Tag: government leadership

Counting on … day 1.207

2nd November 2023

It is not just individuals that are trying to make the shift to net zero, but businesses too. And they likewise find the lack of government support and direction frustrating. 

Last week the Guardian reported that, “Miles Roberts, the company’s chief executive, said British government decarbonisation policy has lacked the clarity of European rivals, meaning DS Smith[ a FTSE 100 paper packaging company] has moved ahead with a €90m (£78m) investment in a paper mill in Rouen, northern France …Roberts said: “If you are committed to carbon neutral, and it is far more attractive to invest in those solutions elsewhere, what you’ll see is manufacturing decline in the UK.” https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/oct/22/uk-must-offer-businesses-certainty-over-green-energy-says-boss-of-ftse-100-firm?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Counting on …. Day 1.146

11th August 2023

A small thing to notice, but in France all take away cups, whether for hot or cold drinks are in paper cups with paper lids. At some point the government must have determined that this was the best thing, drawn up legislation, announced a start date and the enacted it. Clear, straightforward and comprehensive so everyone knows where they are. 

Starting in 2019, France set out a list of dates specifying when the use of certain plastic items would be banned, as well as requirements for the labelling and recycling of plastics, such that by 2040 single use plastic will be completely phased out. https://www.france24.com/en/20191231-france-begins-phasing-out-single-use-plastics

Here in the UK a ban on single use plastic such as cutlery, plates, stirrers, drinking straws (with exemption for health needs), plastic stemmed cotton buds, balloon sticks, expanded and foamed extruded polystyrene fast-food containers, is due to come into effect in October 2023, but not as part of a comprehensive strategy.