Novelis recognised for ‘excellence in greenhouse gas management’

Aluminium rolling and recycling company Novelis has been named a winner of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ‘Climate Leadership Award for exemplary leadership in reducing carbon pollution and addressing climate change’.

The award was presented to Novelis on 25 February at the Third Annual Climate Leadership Awards.

Novelis was also recognised in the ‘Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management (Goal Achievement Award)’ category, and for demonstrating leadership in managing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in internal operations and throughout the supply chain.

John Garner, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer of Novelis, commented: "The EPA's Climate Leadership Award is recognition that we are making real progress in our sustainability commitment, which we believe will be key to Novelis' long-term competitiveness."

Read the 2013 Novelis Sustainability Report.

Winners announced for school-based Aluminium D&T Challenge

The winners of the 2013/14 Aluminium Design and Technology (D&T) Challenge, a design competition for 11-14 year-old pupils, were announced at science museum, Thinktank in Birmingham, it was announced today (7 March).

Four winners were announced, one individual being chosen from each of the three subject categories: Transport; Buildings; and Packaging Recycling, plus one overall team winner chosen from entries across all the three challenges.

The winners were, respectively:

• Jack Armstrong Williams of Blundell’s School;
• Hannah Beckett of Belmont School;
• Ambre Bexter of Notting Hill & Ealing High School; and
• Blair Fraser, Ruairidh Gardner & Ben Munro, of Alva Academy (team).

The four category winners were awarded a Cube second Generation 3D printer for their school as well as a £200 cash prize for each of the winners and the winning team.

Judge, Professor Michael Stacey, said: “This year’s entries convey the passion, creativity and innovation that we were seeking from the Challenge”.

Read more about the Aluminium Design and Technology (D&T) Challenge.

Biffa secures ‘around £110 million’ through contract extensions

Municipal services contractor Biffa has secured continuing business worth ‘around £110 million’ after six of its local authority clients decided to extend or roll over their contracts, it was announced yesterday (6 March).

The local authorities are:

• Isle of Anglesey County Council;
• Conwy County Borough Council;
• Stratford-on-Avon District Council;
• Norwich City Council;
• East Lothian Council; and
• Kent County Council.

Each of these authorities is providing a contract extension ranging from 12 months to seven years.

“Our commitment to high service standards, and to maximising efforts to reduce waste and costs, have been rewarded by these authorities”, said Biffa Municipal Development Director Pete Dickson.

“They have seen just what can be achieved when council, contractor and residents work together to recycle more.”

Read more about Biffa.

CLES and Coveris create closed loop plastic cup programme for UK sports venues

Closed Loop Environmental Solutions (CLES) and plastic packaging manufacturer Coveris have signed a contract with foodservice company Delaware North to establish closed loop programmes for plastic cups at one of the company’s UK sports venues, the Emirates Stadium.

Around 750,00 plastic cups (expected to rise to ‘in excess of 2,000,000 per year’) made using a minimum 50 per cent recycled PET will be supplied by Coveris to Delaware North, then, after use, will be collected and recycled again at Closed Loop Recycling’s Dagenham plant.

Managing Director of Coveris UK Rigid Ltd Graham Barton, said: “The leisure industry offers a huge opportunity for packaging companies and we see this agreement as the first of many in this sector, allowing us to close the loop on packaging.”

Find out more about Closed Loop Recycling.

Bedford Fire Station wins national recycling competition

Fire fighters at Bedford Fire Station have won a national recycling competition in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity, the UK's ‘leading’ support and rehabilitation provider for the fire and rescue community.

The fire station took first place in The Fire Fighters Charity textile recycling competition by collecting 1.74 tonnes of recycled clothing and textiles throughout January 2014, subsequently raising £382.80 for the charity.

The fire fighters at Bedford Fire Station received a large hamper from the charity on Monday (3 March) which they are due to raffle to raise further funds for the charity.

In regards to winning the competition, Bedford Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer Paul Fuller, said: “It is a testimony to the commitment of our staff and the generosity of the local public – whom we sincerely thank.”

Find out about other challenges from The Fire Fighters Charity.

Tetra Pak makes ‘strong progress’ towards environmental targets

Carton manufacturer Tetra Pak announced today (7 March) that the company made ‘strong progress’ towards its 2020 environmental targets, which include increasing recycling.

The company aims to ‘double’ the global recycling rate of used beverage cartons to 40 per cent by 2020, by ‘raising customer awareness, sharing knowledge and expertise, facilitating collection infrastructure and supporting recycling technology development’.

In 2013, Tetra Pak launched the ‘Tetra Evero Aseptic 1000 Separable Top’, a product designed to enable consumers to detach the plastic top from the carton sleeve, allowing them to be recycled separately.

Claes Du Rietz, Vice President Environment at Tetra Pak, commented: “We drive environmental performance in every step of our operation... This is the very reason that we have continued to be successful in meeting ambitious targets.”

Read more about Tetra Pak.