Tesco supermarket near Ashford Hospital in West Bedfont, England. Maxwell Hamilton / CC BY 2.0
It's been a green week for Tesco, the UK's largest supermarket.
First, the chain said it would remove "Best before" labels from around 70 pre-packaged fruits and vegetables in an attempt to stop customers from discarding still-edible food, BBC News reported Tuesday.
<p>Then it announced plans to ban all non-recyclable <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastics" target="_self">plastics</a> by 2019, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/tesco-ban-non-recyclable-plastic-packaging-2019-single-use-bags-a8365976.html" target="_blank">The Independent</a> reported Thursday. </p><p>Both moves honor pledges Tesco has made to limit its environmental impact. Last year, the store said it would end <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/food-waste" target="_self">food waste</a> by March 2018, according to <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/tesco-best-before-dates-remove-food-waste-fruit-vegetables-a8362731.html" target="_blank">The Independent</a>. The plastics decision comes as part of the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/plastics-pact-companies-uk-2563573289.html" target="_self">UK Plastics Pact</a> that Tesco signed a month ago, in which 40 UK businesses committed to eliminate single-use plastic packaging by 2025, among other goals. </p><p>The labeling decision was based on a survey by the National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI) that found that less than half of customers surveyed understood what "Best before" labels meant. "Best before" labels indicate that food is still safe after the listed date, but quality might suffer, whereas "Use by" labels indicate that food is actually not safe to eat after the date printed. Seventy percent of customers did understand the "use by" label, according to the NFWI.</p><p>"We know some customers may be confused by the difference between 'Best Before' and 'Use By' dates on food and this can lead to perfectly edible items being thrown away before they need to be discarded," Tesco's head of food waste Mark Little said. </p><p>He added that produce was being targeted for the change because it was one of the most wasted products. </p><p>"Many customers have told us that they assess their fruit and vegetables by the look of the product rather than the 'Best Before' date code on the packaging," he explained further.</p><p>When it comes to reducing plastic waste, the company has committed to phasing out hard to recycle packaging items like water-soluble plastics, PVC contained in plastic wrap and polystyrene. </p><p>Environmental groups welcomed Tesco's plastics decision.</p><p>"As the UK's largest grocer, Tesco could be a game-changer on plastic packaging," <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/" target="_blank">Greenpeace UK</a> oceans campaigner Elena Polisano told The Independent. </p><p>"By pledging to quickly eliminate some of the plastics that are difficult to recycle, it has raised the bar for action on problem plastics," she said.</p><p>However, green groups also said the supermarket could go further by reducing the total volume of plastics it produces, as competitors Lidi and Iceland have pledged to do.</p><p>Jason Tarry, the brand's chief produce officer, said at an industry event that the chain was "committed to reducing the total amount of packaging used across our business," The Independent reported. </p><p>He further said Tesco wanted to work with the UK government to develop a "closed loop" recycling strategy. </p><p>But <a href="https://foe.org" target="_blank">Friends of the Earth</a> plastics campaigner Julian Kirby said that recycling, while important, wasn't enough to combat plastic pollution.</p><p>"What's missing is the long-term vision—we need system change, and we need all stakeholders to step out of the comfort zone of thinking we can just recycle our way out of this," Kirby told The Independent.</p>
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</p><div id="a49a5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5LB2001576664099"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="950766549303996416" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">UK Bans Microbeads to Protect Oceans as Lawmakers Eye More Anti-Plastic Laws https://t.co/hsKczJnJiO #Microbeads… https://t.co/PwllQc571U</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/950766549303996416">1515515384.0</a></blockquote></div>
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Since China launched its "action on air pollution" local governments have been shutting down smaller outdated steel plants.
By Lauri Myllyvirta, Unearthed
Earlier this month and without much comment, dozens of huge steel mills in China stopped or curtailed their operations. In northern China cement plants are preparing to shut down entirely before Christmas.
