Dale Vince has a winning strategy for sustainability

Dale Vince has a winning strategy for sustainability

ByThe Circular Economy Team

In 2010, when Dale Vince purchased his local soccer club, his primary motivation was to save it from bankruptcy. But Vince, the founder of the British company Ecotricity — which says it was the first company in the world to sell green electricity — soon realized he could transform the club into a model for sustainability. By serving only vegan food to players and fans, capturing rainwater to irrigate the organic field, and installing solar panels and electric vehicle charging points at the stadium, he has since turned Forest Green Rovers into what FIFA, global soccer’s organizing body, in 2018 called the greenest soccer club in the world. And he has plans to go even greener.

Infographic: Visualizing the Sustainable ETF Universe

Infographic: Visualizing the Sustainable ETF Universe

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Globally, sustainable exchange-traded fund (ETF) assets hit $150 billion last year, vaulting 25 times higher than in 2015. Yet despite this growth, sustainable ETFs—baskets of investments that focus on environmental, social and governance issues—account for roughly 5% of the entire ETF universe. What makes up this rapidly growing market? Where are the most common areas for investment? To answer this question, this infographic from MSCI breaks down the sustainable ETF universe.

98 Percent of Sustainability Initiatives Fail. Here’s How Not to Be Part of That Statistic.

98 Percent of Sustainability Initiatives Fail. Here’s How Not to Be Part of That Statistic.

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Most companies aren’t nearly as green as everyone thinks they are. As the dreaded pandemic reminds us nature — not humans— is the real boss of this planet, companies worldwide are attempting to make strides in sustainability. Young product manufacturers and startups live and breathe green as part of their company DNA. Older and legacy companies typically have to revisit policies and processes to determine where adjustments can be made. Whether they are making the changes purely for the benefit of the environment, for the sake of compliance or in direct response to public outcry, any and all efforts are certainly welcome and much needed. 

Renewable energy and the circular economy are driving growth for Neste

Renewable energy and the circular economy are driving growth for Neste

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Peter Vanacker is well-acquainted with disruption and conflict. As the president and CEO of Neste Corporation, he leads a company with a market capitalization of about US$40 billion that stands with a foot in two contrasting camps. Based in Espoo, Finland, Neste has a heritage in oil refining. But Neste’s future on the world stage is being shaped by strong growth in renewables and the company’s role in driving the circular economy.

Gabrielle Lissot Wins Inaugural Sustainability Animation Residency

Gabrielle Lissot Wins Inaugural Sustainability Animation Residency

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Gabrielle Lissot, with her folkloric concept Les Louves (The Wolves), has been elected by the SAR ProJury to receive the first-ever six-week Sustainability Animation Residency, commencing on May 22, 2021 in Saint Rémy de Provence, France. Lissot was selected from a shortlist of four “incredibly accomplished” film proposals, preselected by the SAR PreJury consisting of Joana Schliemann, founder, Schliemann Residency Provence; Luce Grosjean, founder, MIYU Distribution; Tony Guerrero, Benoit Berthes Siward and Mathieu Rey.

Pianca redesigns Calatea Green chair for the circular economy

Pianca redesigns Calatea Green chair for the circular economy

ByThe Circular Economy Team

To celebrate the inauguration of Green Pea, Italy’s first dedicated green retail park, Cristina Celestina of Pianca recently presented Calatea Green, a chair that follows a circular economy model. The piece is a redesign of the company’s Calatea chair, originally developed in 2017, with new, eco-friendly materials and organic aesthetics for a greener version of the classic chair.

New insight brings sustainable hydrogen one step closer

New insight brings sustainable hydrogen one step closer

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Leiden chemists Marc Koper and Ian McCrum have discovered that the degree to which a metal binds to the oxygen atom of water is decisive for how well the chemical conversion of water to molecular hydrogen takes place. This insight helps to develop better catalysts for the production of sustainable hydrogen, an important raw material for the chemical industry and the fuel needed for environmentally friendly hydrogen cars. Publication in Nature Energy. For years there has been a heated debate in the literature: how to speed up the electrochemical production of hydrogen on platinum electrodes in an alkaline environment?

Shaw Recognizes More Organizations Putting People at the Heart of Sustainability

Shaw Recognizes More Organizations Putting People at the Heart of Sustainability

ByThe Circular Economy Team

The nine organizations selected for this year’s sustain[HUMAN]ability® Leadership Recognition Program have displayed tremendous effort and progress to support the wellbeing of people and the planet amid the unprecedented challenges of 2020. This week, Shaw unveils our second slate of organizations to be honored by our 2020 sustain[HUMAN]ability® Leadership Recognition Program. The nine organizations selected for this year’s recognition program have displayed tremendous effort and progress to support the wellbeing of people and the planet amid the unprecedented challenges of 2020. Our 2021 slate includes nine organizations — big, multinational corporate programs; academic innovators; industry-changing initiatives; and groundbreaking local work.

Circular economy pioneer to speak at new Festival of Circular Economy

Circular economy pioneer to speak at new Festival of Circular Economy

ByThe Circular Economy Team

The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) is launching a brand-new virtual event – the Festival of Circular Economy – at which the renowned sustainability pioneer Dr Walter Stahel will give the opening keynote speech. Taking place on 20-21 April, the Festival will be the first event of its kind focused exclusively on the circular economy. “This will be a celebration of the great work being done on circular economy projects around the world,” said Sarah Poulter, CEO of CIWM, “and will enable organisations, big and small, to identify opportunities to scale up these projects to achieve critical mass.” Dr Stahel is credited with inventing the concept of the circular economy in a paper published in 1982 and his keynote speech will provide a new vision for realising the full value of our natural resources. “It will be my privilege to show how ‘recyclers’ and ‘waste managers’ in charge of today’s legacy waste will become managers of ‘value platforms’ for components and molecules, once circular materials have been commercialised,” Dr Stahel said.

Circular economy setback

Circular economy setback

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Prior to the emergence of the novel coronavirus outbreak, the recycled plastics industry had been making significant progress in its journey to end plastic waste. It was seeing positive results from high consumer and regulatory pressure on brands worldwide to improve their commitments to sustainability. Private companies, non-profit organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were all campaigning actively to increase consumer awareness of recycling and sustainability across the value chain. The message was finally getting through at a basic level, setting the stage for a fundamental shift in public attitudes. For example, consumers began rejecting single-use plastics such as drinking cups, straws and cutlery when they purchased take-away food; some vendors even offered incentives to customers who brought their own cups.

Sustainable Business Covered podcast: Big energy ideas, meat-free meals and women leaders

Sustainable Business Covered podcast: Big energy ideas, meat-free meals and women leaders

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Episode 51 of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast sees edie travel to Birmingham to chat about a green energy revolution with delegates at the recent SPARK! Energy Leaders Club event, alongside interviews with Quorn Foods and the Women in Sustainability Network. The Sustainable Business Covered podcast returns to bring you more exclusive interviews and insight from the world of sustainability.  In this latest episode, reporter Sarah delivers four quick-fire interviews from an Energy Leaders Club event which took place in Birmingham last week.