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Meet edie's 2019 Sustainable Supply Chain champions: Thai Union and WWF
With entries now open for edie's Sustainability Leaders Awards 2020, this new feature series showcases the achievements of the 2019 winners and reveals their secrets to success. Up next: The winners of our 2019 Sustainable Supply Chains Award, Thai Union and WWF.
Investing in food waste prevention can provide financial boost for restaurants, study finds
Restaurants that actively invest in measures to reduce food waste can unlock new economic revenue streams, as a new report from a coalition of major organisations reveals that for every $1 spent on food loss prevention, restaurants can save $7 in operating costs.
Energy innovation: Delivering the smart grid of the future, today
The mission is clear: we must accelerate the shift to zero-carbon energy systems in order to slash emissions and mitigate global warming. But this mission IS possible: renewable energy costs are tumbling and new approaches to energy management such as battery storage and demand response are offering new ways for organisations to operate more sustainably.
Three-quarters of UK businesses 'reconsidering their environmental credentials due to Covid-19'
In a survey of 500 UK-based business decision-makers, almost three-quarters (72%) said that the pandemic has made them reconsider the environmental credentials of their organisation.
Fast fashion giants face mounting pressure to protect supply chain workers through Covid-19
Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists are gathering on London's Oxford Street this week to urge fast fashion brands to financially support suppliers overseas throughout the pandemic, as media exposés drawing links between Leicester's Covid-19 spike and its garment manufacturing industry emerge.
#SustyTalk: PepsiCo's Chris Daly on climate action in the time of Covid-19
edie's #SustyTalk interview series continues with PepsiCo Europe's vice president for supply chain, Chris Daly, who provides insight as to how the food & beverage sector is managing the twin challenges of Covid-19 and climate action.
Lucozade Ribena Suntory targets net-zero value chain by 2050
Beverage giant Lucozade Ribena Suntory (LRS) has pledged to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its entire multinational value chain by mid-century.
'Good all round': Exploring Innocent Drinks' first sustainability report
EXCLUSIVE: Innocent drinks has launched its first "good all round" report, the company's innovative take on the traditional sustainability report outlining progress against its carbon-neutral, circular economy and staff engagement ambitions.
Kimberly-Clark vows to halve emissions by 2030
Kimberly-Clark has pledged to halve its direct, power-related and supply chain emissions by 2030, as part of a string of new climate targets approved by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).
World Rainforest Day: Dozens of retailers commit to deforestation-free fashion supply chains
Ralph Lauren, Ted Baker, Sainsbury's and Asda are among a coalition of 45 major businesses jointly pledging to eliminate deforestation from their fashion supply chains, as part of a collaborative initiative coordinated by non-profit Canopy.
Unilever launches €1bn climate and nature fund, targets net-zero emissions by 2039
Consumer goods giant Unilever has unveiled a new set of sustainability commitments, pledging to end its contribution to deforestation, promote regenerative agriculture, transition to biodegradable ingredients and reach net-zero emissions for products by 2039 - all supported by a new €1bn Climate and Nature fund.
World's largest ICT companies failing to tackle human rights abuses in supply chains
In a new analysis of how the world's 49 largest ICT businesses are protecting against human rights abuses in their supply chains, the average score is just 30%.
Google partners with WWF on digital data platform for sustainable fashion sourcing
Google has joined forces with WWF to develop an environmental data platform for sourcing professionals in the fashion industry, providing them information on the pollution and emissions impact of their business decisions.
AB InBev launches sustainable supplier platform
The world's largest brewer, AB InBev has unveiled a new supplier forum to assist with environmental stewardship across the value chain, giving suppliers the option to receive educational materials to help reduce emissions and lower water usage.
Coronavirus: Is this the beginning of the end for the 'self-sabotaging' meat sector?
The coronavirus could end up being the "straw that breaks the meat industry's back" with a new report warning that almost three-quarters of the world's largest meat, fish and dairy companies are at high risk from an array of criteria that could spark future pandemics.
BT launches innovation platform and UK electric fleet alliance
BT has today (1 June) launched two new platforms to help accelerate green innovation in the UK and drive the adoption of electric vehicle (EV) fleets, both of which the tech giant believes will contribute to a green post-Covid19 recovery for the UK.
