Environmental News on this day... for August 2017, 2016, 2013, 2008

Take a trip into the past and see what stories were in the news in August 2017, 2016, 2013, 2008

August 2017

As a self-supply licensee, Whitbread will pay wholesale prices

Whitbread first hospitality firm to be granted water self-supply licence

Regulator Ofwat has granted hospitality giant Whitbread a self-supply licence to deliver its own water and wastewater services for all of its brands in England.

New EU rules mean new vaccum cleaners must not exceed 80 decibels

EU to enforce new energy efficiency rules for vacuum cleaners

New EU rules on vacuum cleaners come into force next month, as Brussels looks to improve energy efficiency and cut carbon emissions.

Landsec's senior environment and energy manager Sarah Beattie sat down with edie's senior reporter Matt Mace at the property developer's new head office in Victoria, London

Sustainable Business Covered podcast: In the green room with Landsec's Sarah Beattie

Welcome back to the green room - edie's new interview hub for sustainability leaders, brought to you as part of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast. Up next to provide her pearls of wisdom: Landsec's senior environment and energy manager Sarah Beattie.

The new solar PV system consists of 2,902 individual panels, each of which measures 1.6 m², which will supply 39% of the daytime electricity used in the mall areas of the centre

'The jewel in the crown': Landsec drives towards science-based target with Britain's biggest shopping centre solar installation

The UK's largest commercial property developer has today (11 August) flicked the switch on a giant rooftop solar system at a shopping centre in Leeds, kicking off a 12-month investment programme in onsite sustainability across its estate.

Researchers expect further emissions savings through the introduction of the new Virgin Azuma train

Report: Cross-border rail journeys slashing emissions

A major shift in travel habits among people travelling across the Scottish border over the past decade has saved almost 700,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, a new report has claimed.

The government completed the sale of the GIB last week

Green Party slams GIB sell-off

The co-leader of the Green Party has warned the controversial sell-off of the Green Investment Bank (GIB) is bad news for "everyone who cares about the future of renewable energy".

CCWater said retailers need to do more to explain how switching can benefit even the smallest business, through the provision of tailored services, simpler billing and better customer service

Majority of SMEs still unaware of water retail competition

More than half of small businesses are still unaware of the open water retail market, according to research by the Consumer Council for Water.

By using waste heat, CHP plants can reach efficiency ratings as high as 80%, compared with the efficiency of gas-fired power stations which is around 50% in the UK

edie publishes free business guide to CHP

Organisations and professionals with an interest in deploying combined heat & power (CHP) systems to reduce emissions and save on energy costs now have access to a free 'edie explains' guide which answers all of the key questions surrounding the technology.

Heinken UK's storybook notes a series of achievements in its attempts to reduce water and energy consumption

Heineken UK reports CSR progress in sustainability storybook

Sustainable sourcing and mental health awareness are some of the key areas touched upon in Heineken UK's new 'sustainability storybook', which outlines the brewer's progress on tackling major social and environmental issues.

Holycross said that Ford would “be at the table” if the UK Government decides to rollout a scrappage scheme as a nationwide policy

Scrappage scheme signals Ford's intention to lead a business model 'revolution'

EXCLUSIVE: Ford's decision to offer a scrappage scheme for older, more polluting vehicles is part of a "menu of initiatives" that the carmaker is introducing as it attempts to lead the industry on a business model "revolution" that captures new service-based markets.

See more news from August 2017

August 2016

According to ING, the majority of the funding – dubbed “sustainable transitions financed (STF) – was down to an increased assessment of the sustainability of clients

ING raises €27bn in funding for growth of sustainable clientele

Dutch multinational banking group ING has revealed the efforts it has implemented to finance the shift to a low-carbon economy, which has seen the company fund more than €27bn to clients aiming to solve environmental challenges.

The new targets will see Johnson & Johnson strive to reduce absolute carbon emissions by 20% by 2020 and by 80% by 2050 against a 2010 baseline

Johnson & Johnson aims to remedy global trends with new 2020 targets

Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson is facing up to new megatrends, such as an aging population and an increase in climate-related deaths, by announcing new "Citizenship and Sustainability" goals for 2020.

In order for the Paris Agreement to come into force, the deal needs to be officially ratified by at least 55 countries, representing 55% of global carbon emissions

Pressure mounts on UK to 'work with Europe' and ratify Paris deal

The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has revealed that it will seek to ratifying the Paris Agreement "as soon as possible", after both the Liberal Democrats and Labour urged the Government to ratify the deal..

