Month: May 2022

Tesco says it has become the first major UK retailer to ban plastic-based baby wipes from its stores. 

As Tesco stopped using plastic in its own label baby wipes two years ago, the entire range will now be plastic-free.  The move is significant as Tesco sells more than 75 million packs or 4.8 billion individual baby wipes each year.   

It’s not just baby wipes that have been reformulated by the supermarket, all branded and own-label wipes in UK stores – bar one – are now plastic free. 

Plastic-free wipes include moist toilet tissue and general cleaning wipes. There is only one type of wipe available at Tesco that contains plastic, a pet wipe, which will be plastic-free by the end of the year. 

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Tesco started to make its own-label wet wipes plastic-free in 2020 and has since been switching to bio-degradable viscose as it breaks down far quicker. 

Tesco Group Quality Director Sarah Bradbury said: “We have worked hard to remove plastic from our wipes as we know how long they take to break down.”

“There is no need for wet wipes to contain plastic so from now on we will no longer stock them if they do.”

In addition to being plastic-free, Tesco’s moist toilet tissue wipes are certified and labelled as ‘fine to flush’. Non-flushable wipes stocked by the supermarket are clearly labelled as ‘do not flush’.

This comes as a part of Tesco’s 4Rs packaging strategy to tackle the impact of plastic waste. This means Tesco removes plastic where it can, reduces where it can’t, looks at ways to reuse more and recycle what’s left.

Since the strategy started in August 2019, Tesco has reduced its packaging by 6000 tonnes, including the removal of 1.5bn pieces of plastic. It has also launched a reusable packaging trial with Loop and launched soft plastic collection points in over 900 stores.  

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Greenhouse gases come from a handful of different sources like cars, production, and power. But one often forgotten greenhouse producer comes from agriculture – and more specifically, animals like cows and pigs.

Livestock production accounts for about 18% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, primarily with methane and nitrous oxide. But in the US, there’s been a gradual shift away from these. 

Diets in the United States has seen a steady change over the last 15 years, something that’s led to a decrease in greenhouse gases. The primary cause of diet-related greenhouse gases was cattle, and the US diet has been gradually shifting away from beef. 

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Data from a national dietary survey of US adults has suggested that over a 15-year period from 2003 to 2018, US adults consume about 40% less beef than they did previously. There was also a slow move away from other animal products like milk, eggs, and other meats, while adults maintained a relatively consistent caloric intake suggesting a move to plant-based replacements. 

Companies like Impossible Foods represent a growing trend in diets to move away from meats, with fast-food chains like Burger King and KFC even offering plant-based alternatives. 

“From a nutritional standpoint, our products match the protein quality and content of the animal products that they replace,” Impossible Foods founder and CEO Patrick Brown told CNBC in a 2020 interview. “Ours is a clear winner from a health and nutrition standpoint.”

The survey itself highlights that US meat consumption is not sustainable for a net-zero future.

“(Greenhouse Gas) trends in the US diet are both exceeding planetary boundaries and capable of substantial impact reduction through changes in dietary patterns,” the survey read.

Inspired to act?

HELP SOLVE HUNGER: Check out A Well-Fed World. They offer solutions to world hunger with plant-based options.  

GET INVOLVED: Find out about the nonprofit’s Plants4Hunger initiative. 

What might our world look like if we are to safeguard a future for all species? This is the question explored through art, music, science and technology at The Barbican’s exhibition, Our Time On Earth, on show until 29 August.

Eschewing the doomism of much climate dialogue, the exhibition displays ideas to solve problems relating to global heating and ecological decline. 

It engages viewers with interactive animations, 3-D models, textiles and other thought-provoking exhibits. Rather than prioritising any particular climate solution, it offers a melange of indigenous practices, innovative technology and creative design.

Guest curators Kate Franklin and Caroline Till said: ‘There is more scientific evidence than ever demonstrating the amplitude of the climate emergency. And the science is essential – there’s no doubt about that.” 

