Resource Management
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Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2019: Jonathan Davies, Marston's
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: Jonathan Davies, waste & recycling co-ordinator at Marston's.
Co-op to host reverse vending machines for plastic bottles at UK festivals
Co-op has confirmed plans to host reverse vending machines as part of a deposit return scheme for plastic bottles at seven UK festivals this summer, following successful trials last year.
National Refill Day: How businesses are uniting against single-use plastic water bottles
Since its launch in 2017, City to Sea's Refill campaign has spurred dozens of big and small businesses to offer free water bottle refills. To mark National Refill Day 2019, edie explores the impact of the campaign to date.
War on Plastic with Hugh and Anita: 'Hidden' plastics placed in the spotlight
Episode two of the BBC's War on Plastic series on Tuesday night (17 June) saw presenters Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Anita Rani take a deeper delve into the UK's plastics addiction, exposing invisible plastic particles from unexpected sources. Could this be the start of a war on microplastics?
Coca-Cola GB launches its first 100% recycled plastic bottles
Coca-Cola's Great Britain arm has launched its first fully recyclable plastic bottles made using 100% recycled PET (rPET), under its Glaceau Smartwater brand.
War on Plastic with Hugh and Anita: How are companies tackling plastics in the bathroom?
Tonight's (17 June) episode of the BBC's War On Plastic will focus on single-use plastics in the bathroom, covering the stark environmental impacts of the packaging used for (and in) our toiletries and cosmetics. Here, edie explores what actions companies within those industries have taken to help solve the plastics puzzle.
G20 launch new framework for combating marine plastic pollution
Environment ministers representing the G20 block of nations have agreed to a new framework tackling ocean plastic waste.
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.
Fujitsu to phase out plastic cups, straws, bottles and bags
Multinational IT equipment and services giant Fujitsu has unveiled a sweeping new set of plastics reduction pledges, covering bags, drinks bottles, cups, straws and other packaging.
War on Plastic with Hugh and Anita: Supermarkets brace for further backlash on packaging
During the first episode of the BBC's much-anticipated War on Plastic last night (10 June), presenters Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Anita Rani shed fresh light on the UK's plastics waste problem - placing the so-called "Big Seven" supermarkets under increased scrutiny over their approach to packaging.
Business giants launch plastics 'credit' scheme to tackle pollution
Danone, Veolia, Nestlé and Tetra Pak have jointly launched a global initiative aimed at standardising and accelerating corporate action on plastics, in a bid to help businesses align plastic reductions with economic and social sustainability.
Sainsbury's removes plastic bags from produce and bakery aisles
Sainsbury's has pledged to remove all single-use plastic bags from its fruit, vegetable and produce lines by September, in what it claims will be a first for a UK supermarket.
Gatwick hosts UK's first airport-based reusable coffee cup trial
The UK's first airport reusable coffee cup trial gets under way this week at Gatwick, offering passengers the opportunity to borrow and return refillable cups in a bid to help cut waste and tackle "throwaway" culture.
Estée Lauder to develop refillable packaging as part of circular economy drive
US-based cosmetics giant Estée Lauder has vowed to develop reusable and refillable packaging by 2025, as part of a sweeping new set of resource efficiency commitments.
Keurig Dr Pepper sets sweeping new plastics packaging targets
US-based food and beverage giant Keurig Dr Pepper has committed to making 100% of its plastic packaging recyclable or compostable by 2025, as part of a new corporate responsibility strategy.
Canary Wharf becomes world's first plastic-free commercial centre
London's Canary Wharf has today (5 June) become the first commercial centre in the world to be awarded Plastic Free Community status by marine charity Surfers Against Sewage, one year after its managing body Canary Wharf Group launched its flagship plastic reduction scheme.
Fashion retailers team up to trial new closed-loop business models
A coalition of fashion retailers including Ted Baker are set to pilot more resource-efficient business models, such garment repair, resale and rental, to determine whether they are economically viable solutions to the sector's waste challenges.
One year on: How has WRAP's UK Plastics Pact changed corporate approaches to single-use plastic?
Last April, a coalition of 42 businesses jointly committed to make unnecessary single-use plastic packaging "a thing of the past". Here, edie rounds up the impact that this commitment, made as part of WRAP's Plastic Pact, has had on resource management.
Plastic straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers to be banned in England
Plastic straws and drink stirrers, and cotton buds with plastic stems will be banned from sale and use in England from next April, the UK Government has confirmed.