O2 targets e-waste with new Klyk partnership
O2 has agreed to a new partnership with technology refurbishment start-up Klyk to tackle the growing issue of electronic waste (e-waste) in the sector.
Tate & Lyle to cut emissions by 30% by 2030
Food and drink ingredient supplier Tate & Lyle has published a new set of environmental targets, pledging to reduce operational emissions by 30% by 2030 and a 15% reduction in value chain emissions.
Iceland cuts food waste by 23%, aims for 50% reduction by 2030
Retailer Iceland has revealed it has reduced food waste by almost a quarter in the past two years, having reduced wastage by around 2,500 tonnes through redistribution schemes as the company targets a 50% reduction by 2030.
Conde Nast to become carbon-neutral by 2030
Global fashion media company Conde Nast, which owns brands including Vogue and GQ, has committed to becoming a carbon-neutral company by 2030 while committing to educate its audience on the climate emergency.
Number of companies requesting supplier environment data jumps by a quarter
The number of companies calling on their supplier to disclose environmental data to CDP has increased by 24% in a year, with more than 150 organisations now taking proactive steps to gain more understanding of the environmental impacts of their supply chains.
The decentralised energy toolkit for business
This free Decentralised Energy Toolkit breaks down how organisations can utilise distributed energy solutions to take control of their energy use and realise various competitive and environmental benefits – from increased energy resilience and better efficiency to reduced emissions, lower costs and new revenue streams.
Sustainable Business Covered podcast: Engagement, communicating and sustainability reporting
Episode 85 of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast takes place during a week of action around sustainability engagement. As such, edie speaks to experts from Nespresso, Thai Union and Mondi on how to engage with supply chains and excel at sustainability reporting.
#SustyTalk: AB InBev's Ezgi Barcenas on sustainability innovation during lockdown
edie's #SustyTalk interview series continues with brewer AB InBev's global vice president for sustainability Ezgi Barcenas discussing how the supply chain engagement will change as a result of the coronavirus and how innovation can help unlock a new green economy.
Why science, society and sustainability will matter more for business post-pandemic
Ball Corporation's President for Beverage Packaging Europe, Middle East & Africa, Ron Lewis outlines his thoughts on why sustainability will continue to be an important boardroom topic post-pandemic, and why a focus on society and the environment will be a focus moving forward.
Greene King reaches zero-waste-to-landfill status
Greene King has become the first UK pub chain to achieve the Carbon Trust’s Zero Waste to Landfill Standard, after diverting all waste streams away from landfill across its 1,700 managed pubs.
Yorkshire Tea achieves carbon-neutral certification for operations and products
Yorkshire Tea has announced that all its products are carbon neutral from field to shelf, following a five-year programme to reduce emissions across its supply chain and operations.
Allbirds running shoe made from renewable materials to feature 'carbon count' label
B Corp Allbirds has debuted a new running shoe made from renewable and natural materials and is the first product from the company to feature a physical "carbon count" label, detailing the lifecycle emissions of the product to consumers.
Jacobs and CMS UK unveil net-zero targets
Engineering firm Jacobs has unveiled a new climate action plan that commits the company to reach net-zero emissions across operations and business travel by the end of the year, while UK law firm CMS has set a net-zero target for 2025, backed by science-based targets.
Refinitiv, JLL and Ball unveil 1.5C science-based carbon commitments
Refinitiv has committed to setting science-based targets to reduce emissions in alignment with the Paris Agreement, while manufacturer Ball and real estate firm JLL have confirmed that their targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
John Lewis unveils sustainable womenswear collection
John Lewis & Partners has teamed up with luxury sustainable womenswear brand Mother of Pearl to launch a new sustainable clothing collection made from organic cotton and certified renewable wood fibre sources.
Coronavirus and globalisation: What next for supply chain sustainability?
Covid-19 has brought global economies to a standstill and knocked the confidence in global and connected trade. Would businesses benefit from pivoting to more localised value chains, or do global supply chains enable a global shift towards a climate-resilient future?
