Extinction Rebellion, SDG Spotlights and seaweed sachets: Top 10 sustainability stories of April 2019

Take a look at April's top stories

Driven by Greta Thunberg, the wider population is waking up to the looming threat of climate change, with new documentaries from Sir David Attenborough also stirring the emotive pot on the dire state of our planet.

The protests are likely to drive new commitments from MPs, but at a business level, it has been another month where initiatives and strategies to combat plastics pollution have dominated. 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.

Ikea reveals mixed progress towards ‘climate-positive’ and circular economy goals

The first story of the month was also the most-read – by far. Tens of thousands of readers sought the latest information on Ikea’s sustainability agenda. This article covers all the key findings.

Extinction Rebellion: Role of business in society is being defined by climate change

As thousands of climate protestors met at key London landmarks as part of the Extinction Rebellion protests, businesses have been warned that action or inaction to combat climate change will define their role in future societies, as this article explains.

edie’s ‘Brexit Matrix’ maps out green policy impact of EU departure

With the ongoing Brexit negotiations continuing to cause confusion and uncertainty, edie has pieced together a new ‘Matrix’ which clearly explains the impacts that the UK’s various exit scenarios would have on environmental policy.

SDG Spotlight: How businesses can achieve Goal 13 – Climate Action

Against a backdrop of climate strikes and policy discussions, a brand-new edie report maps out exactly how the business community can collectively achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 – Climate Action – within the next decade.

Sustainable Business Covered podcast: In the Green Room with Pernod Ricard’s Vanessa Wright

Episode 60 of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast sees edie’s Matt Mace return to the “Green Room” to discuss the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), youth climate panels and the new ‘Good times from a Good Place’ sustainability strategy with Pernod Ricard’s vice president of global sustainability and responsibility Vanessa Wright.

How Lucozade’s seaweed sachet trials are spurring lasting behavior change around plastics

Ahead of her appearance at edie Live, Lucozade Ribena Suntory’s head of sustainability and external affairs Michelle Norman explained how innovative plastic-free packaging was spurring lasting action to reduce plastic use.

How have key MPs responded to Greta Thunberg and the climate protests?

Following young climate activist Greta Thunberg’s rousing speech to UK MPs calling for an overhaul to “very creative, carbon accounting,” edie rounds up how key political figures have responded to her comments and the ongoing Extinction Rebellion protests.

Net-zero strategies and Green New Deals: Is the UK primed to address the ‘climate emergency’?

This in-depth piece explores what a net-zero target and a Green New Deal would look like for the UK and what areas of the economy need to catch-up in order to deliver rapid decarbonisation.

Climate change: Are businesses ready for the ‘Attenborough effect’ part two?

edie’s content editor Matt Mace explores how Sir David Attenborough and BBC’s latest climate change documentary could create a wave of action similar to that of the plastics movement.

Tesco to trial plastic-to-oil innovation which makes all packaging ‘recyclable’

In another plastics announcement, supermarket giant Tesco inked a deal with Swindon-based recycling firm Recycling Technologies, which will see the retailer trial an innovative system that converts soft plastics back into oil.

edie staff