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Intelligent highways and underground 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 deliver on resource efficiency, low-carbon transitions and combat climate change. Here, edie rounds-up six of the best.
Homes and businesses deliver flexible green energy to Cornwall's Local Energy Market
A fully automated Local Energy Market (LEM) in Cornwall has, for the first time, seen the local Distribution System Operator (DSO) and the National Grid ESO procure flexible green energy from businesses and households simultaneously.
Taking place next week: Scaling up energy reduction strategies in a net-zero world
edie's next webinar will take place on Wednesday 20 November and will focus on the role of energy efficiency, new systems and behaviour change and the part that each can play in helping to deliver a net-zero world.
Google launches incubator for SDG-aligned startups
Google has this week launched a new "accelerator" programme for startups, aimed at supporting new firms striving to drive progress against one or more of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Plans for zero-carbon industrial hub fleshed out in new roadmap
Drax, Equinor and National Grid have published a new roadmap fleshing out their plans to create the world's first zero-carbon industrial hub in the Humber region by 2040.
Google workers call on company to adopt aggressive climate plan
More than 1,000 Google workers have signed a public letter calling on their employer to commit to an aggressive "company-wide climate plan" including the cancellation of contracts with fossil fuel firms and the halting of donations to climate change deniers.
Virgin Media owner unveils plans for 1,200 on-street EV chargers
Telecommunications giant Liberty Global, the owner of Virgin Media, has unveiled detailer around a new project aiming to "revolutionise" on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging in the UK.
UK Government launches business fund to deliver net-zero industrial clusters
The UK Government has opened two innovation funds aimed at helping businesses plan and deploy technology to help reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
Henkel invests in recycling innovation for flexible plastics packaging
Consumer goods giant Henkel has invested in a startup that has developed a recycling technology for flexible plastics packaging which contains aluminium foil, such as crisp packets, juice pouches and single-use toiletry sachets.
Danone partners with The Ocean Cleanup Project to remove plastic pollution from rivers
Evian, through its parent company Danone, has forged a partnership with Dutch startup The Ocean Cleanup Project in order to develop and scale up innovations aimed at "catching" and removing plastic debris from rivers and waterways.
REA: Ofgem failing to realise crucial role of flexibility in reaching net-zero
With the UK's energy system becoming increasingly "democratised" and businesses and individuals generating and selling, as well as buying, energy, regulator Ofgem is not taking sufficient measures to bring about a flexible energy future.
E-sustainability Alliance: Defra launches new coalition championing green IT
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a new initiative bringing together businesses, NGOs and policymakers in a joint ambition to making the UK's information technology (IT) sector more sustainable.
Amazon launches three major renewables projects
Amazon has announced three major renewable energy deals, including the largest corporate wind power purchase agreement in Europe, as it pushes towards a goal to source 100% renewable energy across its global operations by 2030.
Sustainability 2.0 roundtable: What's stopping businesses from investing in green innovations?
In an era of unparalleled technological advancements - and with the UK's net-zero target looming - businesses of all sizes can reap rewards from investing in scalable technologies with positive social and environmental impacts. So, what's stopping UK plc identifying and investing in green innovations?
Available to watch on demand: edie's webinar on electric vehicles
Speakers from UPS, Nottingham City Council and Centrica Business Solutions appeared on edie's webinar on Tuesday (22 October) to discuss game-changing developments to business efforts to increase the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs). It is now available to watch on-demand.
BP invests £19.5m in innovative pilot plant for 'unrecyclable' plastics
BP's Petrochemicals arm has unveiled plans for a multi-million dollar investment in an innovative recycling technology designed to create a second life for "previously unrecyclable" packaging.
Irish homes to form 'virtual power plant' with solar and battery storage
Irish utility Energia and technology firm Moixa have partnered to in a bid to create a 120 kWh 'virtual power plant' (VPP), consisting of home smart batteries, rooftop solar and electric vehicles (EVs).
Government consults on green license plates for electric vehicles
The UK Government has launched a consultation on introducing green license plates for electric vehicles (EVs) to make them easily recognisable and gain access to benefits such as cheaper parking and access to bus lanes.
