WASTE

Plastic from big businesses likely to peak in 2021 & fall 20% by 2025

Big brands and retailers often criticised for their plastic packaging use are on course to reduce their virgin plastic consumption by one-fifth by 2025, according to a major new report from circular economy NGO the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The report tracks the progress of the signatories of the Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, which has 63 corporate signatories including Danone, Unilever, Mars, PepsiCo, The Coca-Cola Company and L’Oreal. According to the report, the virgin plastic use of all participating businesses collectively is on track to peak this year. In 2025, the Foundation estimates its cohort will use 20% less virgin plastic than in 2018, provided commitments are delivered. The report notes that the majority of this reduction will be driven by companies replacing virgin plastic feedstocks with recycled content. (edie)

COLLABORATION

Pavilion, QatarEnergy & Chevron set emissions standard for LNG

Singapore's Pavilion Energy Trading & Supply has partnered with energy suppliers QatarEnergy and Chevron to jointly develop a method to calculate greenhouse gas emissions for liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes. The calculation of emissions from wellhead-to-discharge terminal will be applied to sales and purchase agreements that Pavilion Energy has with the producers. The companies said their methodology is expected to enhance transparency and improve the accuracy of emission calculations. Pavilion's announcement follows a recent framework launched by the International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers to establish rules to declare cargoes carbon neutral. Environmental groups are sceptical about the use of carbon offsets, saying the ability to pay for emission reductions could prolong the use of fossil fuels, and arguing companies should measure emissions and pursue absolute reductions instead. (Reuters)

CIRCULAR ECONOMY 

M&S trials clothing rental as ASOS launches circular economy guide

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has launched its first clothing rental trial, in partnership with online UK-based clothing rental platform Hirestreet. Shoppers will be able to choose to rent womenswear from M&S’s Autograph range and Ghost collaboration. Other brands already listing clothing on the platform include French Connection, Rat & Boa and ASOS. On the same day, fast fashion retailer ASOS published an interactive circular economy guide to help brands and designers reduce waste across their value chains. The resource is open-source and has been developed with input from the London College of Fashion and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.  It includes information on incorporating innovative and recycled materials; minimising waste during design and manufacturing; designing upcycled items; improving durability and versatility and designing for recycling and disassembly at the end-of-life stage. (edie)

POLICY

Biden signs infrastructure law, pledging billions to energy transition

US President Biden has signed the $1 trillion ‘Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’ into law, earmarking billions of funding for the clean energy transition, targeting hydrogen development, vehicle electrification, and carbon removal technologies. The law will support the development of clean hydrogen fuel, including clean hydrogen hubs for the transport and industrial sectors, clean hydrogen electrolysis R&D, and hydrogen manufacturing and recycling. Funding also includes $7.5 billion for the development of a network of electric vehicle chargers, targeting 500,000 EV chargers nationwide by 2030; $7.5 billion for zero or low-emissions buses or ferries, with $5 billion allocated to replacing diesel-powered school buses with electric buses. The legislation allocates funding of over $7 billion to the battery supply chain, and over $10 billion to target carbon management technologies and infrastructure. (ESGToday)

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

UK Government launches £27m grant for farmers to build on COP26

The UK government has launched a new £27 million funding pot to help farmers boost productivity and curb emissions in support of the farming sector's pledge to deliver net zero emissions by 2040. The first of its funds – the  ‘Farming Equipment and Technology Fund’ – will provide grants for equipment from a set list of technologies that can improve productivity and reduce environmental impacts, including electronic seeders, chemical-free disinfection systems, and solar powered electric fences. Meanwhile, the ‘Farming Transformation Fund’ will offer support for the deployment of more substantial technologies, such as enhanced water management systems that can improve irrigation or deliver new on-farm reservoirs. The funding will support the government’s net zero strategy and build on its £124 million ‘Nature for Climate Fund’. (Business Green)

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