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
In numbers: What's stopping people from switching to 'greener' habits?
The 20 September climate strikes were the largest to date, undeniably proving that public attitudes to sustainability are shifting substantially. But, as a number of new surveys has highlighted, barriers to some "green" behavioural changes remain.
Selfridges switches from plastics to compostable for Christmas food packaging
Selfridges is removing plastic packaging across its own brand range of Christmas food, switching to home compostable alternatives for 90,000 mince pies and 3,000 Christmas cakes.
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.
Mary Robinson: Businesses must make 'deep commitments' to climate justice
Former Irish President Mary Robinson has argued that the development of net-zero strategies centred around social justice and human rights will become the new marker of sustainable business leadership.
Shell commits £10m to offset emissions from customer fuel purchases in UK
Shell will spend £10m over the next year to offset the emissions from customers' fuel purchases at more than 1,000 service stations in the UK, following a successful trial in the Netherlands.
'Risking a carbon budget blowout': UK Government gives go-ahead to Drax gas plant
The UK Government is "risking a carbon budget blowout" by overruling a recommendation from its planning authority in order to give the green light to Drax's large-scale gas power plant, which had been refused on climate grounds.
Government urged to boost support for anaerobic digestion
Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid has been urged to provide stop gap funding to support the rollout of biomethane plants when the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme expires in 2021.
P&G to more than double recycled plastic content for home cleaning brands in Europe
Procter & Gamble (P&G) has announced it will more than double the amount of recycled plastic used in its packaging for domestic cleaning brands such as Fairy and Flash in Europe by 2020.
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%.
Beverage giants' pledge to recycle every plastic bottle they produce slammed as 'cowardly'
Green campaigners have criticised a new joint commitment from Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Keurig Dr Pepper to recycle the equivalent of one plastic bottle for every one they put on the US market.
October 2018
Floating solar farm to power water treatment works in Lancashire
Water company United Utilities has this week begun building a floating solar farm on the surface of a reservoir in Lancashire, in a move that will enable it to power one of its water treatment plants with 100% renewable power by early 2019.
IPCC 1.5C report: How can business drive the creation of a carbon-neutral world?
The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is celebrating its 30th birthday this year, and has done so by releasing a landmark report that acknowledges the severity of the challenge at hand. But how can business stop being part of the problem, and co-create the necessary solutions?
Government unveils new £15m scheme to tackle retail food waste
The UK Government has today (1 October) announced that it will spend £15m on a new initiative aimed at redistributing almost £1bn worth of food waste from supermarkets, other retailers and manufacturers.
E.ON partners with BNP Paribas for 'green mortgages'
E.ON and BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK have announced a new collaboration to bring "green mortgages" one step closer to the UK property market.
Sir David King: Urgent focus needed on climate 'restoration'
The UK Government's former chief scientific advisor Sir David King has called for a $150 carbon price to be implemented globally and for the UK Government to focus on a net-zero emissions policy for 2045 to start to "repair and restore" the climate.
Just Eat expands trials of seaweed-based sauce sachets to replace single-use plastics
Online food ordering firm Just Eat is expanding a trial of replacing single-use plastic sauce sachets with a seaweed-based alternative to 10 London restaurants for the next eight weeks.
United Utilities rolls out AI across entire network after slashing energy usage
Water company United Utilities is set to roll out an energy flexibility platform which incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) to cover its entire water network, after a three-month trial generated energy savings of 22%.
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.
Government proposes UK-wide ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds for next year
The UK Government has today (22 October) confirmed that it will introduce a string of policies aimed at banning the sale and distribution of plastic straws, drink stirrers and cotton buds by 2020.
VW’s electric microbuses and Ikea’s furniture servitisation drive: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
October 2015
Manchester set for Europe's largest floating solar project
Installation has started today (26 October) on Europe's largest floating solar power system which will generate 2.7GWh of renewable, zero carbon energy each year on a reservoir near Manchester.
Are fossil fuel companies using IEA reports to talk up demand?
International Energy Agency (IEA) projections that show the world will continue its heavy reliance on fossil fuels deep into this century are uncertain and being used to mislead governments and shareholders, according to a new report.
UK leads G20 nations on low-carbon growth
The UK has broken records for national low-carbon growth and the country now tops PwC's G20 Low Carbon Economy Index, but energy experts warn the results are largely due to "circumstance rather than policy".
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.
Unilever unveils innovation competition winners
The development of modular water sanitation infrastructure; an iron-deficiency educational programme and a water-saving shower have been announced as the three winning ideas from Unilever's global innovation crowdsourcing campaign.
Scotland takes renewables debate to London
The Scottish Government has brought its campaign on the future of renewable energy to Westminster as it renewed calls for the Conservative Party to rethink its recent subsidy cuts.
Majority of UK electricity wasted before reaching households, report finds
The UK loses 54% of its electric energy - worth £9.5bn and enough to cover half of every household's annual electricity bill - before it even reaches end users, according to a new report.
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.
Fruit Pastilles get greener as Nestlé fires up giant solar system
Nestlé's Fawdon factory in Newcastle upon Tyne, which produces Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles, Rolo, Toffee Crisp and Caramac, is now home to the largest solar panel installation in the North East of England.
M&S funds 26 community energy projects
Marks and Spencer's has announced the winners of its Community Energy Fund competition, with 26 projects sharing £400,000.
October 2010
Industrial land re-opened as community park
After seven years of decontamination works, design and construction, last weekend saw the official opening of a brand new 52-hectare park in Sunderland, on the site of a former cokeworks factory.
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.
Poor landfill management lands firm a fine
A firm which failed to cover landfill waste - leaving rotting rubbish exposed over Christmas - has been fined.
Congestion charge in Western Extension ditched
The congestion charging for the Western Extension zone is to be scrapped after a public consultation run by Transport for London.
County Durham wind farm up and running
A wind farm able to power more than 5000 homes has started to supply the grid today (October 6).
£1bn council contract for energy-from-waste facility
Suffolk County Council has announced a £1billion plan to build a waste management facility in the region capable of powering more than 30,000 homes.
MasterCard HQ goes green
MasterCard's main technology centre has been recognised for its green credentials after winning LEED Gold certification.
Plans to increase renewable energy generation on polluted land
A two-year draft strategy has been announced which aims to boost brownfield clean ups by encouraging renewable energy generation.
Oil giant settles in hazardous waste case
Oil giant ExxonMobil has agreed to settle a case brought by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) involving more than 1billion gallons of illegally stored hazardous waste.
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.
