Here, edie rounds up five positive sustainability stories from this week.

Published every week, this series charts how businesses and sustainability professionals are working to achieve their ‘Mission Possible’ across the campaign’s five key pillars – energy, resources, infrastructure, mobility and sustainability leadership.

Across the UK and across the world, leading businesses, cities, states and regions are turning environmental ambitions into action. Here, we round up five positive sustainability stories from this week.

ENERGY: Tate & Lyle signs long-term renewable energy agreement

Food and beverage supplier Tate & Lyle has signed a 12-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Enel North America to accelerate the delivery of its emissions targets.

Starting this month, the agreement will provide approximately 256,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable electricity and renewable energy credits (RECs) annually from the Ranchland onshore wind farm in Texas.

This move ensures that Tate & Lyle’s manufacturing operations in North America, excluding its McIntosh, Alabama facility, will be powered entirely by renewable electricity. The Alabama site operates under a separate renewable energy agreement.

This agreement supports the company’s efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, leading to an 80% reduction in its global Scope 2 emissions and a 25% reduction in combined Scope 1 and 2 emissions based on a 2019 baseline.

Tate & Lyle’s chief executive Nick Hampton said: “This agreement represents a major step forward in delivering on our ambitious science-based climate targets, as well as a significant acceleration in the decarbonisation of our operations as we work towards becoming a net-zero business.

“Through this agreement, we will be able to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of our ingredients and support our customers to achieve their decarbonisation goals.”

RESOURCES: Clean Food Group partners with THG Labs for sustainable cosmetic ingredients

When we imagine a circular economy for the beauty industry, we our attention is probably drawn by packaging. But what about the ingredients and products themselves?

UK-based biotech firm Clean Food Group has partnered with cosmetics manufacturer THG LABS to develop sustainable raw materials for beauty and personal care products.

The collaboration aims to create bio-equivalent alternatives to agriculturally intensive ingredients, starting with a high-performance oil derived from food waste. This innovative approach is expected to provide the cosmetics industry with more sustainable and effective options.

The company’s proprietary technology uses non-GMO yeast strains and fermentation technology, converting bread waste into alternatives for traditional oils and fats.

THG LABS, with more than 30 years of experience in skincare, haircare and suncare product development, will utilise its R&D and innovation teams to support the development and guide the product pipeline.

Clean Food Group’s technical lead Professor Chris Chuck said “We are delighted to be collaborating with THG LABS, as a leading innovator and full-service manufacturer in the cosmetics industry.

“With the help of THG LABS, we are excited to bring to market a range of science-led cosmetics and personal care products that put sustainability at their core.”

MOBILITY: InstaVolt switches to 100% green electricity with Octopus Energy

InstaVolt, the UK’s largest operator of ultra-rapid electric vehicle chargers, is now powered entirely by renewable energy from Octopus Energy for Business.

This partnership supplies green electricity to more than 1,700 charging stations across the UK, using sources such as wind and solar.

With this agreement, InstaVolt becomes Octopus’ largest charge point operator customer. The deal includes InstaVolt’s participation in Octopus’ ‘Plunge Pricing’ scheme, which offers reduced rates when renewable energy supply is high.

InstaVolt’s chargers are located at more than 800 sites across the country, including Costa Coffee, McDonald’s, the Co-op and Bannatyne Gyms. The company has also expanded into Iceland and plans to launch in Spain, Portugal and Ireland soon.

InstaVolt’s chief executive Delvin Lane said: “By powering our chargers with Octopus’ green energy, we can further deliver on our promise to provide 100% renewable energy across our charging network.This means our customers can charge their vehicles knowing they’re using the cleanest energy available.”

THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: Global network of 100 cities launch sustainable finance project

The Climate Policy Initiative estimates that at least $2trn in financing for decarbonisation and adaptation is needed each year this decade. Urban areas will be a key focus for the transition.

It is welcome news, therefore, that C40 Cities, a global network of nearly 100 city mayors, and Nordic urban developer Urban Partners have introduced a new sustainable finance initiative.

The project, part of the Green and Thriving Neighbourhoods (GTN) programme, aims to develop new financing models that mobilise private and public capital for climate-responsive urban development.

The GTN programme promotes a neighbourhood-scale approach to build communities that enhance climate resilience, reduce emissions and improve local wellbeing. Examples include the likes of London’s Kings Cross and Copenhagen’s North Harbour.

The new project emphasises that environmentally and socially focused developments can be financially viable, advocating for long-term, holistic investment strategies.

It will explore sustainable finance models for urban regeneration and propose new public-private partnerships to create green, thriving neighbourhoods.

More than 50 cities currently participate in C40’s GTN programme, with 22 engaged in pilot projects. Key partners include Arup, Novo Nordisk, Ramboll, Henning Larsen, Gehl and Realdania.

C40’s executive director Mark Watts said: “C40, with support from Urban Partners, have established an alliance of leading actors in government, academia, and business, committed to finding novel ways to break with business as usual and to accelerate the urban transition.

“We will draw upon and collate ideas from this impressive collective of experts and innovators to form the basis for the new GTN cities template which will incorporate guidance for ambitious public-private partnerships and financial arrangements, as well as pioneering new policy and technologies and increasing citizen participation.”

SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP: Stora Enso launches new services to boost consumer awareness in packaging sustainability

In a survey earlier this year, only a quarter of the general public said they could confidently explain what credentials a ‘sustainable’ product or service would have. Confidence was found to be lower still for terms related to ‘circular economy’.

Stora Enso has introduced Beyond Board Packaging Services to assist customers in understanding European packaging regulations and advancing the circular economy.

The services include sustainability training, regulatory guidance, circularity assessments and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) services.

The sustainability training targets roles such as sales, sourcing and product management, covering topics like forestry, fibres, recyclability and the climate impact of packaging. The aim is to enhance knowledge about sustainable packaging practices.

The circularity assessment provides insights into different end-of-life options for packaging materials, addressing collection, sorting and recycling schemes that vary by market. The LCA services offer detailed evaluations, enabling customers to compare the environmental impacts of various packaging materials.

This initiative is designed to help businesses make informed, sustainable packaging choices while aligning with regulations and supporting environmental efforts.

Stora Enso Packaging Materials’ head of services Josefin Carlsson said: “Beyond Board is about going beyond product for customers who want the support to make a fully informed investment decision about moving to fibre-based circular packaging, including the benefits from lower EPR fees to a reduced carbon footprint that will be essential to meet net-zero targets.