Businesses will be required to publish credible net zero transition plans under new green finance rules set out by the government. On Monday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak published a roadmap setting out details on new Sustainability Disclosure Requirements, which will include expectations for certain firms to publish transition plans in the context of the UK’s net zero commitment.…

Retailers including Waitrose, Riverford and Abel and Cole have committed to selling disease resistant organic potatoes over more well-known varieties as part of a pledge to boost sustainability and resilience. Coordinated by the Organic Growers Alliance, the ‘UK robust potato pledge 2021’ aims to unite supply chains in the organic potato sector in the fight…

Businesses and governments need to urgently slash the carbon footprint of food if the UK is to achieve its net zero ambition. The clarion call came from environmental charity Wrap which this week published what it claims to be the most comprehensive analysis of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) linked to UK food and drink production and consumption…

Plans to loosen the rules on gene editing of crops in the UK have received a mixed response. This week, the government responded to its own gene editing consultation by setting out plans to enable the use of technologies which it said could help better protect the environment. Gene editing is different from genetic modification,…

The House of Lords has voted in favour of an amendment to the environment bill that would mean charges could be applied to any single-use materials, and not just plastic. This “simple but important amendment… goes to the heart of the throwaway culture”, said Labour’s Baroness Jones during the debate this week. It would ensure…

Fareshare has called on the government to reverse a decision to axe funding for industry food redistribution or risk an estimated 53 million meals going to waste. Since 2018, the government has contributed £5m annually to a food waste fund which helps farmers and food producers cover the costs of getting unsold food to charities.…

Dutch supermarkets are to stop selling fast-growing chickens. From the end of 2023 all chicken meat will carry a ‘Beter Leven (Better Life) label with at least one star. The label, which was developed by the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals, is based on a three star system – the more stars the…

The majority of brand owners have the potential to switch marketing spend to healthier food and drink products once new government advertising restrictions come into force, according to new analysis. Regulations to end TV advertising for products high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) before 9pm and restrict paid-for HFSS advertising online are included within…

Tesco will pay dairy farmers to grow more sustainable feed for their livestock as part of its ambition to slash the environmental impact of a basket of goods. The UK’s biggest supermarket is working in partnership with WWF on a scheme that will see 15 farmers given an 80% cost contribution towards trialling the use…

A new platform has been launched to help raise awareness among consumers about the complex sustainability issues within the palm oil supply chain. Nestlé has create the interactive video platform, ‘beneath the surface’, in response to research that shows around one in five millennial shoppers (17%) avoid purchasing products containing palm oil with almost half…