Eco News Round Up – November 2021
Iceland supermarkets give away free food to fight food waste
In October 2021, the supermarkets, Iceland, launched a new initiative called ‘Free on Last Day of Life’ with the aim of reducing food waste. This initiative entails that the supermarket will give away free food to online customers on the last day of its shelf life. Moreover, the initiative will be launched across all 1000 supermarket websites after a trial took place at forty stores was considered successful. It is significant to note, that these food products would be equal to £500,000 a year and would be a massive loss to the supermarket’s food waste. With this new scheme, more than 17,000 items were given away for free during the trial and customers received an average refund of £1.58 per order. An amazing initiative that should also be adopted by other supermarkets as well.
Source: Independent
Coldplay announce Sustainable World Tour
Coldplay has announced the dates of their upcoming Music Of The Spheres 2022 global tour—and made a commitment that it’ll be as sustainable and low-carbon as possible. Not only will all the shows be powered by 100% clean energy, Coldplay has also pledged to make the tour, climate positive. For instance, at the venue, fans will be able to purchase merchandise that has been sustainably and ethically sourced. Furthermore, there will be no charge for drinking water, in order to eliminate unnecessary single-use plastic bottle waste. Likewise, fans can also bring their own cups and bottles to refill. As for Coldplay and its crew’s own emissions, the band will mostly fly commercial and pay a surcharge to use Sustainable Aviation Fuel, and use EVs for ground transportation whenever possible. They will also eat mainly locally-sourced plant-based foods, avoiding high-carbon foods such as meat and dairy. Way to go Coldplay!
Source: Independent
Toxic foam covers India’s sacred Yamuna river
The Yamuna is already one of the most polluted waterways in the country but parts of the river, which pass through the centre of Delhi, were coated in mounds of white foam resembling snowfall. This phenomenon was caused by agricultural fires in nearby farming communities, extensive industrial sewage and a barrage of fireworks set off by the capital’s residents to mark Diwali, despite a ban on their sale. According to statistics, 90 per cent of the sewage flows into the Yamuna River. 58 per cent of the waste goes into the Yamuna River itself. Untreated sewage is also discharged into the Yamuna, which contains phosphate and acid, which form toxic foam. Moreover, levels of harmful PM 2.5 particles have topped 400 in several areas, which is 16 times higher than the daily safe limit set by the World Health Organization. The local authorities have treated the situation to some extent.
Source: Live Mint
180 million euros in Paris plans to make the city “100% cyclable”
In 2026 Paris strives to become a 100% cyclable city just like other European Greener cities such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen. To be more specific, approximately € 180 million of new spending has been allocated to infrastructure, which includes planning of major bike routes to and around the city suburbs. Hence, by 2026 Paris will have a total network of 180 safe cycling trails. In addition to this, there will be 100,000 new private parking spaces in Paris, in order to keep all the bicycles safe to avoid theft. Nonetheless, these new developments are not favourable to all Parisians. The mayor’s bicycle-friendly policy has caused anger from drivers, as the new policy will lead to the creation of new paid car passes thus eliminating traffic between cities.
Source: We Forum
Amsterdam Wants to be 50% Plant-Based by 2030
Amsterdam is one of the most eco-friendly cities in Europe and it keeps on getting greener. Currently, 39% of Amsterdam’s citizen’s is plant-based. However, the council wants this number to grow even more and make it 50% by 2030 and 60% by 2040. This scheme has been put into place due to the rise of obesity in both adults and children. This new scheme includes banning unhealthy food from the streets and increasing the amount of plant-based food in its citizens’ diet. To achieve this, schools and public buildings may now receive more healthy and sustainable food from the local government. Likewise, to make sure no one is left behind, healthy and ‘sustainable’ food options will be made readily available across ‘vulnerable’ neighbourhoods. An amazing scheme that should be adopted by other major European cities as well.
Source: One Green Planet