Environmental News on this day... for October 2019, 2018, 2015, 2010
Take a trip into the past and see what stories were in the news in October 2019, 2018, 2015, 2010October 2019
Pret-A-Manger: We can't greenwash our way out of the war on plastics
EXCLUSIVE: As consumers continue to push hard for food-to-go brands like Pret-A-Manger to ditch plastic packaging altogether, the firm's global director of strategy & sustainability has urged the sector to avoid "over-simplified" announcements or token phase-outs.
Dulux Trade and Veolia partner to launch 35% recycled paint
Paint manufacturer Dulux Trade has launched a new partnership with Veolia UK to offer a new matt emulsion made from 35% recycled paint, which also produces 10% lower carbon emissions per litre.
TerraCycle: The global refill revolution is here to stay
EXCLUSIVE: With consumer concerns around plastics and climate change skyrocketing, brands are increasingly betting on reuse and refill models to minimise both carbon and waste, TerraCycle's chief executive officer Tom Szaky has revealed.
Glasgow signs up primary school as its first flexible energy asset
As part of its bid to become a carbon-neutral city by 2030, Glasgow City Council is set to use one of its primary schools as a flexible energy asset on the demand side response (DSR) market.
National Theatre to end Shell membership deal amid climate protests
The National Theatre has announced plans to end its corporate membership deal with Shell last year, following climate protests calling on arts and culture bodies to cut ties with fossil fuel firms.
Prince Charles: Banks are crucial to 'cracking' the climate crisis
Prince Charles has urged financial institutions to develop a "real understanding" of the influence they have to bring about a net-zero, resource-efficient economy, arguing that the sector has been "closed-minded" and slow to react in the past.
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.
Unilever to halve use of virgin plastic and collect more plastic packaging than it sells by 2025
Unilever has announced it will halve its use of virgin plastic by 2025 by reducing plastic packaging by more than 100,000 tonnes, increasing the amount of recycled plastics it uses and collecting and processing more plastic packaging than it sells.
Finisterre to switch from plastic bags to 'water-soluble' biodegradable alternative
Outdoor clothing brand Finisterre is set to achieve its ambition of eliminating all plastics packaging which is neither reusable nor biodegradable, after investing in bags which naturally break down in soil and in water.
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.
October 2018
IHG commits to global phase-out of plastic straws
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced that it will remove plastic straws from its global estate of more than 5,400 hotels by the end of 2019.
European parliament approves sweeping ban on single-use plastics
The European Parliament has overwhelmingly backed a wide-ranging ban on single-use plastics in an effort to tackle pollution in seas, fields and waterways.
Scottish Power shifts to 100% wind generation after £700m Drax sale
Scottish Power has ditched fossil fuels for electricity generation and switched to 100% wind power, by selling off its last remaining gas power stations to Drax for more than £700m.
Green campaigners slam Gatwick's plans to use emergency runway to boost capacity
Green campaign groups have criticised Gatwick Airport's newly-announced plans to bring its emergency runway into daily use, citing concerns over climate impacts and air pollution.
London Mayor urged to eliminate single-use plastic packaging from capital
Members of the Environment Committee have urged London Mayor Sadiq Khan to sign the capital up to WRAP's UK Plastics Pact, amid growing public concerns around plastic pollution.
London slides down rankings for global green finance leaders
London has dropped from first to third place in a global ranking of the world's "greenest" financial centres, with ties to “legacy assets” focusing on “non-green” financial offerings impacting its score.
In numbers: the UK public's attitudes towards recycling
Last September, consultancy Britain Thinks surveyed more than 2,000 UK adults on attitudes across a spectrum of questions relating to packaging, recycling and the circular economy. With the survey results released on Friday (28 September), edie rounds-up the key findings.
Unilever partners with Veolia to create circular economy for plastic packaging
Consumer goods giant Unilever has today (24 October) agreed a partnership with waste management Veolia, which will see the companies work together to develop innovative solutions to the plastic waste crisis.
