In this latest instalment of a new monthly top-10 round-up, edie has highlighted some of the news and features that readers were keen to read and share during April 2018.

April signalled a change of season – although you couldn’t tell by looking out the window – but there was no change of pace for businesses, as they strived ahead to unveil new commitments, reports and collaborations to help deliver on sustainability pledges.

As this round-up proves, businesses are charging ahead with new ideas, frameworks and innovations. So, take a look through all of the month’s most-read news stories, and click the links in the descriptions below to read them for yourself.

London startup performs UK’s first blockchain energy trade

April’s most-read story covered how London-based Verv conducted the UK’s first physical blockchain energy trade, which enabled housing estate residents to benefit from renewable energy supplies and battery storage by selling surplus power directly to their neighbours.

New edie report explores low-carbon vehicle game-changers

Throughout the year, edie brings its readers a range of downloads in the form of sector insights, edie explains guides and helpful handbooks. The report sitting atop the download rankings so far is the ’10 industry game-changers’ report, produced in partnersip with UK Power Networks Services, that identifies 10 of the most important low-carbon vehicle developments.

UK construction firms have ramped up sustainability efforts, edie report finds

Speaking of reports, respondents to edie’s Sector Insight survey – and subsequent report – for the construction industry noted that the industry is more committed to taking action on sustainability than they were 12 months ago.

Ikea, Unilever and Tesla leading on climate policy, report finds

Stories with Unilever in tend to be of interest to sustainability professionals, and the consumer goods giant was ranked alongside Ikea and Tesla as the highest-performing companies advocating for strong and ambitious policies that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Unilever to develop closed-loop supply for food packaging plastics

See, Unilever stories do well. Another most-read story saw the company agree a new partnership to develop technology capable of converting PET plastic waste into virgin-grade materials available for use in food packaging.

How Icebreaker’s first transparency report aims to disrupt the outdoor apparel industry

Icebreaker may not be a name many are familiar with, but following acquisition from VF Corp the company outlined its attempt to disrupt the industry by reducing plastic synthetics through its first Transparency report.

Heathrow Airport champions coffee cup recycling in 2018 sustainability update

edie is committed to bringing sustainability professionals exclusive webinars that offer insight from some of the world’s biggest companies. April was no different, with Heathrow Airport’s chief executive John Holland-Kaye announcing that the airport will recycle all disposable coffee cups that are sold and discarded onsite by the end of the year.

Supply chain roundtable: Going ‘beyond audit’ to drive sustainability action

Sustainability and procurement professionals from some of the world’s largest businesses came together in April for an exclusive roundtable hosted by edie and DNV GL to discuss the strategic steps required to take supply chain sustainability onto the next level.

Costa aims to lead industry transformation with pledge to recycle half a billion coffee cups

Ahead of his appearance at edie Live this month (22-23 May), Costa Coffee’s energy & environment manager Oliver Rosevear explained how the company plans to deliver on a bold commitment to recycle the equivalent of its entire annual sales of takeaway cups – at a financial cost to the business.

Boston Tea Party becomes first coffee chain to ban all disposable cups

UK-based Boston Tea Party (BTP) will become the first coffee chain to implement an outright ban on disposable, paper-based coffee cups, with consumers having to purchase or loan reusable cups from 1 June 2018.

Matt Mace

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