WASTE

12 companies responsible for over half of UK's packaging pollution

Ocean conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage has published a major new report revealing how 12 companies are responsible for nearly two thirds of all branded packaging pollution across the UK. The annual Citizen Science Brand Audit records the brands of packaging collected as part of the UK's biggest beach clean-up event. Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Anheuser-Busch InBev – the company behind Budweiser and Stella Artois – and McDonalds were named as the top four companies responsible for packaging pollution, with just 12 firms found to be responsible for 65% of all the packaging waste collected. The rest of the top 12 companies, which included Cadbury's parent Mondelez, Heineken, Tesco, Carlsberg, soft drink giant Suntory, Haribo, Mars, and Aldi, were found to together be responsible for 48% of all branded pollution collected. (Business Green)

STRATEGY

Princes targets carbon neutrality by 2030 and JBS joins Race to Zero

Food and drink manufacturer Princes has committed to achieving carbon-neutral operations globally within a decade and stated that it will prioritise decarbonisation over offsetting. The business is planning to reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by at least 50% by 2030, against the baseline of financial year 2018-2019, with offsetting playing a “minimal” role in the journey to carbon-neutrality. In related news, the world’s largest meat company, JBS, will formally join the Race to Zero campaign, building on a net-zero commitment the business set earlier this year. In joining Race to Zero, corporates commit to setting more ambitious targets in line with climate science and to using their reach to encourage climate action across their networks of suppliers, customers and respective sectors. (Edie 1; Edie 2)

ANIMAL WELFARE 

UK could allow animal tests for cosmetics for first time since 1998

UK government ministers have opened the door to expanding the use of animal testing to ingredients used in cosmetic products for the first time in 23 years, according to animal welfare charity Cruelty Free International. Animal testing on ingredients exclusively used in cosmetics – which was banned in the UK in 1998 – could be required, after the government said in a letter it was aligning itself with a decision made last year by the appeals board of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which said that some ingredients used only in cosmetics needed to be tested on animals to ensure they were safe. The UK law on animal testing has not changed, but campaigners warned that accepting the ECHA’s ruling could lead to a much wider use of animal testing. (The Guardian)

COMMUNITY

Gousto partners with DPD to redistribute undelivered food boxes

Recipe box company Gousto is claiming a first for a meal kit business with plans to reroute failed deliveries to food redistribution charity FareShare. Meal kits that cannot be delivered to customers will instead be taken by Gousto’s courier partner DPD to a FareShare warehouse, from which they will be donated to charities and community groups that support vulnerable people across the UK. In cases where it is not possible to leave meal kits on the doorsteps of customers not at home, the boxes  will be sent onto FareShare. Previously, the undeliverable meal kits would have been destroyed. The scheme, which is due to launch next month, is also intended to scale up as Gousto opens two new fulfilment centres in Thurrock and Warrington by the end of 2022. (The Grocer)

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

Airline easyJet to make “eco” uniforms out of recycled plastic bottles

Low-cost airline easyJet has this week debuted new uniforms for its cabin crew and pilots made from recycled plastic bottles, as the airline giant steps up efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its supply chain. Each uniform is to be made from 45 plastic bottles and is manufactured by Tailored Image, a Northern-Ireland based staff uniform designer. The uniforms are to be rolled out for cabin crew from this month and are predicted to save 500,000 plastic bottles from going to waste each year, rising to a total of 2,700,000 bottles over course of the five-year contract between the companies. The new material has a 75% lower carbon footprint than traditional polyester and is more durable and more elastic than the non-recycled alternative. (Business Green)