at least 50% recycled plastic already

Report: Consumer demand for recycled packaging outpacing corporate action

More than half (55%) of the UK population believe that all plastic bottles should contain at least 50% recycled content, while the average proportion used by corporates currently stands at just 15%.
Lord Deben said that there was

Lord Deben: Businesses must avoid 'knee-jerk' plastic phase-outs

Committee on Climate Change (CCC) chairman Lord Deben has urged companies to avoid making "knee-jerk" decisions on plastics packaging, warning that "reactionary" choices to consumer demands could lead to unintended environmental consequences.
The cloud platform will use supply chain data to forecast future trends related to plastics use

Data-driven 'Plastics Cloud' launched to combat plastics waste

Software firm SAP UKI has unveiled plans to collect live data from supply chains as part of a "Plastics Cloud" pilot aimed at improving plastics purchasing and recycling.
From left to right: Marston's' energy manager Chris White, head of group facilities Andy Kershaw and waste and recycling co-ordinator Jon Davies

Marston's achieves zero-waste-to-landfill goal

Pub chain and brewer Marston's has revealed that it has hit its 2020 zero-waste-to-landfill goal two years ahead of schedule, after sending more than three-quarters (77%) of its waste to be recycled this year.
The move is aimed at encouraging customers to use reusable bags for life or fabric alternatives

Waitrose to use home-compostable bags in produce aisles and phase-out 5p carrier bags

Waitrose & Partners has announced that it will stop offering single-use plastic bags in its fruit and vegetable aisles and remove 5p carrier bags from its stores, a move that will cut its plastic usage by 134 million bags each year.
Runners will not be able to refill bottles, with water distributed in pouches made from seaweed instead

Single-use plastic bottles banned from half marathon in London

The capital’s first marathon event pledging to be completely free of “single-use” plastic drinks bottles is to take place in north-west London.
(L-R): Presenter edie’s business development director David Griffiths; Terracycle’s Caroline Frery; and compere Rufus Hound

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.
Iceland is committed to becoming the world's first major retailer to remove plastic packaging from its own brand products by 2023

Iceland ditches plastic for pre-packed bananas

Frozen food retailer Iceland is switching the packaging for its pre-packed bananas from plastic to a paper band that is 100% recyclable and made from recycled paper, in a move that will save 10 million plastic bags from being used by the company annually.
edie's Matt Mace and Ball Corporation's Ramon Arratia discuss the new resource efficiency paradigm

Sustainable Business Covered podcast: In the Green Room with Ball's Ramon Arratia

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: Ball Corporation's sustainability director Ramon Arratia.
Henkel will explore closed-loop partnerships and solutions which enable consumers to reuse packaging

Henkel bolsters its sustainable packaging strategy

German chemical and consumer goods firm Henkel has joined the corporate war on waste with a pledge to ensure consumers can recycle, reuse or compost its packaging by 2025.
A number of eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations aimed at tackling waste challenges have emerged recently

Seaweed-based bottles and food-saving filters: The best green innovations for Zero Waste Week

To mark Zero Waste Week (3-7 September), edie has rounded up some of the ground-breaking innovations being explored by companies across the globe as the focus on waste among consumers, politicians and the business community reaches a fever pitch.
The report urges policymakers and corporates to take eight

Drinks giants back calls to eliminate plastic packaging waste by 2030

Soft drinks firms such as Danone Waters and Lucozade Ribena Suntory have thrown their weight behind a study which calls for a zero-waste-to-landfill plastic packaging value chain by 2030.
M&S currently hands out 75 million pieces of plastic cutlery in its cafe's each year

M&S to phase out plastic cutlery in cafés

Marks and Spencer (M&S) will start phasing out plastic cutlery across its in-store cafés next month in a move it claims will remove 75 million pieces of plastic from its waste stream annually.
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

SDG blueprints, wonky veg boxes and plastics action: Top 10 sustainability stories of August 2018

As the summer holidays draw to a close, we take a look back at August's biggest sustainability stories in this round-up - covering wonky produce boxes, plastics debates and a solar-powered cheese manufacturing plant.