Morrisons rolls out plastic-free fruit and veg offering nationwide
Supermarket giant Morrisons will roll out packaging-free fruit and veg across 60 of its UK stores this summer, following a successful trial at three of its stores.
Sustainable business in action: edie launches flagship Mission Possible 2019 report
edie has today (21 May) published its flagship 'Mission Possible: 2019' report mapping out the future of sustainable business, featuring contributions from an array of renowned sustainability pioneers including Paul Polman and Steve Howard, along with senior representatives from the likes of BT, Carlsberg, The Climate Group and We Mean Business.
Mission Possible: The 2019 report
This exclusive edie report showcases world-leading and potentially game-changing examples of sustainability in action across the Mission Possible campaign's five pillars: Energy, Resources, Mobility, The Built Environment and Business Leadership.
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.
Business giants join new WWF-led scheme to boost plastics action
Starbucks, The Coca-Cola Company and McDonald's are among a coalition of corporates to have joined a new scheme aimed at helping businesses to translate their plastic reduction pledges into measurable impacts.
How Farfetch is uniting designers, retailers and shoppers to create a circular fashion economy
EXCLUSIVE: Digital fashion platform Farfetch has been serious about the circular economy since its foundation. But amid growing demands for more ambitious action on waste, its chief sustainability officer has told edie that the firm now views resale and repair as an "amazing commercial opportunity".
Business giants sign new government-led pledge to halve food waste by 2030
A coalition of big-name businesses from across the food and drink sector, including Nestle and Waitrose & Partners, have today (13 May) made a joint commitment to halve their food waste outputs by 2030, in line with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
TerraCycle: Recycling alone won't tackle 'root cause' of plastics waste crisis
EXCLUSIVE: Despite creating a business model built on offerings of recycling solutions to solving the world's plastic pollution crisis, TerraCycle's general manager for Europe claims it will only ever form part of any closed-loop system.
Sainsbury's to remove black plastic packaging by March 2020
Supermarket Sainsbury's has committed to remove all black plastic packaging from its own-brand products by March 2020, as part of a sweeping new set of plastic reduction pledges.
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.
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.
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.
The Big Brexit Questions: edie analyses green impact of EU exit with series of mini-podcasts
With MPs having failed to agree on a Withdrawal Agreement ahead of the 29 March deadline, the UK's green economy is continuing to ask questions about when and how we will exit the EU, and what impact this will have on business. edie has therefore launched a new series of podcast episodes exploring what Brexit will really mean for key environmental areas, in under 15 minutes.
Australia's largest Coca-Cola bottler to launch 100% recycled plastic bottles this year
Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has pledged to double the amount of recycled plastic it sources for inclusion in plastic bottle production, after green campaigners criticised parent firm The Coca-Cola Company for its continued use of high quantities of virgin plastics.
How Lucozade's seaweed sachet trials are spurring lasting behavior change around plastics
EXCLUSIVE: Following a successful pilot at two races last summer, Lucozade Ribena Suntory (LRS) last week confirmed that it will hand out 30,000 drinks in edible seaweed sachets at this year's London Marathon. But will these events generate lasting changes to consumer behaviour surrounding plastics?
Unilever launches 100% recycled and recyclable washing up liquid bottle
Unilever has launched a fully recyclable plastic bottle made from 100% recycled content under its soap brand Sunlight, marking a first for the consumer goods firm's South African arm.
Ikea reveals mixed progress towards 'climate-positive' and circular economy goals
The world's largest furniture retailer has revealed that 70% of the materials used to make its products during 2018 were either renewable or recycled, as it strives to reach the 100% mark by 2030.
European parliament votes to ban single-use plastics
The European parliament has voted to ban single-use plastic cutlery, cotton buds, straws and stirrers as part of a sweeping law against plastic waste that despoils beaches and pollutes oceans.
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.
HP pledges to make all printed pages 'forest positive'
HP will help customers transition to a low-carbon and resource-efficient future, after pledging that every page printed using an HP printer will be "forest positive".
UK's first nationwide recycling scheme for plastic six pack rings unveiled
Plastic six pack ring producer Hi-Cone has partnered with recycling firm TerraCycle to launch the UK's first national recycling scheme for the packaging.
