ENERGY

US airlines to support higher target for sustainable aviation fuel by 2030

Major US airlines have pledged to back a voluntary industry target of 3 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in 2030 as the White House looks to reduce aviation sector emissions. Airlines for America, an industry trade group which represents United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and others, in March set a 2030 goal of producing and deploying 2 billion gallons of SAF, made from feedstocks such as used cooking oil and animal fat, which has now been increased by an additional 50%.  The White House has additionally announced $4.3 billion of funding to support SAF projects and producers, an increase in R&D activities to achieve a 30% improvement in aircraft fuel efficiency, and efforts to improve air traffic to reduce fuel use and ensure cleaner air. (Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT

Deep-sea mining receives resounding rejection from conservation authorities

Delegates at this year’s IUCN World Conservation Congress have voted overwhelmingly in support of a moratorium on deep-sea mining, and the reform of the International Seabed Authority, the UN-mandated body tasked with regulating this activity. Eighty-one governments and 577 NGOs and voted in favour of the moratorium, with 18 governments and 32 NGOs voting against. Whilst proponents say deep-sea mining would be less destructive to biodiversity than terrestrial mining, and that the extraction of minerals from the seafloor is necessary to fuel the rise of renewable energy technologies, a large consortium of conservationists and scientists say that deep-sea mining would irreversibly damage deep-sea habitats and other parts of the ocean. They argue renewable energy technologies could rely on terrestrial mining and metal recycling programmes to acquire the minerals they need. (Eco-Business)

STRATEGY 

Diageo 1.5C pathway climate goals approved by science-based targets initiative

Global spirits and beer company Diageo has announced its 2030 GHG emission reduction targets have been approved by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) as meeting the criteria to keep global warming to 1.5°C. Among the commitments are goals to harness 100% renewable energy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across direct operations and working with suppliers to reduce indirect carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. The announcement follows the launch late last year by Diageo of a wide-ranging sustainability programme, ‘Society 2030: Spirit of Progress,’ with the introduction of 25 goals aimed at making a positive impact on the world by 2030. Earlier this year, SBTi tightened its criteria for approved climate targets, announcing that it will soon only accept targets aligned with its 1.5°C warming ambition. (ESGToday)

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Sainsbury's labels own-brand coffee pods recyclable to boost recycling rates

British supermarket Sainsbury’s is to begin labelling its own-brand aluminium coffee pods as recyclable, after discovering that waste management facilities can usually process small capsules for recycling. Sainsbury’s, in collaboration with coffee pod makers Dualit and the On-Pack Recycling Label scheme, investigated how to recycle aluminium coffee pods and found that they could be processed and recycled with other metallic materials as long as coffee debris is removed. The new recycling label states that used pods should be emptied of all coffee grinds and rinsed before recycling, but once done, they can be recycled with traditional recycling services. The supermarket chain plans to launch Dualit EcoPress, a device that separates coffee and aluminium, in November to encourage more customers to recycle their pods. (Business Green)*  

SUPPLY CHAIN

UK supply chain survey reveals major lack of transparency on sustainability

Half of UK businesses admit they are not being transparent enough with consumers about the true sustainability of their supply chains, according to research by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply. The research  found that 48% of the 318 supply chain managers surveyed do not believe their organisation is transparent enough with consumers, clients, and regulators about sustainability. Nearly 20% admitted they do not know how sustainable their products are themselves, but just5% feel their marketing actively misleads clients or customers about sustainability. However, there are some signs of progress. Around 53% of respondents stated that, since 2019, they have begun taking sustainability into account when choosing suppliers. Additionally, 36% said they have redesigned products to reduce waste, increased the use of recyclables or introduced more sustainable materials. (edie)

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