They added: “But art, design and culture have the power to move us, and creative propositions of the sort we have gathered within Our Time on Earth aim to seduce the visitor into another way of seeing – another way of being. They invite us to listen, to feel, to really see, what it could be like to live and thrive in an alternative and positive future’.”

[Discover other incredible initiatives encouraging and organising for climate action]

Entering the gallery, visitors are greeted by the sight of an extraordinary graphic merging photography of a tree with an animation that shows the movement of nutrients and water through its being.

Throughout the rest of the space, ideas are shared via intricate chinaware, elaborate textiles, a socially-conscious video game, samples of sustainable materials and many other media. 

Stéphan La Roche, CEO of Musée de la civilisation, a Barbican partner, said: ‘This exhibition calls on the power of reflection and imagination of contemporary artists as well as visitors.”

But not only does the exhibition provoke thought. It also makes an explicit call for action. In the final room of the first section, videos show young people explaining how they are taking action against the climate and ecological emergency. While a plaque on the wall urges each visitor to find their place in the climate movement.

The gallery is also urging its sponsors to raise their ambitions around tackling climate change. These include Zara, one of the world’s biggest fast fashion culprits; and The City of London, which, if it were a country, would be the ninth biggest emitter of CO2 in the world.

Inspired to act?

ATTEND: Get inspired by all kinds of thoughtful climate solutions. Visit Our Time On Earth at The Barbican.

A pet charity has teamed up with three animal-loving celebrities to recreate some timeless images from its heritage in celebration of its 125-year anniversary. 

To commemorate 125 years of helping pets and people, Blue Cross has recreated four of its most loved photos dating back to WWII and WWI.

Celebrities Bill Bailey, David Harewood MBE, and Paralympian Lauren Steadman MBE (with her rescue dog Kira) all chipped in to take part.

“We are delighted to share these recreated historic images with our supporters, beneficiaries, and the British public,” said Iain Heaton, Deputy CEO and CFO at Blue Cross.

“Since Blue Cross’ formation in 1897, we have been present for both people and pets during key moments in history, and we continue to support them through our veterinary, rehoming and behavioural services to this very day.”

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Speaking about taking part, Lauren said: “It was wonderful to have my beautiful dog Kira on set with me to create this image of a WWI nurse treating a wounded dog. Kira is a rescue dog, so I have a huge appreciation for the work that Blue Cross and pet charities do.”

Actor Bill Bailey recreated an image of a Pearly King posing with a rescued horse saved from slaughter in the early 1900s.

“It was great fun being a Pearly King for a day, and a fitting way to acknowledge the heritage of the Blue Cross, and to highlight their wonderful support for horses and other animals that has continued to this day,” he said.

“Congratulations Blue Cross on reaching your 125 milestone, and a heartfelt thank you for all that you do for both pets and people.”

How does the Blue Cross support pets?

Blue Cross offers many services across the UK, from adoption services and pet education, to supporting families with pet bereavement and leading animal rights campaigns. 

“Our job is not done, and we are needed today more than ever,” added Iain. “So, as well as celebrating our illustrious heritage, we hope that this campaign helps to drive further awareness and understanding of our cause.”

Originally known as ‘Our Dumb Friends League’, Blue Cross was formed in 1897 to help the working horses of London, who were often underfed, struggled to carry heavy loads and became injured on slippery asphalt roads created for new motor vehicles. 

Since its launch, the charity estimates it has positively impacted 38 million lives and it plans to help more than 120,000 pets over the next three years through its services.

Inspired to act?

SUPPORT: Blue Cross relies on the support and donations of pet lovers to continue our vital work, find out more and make a donation. 

Cass Hebron was working at the heart of what she calls the “Brussels bubble” when she realised people outside this sphere were cut off from opportunities to take climate action. To pop the bubble and share updates about the climate movement, she launched a newsletter called The Green Fix.

As a member of Oxfam’s media team, Cass was plugged into discussions about ways to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. She decided to make climate advocacy more accessible to people not working in Brussels.