Six key areas of focus for sustainability professionals during lockdown
It's been almost a month since the UK Government introduced lockdown measures in response to Covid-19 and has since announced a further three-week extension to social distancing. As such, edie offers some best-practice advice for sustainability professionals to keep focusing on the climate battle during the pandemic.
Available to watch on-demand: Climate-resilient supply chains webinar featuring BT and HPE
edie's latest webinar, focused on how businesses can build sustainable, climate-resilient supply chains featuring expert insight from sustainability professionals from BT, HPE, Project X Global and UL. It is now available to watch on-demand.
Can you eliminate plastic in the workplace?
Back in 2017, WWF-UK pledged to eliminate all unnecessary single-use plastic throughout the organisation. Environmental Manager Lauren Wiseman explains how this year, that target was achieved.
Planetary Computer: Microsoft launches data-driven platform to accelerate global biodiversity efforts
Microsoft has announced the creation of a "Planetary Computer" that will give charities, business and policymakers access to scientific data on how land use, reforestation and other wildlife initiatives can improve biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation, as the company pledges to protect more land than it uses by 2025.
Child labour on the rise in cocoa supply chains
Cases of child labour occurring in the cocoa supply chain are rumoured to have increased by 2% to more than two million children, according to a draft US Government report, while big businesses in the sector have been ranked on approaches to supply chain engagement.
Focusing on people and the planet this Easter
While Easter celebrations will almost certainly be different for many of us this year, it will still be synonymous with chocolate. Cocoa production worldwide hit a record high of 4.85 million tonnes last year and shows little sign of slowing down as, in the face of the pandemic, consumers reach for familiar comforts like chocolate.
AECOM shoots for 20% reduction in emissions through approved science-based targets
Engineering and construction firm AECOM has revealed that targets to reduce operational emissions by 20% and value chain emissions by 10% by 2025 have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as aligned to the requirements of the Paris Agreement.
WBA: Companies with embedded sustainability best-placed to weather coronavirus storm
EXCLUSIVE: Reports of business failures to safeguard employee livelihoods or the environment amid the coronavirus pandemic are emerging at a near-hourly basis - and those best-placed to avoid the impending storm from consumers and investors are those that have already taken ambitious action.
Business giants including Tesco urge ministers to end supply chain deforestation by 2030
Tesco, McDonald's and WWF are among the businesses and NGOs urging the UK Government to set a legally binding 2030 target to end deforestation in agriculture and forest product supply chains.
UK Government publishes statement to tackle modern slavery across its supply chain
The UK has become the first country to publish a statement outlining how the Government will tackle modern slavery across its supply chain and spending measures.
Mondelēz increases transparency drive to combat supply chain deforestation
Mondelēz International, which owns brands including Cadbury and Dairy Milk, has increased a transparency drive on farms in the world's largest two cocoa-producing countries that are registered under the firm's ethical and sustainable sourcing programme.
Calls for Government to secure biomass pipeline during coronavirus outbreak
Associations from the UK's biomass fuel supply chain have called for the UK Government to ensure the sector can continue to deliver low-carbon heating to households and business facilities that are still open and under increased pressure due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Investors write to businesses calling for action on human rights
Hundreds of investors have written to global companies deemed to be performing poorly on human rights indicators, calling for immediate action to improve standards across operations and value chains.
TODAY AT 1PM: Join edie's webinar on achieving net-zero
Readers have only a few hours left to register for edie's net-zero webinar, which will outline some of the key elements in the field of setting goals for net-zero carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.
Chanel sets 1.5C science-based targets, pledges 100% renewable energy
Luxury fashion and fragrance giant Chanel has committed to halve its carbon emissions by 2030, under a new 1.5C-aligned set of sustainability targets.
O2 gives suppliers offer to purchase renewables at reduced rates
Telecommunications giant O2 will extend a reduced rate that is using to purchase renewable energy to power its operations to suppliers in a bid progress against its recently announced net-zero emissions target.
Built environment: Avison Young and St. Modwen set net-zero carbon targets
Real estate advisor Avison Young and housebuilder St. Modwen have become the latest companies in the built environment sector to pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions.