The measures are a part of an aggressive action plan that aims to cut wintertime particulate pollution by 15 percent year-on-year over the next five months. These cuts are badly needed as Beijing and the surrounding industrial provinces have suffered the winter's first serious episode this week, with PM2.5 levels across several provinces reaching "very unhealthy" levels.
<p style="">The shutdowns began ahead of the twice-a-decade party congress where President Xi Jinping outlined his vision of a "beautiful China." They are set to take full effect in mid-November and continue throughout the winter.</p><p style="">The operating restrictions <a href="http://www.qjcj.com/news/caijing/96977.html" target="_blank">affect one quarter</a> of China's total steel-making capacity and approximately <a href="http://www.cbmm.com.cn/Info.aspx?ModelId=1&Id=161165" target="_blank">10 percent of cement production</a>.</p><p style="">The measures are expected to cut national steel output by more than 10 percent in the next five months and could avoid as much CO2 as Denmark and Finland emit in one year.</p><p style=""><strong>Air Pollution</strong></p><p style="">The steel industry is the dominant source of air pollutant emissions in the Beijing region, as the surrounding Hebei province is the world's largest producer of the metal and has poorer emission control performance than other large producer provinces.</p><p style="">Industrial emissions are responsible for <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095927317303225" target="_blank">40-50 percent of the PM2.5 levels</a> in the region, with steel and cement the largest emitting sectors. PM2.5 refers to tiny particles of pollution small enough to pass through the lung into the bloodstream.</p><p style="">The winter action plan on air pollution in northern China was announced this year to inject new momentum into the war on pollution.</p><p style="">Progress on air pollution <a href="https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2016/12/16/return-smog-heavy-industry-threatens-beijings-pollution-fight/" target="_blank">stalled in the region</a> after a massive stimulus push started by the government in early 2016, leading to a temporary increase in output and prices of steel, cement and other products from highly polluting industries.</p><p style="">Besides curbs on steel, cement and aluminum production, the <a href="http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-08/26/content_31131288.htm" target="_blank">plan targets</a> household coal use, restricts diesel trucks and stops major construction projects. Brick-making, pottery and other small industries are ordered to close down as well.</p><p style="">It means three million households are to be shifted from coal-burning to electric and gas heating.</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image" style=""><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xMzEzNDE3My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1OTE0MTIxNn0.WksG_Kvu5mKMktgg4Z-FVhsSQUDg9MOLObxdlTXGC9M/img.jpg?width=980" id="99ef9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="741edfde1eefd30232f8452fab980b34" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small placeholder="add caption..." class="image-media media-caption">Air pollution has hit dangerous levels in recent months in and around Beijing.</small></p>
<p style=""><strong>Environmental Protection Bureau</strong><br></p><p style="">The five month shutdowns are temporary, though the plan also creates a new joint environmental protection bureau covering Beijing and the two surrounding provinces and ratchets up enforcement of industrial emission norms.</p><p>Improvements in enforcement could have a lasting impact.</p><p style="">Indeed, factory shutdowns are becoming a recurring feature in China's war on air pollution, affecting the profitability of heavy industry and potentially paving the way for reforms that will reduce the economy's reliance on highly polluting sectors in a sustained way.</p><p style="">China's environmental minister Li Ganjie has also <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/business/china-pollution-crackdown-here-to-stay-20171023-gz6pa1.html" target="_blank">emphasized</a> the forward-looking aspect of the campaign, saying: "These special campaigns are not a one-off, instead it is an exploration of long-term mechanisms."</p><p style="">In the short term, major construction projects in the province are also being suspended for the winter period in an effort to control dust emissions.</p><p style="">As the construction sector is by far the largest source of steel demand, the measures will also reduce demand on the partially closed plants.</p>
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Like many other plant-based foods and products, CBD oil is one dietary supplement where "organic" labels are very important to consumers. However, there are little to no regulations within the hemp industry when it comes to deeming a product as organic, which makes it increasingly difficult for shoppers to find the best CBD oil products available on the market.