“Really impulsively, I started this newsletter,” she tells Smiley News. “I didn’t plan it much. I just wanted to make climate action more understandable, so you don’t need to be an expert to know what’s going on.”

A green dream team

Whenever she had the time, she would send out newsletters offering insights into the various kinds of climate action available. These ranged from youth-led protest movements to conservation groups. Writing for the layperson, she decyphered different approaches to environmentalism and the steps individuals can take to engage with environmentalism.

As her audience grew and Cass juggled the newsletter with freelance work, it began to dawn on her that she could not sustain the newsletter without help. Eventually, she published a callout for volunteers to join her.

“I thought I’d just get one response,” she recalls laughing. “But instead I got messages from seven people. So I realised I could create a team to help me with all the different aspects of the newsletter.”

Two campaigners, Myriam Gambini and Issy Poutney agreed to run social media. A student journalist called Samuel Teale Chadwick, came forward to help edit, and a Brussels policy officer, Martina Razzaboni, volunteered to organise funding and partnerships. They were joined by a keen environmentalist, Alexandra Vazquez Mera and a climate activist, Lisa Bergmann.

An intersectional approach

Together, the team curates the newsletter so that it broadens the discussion on how to tackle the climate crisis. For them, this implies opening up a conversation rather than a one-way stream of information.

Cass explains: “It’s very important to make any discussion about climate action more of a conversation and not an announcement or notice board.”

It was also vital to the team that the newsletter pays tribute to the many diverse groups of people interested in climate action.

“We make it a priority to try and interview campaigners from underrepresented backgrounds to try and restore a bit of a balance to the climate discourse,” says Cass.

Myriam adds: “I wish for the climate movement to be intersectional and encompass the diversity of the people and groups wanting to engage in climate action. Ultimately, there can’t be climate justice without racial equity, indigenous rights and the rights of future generations.”

Since forming a team, Cass has seen The Green Fix evolve into much more than she could ever have imagined. 

“I don’t think I’d be running the newsletter without a team,” she says. “Each volunteer is involved in their own separate campaign or passion project so they are already doing so much. But they still have the energy to help someone else’s project and I think that’s really inspiring.”

Inspired to act?

SIGN UP: To hear about exciting climate solutions from Cass and her team, sign up to The Green Fix.

The UK is in the midst of a dog welfare crisis. Dogs are being handed into rescue and rehoming centres in alarming numbers – which means one in four centres are facing having to turn them away.

That’s why London-based husband and wife team Giuseppe and Kimberley want to do something about it. 

They’ve launched muthapuppa, a purpose-driven social enterprise to tackle the problem head-on. Its mission is to build the first of many rescue and rehoming centres for dogs, to provide help on the ground and take pressure off existing centres.

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Moving beyond the traditional donation model, online dog store muthapuppa.com will act as the central driver of the enterprise, with 100% of profits going towards the mission of dog rescue.

The products for dogs are sustainable and include everyday essentials such as treats, chews and poop bags, as well as toys – and many muthapuppa suppliers have also pledged to donate a percentage of their time, sales or profits to social good causes.

“UK rescue and rehoming centres are overwhelmed, and it’s incredibly saddening to see millions of dogs out there homeless, sick or suffering from abuse,” said Kim and Giuseppe. 

“muthapuppa seeks to combine purpose and profit to help support rescue efforts, while partnering with likeminded businesses to provide dog owners with high quality, sustainable products.

“The enterprise is entirely self-funded by us; we’re not wealthy, have no investors and have put everything on the line, so we’re 100% reliant on public support.”

Supporting rescue and rehoming centres

muthapuppa pledges to support existing UK rescue and rehoming centres in 2022 through both its profits and donations:

1% of profits go to Blue Cross via Work for Good

1% of profits go to All Dogs Matter via Work for Good

1% of profits go to Battersea Dogs Home via Work for Good

Inspired to act?

DONATE: You can donate to the muthapuppa JustGiving page – they’re on a mission to crowdfund £50,000.