Today (8 October) marks the launch of the Earthshot Prize, a prestigious global environment prize, encouraging worldwide change with a view to improving life for people and nature around the world by 2030.
The Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has been working with The Royal Foundation to develop the Earthshot Prize. The project aims to ‘turn pessimism surrounding environmental issues into optimism, highlighting the ability of human ingenuity to bring about change’.
The prize takes inspiration from John F. Kennedy’s Moonshot, the mission to unite millions of people to win the space race and put man on the moon in the 1960s.
The Earthshot Prize is centred around five ‘Earthshots’: protect and restore nature, clean the air, revive the oceans, build a waste-free world and fix the climate.
Every year from 2021 until 2030, the Duke of Cambridge, alongside the Earthshot Prize Council, will award the Earthshot Prize to five people who have discovered impressive resolutions to the devastating impact of climate change.
Marcus Gover, WRAP CEO, said: “When we waste, we are not just wasting what we throw away. The waste we see is the tip of the iceberg. We don’t see all the energy, carbon, water, time and care that went into making what we discard. The true footprint of waste is often huge.
“With food for example, the true cost of food waste is over 10 times the disposal cost, and the global greenhouse gas emissions caused by food waste are six times those from aviation. It’s time for a world without waste and that’s what the Earthshot Prize is about. We are delighted and proud to be a Global Alliance Partner of this critical initiative.”
Increased drive to take care of the environment can be related to the 'blue planet effect' created by the documentary presenter, Sir David Attenborough, who, among other famous faces from across six continents, sits on the Earthshot Prize Council.
Attenborough featured in the 2020 Resource Hot 100, another poll that seeked to recognise influencers in the waste and resources sector making positive impacts on the industry.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.