<p>Here you can learn about the importance of organic hemp oil, why it's better for the environment, and which CBD companies actually make trustworthy products with sustainable farming processes. origins which weigh heavily on many consumers who want to buy a product that's produced in the best way possible for not only themselves to ingest, but for the environment as well through sustainable farming methods. </p><h2>What Is CBD Oil?</h2><p>First things first, CBD stands for cannabidiol, and it's a cannabinoid found within cannabis sativa plants. This plant compound is believed to have many potential benefits, and it is primarily derived from hemp plants via a CO2 extraction process. </p><p>Since CBD is extracted from industrial hemp, which contains only trace amounts of THC (the psychoactive component in cannabis plants), this means that CBD won't make you feel high like marijuana, which has much higher levels of THC that causes psychoactive effects. Instead, the effects of CBD are much more subtle and promote a general sense of calm and relaxation in most users.</p><h2>What Makes a CBD Oil Organic?</h2><p>In terms of organic labels, perhaps the most important (and prominent) certification comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This government organization has been labeling foods as "organic" for many years, but what exactly does this certification entail? Essentially, a label indicating that a product is "USDA Organic" or "Certified Organic" means that at least 95% of the ingredients are obtained from organic sources.</p><p>For a crop to be considered organic by the USDA, it must be grown without the use of industrial solvents, irradiation, genetic engineering (GMOs), synthetic pesticides, or chemical fertilizer. Instead, farmers rely on natural substances and <a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2012/03/22/organic-101-what-usda-organic-label-means" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mechanical, physical, or biologically based farming</a> techniques to cultivate healthy and organic crops.</p><p>Before the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, no hemp-derived products could be dubbed as "certified organic" since the hemp plant and its extracts were still categorized as a Schedule I Controlled Substance. However, it's still difficult for CBD companies to obtain a USDA certified organic label for their products due to the legal grey area that still surrounds CBD extracts. </p><p>Because of these challenges, and due to the fact that industrial hemp has only recently become an agricultural crop, very few CBD oils are USDA certified organic. Rather, many CBD products contain hemp extracts from plants that were grown in organic conditions but may not be federally certified.</p><h2>What are the Best Organic CBD Oil Brands?</h2><p><em>Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.</em></p><em><br></em>
<h2>Why Organic Hemp Oil Matters</h2><p>Hemp is a unique plant, not only for its rich cannabinoid content, but also for its ability to absorb a wide variety of components in soil. But this trait poses great risks when it comes to the creation of CBD products derived from hemp.</p><p>Because hemp has a high capacity for compound uptake, this means that the plants can retain <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/industry/lab-test-results/" target="_blank">harmful chemicals like pesticides</a>, heavy metals, and other residual solvents. This is especially true when it comes to synthetic chemicals that are more toxic to humans, and difficult to remove once they have been absorbed by the hemp plant.</p><p>Organic farming practices help reduce the risk of hemp crops absorbing harsh chemicals that may later end up in CBD oil after extraction. When you're taking CBD as a wellness supplement to help alleviate your symptoms or improve your overall well-being, the last thing you want is to ingest compounds that might negatively outweigh the benefits of CBD. This is an important reason to look for third party lab test results when shopping for CBD products since these certificates of analysis can show the full cannabinoid and terpene profile of a hemp extract, as well as test results that search for the presence of any residual solvents.</p><p>In addition to creating a better end product, organic farming practices are also better for the environment. Sustainable and organic farming methods may <a href="https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/organic-foods.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy</a>. The use of natural pest deterrents as opposed to chemical pesticides is also better for nearby animal populations and ecosystems.