Collecting rainwater from rooftops and using it to spray buildings during hot weather could help cities cut air conditioning use, lower urban temperatures and lessen the impact of heatwaves, according to new research from The University of Manchester. Cities around the world are facing rising temperatures, putting pressure on public health, infrastructure and energy systems. As people rely more on air conditioning to stay cool, energy demand increases and waste heat release

Siegwerk, one of the leading global providers of printing inks and coatings for packaging applications and labels, announced that in 2025 it was powered by 100% renewable electricity across its global operations. This achievement marks another important milestone in the company’s sustainability journey and underlines its long term commitment to decarbonisation and responsible business practices as part of its HorizonNow 2030 sustainability agenda. Since initiating its trans

Floating infrastructure is reshaping how electricity is generated, cities are built, and goods are moved. From deepwater wind farms to solar PV and modular urban platforms, the sector is expanding rapidly, with the UK and Europe at the centre of global development. According to a new infrastructure report from Heligan Group, floating wind remains the main driver of the sector, delivering an expected one-third of the UK’s offshore wind capacity by 2050, and generating 175 T

TCL Packaging has installed a 1176 panel rooftop solar system at its factory in Telford. The system, which uses innovative DC optimised inverter technology to meet strict insurer mandated safety standards, is forecast to cut carbon emissions by an expected 95 tonnes per year. The project marks a major milestone in the company’s mission to meet growing customer demand for more sustainable packaging while also keeping rising energy costs under control. The Telford facility co

In a drive to encourage the region’s electric vehicle (EV) uptake, Devon County Council and Torbay Council have partnered with EV charge point operator (CPO) Believ to deliver more than 1300 fully funded EV charge points across the region. The rollout is designed to serve residents without access to a driveway or the means to privately charge their vehicle. The project was developed through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme but will be fully funded by

Environmental professionals, planners, land managers, researchers and local authorities are joining leading experts at the Arboricultural Association Conference 2026 in Lancaster this September. Professionals working across environmental management, ecology, planning, landscape design, forestry, green infrastructure, academia and local government are being encouraged to attend the event taking place at Lancaster University from 7 to 9 September. Bringing together 24 exper

As governments across the UK face mounting pressure to build more homes without sacrificing ancient woodland and other irreplaceable natural habitats, a community campaign in Scotland believes it has identified a practical compromise that could help bridge one of the country’s most contentious planning debates. Rather than opposing a major housing development, campaigners fighting to protect Hollybush Woodland in Paisley are asking whether redesigning around 3% of the appro

For more than a decade, the Two Sides Anti-Greenwash campaign has challenged misleading environmental claims that unfairly slander the environmental performance of paper communications and paper based packaging. Today, the campaign has reached another milestone, with 1500 organisations worldwide removing or amending unsubstantiated anti-paper statements following engagement with the organisation. From banks and utilities to retailers, insurers and public sector organisation

The Department for Education (DfE) has launched a pilot programme to test private sector financing for installing rooftop solar panels in English schools and colleges. Up to 150 schools and colleges in Yorkshire and Humber, the East Midlands and south east will take part in the first phase of the DfE’s renewal and retrofit programme. The pilot will evaluate the power purchase agreement (PPA) model for private sector investment in education sector solar installations.

Virgin Media O2 is committing to invest in nature recovery programmes across the UK after joining the Media In Service of Nature movement. The operator has become a strategic partner of the initiative, which encourages the media industry to put a minimum of 0.1% of their marketing and campaign spend towards projects which build climate resilience. Media In Service of Nature launched on World Environment Day (5 June) last year by Ecologi, giffgaff and MG OMD, and aims to r

Interest in plug-in solar panels is growing rapidly as major retailers such as Lidl and Aldi have introduced affordable solar kits to their product range. Google searches for the cheaper solar panels are up 30% since the start of summer, as Brits flock to the shelves to get their hands on the cost saving energy alternative. Marketed as a lower cost alternative to traditional rooftop systems, these products are attracting homeowners keen to reduce their energy bills with

The Welsh Government has confirmed it will continue with plans to introduce household collections of plastic film and other flexible plastics from 2027, despite all local authorities in England delaying equivalent requirements until 2030. David Gudgeon, head of external affairs at Reconomy, the international circular economy specialist, commented: ‘It is encouraging to see Wales sticking with its plans to introduce flexible plastic collections from 2027 under the Workplace

The London College of Garden Design (LCGD) has announced the launch of the Nigel Dunnett Plantsmanship Bursary, a new financial award supporting students enrolling on the college's Certificate in Plantsmanship. The bursary, which will start in September 2026, has been established to celebrate the outstanding contribution of Professor Nigel Dunnett, who taught at the college from 2013 and played a significant role in inspiring a generation of garden designers and horticultural

According to Water UK, a dripping tap wastes 5500 litres of water every year. That same process of quiet, cumulative waste can impact the packaging industry if left unaddressed. Here, Mark Richards, UK sales manager at industrial control and automation specialist Beckhoff, explains how small process deviations, brief production stops and rejected products can quietly generate large amounts of waste across high volume production lines and what engineering managers can do about

EcoVend by Reconomy has announced that its reverse vending machines (RVMs) saw strong public engagement in the fan zone during the recent Formula 1 Pirelli British Grand Prix at Silverstone, giving spectators the opportunity to experience how the UK's Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will work ahead of its launch in October 2027. This marks the third year of its collaboration with Silverstone as its exclusive RVM provider, with the machines helping to prevent the littering of si