Renewable energy to expand by 50% in next five years - report
Global supplies of renewable electricity are growing faster than expected and could expand by 50% in the next five years, powered by a resurgence in solar energy.
UK airline industry calls on Government to spur sector to net-zero
The industry body for UK airlines believes that a renewed partnership with the Government can help the sector achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, as long as investment opportunities into green technologies are created.
Sustainable Business Covered podcast: A circular economy technology tour with HPE
For episode 73 of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast, edie reporter Sarah George takes a tour of Hewlett Packard Enterprises' (HPE) Technology Renewal Centre in Scotland - a facility helping to tackle e-waste by refurbishing and recycling retired business tech.
Cargill, Maersk Tankers and Mitsui & Co team up on 'over-the-shelf' emissions technology for shipping
Food and agribusiness Cargill has launched a collaborative partnership with shipping firm Maersk Tankers and logistics firm Mitsui & Co to trial and develop fuel-saving technologies aimed at lowering emissions in the shipping sector.
Northern Powergrid trials EV energy storage technology
Northern Powergrid has announced it will run an energy storage trial involving electric vans in order to restore power to customers during a power cut.
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.
Google's city emissions tool expands into Europe
Google's online emissions dataset tool to help city planners build policies to lower emissions has launched across Europe today, with Dublin, Krakow, Birmingham, and the greater metropolitan area of Manchester set to use it to assist with planning developments.
Bloomberg and mayors call for Global Green New Deal to 'marry economy and ecology'
The Mayors of cities including Los Angeles, Copenhagen and Paris have issued a rallying call for the adoption of a Global Green New Deal that recognises the threat of the climate emergency and strives to transition to a low-carbon future through a fair and just transition.
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.
Massive wind turbines and microplastic weather forecasts: The best green innovations of the week
Every week, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations are being developed to help businesses and nations turn their green ambitions into actions. Here, we round up six of the best.
Total signs cleantech deal to produce hydrogen at refineries
French energy giant Total has signed a cooperation agreement with the Sunfire cleantech company to integrate capture waste heat and CO2 at a German refinery to create synthetic methanol and hydrogen to be used to reduce energy and transport emissions.
Capgemini turns to AI to fix food supply chain sustainability
Business consulting giant Capgemini has launched a project which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to support farmers in improving environmental practices on their land.
E-waste: Can businesses solve the world's fastest-growing domestic waste stream?
edie reporter Sarah George places the world's fastest-growing domestic waste stream, e-waste, under the microscope, and investigates how businesses are tackling the global phenomenon.
Billions wanted: Report sets net-zero price as Siemens aims for £100bn green project pipeline
Technology firm Siemens has signed an agreement with a coalition of 94 local authority political leaders across the UK to help unlock green investment towards clean energy projects, as a new report warns that up to £20bn may be required annually to deliver the UK's net-zero commitment.
RWE to become carbon-neutral by 2040
German utilities giant RWE has unveiled a new strategy to transform itself into a carbon-neutral company by 2040 by funnelling billions into renewables projects, decommissioning existing coal-fired plants and backing carbon capture and storage technology.
World Green Building Week: Ten of Europe's most eye-catching sustainable buildings
To mark World Green Building Week, edie is showcasing ten European buildings with best-practice sustainability credentials.
Report: Batteries could cut global transport and power emissions by 30%
A rapid acceleration of battery uptake among the global transport and power sectors could slash their collective annual emissions by 30% by 2030, a new report has concluded.
Three learnings on circular innovation
Moving to a circular economy requires new thinking, unprecedented creativity and invention, but how do you practically harness this in innovation projects? Chris Sherwin introduces three recent learnings in this hands-on innovation blog.
Google, Ikea, make major new renewable energy investments
Ingka Group - the largest retailer within Ikea's franchise system - has confirmed that it is on track to exceed its renewable energy targets after a string of recent investments, in the same week that Google has made its biggest renewable energy purchase to date.
Net-zero cities can unlock $24tn opportunity, report finds
Investment into readily available technologies could reduce emissions from cities by 90% by 2050, while creating a global economic benefit worth almost $24trn (£19trn), a new report has claimed.
Zero-emission planes and boats that double as microgrids: The best green innovations of the week
Every week, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations are being developed to help businesses and nations turn their green ambitions into actions. Here, we round up six of the best.
