Making excellence a habit
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Welcome to October’s digest of sustainability news for BSI members. This month, we’re catching up on key developments, breaking news, data and analysis drawn from across the world. Like two routes to sustainable air travel, batteries made of sand, a net zero real estate deal and a big pledge from a mega brand.
Patagonia pledges that all profits will fund sustainability causes
In the words of Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, “If we have any hope of a thriving planet- much less a business- it is going to take all of us doing what we can with the resource we have.” Now this billion-dollar outdoor clothing and gear brand have put their money where their mouth is. All the money Patagonia make after reinvesting in the business will be distributed as a dividend to help fight the climate crisis. Read more
Easyjet stops CO2 offsetting to focus on sustainable fuel and more efficient planes
The airline signed a three-year contract in late 2019 to offset all its CO2 emissions , but now EasyJet is to stop offsetting carbon emissions by its planes. It has unveiled a roadmap to net zero emissions by 2050, including introducing hydrogen-powered jet engines, using sustainable aviation fuel, more fuel-efficient planes and carbon capture to hit net zero.
LA puts the brakes on wasteful water use at celebrity mansions
As it faces a historic drought, local LA authorities are installing flow restrictors to ensure that everyone – star or no star – uses the same amount of water. A residence gets a restrictor when it has exceeded its water limit by 150% at least four times since December 2021. The tiny stainless-steel restrictor installed in the water pipe outside the residence limits water flow dramatically.
Finnish researchers install the world's first fully working "sand battery"
Using low-grade sand, this battery is charged up with heat made from cheap electricity from solar or wind. The sand stores the heat at around 500C for months at a time. This can then warm homes in winter when energy is more expensive. The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory are also actively looking at sand as a viable form of battery for green power.
Blueview launch the world’s first fully biodegradable shoe
These innovative plant-based trainers from US company Blueview are made with two new materials: Soleic and Plant Knit. These materials replace more traditional petroleum-based rubber and foam. The result is a shoe where every single component completely breaks down when exposed to air, moisture, and microorganisms in compost.
Floating wind turbines with spinning vertical blades make offshore power more efficient
Rather than replicate onshore turbines, a new offshore wind turbine design looks more like a spinning cylinder with three blades mounted veryically on a pole. These floating vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) have been proven to withstand hurricane-force wind and wave conditions. SeaTwirl claims this design is not only cheaper, but also more efficient, as it can use wind coming from any direction.
£75 billion worth of UK real estate signed-up for net zero by 2050
The British Property Federation’s net-zero pledge initiative for the sector now has 24 organisations signed up to the pledge to reach net-zero by 2050 or sooner and have verifiable plans to do so. Collectively, this represents £75bn of real estate assets under management, including 80 million square feet of commercial space and more than 45,000 homes.
Air Canada has invested in electric-hybrid planes set for 2028 take-off
Swedish electric airplane maker, Heart Aerospace, has confirmed that Air Canada, one of North America’s largest airlines, has ordered 30 of their electric-hybrid regional aircraft. The ES-30 can carry 30 passengers and is driven by electric motors powered by batteries, which allows it to operate with zero emissions and low noise. Take-off is planned for 2028.
To discover more about how BSI is supporting businesses to meet the challenges of climate change and net zero, why not visit our standards, knowledge and best practice in sustainability page, here.
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