</p><h3>Organic vs. Natural</h3><p>While there are only a select few companies offering certified organic ingredients in their products, almost every brand in the CBD market creates "natural" products. The term "all-natural" or "plant-based" does not mean that a product is organic, and since hemp oil is a natural derivative of hemp plants, these products are often referred to as all-natural. However, there are some synthetic CBD oils that should be avoided because they are chemically constructed and may produce unwanted side effects that are not caused by naturally derived CBD extracts.</p><h2>What are the Benefits of Organic CBD Oil?</h2><p>There's a long list of potential CBD oil health benefits, and some of the most common wellness advantages include:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/" target="_blank">Chronic pain relief</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/" target="_blank">Anti-anxiety effects</a></li><li>Better sleep</li><li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inner-source/201901/cbd-oil-mental-health-should-you-take-it-too" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Improvements in mood</a></li><li>Internal balance and regulation</li></ul><p>When dealing with pain, inflammation, sleep issues, and mental health struggles, it can be hard to find sufficient treatment options. The use of certain prescriptions can cause unwanted side effects, yet they are often the only solution for patients with these medical conditions. In search of other therapies, people have started to flock towards CBD oil as an alternative remedy for a variety of conditions. However, it should be noted that CBD products are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and you should seek your doctor's advice before using CBD if you have a serious medical condition.</p><h2>Look at the Labels Before You Buy CBD Oil</h2><p>When you go online to buy CBD oil, you'll quickly realize there is an overwhelming number of brands that are saturating the market. It can be difficult to determine which products are truly as good as they make themselves out to be. Always look for up-to-date third-party lab tests so you know you are getting a great product, and don't hesitate to contact the brand if you have any additional questions. And if you're intent on purchasing 100% organic CBD oil, it's best to look for certified products or brands that are held to strict regulatory standards.</p><p><strong>Melena Gurganus </strong>is the Reviews Editor at EcoWatch. She is passionate health and wellness and her writing aims to help others find products they can trust. Her work has been featured in publications such as Health, Shape, Huffington Post, Cannabis Business Times, and Bustle.<br></p>
Spruce
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjI3OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyOTM2NzgzOX0.axY0HjeqRctJsR_KmDLctzDpUBLBN-oNIdqaXDb4caQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="774be" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8379f35b1ca8a86d0e61b7d4bfc8b46e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="spruce organic cbd oil" data-width="710" data-height="959" /><p>As one of the best brands in the business, Spruce CBD is well-known for its potent CBD oils that feature many additional beneficial phytocannabinoids. This brand works with two family-owned, sustainably focused farms in the USA (one located in Kentucky and one in North Carolina) to create its organic, small product batches. The max potency Spruce CBD oil contains 2400mg of full-spectrum CBD extract, but the brand also offers a lower strength tincture with 750mg of CBD in total.</p>
$89
CBDistillery
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwMjkzNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTU4OTM4Nn0.ypRdeDSBcE87slYrFfVrRwtJ2qGIK6FD5jBB4pndTMo/img.jpg?width=980" id="b473b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9930b53c9d58cb49774640a61c3e3e75" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="cbdistillery cbd oil" data-width="1244" data-height="1244" /><p>All of the products from CBDistillery are <a href="https://ushempauthority.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">U.S. Hemp Authority Certified</a>, and for good reason. The company only uses non-GMO and pesticide-free industrial hemp that's grown organically on Colorado farms. Its hemp oils are some of the most affordable CBD products on the market, yet they still maintain a high standard of quality. CBDistillery has a wide variety of CBD potencies across its product line (ranging from 500mg to 5000mg per bottle) and offers both full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oils to give customers a completely thc-free option.</p>
$35
FAB CBD
