(Small) signs have started appearing in Costa Coffee outlets asking customers to “leave their cups on a shelf or hand them to a member of staff”. A spokesperson for the chain, owned by Coca Cola, declined to say whether this is a new initiative designed to overcome high levels of contamination in recycling bins for…

The Environment Bill must include a “due diligence” regulation requiring companies to guarantee they are not contributing to deforestation or polluting other parts of the world. According to WWF, the new chapter in the Bill would address Britain’s “global footprint”, and include a legally-binding target to ensure the supply chains of British companies are deforestation-free…

High levels of potentially toxic chemicals have been found in packaging from leading high street food brands and supermarkets. A new report by environmental charity Fidra has revealed significant levels of so-called ‘forever chemicals’ present in 90% of food packaging tested including bakery and cookie bags. PFAS (per and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances) are a group…

Vegetarian Express will start providing customers with greenhouse gas emissions data as it seeks to promote the benefits of choosing plant-based meal options. The vegetarian and vegan food distributor said the move to provide its customers with a detailed quarterly report detailing the environmental savings gained from putting plant-based meals on their menus versus meat…

Businesses that fail to pay their employees the national minimum and living wage rates will continue to be publicly named and shamed, the government has confirmed. The current naming scheme will be resumed following a review, however the threshold for the level of arrears at which point an employer’s identity will be made public has…