Lidl to use 'ocean-bound' plastics in seafood packaging
Lidl will begin incorporating "ocean-bound" plastics in packaging used to house 13 of its seafood lines next month, in what it claims is a first for a UK supermarket.
Kellogg's revamps deforestation and palm oil policies after environmental protests
Kellogg's has pledged to source 100% physically deforestation-free certified palm oil by 2025, following campaigns by green groups and schoolchildren.
Sir Robert McAlpine targets net-zero emissions by 2024
Building and civil engineering company Sir Robert McAlpine has announced a new public commitment to implement carbon reduction initiatives to reach net-zero emissions in the next five years.
McDonald's and Starbucks back 'smart' reusable cup trials in California
The cities of San Francisco and Palo Alto are set to trial "smart" reusable cup systems developed with support from McDonald's and Starbucks, in a bid to reduce the amount of single-use coffee cups that are being sent to landfill.
Burberry introduces carbon 'insetting' fund
Luxury fashion firm Burberry will create a "regeneration fund" to support a new portfolio of "carbon insetting projects" that aim to deliver regenerative agriculture practices across its supply chain - a move that will see its Autumn/Winter 2020 runway show at London Fashion Week become carbon-neutral.
Partnerships: Re-dressing the sustainability power balance
Moving to environmental sustainability depends on innovation and concerted action through partnerships. And that always means listening to people - in the supply chain, with charities and NGOs - with very different outlooks, objectives and sense of purpose.
Report: Half of world's largest businesses haven't pledged to end supply chain deforestation
Of the 350 corporates and 150 investor bodies with the world's highest involvement in supply chains with high deforestation risks, around half have not publicly committed to eliminate deforestation from their value chains.
Dissecting the challenge: How Sky is approaching its net-zero target
EXCLUSIVE: Sky is facing the daunting task of engaging with 11,000 companies and 24 million customers as part of its new commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030. The group's head of responsible business Fiona Ball outlines how Sky is "dissecting" this target to manage the transformation.
'A critical decade': Sky commits to net-zero emissions by 2030
Broadcaster Sky has today (4 February) unveiled a new commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 through strategies to make its products more energy efficient, its film and TV more sustainable and by engaging consumers and the value chain to "go zero".
Creating a sustainable food system depends on a shared mentality as well as collaboration
Like most industries, food and drink is grappling with how to create a sustainable and, where possible, circular system. At the heart of that challenge is dealing with the huge and extremely complex global food system, which encompasses the way we grow, make and consume food.
From measurement to action: Five best-practice lessons on going plastic-free
Having taken place on 16 January, edie's Plastic-Free Power Hour webinar included a collection of best-practice examples of sector-leading organisations taking control of their plastics-use - and delivering real organisational change. Here, we reflect on the key takeaways from the session.
Fast food firms failing to face up to climate challenges, investment giants warn
Some of the world's biggest fast food brands including Domino's, Chipotle and Burger King are failing to take "real" action on environmental issues including climate change and water.
Brunel Pension Partnership launches new finance strategy to align with net-zero future
The group overseeing £30bn worth of investments for 10 local government pension scheme funds has pledged to align its management practices with the Paris Agreement.
Fishing for Plastic: Asda helps seafood suppliers collect ocean plastic pollution
Asda has unveiled plans to equip all of its seafood suppliers' boats with equipment that will enable workers to collect plastic pollution while bringing in the catch.
'Transformation through transparency': How Microsoft will collaborate to meet its carbon-negative goals
EXCLUSIVE: As it strives to meet its boldest sustainability target to date - becoming "carbon-negative" by 2030 - Microsoft will need to forge innovative collaborations with businesses across and beyond its supply chain.
Priceless Planet: Investor coalition pledges to plant 100 million trees
A group of global investors, including Mastercard, Citibank and Santander UK, have launched a new coalition focused on making investments that preserve and restore the environment, starting with a pledge to plant 100 million trees in the next five years.
Biggest food brands 'failing goals to banish palm oil deforestation'
Some of the world's biggest brands are failing in their commitments to banish deforestation from their supply chains through their use of palm oil, despite making public claims to environmental sustainability, according to two reports.