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjIyNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NDIwOTEyMn0.MlTjz096FJ0ev_-soK7_Z-FeQeJczWoeh9Qi9SSkHsY/img.jpg?width=980" id="04b26" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="76aa4862f44603242e318982acea6646" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="fab cbd oil" data-width="800" data-height="800" /><p>For an organic CBD oil that has it all, FAB CBD offers plenty of variety for any type of consumer. All of its products are made with zero pesticides and extracted from organically grown Colorado industrial hemp. FAB CBD oil comes in five all-natural flavors (mint, vanilla, berry, citrus, and natural) and is also available in four strengths (300, 600, 1200, and 2400mg per bottle).</p>
$39
NuLeaf Naturals
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjIxOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NzExNTgyMX0.D6qMGYllKTsVhEkQ-L_GzpDHVu60a-tJKcio7M1Ssmc/img.jpg?width=980" id="94e4a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3609a52479675730893a45a82a03c71d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="nuleaf naturals organic cbd oil" data-width="600" data-height="600" /><p>As an industry-leading brand, it comes as no surprise that NuLeaf Naturals sources its CBD extract from organic hemp plants grown on licensed farms in Colorado. The comany's CBD oils only contain two ingredients: USDA certified organic hemp seed oil and full spectrum hemp extract.</p><p>NuLeaf Naturals uses one proprietary CBD oil formula for all of its products, so you will get the same CBD potency in each tincture (60mg per mL), but can purchase different bottle sizes depending on how much you intend to use.</p>
$38.50
Charlotte's Web
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwMjk3NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MzQ0NjM4N30.SaQ85SK10-MWjN3PwHo2RqpiUBdjhD0IRnHKTqKaU7Q/img.jpg?width=980" id="84700" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a2174067dcc0c4094be25b3472ce08c8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="charlottes web cbd oil" data-width="1244" data-height="1244" /><p>Perhaps one of the most well-known brands in the CBD landscape, Charlotte's Web has been growing sustainable hemp plants for several years. The company is currently in the process of achieving official USDA Organic Certification, but it already practices organic and sustainable cultivation techniques to enhance the overall health of the soil and the hemp plants themselves, which creates some of the highest quality CBD extracts. Charlotte's Web offers CBD oils in a range of different concentration options, and some even come in a few flavor options such as chocolate mint, orange blossom, and lemon twist.</p>
$60
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Sir David Attenborough’s New Series to Show ‘Heartbreaking’ Examples of Plastic Pollution
28 September 2017
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By Imogen Calderwood
Sir David Attenborough has spoken out about "heartbreaking" examples of plastic pollution that were documented while filming for his new series, Blue Planet II.
Attenborough, the broadcasting legend who brought the world Planet Earth, revealed that teams had recorded seabirds feeding their chicks with scraps of plastic, in the documentary series that will focus on how our oceans are changing.
A serious change has been the dramatic rise in plastic pollution.
<p style="">"Plastics are of crucial importance—it is heartbreaking," Attenborough <a href="https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2017/09/25/david-attenborough-climate-change-science-storytelling-blue-planet-ii/" target="_blank">said, speaking to Greenpeace</a> before the launch of his BBC series <em>Blue Planet II</em>. "Which example do you choose as being most heartbreaking? I would choose, because I feel so strongly for them, a sequence with the albatross."</p><p style="">He continued: "There is a shot of the young being fed and what comes out of the beak of the adult? Not sand eels, not fish, and not squid, which is what they mostly eat, but plastic. It's heartbreaking. Heartbreaking."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image" style=""><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xMTI5MjAyNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NTk1MDY2OH0.-oyyT2ko0sllABYCbmR1urTwz6Iu1MTkn4Wmmw50DX8/img.jpg?width=980" id="f2581" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6754478a79efad5fc1a0fb4080cbe27f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">Kris Krug / Flickr</small></p><p style="">Other footage showed gannets feeding plastic to their chicks off the coast of Scotland, and puffins with scraps of it in their beaks.<br></p><p style=""><a href="https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/" target="_blank">Global Citizen</a> campaigns to achieve the Global Goals, including goal No.14 for life below water. You can join us by taking action <a href="https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/take-action/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p style="">Environmental group <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/" target="_blank">Greenpeace UK</a> published the Attenborough interview to coincide with the launch of its investigative journalism project, <em>Unearthed</em>.