Liquid hydrogen may be way forward for sustainable air travel
A new study published by eminent physicist Jo Hermans in MRS Energy and Sustainability–A Review Journal (MRS E&S) concludes that liquid hydrogen seems to be a realistic option for future air travel. Firstly because it would be carried out by professionals, which reduces the safety issues involved with liquid hydrogen to the same level of risk involved in handling kerosene. Professor Hermans also points out that the fact that it is very light, poses an important advantage for air travel. Third, the disadvantages of “boil off” (created by the low boiling point of liquid hydrogen) would be reduced in air travel because of the low outside temperature at cruising altitudes. Hermans discounts the use of solar power for air travel, but concludes that it seems wise to extend the availability of oil products as long as possible. He argues that “It is a defect that kerosene is so irrationally cheap, which triggers much unnecessary air travel,” he writes. “A worldwide tax on kerosene should be something to pursue.” (R&D Magazine)
Long-term value creation
Campbell outlines four platforms to drive growth over the next decade
The Chief Executive Officer, Denise Morrison, and Chief Financial Officer, Anthony DiSilvestro, of Campbell Soup Company provided an overview of the change in strategic direction Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) Conference on February 22nd. Morrison said, “To fully unlock Campbell’s performance, we’re looking beyond typical five-year planning horizons and establishing well-informed perspectives on opportunities and disruptions driven by the intersection of real food, health and well-being and technology.” Morrison focused on four emerging growth platforms, including: Future commerce (exploiting e-commerce opportunities), My. Moments (related to expanding business in snacking across many of its different categories), Better. Me (about reconfiguring diets according to an individual’s specific physiology, lifestyle and health goals) and Limitless Local (a movement that embraces smaller, more regional farming and food production). (BusinessWire)
Responsible Investment
Barclays delivered £21bn for sustainability projects in 2016
Multinational bank Barclays raised £21.1bn in finance for environmental and societal schemes in 2016 as part of a fresh strategy that focuses on enhancing the sustainability of its business model. As revealed yesterday (23 February) in Barclays’ annual report, the newly-launched Shared Growth Ambition programme helped clients raise £1.5bn in green bonds and supported the investment of more than 500MW of clean energy in the UK and Ireland in 2016. The bank has set a new target of a further 30% by 2018, which it aims to meet by investing in low-carbon technology and improving energy efficiency. Barclays has pledged to continue to drive new sources of sustainable growth to help meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Current projects include finance for the first energy-from-waste (EfW) plant to be supported under the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme and a 344MW solar PV portfolio in the UK. It has also joined entrepreneurial platform Unreasonable Group to launch a programme on sustainable solutions to global challenges. One of the schemes to benefit from the initiative is Growing Underground, London’s first subterranean farm, which utilises LED lighting and hydroponic growing systems. (Edie)
NEST climate-proofs default pension with new UBS ‘climate aware’ fund
NEST (the National Employment Savings Trust), which provides millions of UK workers with pensions, will now include significant investment in a new ‘climate aware’ fund from UBS Asset Management, developed in partnership with NEST’s in-house team. The new UBS Life Climate Aware World Equity fund aims to deliver returns broadly in line with the FTSE Developed Index, but will apply a positive ‘tilt’ to increase investment in companies identified as vital to combatting climate change, such as those working in renewable energy. It will also apply a negative tilt to lower investment in firms with high carbon emissions, fossil fuel reserves or those not taking steps to meet emission reduction targets. The fund is targeting at least 40 per cent higher exposure to firms that generate renewable energy and supporting technologies, a 30 per cent tilt towards companies with emission reduction targets aligned to a two degrees pathway, and a 50 per cent reduction in carbon intensity. (BusinessGreen)
Waste
Green campaigners welcome Coca-Cola U-turn on bottle and can recycling scheme
Coca-Cola has announced it supports testing a deposit return service for drinks cans and bottles, in a major coup for environment and anti-waste campaigner. Executives told an event in Edinburgh on Tuesday evening, organised by Holyrood magazine, that they agreed with campaigners who were pressing the Scottish government to set up a bottle-return pilot scheme. The announcement was hailed as a “landmark moment” by the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS), which is coordinating a lobbying campaign with other groups and businesses, including WWF and the Marine Conservation Society. A Coca-Cola spokeswoman said the company’s polling had found majority support across the UK. It said 63% of consumers backed the proposal and 51% of those polled believed it would increase their recycling. The company said it had made significant progress on sustainability: its bottles and cans were 100% recyclable; packages were lighter and the amount of recycled plastic in its bottles would increase from 25% to 40% by 2020. (Guardian)
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