This month we saw some exciting signs of real change with brands including Shell and Centrica making net zero commitments, as well as Maesk announcing a timeline to launch the first carbon neutral liner and Jaguar Land Rover revealing plans to make all Jaguar brand cars electric. Read on to find out what else stood out for us in February and don’t forget to sign up for our daily Whatsapp broadcast, just text ‘Purpose’ to 07367897583.
Ocado launches UK’s largest dedicated B-Corp range in major sustainability push
A few months ago we highlighted the launch of a green aisle in Homebase and predicted other retailers following suit. Now comes the first major supermarket; Ocado has teamed up with B-Corp to launch a B-Corp certified digital shopping aisle. The B-Corp aisle is part of Ocado’s Eco Shop range and features 1100 products from verified brands, including Innocent and Ben & Jerry’s. B-Corp certified brands undergo assessment to confirm their positive impact on workers, customers, communities and the environment. We can’t wait to see how this trend continues and who’s next on the high street.
Find out more here – http://bit.ly/3u57Sn6
Aldi redesigns easter eggs to cut plastic waste
Still talking retail, this time keeping the Easter Bunny’s plastic waste in check. Co-op, Waitrose and Aldi are all tackling the notorious excess plastic in easter egg packaging used to keep the egg intact and plastic windows to showcase the chocolate. Each retailer is taking its own approach to reducing or minimising the plastic but it’s Aldi’s flat bottom egg that caught our attention for its simplicity and acceptance that to operate more sustainably, some things might need to look a bit different.
Read more here – http://bit.ly/3eoQaFY
Coca-Cola unveils paper bottle prototype
The latest effort to find a sustainable alternative to plastic drinks bottles has come from Coca Cola in the form of a recyclable bottle made of sustainably-sourced wood. Designed in partnership with The Paper Bottle Company (Paboco) the bottle is capable of handling still and carbonated drinks, beauty products “and more” . Producing sustainable and robust bottles on a mass scale is a major challenge that requires radical thinking so we hope this prototype will prove viable.
Read more here – http://bit.ly/3l01N7x
Dixons Carphone and EE tackle digital divide
Remote learning during Covid-19 lockdowns exposed a digital divide with the potential to create even greater disadvantages for the UK’s poorest children. This month some tech brands stepped up to help address the problem. Dixons Carphone partnered with The Learning Foundation to donate £1million to its Digital Access For All programme. Meanwhile EE introduced a new campaign as part of its Lockdown Learning support scheme, which offers mobile data and BT WiFi vouchers to those struggling to get online. The campaign sees brand ambassador Kevin Bacon urging teachers and parents to apply to the scheme which has already been taken up by tens of thousands of families.
Learn more about what Dixons Carphone are doing here – https://bit.ly/3oDlCkX
& more on EE’s scheme here – http://bit.ly/2LehzOt