</p><p style="">The project has documented plastic pollution in the feeding grounds of basking sharks, in the habitats of puffins, seals and whales, and in the nests and beaks of seabirds, in an expedition off the Scottish coast.</p><p style="">In some of Britain's most iconic seabird colonies, in areas such as the Bass Rock, Isle of May and the Shinto Isles, the group found plastic bottles, bags and packaging.</p><p style="">"David Attenborough's words will strike a chord with anyone who has ever witnessed the harm plastic pollution is causing to marine life, whether it's a turtle tangled up in plastic or a whale's stomach full of carrier bags," <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4915874/Sir-David-Attenborough-Seabirds-feed-plastic-young.html" target="_blank">said</a> Greenpeace oceans campaigner Louise Edge. </p><p style="">"With a truckload of plastic being dumped in our oceans every minute, this has now become a global environmental crisis stretching from the Arctic shores to remote islands in the South Pacific and Britain's own coastline," she said. </p><p style="">"Coming from one of the world's greatest living naturalists, Sir David's words should be a wake-up call for governments and corporations that we need real action now to stop plastic waste choking our seas," Edge added.</p><p style="">Attenborough's new<em> Blue Planet II </em>series is coming soon to BBC One 16 years on from the award-winning first <em>Blue Planet</em> series, and is the result of four years filming visiting every continent and ocean.</p><p>But the naturalist has also noted some positive changes. </p><p style="">"My hope is that the world is coming to its senses ... I'm so old I remember a time when ... we didn't talk about <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/">climate change</a>, we talked about animals and species extermination," Attenborough told Greenpeace. </p><p style=""><span></span>"For the first time I'm beginning to think there is actually a groundswell, there is a change in the public view," he said. "I feel many more people are concerned and more aware of what the problems are. Young people—people who've got 50 years of their life ahead of them—they are thinking they ought to be doing something about this—that's a huge change."</p><p style="">Attenborough added: "30 years ago people concerned with atmospheric pollution were voices crying in the wilderness. We aren't voices crying in the wilderness now." </p><p>Meanwhile, the UK government has this month set up an inquiry into disposable coffee cups and plastic bottles. </p><p style="">The UK throws away approximately 2.5 billion coffee cups every year, of which fewer than one in 400 are recycled, according to <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/news-parliament-2017/disposable-packaging-coffee-cups-and-plastic-bottles-17-19/" target="_blank">government figures</a>. That's because there are only two sites in the UK that have the capacity to recycle the waterproof card used to make the cups. Just 57 percent of all plastic bottles used in the UK are recycled. </p><p style="">Possible ideas to encourage the recycling of bottles and coffee cups are to set up a deposit and refund scheme (DRS) or taxation. </p><p style="">Michael Gove, the secretary of state for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, has <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/news-parliament-2017/disposable-packaging-coffee-cups-and-plastic-bottles-17-19/" target="_blank">said</a> a DRS would be a "great idea," but said that it's important to make sure it would work properly before guaranteeing its implementation. </p><p style=""><span></span>Other countries such as Germany, Norway and Sweden already have a DRS in place. The German deposit scheme cost around three times as much per container as household-based collection systems in 2015, but the country recycled more than 90 percent of its PET bottles in that year, according to a <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/news-parliament-2017/disposable-packaging-coffee-cups-and-plastic-bottles-17-19/" target="_blank">parliament</a> press release. </p><p style=""> <em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/david-attenborough-plastic-pollution-oceans-blue-p/" target="_blank">Global Citizen</a>.</em></p>
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Jennifer Lavers / University of Tasmania
By Louisa Casson
It's a horror story.
A truly shocking 38 million pieces of plastic have been found on Henderson Island, one of the Pitcairn Islands that make up one of the UK's last remaining overseas territories.