'Neutral is not enough': Microsoft pledges to become carbon-negative by 2030
Tech giant Microsoft has today (16 January) unveiled a bold new plan to reduce its carbon impact to below net-zero by 2030, with an additional goal of removing carbon from the atmosphere that the company has emitted since it was founded in 1975.
Report: One in five UK businesses not motivated by environmental impact of plastics
Keep Britain Tidy and Brita UK have called on UK businesses to explore behaviour change and staff engagement initiatives to accelerate action on single-use plastics, after their survey found that 20% of businesses are 'not at all' motivated by the environmental impacts of the plastics they use.
Every business has a critical role to play in reducing single-use plastics
In the two years since Blue Planet II ignited interest in the volume of plastic being used and discarded daily, businesses have made real progress in their efforts to eliminate single-use plastics.
Single-use plastics: Two weeks left to register for free online event
Registration is now open for an afternoon of live, interactive webinar presentations and discussions from companies such as Eurostar, Nestlé and Sky on Thursday 16 January - all dedicated to helping businesses collaborate, innovate and actuate to eliminate single-use plastics.
edie's guides to net-zero carbon continues with construction sector
The fourth report in the series of edie guides on net-zero carbon has launched with a focus on the construction sector.
CDP: Corporates could save a gigaton of emissions by championing renewables in supply chains
If key suppliers to the world's largest corporations used 20% more renewable energy than they do at present, one billion metric tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would be mitigated.
The sustainability of Peak: Top tips for reducing your emissions this Christmas
It comes as no surprise that the Peak season is an all-consuming time of year for businesses - and I don't just mean Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The "peak" shopping period, which runs from October to January every year, is one of the busiest times of year for retailers and logistics providers alike.
M&S launches digital viscose map to boost fashion supply chain transparency
Retail giant Marks & Spencer (M&S) has launched a digital map highlighting all textile suppliers through which it sources man-man cellulosic fibres (MMCF) including viscose.
Hydrogen: a critical piece of the net-zero jigsaw?
Earlier this year the UK Government committed to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 through the amended 2008 Climate Change Act (CCA). Professor Joe Howe, chair of the North West Hydrogen Alliance (NWHA) and executive director of the Thornton Energy Institute, looks at how hydrogen is a vital part of the solution.
Ikea to invest £171m in nature and clean power under 'climate positive' pledge
Ikea has today (27 November) unveiled a new €200m (£171m) investment package aimed at helping the retailer deliver on its commitment to become 'climate-positive' by 2030.
Fashion retailers delivering mixed progress on 'damaging' viscose supply chains
High-street retailers New Look and Morrisons have joined the likes of Inditex, ASOS, H&M and Tesco in signing up to a new sustainability roadmap to ensure they are sourcing sustainable viscose that doesn't contribute to environmental pollution, but luxury fashion brands have been named as laggards.
Gucci boss calls on business leaders to deliver net-zero supply chains
Gucci chief executive Marco Bizzarri has called on business leaders to sign up to a Carbon Neutral Challenge that sees businesses deliver greenhouse gas emissions reductions across their entire value chain in order to achieve net-zero emissions.
Report: Food giants must go beyond plant-based products to climate-proof global systems
While one-half of the world's largest food companies are now working to increase investment in plant-based proteins, meat sales are still increasing and action on climate change remains "fragmented and isolated", Forum for the Future has warned.
Target meets 2020 goal to install 500 rooftop solar arrays ahead of schedule
US-based retail giant Target has met its 2020 goal of installing rooftop solar at 500 locations ahead of schedule, as it strives to source 100% renewable electricity across its global operations by 2030.
CDP: Consumer goods giants won't meet 2020 'net-zero' deforestation targets
Despite work by some leading consumer goods companies to eliminate deforestation from their supply chains, broad failures to deploy ambitious forest and land-use practices mean the sector will not meet its 2020 commitment to 'net-zero' deforestation.
Report: More than half of corporates not meeting 'basic requirements' on human rights
A study of 200 of the world's biggest apparel, food & drink, tech manufacture and material extraction firms have found that less than half are able to show they are meeting the UN's Guiding Principles on Human Rights.
Progress over perfection: Can McDonald's design its way out of single-use plastics?