Nissan and EDF partner to launch V2G EV charging offer for businesses
Nissan and EDF have signed an agreement to collaboratively develop and launch a "smart" electric vehicle (EV) charging package for businesses, including vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capacity.
Subsidy-free solar 'coming of age' thanks to battery technology
Subsidy-free solar projects are "coming of age" thanks to the falling costs and flexibility of co-located battery storage technology, according to a new report which claims that more than 5GW of solar capacity could be deployed in the UK without subsidies by 2030.
World's biggest mobile operators vow climate disclosure in first step towards net-zero
BT Group and Vodafone Group are among a coalition of 50+ mobile operators to have agreed to begin publicly disclosing their climate impacts.
New initiative to help business minimise climate impacts of cooling
The Climate Group has launched a new initiative aimed at helping businesses to improve the energy efficiency of their cooling processes and to decarbonise their cooling systems.
Unilever turns to interactive mapping to boost tea supply chain transparency
Unilever has publicly published a full list of its global tea suppliers for the first time, along with a new interactive map to help customers understand its supply chain processes.
M&S showcases vertical farming at London store
Marks & Spencer (M&S) has installed vertical farming technology at one of its busiest London stores, in a bid to engage shoppers with the ways in which farmers are innovating in light of climate challenges.
Why we need a human-centred approach for a successful energy transition
A transition often implies a need for various technological, regulatory and business developments - new business models, engineering advances and cheaper, greener solutions. However, it is often forgotten that it is people who are the real drivers behind any change.
Energy managers cynical about Government's net-zero targets, edie's new survey reveals
The second edie Business Barometer of energy managers, supported by Centrica Business Solutions, revealed a sector that was cynical of the Government's policy objectives - but are not concerned about Brexit.
Meet the Sustainability Leader: Rising Star, Charlie Jardine
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 winner of our Rising Sustainability Star award, Charlie Jardine.
EU auto industry forms unlikely alliance with NGO on electric cars
Long-time adversaries Transport & Environment and ACEA have signed a partnership to accelerate the roll-out of electric vehicle charging points, as the auto industry seeks to rebrand with a focus on digital and electric.
Cement giant Heidelberg throws weight behind CCS
Heidelberg Cement has signed a memorandum of understanding with multinational energy giant Equinor, in a bid to scale up its efforts in the field of carbon capture and storage (CCS).
UK-based battery innovations bag £55m in Government funding
The Faraday Institution has confirmed plans to split a £55m funding pot between five UK-based research and development projects surrounding battery energy storage for electric vehicles.
UPS unveils 400km range-extending electric vehicles
Logistics giant UPS has introduced a new collection of range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) to its fleets across Birmingham and Southampton.
Veolia upcycles two end-of-life diesel vehicles with electric engines
Resource management firm Veolia is set to trial two electric Refuse Collection Vehicles (eRCV) in Westminster, after 'upcycling' old diesel vehicles that were approaching the end of their life.
Meet the Sustainability Leader: Low-carbon Product Innovation, Mitsubishi Electric
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 winner of our Low-carbon Product Innovation award, Mitsubishi Electric.
Government sets aside funds to explore low-carbon hydrogen
The government has awarded 20 projects a share of £7 million to explore innovative ways of making and using low-carbon hydrogen.
Fairphone's recycled smartphone and zero-emission livestock: The best green innovations of the week
Every week, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations are being developed to help businesses and nations turn their green ambitions into actions. Here, we round up six of the best.
Rolls-Royce teams with Norway's largest regional airline on zero-emission aircraft scheme
Rolls-Royce is partnering with the largest regional airline in Scandinavia on a joint research programme aimed at unlocking and developing technology to enable zero-emission aviation.
Boots purchases electric vans for prescription deliveries
Boots has announced it has purchased its first electric vans and will trial them in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire as part of its prescription delivery service.
From flying taxis to freight drones: Government funnels £300m into future of aviation
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled a new £300m investment to develop low-carbon transport, with technologies such as flying urban taxis, electric planes and freight drones expected to be supported.
Meet the Sustainability Leader: Tideway, Mobility
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 winner of our Mission Possible: Mobility award, Tideway.