<p>This island has no one living on it, yet its beaches are now home to 18 tonnes of <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastic-pollution">plastic waste</a> that have washed up from the surrounding ocean. This makes it the highest density of human-made debris found anywhere in the world.</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed"></p><div id="c716d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="AAOI0D1553274941"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="864157679681458176" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Giant 'Dead Whale' Is Haunting Reminder of Massive Problem of #Plastic Pollution https://t.co/83DPjUzRC2 @greenpeaceusa @PlasticPollutes</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/864157679681458176">1494866220.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p>
<p>The island is situated in the middle of a giant garbage patch, where pieces of plastic that have entered the ocean are carried by sea currents and accumulate. There are now plastic hotspots like this in all of the major <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/oceans">oceans</a>. Last month, scientists warned of the staggering amount of plastic debris accumulating in seas within the <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/arctic">Arctic Circle</a>. It's clear that even the most remote corners of the planet aren't safe from the blight of plastic pollution.</p><p>Closer to home, Greenpeace's boat the Beluga II is currently on an expedition around the coast of Scotland to investigate the impact of plastic on some of the UK's most iconic <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildlife">wildlife</a>, like gannets, puffins and basking sharks.</p><p>On its first day after setting sail, Greenpeace found plastic waste on the internationally renowned seabird colony of the Bass Rock—home to the world's largest colony of northern gannets. Plastic is a choking and entangling hazard for many sea creatures, with studies showing 90 percent of seabirds and one in three turtles have now eaten plastic. As plastic enters every level of the food chain, it can also travel back to our plates in seafood. Scientists have urgently called for more research into the possible risks for human health.</p><p>But we can already see far too starkly that in both UK-governed waters close to home and on the other side of the planet, plastic pollution is mounting up. A rubbish truck's worth of plastic enters the oceans globally every minute, with researchers estimating about 13,000 pieces of debris are washing up on Henderson Island daily. </p><p>This is a global problem, requiring global solutions, but the responsibility of the UK government is clear. Whichever party wins the election, the next UK government must take concrete action to reduce the amount of plastic entering the ocean and causing such harm to marine life.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed"></p><div id="b09e2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8S6O551553274942"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="864298119223267332" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">How Best to Rid the World's Oceans of Plastic? https://t.co/nQD4D3Y2hg @ShaunFrankson @Surfrider</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/864298119223267332">1494899704.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p>The government designated the ocean around the Pitcairn Islands as a fully protected marine reserve in 2015, vowing to protect the precious <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/biodiversity" target="_blank">biodiversity</a> that inhabit the surrounding ocean, but it's clear much more needs to be done at source to protect these creatures from the plastic threat. </p><p>This can take the form of targeting particularly polluting plastic items, like throwaway plastic packaging. We know plastic bottles are a huge part of the problem, with 16 million ending up in the environment every single day in the UK alone. </p><p>To stem this flow, we need to see action from major soft drink companies like Coca-Cola, which produces a whopping 3,400 single-use plastic bottles a second, to ditch throwaway plastic and embrace reusable packaging (<a href="https://secure.greenpeace.org.uk/page/speakout/ocean-plastic?js=false&source=om&subsource=20170407ocom01&utm_source=gpeace&utm_m" target="_blank">call on the company to do so here</a>!). Governments can also help by introducing Deposit Return Schemes to increase the number of bottles which are collected, and we can all try to reduce our <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/oceans/deposit-return-schemes-what-exactly-are-they%20and%20https://secure.greenpeace.org.uk/page/content/plastics-calculator" target="_blank">plastic footprint</a>—stopping plastic from ending up in the ocean in the first place.</p><p>The sight of plastic overwhelming some of the most precious and remote parts of the world must act as a huge wake up call. We must urgently bring to an end the era of throwaway plastic, because our oceans simply cannot stomach any more plastic.</p><p><em>Louisa Casson is a campaigner in <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/" target="_blank">Greenpeace UK's</a> oceans team.</em> </p>
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The decommissioned coal-fired Battersea Power Station near London. Loco Steve/flickr
The United Kingdom's grid operator just announced an incredible prediction—April 21 is probably going to be the country's first coal-free day since the Industrial Revolution.
