pesticides

UK-Australia trade deal branded ‘catastrophic’ for environment and animal welfare

The UK and Australia have outlined the broad terms of their post-Brexit trade deal, leaving green groups, British farmers and some MPs concerned about the environmental and social implications.

Domestic heat batteries and ‘champagne’ carbon capture: The best green innovations of May 2021

Energy

EU lawmakers raise concerns about UK ‘regression’ on pesticides

Policy

European Union agrees to ban on bee-harming insecticides

The European Union has announced a ban on three widely-used insecticides due to the threat that they pose to bees, although some green groups are calling for further bans on other chemicals.

Policy

English rivers polluted by powerful insecticides, first tests reveal

Rivers in England are contaminated with powerful insecticides, new testing has revealed, increasing concerns over the impact of the toxic chemicals on fish and birds.

Circular economy

Homebase pledges ban on bee-harming chemicals amid green group pressure

Retail giant Homebase has committed to phase out toxic pesticides from its garden plant range after months of heavy pressure from green campaigners.

Social sustainability

Defra throws weight behind total ban on bee-harming pesticides

The UK Government has given its support to a proposed European-wide ban on toxic pesticides that have a damaging effect on the dwindling honeybee population.

Social sustainability

Homebase caught in dispute over use of bee-harming pesticides

Homebase has clashed with Friends of the Earth after claims the garden retailer has failed to publicly commit to end the use and sale of restricted pesticides in its plant ranges.

Social sustainability

Tories aim to block full EU ban on bee-harming pesticides

Conservative politicians are trying to stop a complete EU ban on bee-harming pesticides, despite the new environment secretary Michael Gove's statement earlier this week, in which he said "I absolutely don't want to water down" EU environmental protections.

Policy

British public urges retailers to remove bee-harming pesticides from plants

Garden retailers are facing increased pressure to stop the sale of plants using pesticides linked to bee decline, as a new survey shows that more than three quarters of UK citizens oppose the practice.

Social sustainability

Major retailers using toxic pesticides in garden plants, study finds

Top retailers such as Aldi and Homebase have been called upon to take urgent action as research shows that plants laced with toxic pesticides are being sold in British garden centres.

Social sustainability

B&Q bans harmful pesticides from plant range to save bees

B&Q has today (9 May) become the first home improvement retailer to announce it will grow its flowering plant range free from the world's most widely used insecticides, to address Britain's declining bee population.

Social sustainability

AkzoNobel launches bio-renewable coating following anti-fouling accusations

Paint and coatings manufacturer AkzoNobel has launched a new biocide-free coating offering fuel and carbon savings for ships, just weeks after the company was accused of forming part of the "worst catastrophe to hit the marine environment".

Energy

UK must have power to decide on GM crops, say MPs

GM crops are an indispensable tool in the fight against global hunger and the UK should retain ultimate power to decide on the technology, MP's have claimed.

Good, better, best: Whole Foods launches rating system for environmental impact of produce

Whole Foods Market has introduced the Responsibly Grown produce rating system which assesses the impact of farming practices on the environment and human health.

Stopping climate meltdown needs the courage that saved the ozone layer

Governments dither on the solution to global warming - but the Montreal protocol is a reminder of a time when they took their hands out of their pockets.