PepsiCo launches world’s first ‘green’ bottle

Lots of talk about ‘bottle wars’  this week as Pepsi announced that it has developed the world’s first 100% plant-based bottle – beating its rival Coca-Cola to the green post.

The new bottle is made from switch grass, pine bark and corn  husks (basically plant waste) and PepsiCo plan to pilot production in 2012. They also hope to use orange peel, potato scraps, oat hulls and other leftovers from its food business as renewable sources in the future.

Read the full story at http://bit.ly/gegV4z

Nicki, dbda

Government announces funding for 1,000 Green Deal apprenticeships

Interesting announcement from the Government – tackling the economy and creating jobs while investing in sustainability and the ‘green economy’. I think its a great initiative. An excerpt from the news item is below:

“The Government has announced today that it will help fund the training of 1000 apprenticeships as part of its flagship Green Deal programme. The Green Deal, which will come into effect in 2012, will fund energy efficiency measures, including insulation, heating and lighting, to Britain’s homes and businesses. The Government estimates it will support 100,000 jobs by 2015 with the potential to support up to 250,000 longer term.

“The Green Deal is about the future – and it is important we ensure that future generations have the skills they need to take advantage of the opportunities of the green economy. These apprenticeships are a perfect example of how Government and business can work together towards a low carbon future,” said Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Scepticism
Today’s apprenticeship announcement has received the backing of leading companies, including B&Q, Carillion, E.ON, British Gas and InstaGroup, which are expecting to benefit from the supply chain opportunities being created by it.”

Full article: http://www.greenwisebusiness.co.uk/news/government-announces-funding-for-1000-green-deal-apprenticeships-2171.aspx

Michelle, Account Manager

Government pumps £2.5m into new green skills academy

The government has announced £2.5 million in new funding to support the development of a national network of environmental training courses, to tackle the emerging shortfall in skilled workers capable of installing renewable energy technologies such as solar panels. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has announced that it will invest the money over the next three years in a new environmental technologies National Skills Academy.

Call for gas to meet emissions targets

Economist, Professor Dieter Helm CBE, told MPs yesterday (January 25) that new gas stations need to be built to meet emissions targets in the electricity sector.

The Energy and Climate Change Select Committee held a question session on the proposed electricity market reform. A panel of experts were consulted at the session including Professor Dieter Helm CBE from the University of Oxford. Professor Helm, a specialist in utilities, infrastructure, regulation and the environment, said reform was necessary regardless of government objectives but to aim to reach the 2020 and 2030 emissions targets using only renewable energy was “absurd”. In his view, the only country in Europe that has a chance of reaching these targets is France, due to their government subsidised nuclear programme. Professor Helm said that consumers would face sharply rising bills by 2015 to meet the costs of renewable energy unless a plan of action was begun to avoid this. He said that there would need to be a reliance on a mix of energy sources: gas, nuclear and smart grid and renewables. Gas he said was less polluting than coal and has become more secure in recent times. Putting gas back into the energy plan would give a temporary breather to get to grips with climate change policies. He called for an agency with the right skills and expertise to be set up to implement the policy as he believes this does not currently exist in the electricity sector or government.

Source: Edie.net