Since the 5p charge was introduced in 2015, the average consumer now buys 121 fewer bags each year

UK plastic bag charge set to double to 10p

The Government has confirmed that it will launch a consultation on whether the nation's current charge for single-use plastic carrier bags should be doubled to 10p and rolled out to every shop in the country.
The boat was launched by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Thérèse Coffey. image: Defra

Hubbub launches second waste-cleaning boat made from recycled plastics

Environmental charity Hubbub has launched its second waste-cleaning boat made from recycled plastic today (30 August), with funding jointly provided by Tideway and Starbuck’s 5p paper cup surcharge.
Lucozade Ribena Suntory representatives will offer the innovative sachets to participants in two large-scale race events during September

Lucozade to trial edible drinks sachets to reduce single-use plastic at sports events

Beverage giant Lucozade Ribena Suntory is set to trial edible drinks sachets made from seaweed at two sports events next month, in an effort to gauge the consumer appetite for plastic-free alternatives to single-use bottles and pouches.
The fountains form part of Khan’s draft London plan, which includes a commitment to make clean drinking water widely available

London Mayor unveils 20 new water fountains in bid to reduce single-use plastic

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has confirmed that 20 new water fountains will be installed across the capital as part of a scheme to slash the amount of single-use plastic bottles that are purchased.
Greene King estimates that the switch will remove 30 million plastic straws from circulation each year

Greene King phases out plastic straws in favour of compostable alternative

Pub chain Greene King has announced that it will stock compostable straws across its entire portfolio of 1,750 UK pubs as it strives to meet a commitment of sending zero waste to landfill by 2020.
The easy-to-recycle alternative will be rolled out across six of Aldi's produce lines by the end of August

Aldi begins black plastics phase-out as part of packaging overhaul

Discount chain Aldi is switching a range of its fresh produce packaging from hard-to-recycle black plastic to clear, recyclable alternatives, in a move that is set to save around 265 tonnes of plastic a year.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond confirmed in a statement that Ministers would discuss the “most promising” policies mooted in the consultation

‘Unprecedented’ public support for tax reforms to tackle plastic waste

An unprecedented number of respondents to a UK Government consultation examining plastic waste have called for the implementation of increased rates of tax on virgin plastics, coupled with tax breaks for manufacturers using post-consumer recycled (PCR) content.
More than 300 million tonnes of plastic are now generated worldwide each year, placing the onus on businesses to seek alternative resources

Unintended consequences: Could the plastics phase-out lead to sustainability peril for businesses?

EXCLUSIVE: With the war on plastic becoming one of the hottest topics in the sustainability sphere, corporates rushing to make plastic-reduction pledges in a bid to appease customers are at risk of making changes which could lead to unintended consequences.
edie brings you a joint interview with HP and Kingfisher as well as a plastics chat with Surfdome

Sustainable Business Covered podcast: HP, Kingfisher, Surfdome and a 20th birthday party!

Episode 46 of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast sees a host of special guests join the edie team to discuss the latest developments in the world of sustainable business - including a live chat with Surfdome's head of sustainability Adam Hall.
The Refill Me scheme is being trialed at 12 malls, including Bluewater in Kent (pictured)

Landsec partners with big-name retailers on shopping centre refill scheme

Property developer Landsec has launched a new water bottle refill scheme in its shopping centres, partnering up with a host of big-name retailers and food and beverage brands in a bid to drive customers away from single-use plastic bottles.
Tesco has committed to removing all packaging which is ‘hard to recycle’ from the chain’s own-brand products by the end of 2019

Tesco becomes first supermarket to stock cans of water

In the latest move to cut back on the number of plastic products entering circulation, Tesco has become the first supermarket to stock and offer cans of water.
The ‘smorgasbord’ that the LGA refers to actually exists in several parts of how the value chain operates, according to INCPEN

Collection and content: How can councils address the 'smorgasbord' of plastics to boost recycling?

