Good News Notes: “Today (1 February), Xampla has announced a partnership with chemical company Croda International to begin trials into plastic-free seed coating. The project, supported by the UK Government and the National Institute of Agricultural Botany, will see a £640,000 investment into the company’s biodegradable coating. Used throughout agriculture, coatings protect seeds from pests,…
Tag: UK
Ed Sheeran Plans to Rewild the UK, Starting With His Yard
Good News Notes: “Ed Sheeran has plans for the environment: he aspires to rewild as much of the UK as possible. The English musician told BBC Radio London late last month: “I’m trying to buy as much land as possible and plant as many trees as possible. I am trying to rewild as much of…
Meet Mr Trash Wheel – and the other new devices that eat river plastic
Good News Notes: “The Great Bubble Barrier is just that – a wall of bubbles. It gurgles across the water in a diagonal screen, pushing plastic to one side while allowing fish and other wildlife to pass unharmed. The technology, created by a Dutch firm and already being used in Amsterdam, is being trialled in the Douro…
Out with the meat, in with the plants as world’s top chefs offer vegan menus
Good News Notes: “Alexis Gauthier used to sell 20kg of foie gras a week. Now the chef, whose London-based restaurant became entirely vegan in 2021, only sells a plant-based version. Since becoming vegan, he admits, Gauthier Soho has “lost a lot of customers, sadly”. But he says he has gained even more new diners, all looking…
Companies race to stem flood of microplastic fibres into the oceans
Good News Notes: “From filters to bags to balls, the number of products aimed at stopping the torrent of microplastic fibres being flushed out of washing machines and into rivers and oceans is increasing rapidly. Grundig recently became the first appliance manufacturer to integrate a microfibre filter into a washing machine, while a British company…
Scotland Ends Coal Power With A Bang
Good News Notes: “Scotland recently demolished its last coal-fired power station, ending coal’s reign in the country with a literal bang – ending decades of reliance on the emissions-heavy fossil fuel. “Today’s event is a symbolic reminder that we have ended coal-fired power generation in Scotland, as we work in a fair and just way towards becoming…
Krispy Kreme UK Launches Three Vegan Doughnuts. Can the US Get Just One?
Good News Notes: “On December 31, doughnut chain Krispy Kreme will launch new vegan doughnuts at its United Kingdom locations. The chain is updating its menu in time for Veganuary, a campaign that challenges people to go vegan for the month of January and beyond. Typically, the Veganuary campaign results in many new product offerings…
Tipa eyes compostable future
Good News Notes: “Compostable packaging manufacturer Tipa, which was established in Israel in 2010, believes compostable alternatives are set to dominate food packaging in the near future. Tipa’s vision for flexible packaging is to have the same end-of-life as organic matter, while maintaining the qualities of conventional plastics that consumers and brands have come to…
The moral case for destroying fossil fuel infrastructure
Good News Notes: “Take France, whose president poses as the most enlightened climate diplomat. The largest private company headquartered in that nation, Total, will this year commence construction of the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline, slated to be the longest in the world, cross 230 rivers, bisect 12 forest reserves and drive 100,000 people from their…
Aldi UK removes plastic packaging from wooden toy range
Good News Notes: “The UK branch of discount supermarket chain Aldi has eliminated plastic packaging from its entire wooden toy range as part of its sustainability efforts. The retailer’s Specialbuy range, launched on 31 October, includes 26 different items such as wooden medical carts and pirate ships. Aldi’s wooden toy range was originally launched in…