Coca-Cola and its bottling partners improved water use efficiency by 2.5% between 2014 and 2015, adding to a cumulative 27% improvement since 2004

Coca-Cola hits global water replenishment goal five years early

Soft drinks giant Coca-Cola has become the first Fortune 500 Company to replenish all of the water it uses globally back to nature and communities.

More than a million people are expected to visit Notting Hill Carnival over the Bank Holiday weekend. Photo: Notting Hill Carnival/Facebook

Carnival clean-up: Notting Hill waste to generate 100MWh of electricity

Westminster City Council is planning to collect all of the waste from Notting Hill Carnival and use it to generate electricity for the National Grid - all in time to have the streets clean for the Tuesday morning commute.

Storm in a coffee cup: The Lib Dems claim a 5p charge would drive a cultural shift, but Simply Cups says this isn't isn't in the interests of retailers or consumers

Should Britain introduce a 5p charge on disposable coffee cups?

The Liberal Democrats have stepped into the war on waste, calling for a 5p charge on disposable coffee cups to cut usage. But is this the best solution to the issue?

Move for Europe founder Charles Perry believes a business cannot drive the low-carbon transition without a fundamental behaviour change within its workforce

Can sustainability professionals lead a 'social movement' to drive the green economy?

Environment and sustainability professionals can become the leaders of a new social movement that paves the way for a low-carbon, resource efficient future where fossil fuel consumption and air pollution are eradicated from human activities.

Think you can find the back of the net in our Premier League sustainability quiz?

The Premier League 2016/17 sustainability quiz

Which football club recycles 100% of its waste? Who is the midfield dynamo that hopes to unlock the potential of biofuels? Find out who the most sustainable teams and players are in edie's latest flip-card quiz to kick-off the 2016/17 Premier League season.

Greenpeace welcomes the ban, but said it should be extended to other products, such as detergent, as well

UK government to ban microbeads from cosmetics by end of 2017

Tiny pieces of plastic in personal beauty products, that end up in the oceans and are swallowed by marine life, will be banned from sale in the UK by the end of 2017, the Government announced on Saturday.

edie has brought together the best water sustainability innovations into one neat and tidy blue bubble

World Water Week: Six innovations to quench the global thirst for clean water

With World Water Week bringing experts and innovators to Stockholm to foster new thinking and develop solutions to water-related issues, edie rounds-up the projects and products that could aid efforts to combat water scarcity.

See more news from August 2016

August 2013

How is your business making sense of the circular economy?

We are inviting sustainability professionals to take part in an exclusive survey to gauge what practical steps businesses need to take in order to move waste up the hierarchy and ultimately design it out.

Scottish trials suggest 'strong business case' for nappy recycling

Scotland may press forth with nappy waste recycling despite continuing questions over how economically viable the process is in the UK.

4.3 billion visits were made by people to urban parks and green spaces over the last four years

Business leaders called on to protect UK's green spaces

Two of the country's leading environmental charity bosses are calling on business leaders and local authorities to strike a new deal to protect and maintain the country's green spaces.

Construction sector commends Gov's zero-carbon building proposals

The construction industry has welcomed the Government's public consultation on its 'Allowable Solutions' proposals, which aims to help builders ensure that all homes are zero carbon from 2016.

CIWEM's report recommends that Ofwat incentivise water companies to do more to cut greenhouse gas emissions through water and energy usage reduction

Carbon ambition 'not uniform' across water industry says report

The Chartered Institution of water and environmental management (CIWEM) has called on water industry regulator Ofwat to incentivise the water industry to cut energy and carbon.

Whisky distillery slashes carbon costs with novel AD solution

A Scottish whisky distillery has reduced its CO2 emissions by around 9,000 tonnes per year through integrating anaerobic digestion (AD) into its production process.

Circular economy contest set to reward 'radical rethinks' in design

Funding of up to 1.5 million pounds is up for grabs for companies who can demonstrate how they are rethinking product and service design for a circular economy.

WRAP confirms circular economy will remain central theme of its work

WRAP has underlined its long-term commitment to the circular economy, labelling it "exciting territory" that needs further support if it is to be mainstreamed.

TUI Travel saves £16m through environmental efficiencies

TUI Travel has achieved its carbon reduction target of 6% two years ahead of schedule, helping save the company £16m in 2012.

ANALYSIS: How will profit margins fare in a sharing economy?

The rise of the sharing economy presents a double-edged sword to businesses. The very nature of it turns consumers into service providers, creating a disruptive force to traditional markets. But it also works by sweating idle assets, many of which are owned by the companies that are being disrupted.