Here is a selection of news and views covering environmental issues, including member news, changes to the law, notable achievements, and general information that are of interest to environmental professionals.
GBN member company Energise Consulting has just launched an ambitious mission – to be the catalyst for 1% of the UK to go net zero carbon by 2025. Part of this will be realised by expanding its offering to SMEs in the form its innovative Net Zero Club. The company aims to do this by working with businesses to help reduce energy and lower their environmental impact. Energise has always… Read More »Energise launches net zero club
The UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019 saw 87 companies sign up to the 1.5 degree Celsius pledge. At COP25, the UN Conference on Climate Change in Madrid held in December 2019, that number had risen to 177 companies. These companies, representing 5.8 million employees, have pledged to reach net-zero emissions no later than 2050. British company BT was one of the original sign-ups to the pledge, and it… Read More »Climate Pledge companies more than double
The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has reported that plastic packaging produced by the UK’s supermarkets has risen to more than 900,000 tonnes a year. Seven out of the top ten supermarkets increased their plastic output. Waitrose and Morrisons were the best performers in cutting plastic, while Asda and Aldi were some of the worse. To read the full article, follow this link: https://www.packagingnews.co.uk/top-story/eia-slams-uk-supermarkets-churning-900000-tonnes-plastic-28-11-2019?eea=OWp1NTVXbVYxVlRjNmhGbmxlM2dqajBXanBhUzZCcTRCTlpDNEM3QUp0TT0=&n_hash=1424&utm_source=e-shot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PN-4744-(Edi)DailyNews-%231424
For anyone who is interested in engaging staff to eat more sustainably in January (and hopefully for the rest of the year as a result), here is some information, guidance and lots of other good stuff from the Veganuary campaign. Even if you’re just looking to cut down your meat consumption – which would be a real result for helping to prevent global heating – this is something you can… Read More »Eating sustainably in January
Government proposes to update and rework building regulations on energy efficiency. This is needed but the current proposals will weaken the standards, set back progress towards climate emergency response, and possibly put unnecessary strain on the electric grid by downgrading overall fabric efficiency requirements, while incentivising electric heating to mask poor energy performance because the grid is now lower-carbon. There’s a consultation on now. London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) has… Read More »Building energy standards consultation open
While Philip Morris tobacco may not produce the most ethical products, its environmental policies are surprisingly good. The Green Business Network has never discriminated about companies based on what they produce, rather we seek to ensure that whatever you’re producing has as little environmental impact as possible. This interview from Edie illustrates how good environmental policies and practices can be applied in any industry. https://www.edie.net/news/6/Philip-Morris–Offsetting-isn-t-the–credible–long-term-solution-to-carbon-neutrality/?utm_source=Edie+Weekly+Newsletter&utm_campaign=086fd31bca-weeklynewsletter_COPY_43&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_02b6d7c115-086fd31bca-98427537&mc_cid=086fd31bca&mc_eid=60788fa17a
The BBC has reported today that a French factory is trialing a new machine that will slash the amount of cardboard packaging for goods ordered online. The machine electronically measures goods to be packaged and then cuts the cardboard to fit the product. While we still need to look at other options, such as reusable packaging and less carbon based delivery options, as stated in the report, this would make… Read More »Trial could reduce cardboard waste
The UN’s annual climate summit taking place in Madrid opened on Monday 2 December with a rousing speech from Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General. He said: “To address the climate emergency, we need a rapid & deep change in how we do business, how we generate power, how we build cities, how we move and how we feed the world. “If we don’t urgently change our way of life, we jeopardize… Read More »Round-up -Madrid climate summit
Politicians from most of the major political parties are taking part in the first political debate on climate change and nature. This could be a good watch on Channel 4 on Thursday 28 November, when representatives will introduce their policies. https://www.facebook.com/greenpeaceuk/photos/a.171896279228/10155803128809229/?type=1&theater
The UK government aims to stop the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles by 2040, which means that businesses should now be looking to transition to alternative fuel vehicles, or different methods of transport. Ultra-low emission zones and the banning of conventional vehicle sales represent the chance for companies with the will and the initiative to distinguish themselves from the competition, embrace the benefits, overcome the challenges, and launch… Read More »Advice on transport post diesel ban