Willmott Dixon to use non-recyclable plastic in new roads at Bristol housing development
A new housing development in Bristol will feature roads made with the equivalent of 150,000 plastic bags of non-recyclable plastic waste originating from the construction phase of the scheme.
Sainsbury’s to accept glass in deposit return trials for bottles
Sainsbury’s has revealed that it will trial a reverse vending machine in England that will accept both glass and plastic bottles.
Sky Mobile to offer 'ethical and modular' Fairphone in UK
Sky Mobile has announced that it will offer the Fairphone, a modular and repairable smartphone consisting of recycled materials, in the UK.
Planning application submitted for Europe's first low-carbon jet fuel plant in North East Lincolnshire
A planning application has been submitted for Europe's first commercial-scale plant to transform waste into a low-carbon jet fuel, with a site chosen in North East Lincolnshire.
SAP's app against poverty and self-charging EVs: The best green innovations of the week
Every week, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations are being developed to help businesses and nations turn their green ambitions into actions. Here, we round up six of the best.
Hoarding old gadgets 'preventing circular economy shift' and 'spurring rare mineral shortages'
The fact that most UK households are hoarding old digital gadgets with no plans to recycle them is a key barrier to implementing circular economy principles for e-waste, the Royal Society of Chemistry has claimed.
Energy leaders urge government to back international AI climate centre
Leading voices from across the energy sector have this week called for the government to support the creation of an International Centre for Artificial Intelligence (AI), Energy and Climate.
Faraday Grid enters administration after research budget runs dry
Tech start-up Faraday Grid has entered administration after the firm drained its research budget and failed to secure further funding.
Friday's power cut 'underscores need for flexibility'
In the wake of a large power cut which affected large parts of south England on Friday (9 August), policymakers and power generators must prioritise investments in flexible energy systems.
Asda signs up its fridges to keep the UK warm this winter
Hundreds of Asda supermarket stores will help power the UK's electricity system this winter by using their fridges as a virtual battery pack for the energy grid.
Nestle's biodegradable breakthrough and water ATMs: The best green innovations of the week
Every week, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations are being developed to help businesses and nations turn their green ambitions into actions. Here, we round up six of the best.
‘Well’ under control
In The Salmon of Doubt, author Douglas Adams writes: "We are stuck with technology when what we really want is just stuff that works." These are words that we can and should apply to our experience of technology in the workplace.
Better Beer: Inside Molson Coors' $20m mission to climate-proof its supply chain
Over the past decade, Molson Coors has spent more than $20m on initiatives to bolster supply chain stability, with the ultimate aim of 'future-proofing' its key resource - barley. Here, edie explores how that funding has redefined best practice for the US-based brewing giant.
Tesla forays into utility market with 'Megapack' energy storage solution
Carmaker Tesla has this week launched a new large-scale energy storage offering aimed at helping utilities to reduce costs and drive decarbonisation.
Report: Energy storage to smash 1,000GW milestone by 2040
Energy storage installations are poised for a 122-fold increase between now and 2040, as the uptake of renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs) and falling costs of technology provide an ideal platform to drive demand for storage solutions.
Microplastic filters and Tesla's 'Megapacks': The best green innovations of the week
Every week, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations are being developed to help businesses and nations turn their green ambitions into actions. Here, we round up six of the best.
Climate change to shock steel sector profitability, report warns
The global steel sector is facing a vicious cocktail of climate impacts that could see water scarcity, global warming and an increased carbon price place more than 10% of the sector's economic value at risk, according to a new report from CDP.
From climate change to urbanisation: BlackRock's five megatrends that will disrupt society
A new report from BlackRock has found that climate change, resource scarcity and growing consumerism will create disruptive structural shifts across industries as a "confluence of global megatrends" begin to clash.
Swedish lessons: Can data management enable the UK to deliver a net-zero economy?
The UK's net-zero climate target has been widely welcomed, but is currently lacking some actual points of delivery. Fortunately, Sweden's own net-zero target can teach politicians some interesting lessons, including how big data and digitisation can mobilise action plans.
Virgin Media targets 100% renewable electricity by 2020
Virgin Media has pledged to source only renewable electricity for the entirety of its operations by 2020, after joining The Climate Group's RE100 initiative.