McDonald's vice president of global sustainability Keith Kenny has claimed that the consumer-facing business needs to couple lifecycle analysis of its packaging with consumer demands in order to phase-out plastics in a secure way and without impacting customer experience.
Is embedding sustainability in higher education truly sustainable?
Focusing on reducing carbon footprint on your estate and research into future environmental challenges are very much a given now in higher education, argues Professor Jim Longhurst. But pushing the scope of the agenda to account for all students is an entirely different discussion.
Apple almost doubles green bond offers after £1.7bn fund launch
Apple has issued a new £1.7bn ($2.2bn) green bond offering, nearly doubling its total green bond issuance to almost £3.9bn ($5bn).
The collaborative push for net-zero emissions in the built environment
For Net-Zero November, edie sits down with a mainstay sustainability leader, a disruptive new firm and the organisation coordinating an entire sector to see how the built environment can collaboratively transition to a net-zero economy.
CDP: 80% of companies set to miss 2020 palm oil deforestation goals
Of the 96 corporates currently reporting that they produce, source or use products that contain palm oil from Indonesia to CDP, just one-fifth are set to meet their 2020 deforestation targets surrounding the commodity.
Available to watch on demand: edie's net-zero business webinar
edie's most recent webinar outlined how businesses can engage staff, consumers, stakeholders and suppliers to inspire a global movement towards net-zero emissions, featuring experts from the UK Green Building Council, ITV and International Airlines Group (IAG).
Timberland takes first steps towards 'regenerative' leather supply chain
Outdoor clothing brand Timberland has forged a partnership Other Half Processing - an organisation advocating for 'regenerative' animal supply chains - in a bid to bring products incorporating 'net-positive' leather to market during 2020.
O2 recycles three million mobile devices in a decade
Telecoms company O2 has received more than three million devices as part of a trade-in scheme to boost the recyclability of smartphones, a move that has stopped more than 450 tonnes of phone-related waste from going to landfill.
World's largest seafood firms pledge to tackle abandoned plastic fishing gear
A coalition of ten of the world's biggest seafood companies have joined a scheme connecting businesses, non-profits, scientists and public sector bodies in a bid to tackle the 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear abandoned in the world's oceans each year.
Paris is always a good idea: Why modern slavery needs a proper framework and definition
Dr. Joy Murray, Dr. Arunima Malik and Dr. Darian McBain look at the need for modern slavery to be properly defined on a global level and how effective initiatives to combat it can also have an effect on climate change.
Landsec hits science-based targets 11 years early
Commercial real estate firm Landsec has met its verified science-based target 11 years ahead of schedule, with the company's latest quarterly energy data revealing that carbon intensity has fallen by 40%.
Report: 'Sustainable' seafood in UK supermarkets 'wiping out wild fish stocks'
Farmed seafood sold in British supermarkets is regularly being fed with feed produced using methods which are "stripping the oceans bare and damaging marine ecosystems", a new investigative report has claimed.
'We're up for it': Sky exploring its role in net-zero future
Sky's chief executive Jeremy Darroch has claimed that the company is "figuring out" how it can help push the UK to net-zero emissions before the 2050 deadline.
Paper beer bottles: Carlsberg's bio-based packaging to be shared with corporate giants
EXCLUSIVE: Danish brewer Carlsberg has unveiled prototypes of the world's first beer bottles made from recyclable and bio-based materials, with the company's sustainability director claiming that the innovation could have "endless impact" if upscaled collaboratively by corporates including Coca-Cola and L'Oreal.
How closed-loop supply chains are spurring Apple's decarbonisation efforts
EXCLUSIVE: Apple's vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives Lisa Jackson believes that companies should look at the synergies between the circular economy and decarbonisation in order to create resilient supply chains.
Responsible Jewellery Council joins UN Global Compact to act on SDGs
The Responsible Jewellery Council has forged a new partnership with the UN Global Compact which will see members such as Swarovski, Tiffany & Co and the De Beers Group, develop actions that align and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
edie's guides to net-zero carbon continues with manufacturing sector
The second report in the series of edie guides on net-zero carbon has launched with a focus on the manufacturing sector.