Aldi targets plastic glitter phase-out by 2020
Supermarket chain Aldi has pledged to remove plastic glitter from 100% of its own-brand products by 2020, starting with its Halloween 2019 range.
UN launches global alliance to combat fast fashion's biggest sustainability challenges
The United Nations (UN) has launched a new alliance aimed at uniting businesses to combat the fashion sector's biggest environmental and social challenges, including waste, carbon emissions and modern slavery.
Aldi removes plastic packaging from fresh vegetable lines
Aldi has removed the flexible plastic wrapping from five of its fresh vegetable lines in its Scottish stores, in a bid to explore consumer attitudes to loose produce.
Walkers collects 500,000 crisp packets in recycling scheme
Walkers has posted the first update on its nationwide crisp packet recycling scheme, revealing that more than 500,000 packets have been collected since its launch in December 2018.
Business giants unveil new plastics pledges after joining global Ellen MacArthur Foundation commitment
A coalition of more than 150 businesses has revealed new pledges to reduce their plastics use and waste, after joining the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's new Global Commitment, which was launched late last year.
Nestlé backs P&G's closed-loop solution for plastics
Food and beverage giant Nestlé has partnered with the developer of Procter & Gamble's (P&G) plastics innovation concept, in a bid to bring an emerging technology which restores recycled plastic streams to 'near-virgin' quality to market.
Resource extraction responsible for half world's carbon emissions
Extraction industries are responsible for half of the world's carbon emissions and more than 80% of biodiversity loss, according to the most comprehensive environmental tally undertaken of mining and farming.
Brewer Anheuser-Busch agrees sustainable rice deal
American brewer Anheuser-Busch has partnered with a firm to enable sustainable rice production for use in its beverages.
How to build a sustainability culture within the construction industry
Following edie's insight report on the construction industry, a one-hour webinar, sponsored by Reconomy, brought together industry experts, focusing on how they embedded sustainability cultures within their firms - and how they plan to take forward their agendas.
Corporates yet to take responsibility for role in the plastics crisis, report warns
Despite a fresh wave of commitments from corporates to reduce their plastic footprint or ban certain single-use items, the wider business community is still failing to accept responsibility for the plastic pollution it produces by placing the onus on consumers.
Amazon launches box 'grouping' service to slash packaging and emissions
Online retailer Amazon has launched a service that enables customers to choose a set delivery day and 'group' their orders, which will help the company reduce its packaging footprint and optimise its delivery routes.
Sky partners with Ambienta to spur corporate funding for projects tackling ocean plastic
Broadcaster Sky's Ocean Ventures arm has forged a partnership with European investment fund Ambienta to help drive investment into projects targeting plastic pollution across all levels of the value chain.
UK cafés and restaurants pilot lunchbox refill scheme to slash plastics waste
Dozens of independent cafés and fast food restaurants across the UK will allow customers to bring their own reusable lunchboxes as part of a pilot scheme aimed at reducing reliance on single-use plastic food packaging.
SC Johnson launches industry-first 100% ocean plastic bottle
Home cleaning product manufacturer SC Johnson has developed the industry's first plastic bottle made entirely from recycled ocean plastic for its Windex cleaning brand.
World's deepest waters becoming 'ultimate sink' for plastic waste
The world's deepest ocean trenches are becoming "the ultimate sink" for plastic waste, according to a study that reveals contamination of animals even in these dark, remote regions of the planet.
Iceland removes plastic packaging from fresh produce lines in 'greengrocer' scheme
Supermarket Iceland is trialing the removal of plastic packaging from its fruit and vegetable lines at one of its largest UK stores, in a bid to gauge whether consumers are willing to buy loose produce.
Cross-party MPs back call for nationwide ban on single-use plastics by 2025
A group of MPs from across the political spectrum have given their backing to a new draft bill on plastic pollution, which calls for all "non-essential" single-use plastics to be banned across the UK by 2025.
Business giants team up to combat plastic pollution 'leaks'
Adidas, Dow Chemical Company and McDonald's are among the 18 big-name businesses to have co-founded a new alliance aimed at creating frameworks to measure, map and reduce plastic and microplastic pollution across the globe.
Lidl's community food redistribution scheme surpasses 58,000 meals in Manchester
Since moving to donate surplus food directly from its stores to local community causes last February, Lidl has provided more than 58,000 meals to those in need in Manchester, the supermarket has revealed.