The climate FaceApp alternative and Tesla's superchargers: The best green innovations of the week
Every week, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations are being developed to help businesses and nations turn their green ambitions into actions. Here, we round up five of the best.
Climate leadership roundtable: Are we on the right track for a net-zero economy?
The UK Government's recent move to legislate for net-zero emissions by 2050 has been widely welcomed across the green economy - but how should businesses respond? edie recently convened a group of sustainability leaders from an array of industry sectors to discuss exactly that.
Government unveils £80m pot to decarbonise aviation and road transport
In a bid to spur the development of new low-carbon transport technologies and systems on the path to net-zero by 2050, the UK has launched a new £80m funding pot for electric car and plane projects.
Flexible Futures: edie launches smart business blueprint for energy
With a radical shift currently occurring in the energy sector, edie has launched its Flexible Futures report into the key issues for energy and sustainability professionals, preparing businesses for the technological revolution.
JLR backs innovative recycling solution for 'low-grade' plastics
Carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has begun trials of an innovative new recycling technology which purports to turn low-quality, post-consumer plastics into high-grade material.
UK Power Networks launches EV smart charging market trial
Electric vehicle (EV) owners across London and the South and East of England have been invited to take part in a trial to uncover the economic, environmental and social benefits of charging vehicles during off-peak hours.
Plastic-free fruit labels and electric 'hypercars': The best green innovations of the week
Every week, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations are being developed to help businesses and nations turn their green ambitions into actions. Here, we round up six of the best.
UK Government announced as International Ambassador for EV100 initiative
The UK Government has been named as the first government to act as an ambassador for the Climate Group's EV100 initiative to spur electric vehicle (EV) uptake, on the same day that global pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca joined the initiative.
British Airways and Shell back plans for UK sustainable jet fuel plant
British Airways and Shell have provided funding totalling £2.8m to support the development of a UK-based facility that could produce 20 million gallons of sustainable jet fuel annually.
JLR, VW & Ford accelerate electric vehicle development
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has secured a £500m loan guarantee from the Government at the same time Volkswagen (VW) and Ford announced a multi-billion deal on electric vehicle (EV) and autonomous vehicle infrastructure.
Shell invests in peer-to-peer energy trading blockchain platform
The venture fund arm of oil and gas giant Shell has invested in a US-based company that uses blockchain to enable peer-to-peer energy sharing and trading over networks.
UK launches Clean Maritime Strategy to spur net-zero ambitions
The UK Government has announced a new maritime strategy, calling for all new vessels to be designed with zero-emissions capable technologies by 2025.
National Grid: Electric cars could form battery hubs to store renewable energy
A fleet of 35 million electric vehicles could help the UK reach its net-zero carbon target by forming large battery hubs to store renewable energy, according to the country's energy system operator.
UK's rapid EV charging stock 'to double by 2024'
Electric vehicle (EV) charging network firm Engenie has unveiled fresh plans for expansion, which it claims will enable it to double the number of rapid chargers in the UK by 2024.
Unilever's refills and the 'world's first' 100% recycled hoodie: The best green innovations of the week
Every week, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations are being developed to help businesses and nations turn their green ambitions into actions. Here, we round up six of the best.
Sustainable Business Covered podcast: The London Climate Action Week relay
Episode 67 of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast sees the edie team travel to numerous events during London Climate Action Week, securing exclusive interviews with the Green Finance Institute, Microsoft, the Green Alliance and more.
JLR to invest hundreds of millions in EV production
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is due to invest hundreds of millions of pounds into its UK factories to manufacture electric vehicles (EV) in the future.
Report: Businesses hosting decentralised energy 'key' to meeting net-zero
Onsite renewable generation by businesses and households will need to play a "key" role in the energy system if the UK is to reach its 2050 net-zero target, new research has concluded.
UK 'lags behind' mainland Europe on EV infrastructure
The UK "lags behind" other European countries on electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, research from consultancy firm Delta-EE has concluded.
Onsite generation: UK businesses primed to become 'power plants of the future'
More than 80% of UK businesses generating renewable energy onsite plan to increase capacity over the next five years, according to a new survey.
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