The National Infrastructure Commission’s annual progress report recommends the UK government ban new long-term contracts for Energy-from-Waste plants without carbon capture plans.The report said that despite clear long-term targets, recycling rates have stagnated for over a decade and a growing … Read More
Circular Economy
ESA hails “seismic” consultation on EfW inclusion in ETS
The Environmental Services Association (ESA) said the proposals represent a “seismic shift” to waste treatment in the UK and it’s essential that the recycling and waste industry engages with the consultation.The UK Emissions Trading Scheme Authority has published consultation documents … Read More
Paris Olympics to give waste a second life with recycled plastic chairs
Spectators at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will sit on chairs made of plastic recycled from local bins.Despite the logistical challenges and strains on global supply chains, the seating scheme is part of wider efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of the … Read More
Schneider Electric: How AI may be the spark that can lower electricity bills
AI and digitalisation are crucial for the necessary energy transition and to lower CO2 emissions, says the CEO of Schneider Electric, which is launching new solutions at its Innovation Summit in Paris. The world could save $2 trillion (€1.85 trillion) … Read More
Reinventing resource efficiency: How design is driving innovation
Resource efficiency is being designed into products and systems across the world, Katie Coyne investigates the innovative designs that are creating a more sustainable society.Companies and products make lots of claims about sustainability, circularity, and resource efficiency. We can make … Read More
Sunnier skies ahead? Cloud giants dial down the greenwash
2024 cloud sustainability research reveals positive changes in some of the environmental data provided by big three cloud vendors.Hyperscale cloud service providers market their services on the basis that not only are they more cost-effective than the on-premise datacentres of … Read More
Welsh government confirms it will still include glass in its DRS
The Welsh government has reaffirmed its commitment to including glass in its deposit return scheme, following its delay until October 2027.Wales’ deposit return scheme (DRS) will include PET plastic, aluminium, steel, and glass. The Welsh government said excluding glass could … Read More
UK Government Sets 2027 Target for Deposit Return Scheme Launch
The UK Government, led by Robbie Moore, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Water and Rural Growth, has today (25 April) announced a revised timeline for the launch of a nationwide Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) by October 2027.This scheme, which … Read More
Three essential elements to accelerating UK recycling rates
Tom Giddings, executive director of Alupro, explores the latest quarterly Packaging Recovery Notes (PRN) data and discusses the pivotal role that communication, engagement and education continue to play in increasing collection volumes and influencing recycling rates.According to recent data published … Read More
New emissions reporting scheme for European datacentres approved
As the power demanded by datacentres escalates, accurate data on the industry’s collective carbon footprint is vital if we are to decarbonise the digital economy.The European Commission has given the go ahead for a new, mandatory reporting programme which will … Read More
Greening the software lifecycle: DevOps as a sustainability catalyst
From streaming services to productivity apps, software powers our world. But this convenience comes with a hidden environmental cost. DevOps, the practice of streamlining software development and operations, potentially holds the key to unlocking greener, more sustainable software products across … Read More
Microsoft injects $1.5 billion into UAE’s G42
Microsoft has announced a $1.5 billion investment in G42, a leading AI company based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).The partnership aims to advance AI solutions using Microsoft’s Azure platform across the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. The agreement, … Read More