<p>
"Great Britain has never had a continuous 24 hour period without #coal. Today is looking like it could be the first," according to a
<a href="https://twitter.com/NGControlRoom/status/855337046239567872" target="_blank">tweet</a> from the National Grid's Electricity National Control Centre. </p><p>The National Grid confirmed with the
<a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/business/end-era-no-coal-set-10268979" target="_blank">Mirror</a> that Friday is on track to be "the first time the UK has been without electricity from coal since the world's first centralized coal fired generator opened at Holborn Viaduct in London in 1882."</p><p>
"The first day without coal in Britain since the industrial revolution marks a watershed in the energy transition," Hannah Martin, head of energy at <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/" target="_blank">Greenpeace UK</a>, told the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/21/britain-set-for-first-coal-free-day-since-the-industrial-revolution" target="_blank">Guardian</a>. "A decade ago, a day without coal would have been unimaginable, and in 10 years' time our energy system will have radically transformed again."
</p><p>The UK intends to phase out the polluting <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels" target="_blank">fossil fuel</a>, with plans <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/uk-to-shut-down-all-coal-power-plants-by-2025-but-will-remain-fossil-f-1882121075.html" target="_blank">to switch off</a> its last coal power station in 2025 in order to meet <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_blank">climate</a> commitments. </p><p><span></span>"The direction of travel is that both in the UK and globally we are already moving towards a low carbon economy. It is a clear message to any new government that they should prioritize making the UK a world leader in clean, green, technology," Martin added. <br>
</p><p>Great Britain's use of
<a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/">renewable energy</a> has vastly expanded in recent years and the country is now a world leader in <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/offshore-wind" target="_blank">offshore wind</a>. And last month, the nation's large expanse of <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/solar" target="_blank">solar</a> fields and rooftop panels reached a <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/britain-gets-no-power-from-coal-for-first-time-ever-uk-ev-drivers-soon-1891129431.html" target="_blank">milestone</a> when the amount of electricity demanded by homes and businesses was lower in the afternoon than at night.<br></p><p>
Solar power turned the country's grid demand "upside down," Duncan Burt, National Grid's head of real time operations, explained in a <a href="https://twitter.com/DBBurt/status/845698582326005761" target="_blank">tweet</a> at that time.</p>
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Greenpeace UK
The company’s oil spill response plan for the Chukchi Sea off Alaska was given the all clear by U.S. authorities, even though it’s a work of almost complete fantasy.
While Shell prepares to start trashing this stunning wilderness, putting it at risk of catastrophic oil spills and more melting ice caps as a result of climate change, its PR people are getting busy. This evening—Feb. 21—they’ve invited influential guests to an event at the National Gallery in London, in the hope that those guests will lend the Shell brand a veneer of respectability.
We’ve decided to tell their guests the truth—this year Shell is planning to drill for oil in the pristine waters of the Arctic, and its plans will change this fragile wilderness forever.
So our climbers have made sure that guests at the National Gallery are met with an unexpected picture when they arrive. A short while ago, they evaded security and are preparing to unfurl a huge banner with the words “It’s no oil painting." Our climber Hannah is tweeting from the rooftop using the hashtag #SaveTheArctic.
Meanwhile, Paula Bear has emerged from her wintry den to mingle with the crowds in Trafalgar Square, where dozens of Greenpeace volunteers are talking to curious passers-by.
Polar bears—like other Arctic species including beluga whales, narwhals and walruses—are already under severe pressure in the Arctic from climate change. In just 30 years, the Arctic has lost 75 percent of its sea ice, and temperatures in the Arctic are rising faster than anywhere else on Earth.
While more and more people recognize the changing face of the Arctic as a stark warning about climate change (earlier today, several scientists gave evidence to this effect to the parliamentary inquiry, Protecting the Arctic), Shell sees the melting ice as a business opportunity—a chance to drill in newly accessible areas to find more of the oil that caused the melt in the first place.
And now Shell plans to create a new threat to the Arctic’s stunning—and ecologically fragile—coastlines and oceans: the threat of a catastrophic oil spill, which would be impossible to clean up.
Shell is just first of the so-called ‘supermajors’—the big oil companies—to make exploitation of the Arctic a key part of their strategy. But if it strikes oil this summer, other global oil giants may follow.
Shell sees the Arctic as a resource to be exploited for profit. We think it should be protected. What do you think? Join the discussion on our blog and on Twitter: #SaveTheArctic.
For more information, click here.