Councils have urged manufacturers to scrap a "smorgasbord" of plastics used for food packaging in order to increase recycling rates, although the industry has suggested that the lack of consistency of council recycling collection systems also needs addressing.
The LBP launch follows Unilever's pledge to make all its packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025

Unilever launches toiletry range with 100% recycled packaging in UK

Consumer goods giant Unilever has launched a range of beauty products housed in 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic bottles in the UK, following the success of the "eco-beauty" line in the US.
New packaging will have to balance sustainability with requirements for food safety, shelf life, distribution, cost and appearance

Kraft Heinz unveils new circular packaging strategy in plastic reduction drive

After surpassing its 2020 packaging reduction aims two years early, consumer goods giant Kraft Heinz has committed to ensuring all its packaging is either recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025 as it strives to become more circular.
The launch comes after an Iceland survey revealed that the majority of customers now avoid food and drink products made with synthetic ingredients

Iceland launches plastic-free chewing gum in UK first

Frozen food giant Iceland has today (August 1) launched a range of plastic-free chewing gum, making it the first supermarket in the UK to offer a biodegradable alternative.

edie at 20: How did sustainability become so business-critical?

edie's 20th anniversary as a sustainable business media brand is an ideal opportunity to remind ourselves of the past two decades of corporate sustainability, which have seen it evolve from an environmental add-on to a fundamental aspect of growth.
The company’s Breaking the Plastic Habit campaign is a year-long scheme to pilot new technologies, innovations and behavioural change approaches to help reduce reliance on plastics

Canary Wharf Group commits to becoming world's first plastic-free commercial centre

Canary Wharf Group (CWG) has pledged to become a plastic-free community across its 16.5 million sq. ft London real estate, in a bid to help businesses and the wider community reduce the amount of single-use plastics in circulation.
The two companies will trial the system between 25 July and 19 October this year

Coca-Cola offers 50% discounts at major UK theme parks in exchange for plastic bottles

Coca-Cola Great Britain is offering 50% discounts to UK attractions such as Thorpe Park, Alton Towers and Legoland in exchange for used plastic drinks bottles, in a bid to change consumer attitudes towards recycling.
The sachets were created in partnership with packaging development company Skipping Rocks Lab

Just Eat trials seaweed sachets as alternative to single-use plastics

Online food ordering firm Just Eat has commenced a trial of compostable sachets made from seaweed, as part of an effort to reduce the amount of plastic used by its UK restaurant partners.
Brown noted that material science had “a great role to play” to reduce the impact that plastic packaging was having on the environment

How Coca-Cola is engaging policymakers and the public to combat plastics pollution

EXCLUSIVE: The head of sustainability at the world's largest independent Coca-Cola bottler believes the next 12 months are a "great opportunity" to influence policy to reform Producer Responsibility Obligations and implement an effective, nationwide deposit return system for plastics.
Plastic straws will be phased-out by October, Ikea said in a statement

Ikea to ban plastic straws in all its UK stores and restaurants by October 2018

Global furniture retailer Ikea has announced (July 16) that it will stop selling packs of single-use plastic straws in its UK and Ireland stores later this year, as part of its commitment to eliminate all single-use plastics from its global product range by 2020.

edie at 20: Is sustainability finally coming home?

It's official - edie is now 20 years old. Our 20th anniversary as a sustainable business media brand offers a chance to celebrate and reflect upon the tremendous achievements of the green economy - but it is also a time for us to realise the immense opportunity that now lies ahead.

Solving the plastics problem: 10 industry gamechangers for the planet

This insight report, produced in partnership with waste management specialist Helistrat, outlines the game-changing developments that are empowering businesses to eliminate all avoidable plastics waste.
The 15-page report explores 10 of the most important areas of focus for sustainability professionals when it comes to combating plastic waste

Plastic waste: edie report explores 10 gamechangers tackling the issue

With Britain's plastics revolution continuing to gather pace, edie has today (27 June) published a new insight report which investigates some of the game-changing developments and sustainable solutions to the global plastics problem.

Why is single use plastic a problem and what can be done about it?

The UK Government is now trying to catch up with what businesses have been doing for years to tackle single use items. It seems that every day we hear something new about what we can do to tackle the never-ending problem of single use plastics.

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