DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

FTSE 100 firms have no black executives in top three roles

There are no black executives in any of the top three roles at Britain’s 100 biggest companies for the first time in six years, according to an annual report on boardroom diversity by consultancy Green Park. The number of black leaders holding the role of chair, CEO or CFO at FTSE 100 firms had stalled since 2014, and has now dropped to zero after cruise operator Carnival, run by a black CEO, dropped out of the FTSE 100, and black joint chair of the packaging and paper group Mondi retired. The proportion is the lowest it has been since Green Park first reported in 2014. Only 10 out of 297 leaders (3.4%) in these top three positions have ethnic minority backgrounds. (The Guardian)

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

BMW to begin sourcing 'solar aluminium'

German auto giant BMW Group has announced it will begin sourcing aluminium produced with solar power, which could deliver significant reductions to its supply chain emissions. It estimates that, starting with immediate effect, green aluminium alone will deliver a 3% reduction in supply chain emissions by 2030. This is the company’s first step in a plan to scale up the use of green power across its aluminium supply chain. The company has a target to cut emissions from its supplier network by 20% by 2030, and using green power could deliver 50% of those targets, amounting to a cut of around 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions over the next 10 years. (Business Green)

CLIMATE CHANGE 

Researchers warn sea level will rise faster than previously thought

The rise in sea level is likely to be faster and greater than previously thought, according to a research paper that claims recent predictions are inconsistent with historical data. In its most recent assessment, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said the sea level was unlikely to rise beyond 1.1 metres (3.6ft) by 2100. But climate researchers from the University of Copenhagen’s Niels Bohr Institute believe levels could rise as much as 1.35 metres by 2100 under a worst-case warming scenario. The scientists tested the IPCC’s predictions using historical data for the sea level rise and found a discrepancy of 25cm. The paper has been sent to the IPCC sea level scientists in hopes that its testing method could be used to constrain the IPPC’s models and reduce uncertainty. (The Guardian)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Ocado trials electric vehicles for rapid deliveries

Grocery delivery service Ocado Retail has launched a trial of electric vehicles (EVs) for its rapid grocery delivery service in London, as part of the retailer's ongoing commitment to reaching net-zero emissions. Ocado Zoom will trial the EVs at its site in Acton, West London. The vehicles are a mix of electric refrigerated vans and pedal-powered cargo bikes which can travel up to 40 miles. The company claims that every vehicle is zero-emission, and it is committed to opening more sites in London by 2025. The trial is part of Ocado’s target to become net-zero by 2035, and of its commitments to the British Retail Consortium, a plan signed by more than 60 leading retailers, aimed at reaching a net-zero retail industry by 2040. (Edie)

WASTE

Costa Coffee expands food waste prevention services across UK

Costa Coffee is expanding its partnership with anti-food-waste app Too Good To Go, allowing customers to purchase unsold food from more than 1,100 of its stores across the UK. Costa Coffee’s partnership with the app started in 2018 and has seen more than 100,000 food collection bags collected across UK stores. The bags prevent unsold food from going to waste by offering discounted bundles to customers via the app. Since 2018, the collaboration has saved 250 tonnes of carbon emissions. Costa has additionally committed to using its voice to drive a change of the public’s behaviour, with the aim of tackling the UK’s annual food waste of 10.2 million tonnes. (Edie)