Big-name supermarkets to use innovative blast freezers in fight against food waste
Sainsbury's, Aldi and Marks and Spencer (M&S) are among a group of big-name supermarkets to back an innovative new 'blast freeze' technology which enables surplus stock to be frozen rapidly, ready for redistribution.
edie's Plastics Thinkathon results (Part One): The Lazy Lunch and shampoo bars
With businesses continuing to make plastic-reduction pledges in the face of ever-growing stakeholder pressure, edie recently hosted the world's first 'Plastics Thinkathon' to co-create scalable solutions to the issue. In this two-part feature, Sarah George reveals the potentially game-changing results.
Aldi launches new regional redistribution scheme in bid to slash food waste
Discount supermarket chain Aldi is set to directly donate surplus food from 24 of its UK stores to local charities after partnering with product redistribution platform Neighbourly.
Asics to host fashion recycling schemes at large-scale sporting events
Asics is set to run a garment recycling scheme across eight of the largest European running events that it sponsors, in a bid to slash its carbon footprint and encourage consumer behaviour change.
Adidas to double production of ocean plastic trainers in 2019
Sportswear giant Adidas has confirmed that it will produce more than twice as many pairs of trainers made using ocean plastic this year than it did in 2018, as consumer demand for products and packaging free from virgin plastic grows.
Scotland's first coffee cup recycling scheme launched in Glasgow
Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful has launched what it claims is the nation's first coffee cup recycling initiative in Glasgow, where 95 million disposable cups are used annually.
M&S rolls out in-store take-back scheme for hard-to-recycle plastics
Retail giant Marks & Spencer (M&S) has pledged to install take-back bins for hard-to-recycle plastics across the UK by the end of the year, after launching a new plastics recycling scheme this week.
Ben & Jerry's pledges to ban all single-use plastics by 2020
Ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has pledged to remove all single-use plastic items and packaging from its products and stores by the end of 2020, replacing them with biodegradable or compostable alternatives.
Samsung to remove all virgin plastic from consumer-facing packaging
South Korean technology firm Samsung has pledged to phase out all virgin plastic components from its consumer-facing packaging lines within the first half of 2019.
Morrisons tests customer appetite for plastic-free shopping in paper bag trial
Supermarket giant Morrisons has this week launched a trial of US-style paper grocery bags, in a bid to gauge consumer attitudes to plastic-free options at the checkout.
Waitrose to invest £1m in innovative projects tackling plastic waste
Retailer Waitrose & Partners has today (28 January) launched a new £1m grant scheme which will funnel investment into projects and products aimed at tackling the global plastic pollution problem.
In numbers: The global extent of marine plastic pollution
New research into the extent of the world's plastics pollution problem, which lays bare the environmental consequences of plastic waste entering oceans and waterways, has just been published. Here, edie rounds up the key facts and figures.
KFC pledges to remove all single-use plastic packaging by 2025
Fast food chain KFC has pledged to remove all single-use plastic items from its range of consumer-facing packaging by 2025, in a bid to minimise its waste output.
Tesco launches community cookery school in food redistribution drive
Supermarket giant Tesco, food redistribution firm FareShare and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver have teamed up to launch a community education programme teaching members of the public how to minimise food waste.
Davos 2019: Circular economy opportunities and everything else you may have missed
Over the past few days, sustainability professionals have been bombarded with reports and announcements as more than 3,000 business leaders, policymakers, thought leaders and Matt Damon gathered in Davos for the World Economic Forum (WEF). This round-up highlights the key talking points that you need to know.
Circular food 'revolution' could unlock $2.7trn per year, Ellen MacArthur study finds
Embedding circular economy principles within the global agri-food sector could contribute $2.7trn (£2.1trn) to the global economy through decreased healthcare and environmental restoration costs, a new Ellen MacArthur Foundation report has concluded.
Consumer goods giants team up to launch 'zero-waste' refill service
Unilever, Procter & Gamble (P&G) and PepsiCo are among the 24 corporate co-founders of a new 'waste-free' retail platform, whereby businesses will provide product refills while retaining ownership of their reusable packaging.
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.
Top 10 tips to eliminate single-use plastics from your business
During a plastic-themed webinar late last week, representatives from Sky, Cranswick, Aquafil and A Plastic Planet gave their advice for professionals looking to eliminate single-use plastics from their organisations. Here, edie rounds up their key takeaways.