Kingspan sets science-based emissions targets
Building materials company Kingspan Group has set new carbon reduction commitments under the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) to reduce emissions by 10% reduction by 2025.
Shell boss says mass reforestation needed to limit temperature rises to 1.5C
The boss of Shell has said a huge tree-planting project the size of the Amazon rainforest would be needed to meet a tougher global warming target, as he argued more renewable energy alone would not be enough.
October 2015
Development banks to deliver $51bn annual climate finance
Two of the world's largest development banks have unveiled separate commitments to boost climate-related financing by up to a third.
Interface: Sustainability credentials have boosted recruitment efforts
EXCLUSIVE: Interface's reputation as sustainability leader has helped the business attract top-level talent in all areas of the company, according to the firm's chief innovation officer.
GIB raises £355m for world's first offshore wind fund
The UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) has raised £355m in the second tranche of investment for its Offshore Wind Fund, bringing the total value to more than £818m.
Tesco turns warehouse waste into recycled plastic bags
UK supermarket giant Tesco has developed a new circular economy solution allowing it to turn its own back-of store-plastic waste, such as pallet and multi-pack wrapping, into plastic bags.
UK Environment Agency divests in landmark move to help meet 2C limit
The UK's £2.9bn Environment Agency pension fund (EAFP) has become the first in the world to change its investment choices to help meet the internationally-agreed target of limiting global warming to 2C.
Report: Rich countries failing to accept 'fair share' of climate action
The climate pledges made by rich countries are less than their 'fair share', according to new report released today (19 October).
Voluntary agreement sees UK retailers cut 80,000 tonnes of waste
Britain's manufacturers and retailers have reduced their ingredient, product and packaging waste by 80,000 tonnes since 2012, thanks to a voluntary agreement organised by WRAP.
Half of Africa could be powered by renewables by 2030, says IRENA
Africa could generate 50% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030 if they were to follow guidelines laid out in a new report from the International Renewable Energy Association (IRENA).
Mars investigating internal carbon price
EXCLUSIVE: Global food giant Mars is considering adopting an internal price on carbon to help it prepare for future low-carbon policies.
Toyota targets 90% emissions reduction by 2050
Japanese carmaker Toyota has unveiled a series of ambitious new environmental targets with an overall aim to eliminate the use of gasoline cars and cut average carbon emissions from all of its vehicles and products by more than 90% by 2050.
October 2010
Museum showcases post climate change London
A display of 14 arresting images will be on view at the Museum of London showcasing the potentially disastrous consequences the capital faces from climate change.
Solar panels return to White House roof
Solar panels torn down by Ronald Reagan in one of his first acts as US president have been returned to the roof of the White House.
EPA to work with communities on brownfield developments
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $4million in grants will be awarded to communities across the country to help develop plans for the reuse of brownfield sites.
US signs historic deal for solar panel plants
Two massive solar energy plants have been approved for development in California - the first of their kind to be built on public land in the country.
£15m cash-boost to fund green buses
Up to 50,000 tonnes of CO2 could be saved over the next year, according to a £15million government cash boost to more than a dozen green-transport schemes.
Ofgem announce plans for price-hike sea-change
Energy companies may be forced to give consumers 30 days notice before increasing energy costs, if new proposals by Ofgem are approved.
Royal Society says climate change man made
The Royal Society has today (September 30) announced climate change is manmade and while the evidence is not 100% policy must be set now to tackle it.
US to ban E-waste from being dumped in the developing world
America has announced this morning (October 1) details of legislation aimed at banning export of potentially hazardous electronic waste to the developing world.
10:10 say sorry over film depicting graphic murder of children
A short film which starts with two school children being murdered for not showing any interest in climate change has been removed from a campaign's website.
Plans for nationwide flood tests announced
Almost every aspect of England and Wales' water infrastructure will be tested to check its flood readiness, environment secretary Caroline Spelman is due to announce today (September 30).
