This year, more than ever, the eyes of the world are on the UK to make some vital shifts in the name of sustainability. As a country, we’ve gone through significant disruption, change and evolution regarding our government, royalty, society and culture. With each new nationwide event, from unexpected heatwaves to major environmental protests, there’s never been a better time to start making positive changes for our planet.
‘We’re proud to be a UK business and we know just how much sustainability matters to the people of this country. Our work allows us to connect with other British businesses and landowners, all willing to do their part to help reduce the environmental impact their work has on the planet and it’s a privilege to help them do so.’
Ann Wheeler, Director of Data Centres.
So what has the UK done to help aid environmental recovery and sustainability in 2023?
As Britain pushes for increased decarbonisation efforts in each and every industry, the UK Emissions Trading Scheme Authority has recently released a series of reforms for the aviation industry to acknowledge.
Through gradually implemented emissions limits on both domestic and international flights, the industry will be forced to decrease the amount of greenhouse gases generated through travel - forcing the major airlines to switch to renewable energy sources instead. Although these limitations will not be enforced until 2026, the oncoming reform is designed to allow airlines to evaluate and research new fuel technologies and sources before their free allocations are up.
In a move orchestrated by Octopus Energy, the music festival Glastonbury recently played host to a gigantic, colourful wind turbine - helping festival-goers to enjoy up to 300kWh of renewable power per day!
Erected at the festival as part of a ‘try before you buy scheme’, the wind turbine was designed to encourage UK communities to test-drive wind power in their areas and to showcase the benefits of the turbine for other local spaces. With a short build time, a colourful design and enough power generated to keep enthusiastic food stall holders happy throughout the festival weekend, it’s a great move for sustainable energy awareness.
In a bold move in the fight against single-use wet wipes, a report from the UK has proposed a country-wide ban on plastic wipes in favour of biodegradable and reusable alternatives.
Currently, up to 90% of the material in blockages within UK sewers is made up of plastic wet wipes, with non-biodegradable material getting lodged in the pipes. Alongside other non-biodegradable materials, these wipes can create fatbergs, slowing down the flow of water to UK homes and businesses.
Not only are these blockages problematic financially, costing the UK around £1 million a year to clear, but they also cause environmental problems within essential water systems. As the government launches a public inquiry into the feasibility of banning plastic wet wipes, the key messaging of their harmful impact is still being delivered.
Earlier this year, UK Sport publicly released their new Environmental Sustainability Strategy, detailing their plans and targets for the decarbonisation of sporting events within the UK. With a goal to reduce the negative and harmful environmental impacts of sports and major sporting events across the country, their strategy covers the next two years of sport and offers guides to upcoming sporting heroes.
Some of their goals and targets include having a net positive impact on the environment by 2040, aligning with UN Sports to develop an international Environmental Sustainability Action Plan by 2025, embedding sustainable practices into each stage of sporting event planning and using their platform to share awareness of key sustainable messaging.
As a show of staunch support to small sustainable businesses within the UK, Amazon has
incorporated eight new startups into its prestigious sustainability accelerator programme earlier this year.
With investment opportunities for startups lacking sustainable credentials declining, more and more startups are being rewarded for their focus on sustainability and environmental impact. The Amazon Sustainability Accelerator acts as a financially backed launchpad to help these fledgling businesses to ‘deliver innovative technologies and sustainable products’ in a secure and supported channel.
From urban e-scooter businesses to innovative recycling technologies, the products and services these startups will deliver are set to make a huge positive impact on the environmental status of the UK.
The UK is rapidly driving sustainable change across the nation, from funding eco-friendly startups to decarbonising the transport sector for good.
To find out more about how your business could start making a positive impact on the environment today, speak to one of our friendly Clean Energy Capital team for more information.