Highland Spring rolls out UK's first 100% recycled water bottle
Scottish water brand Highland Spring has confirmed that it will make the UK's first water bottle made with 100% recycled plastic a permanent part of its range, following a successful trial.
Bubble barriers and 'naked' shampoo: Six of the best innovations for tackling plastics pollution
Following the launch of our Mission Possible Plastics Hub this week, edie has rounded up some of the ground-breaking innovations which could help businesses and nations ramp up their efforts to tackle the perils of plastic pollution, once and for all.
M&S removes plastic packaging and 'best-before' dates from produce
Retail giant Marks & Spencer (M&S) has begun trialling dozens of plastic-free fruit and vegetable lines without 'best-before' date stickers, in a bid to reduce consumer packaging and food waste outputs.
Nestlé set to launch its first plastic-free packaging in 2019
Food and beverage giant Nestlé has published a sweeping string of new sustainable packaging commitments, including plans for its first plastic-free packaging, and achieving 'plastic-neutrality'.
UK's first national recycling scheme launched for contact lenses
Consumer goods giant Johnson & Johnson has teamed up with Boots Opticians and recycling firm Terracycle to launch the first UK-wide recycling scheme for contact lenses and their packaging.
Lush to open UK's first plastic-free cosmetics store in Manchester
Health and beauty brand Lush has unveiled plans to open its first plastic-free shop in the UK this week, following the success of its 'naked' stores in Germany and Italy.
Defra launches £5m food redistribution scheme to help businesses slash waste
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has today (11 January) launched a new £5m scheme aimed at helping UK businesses to redistribute surplus food and minimise their food waste outputs.
Crunch time for crisp makers as EU waste targets loom
The European Commission has set an EU-wide objective for all packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2030. But crisp packets are a particular headache for policymakers and the recycling industry because they are so small and lightweight.
Canary Wharf Group launches AI-based app to help spur plastics action
London-based property giant Canary Wharf Group (CWG) has launched a smartphone app which uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning to encourage visitors to its estate to minimise their plastic waste footprint.
Iceland collects more than 300,000 plastic bottles in reverse vending trial
Frozen food retailer Iceland has unveiled the results of its trial of an in-store deposit return scheme for plastic bottles, revealing that the scheme has captured more than 300,000 bottles since its launch in May 2018.
Ribena to launch lightweight bottles made from 100% recycled plastic
Soft drinks firm Lucozade Ribena Suntory (LRS) is set to launch a lightweight redesign of its Ribena bottles in the new year, in a bid to further reduce its plastic output.
Danone partners with Ecosurety to reduce reliance on export packaging recovery notes
Consumer goods giant Danone's UK arm has partnered with waste compliance organisation Ecosurety in a bid to improve the nation's recycling infrastructure and boost transparency around its resource and waste management efforts.
Costa: PRN reform, not latte levy, needed to tackle coffee cup waste
A reform to the UK's Producer Responsibility Obligation (PRO) framework and Packaging Recovery Note (PRN) system would accelerate the shift to a circular economy more effectively than a 'latte levy', Costa's energy & environment manager Oliver Rosevear has claimed.
UK's first national crisp packet recycling scheme launched by Walkers
The UK’s largest crisp brand has this week launched a UK-wide crisp packet recycling scheme, after partnering with TerraCycle to develop a recycling solution for the packaging.
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.
3M commits to design all new products with 'built-in' sustainability value
Multinational consumer goods, healthcare and industry firm 3M has today (6 December) unveiled a new requirement for all products it releases from January 2019 to be designed with "sustainability value" built in.
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.
Mars seeking ‘industry-wide’ recycling solution after pet food packaging scheme launch
EXCLUSIVE: Consumer goods giant Mars is exploring the possibility of developing nationwide packaging takeback schemes for its food and drinks packaging, after successfully developing such a programme for its petfood pouches.
Costa launches reusable coffee cup with contactless payment technology
On-the-go food and drink giant Costa Coffee is stocking a reusable coffee cup with a contactless payment chip across its UK stores, in a bid to incentivise customers to reduce their takeaway cup consumption.
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.
Is the fashion industry about to have its 'plastics moment'?
With MPs urging clothing brands to disclose impacts, consumers increasingly protesting "fast fashion" and documentaries on the true cost of cheap garments emerging at a pace, edie explores whether the fashion industry is set to have its "plastics moment".
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.
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