Climate Action’s Business News Round-up

Nottingham Trent is UK’s greenest University

People and Planet Green League 2011, published in The Guardian have declared Nottingham Trent University the greenest for the second time. The University ranks highly for its environmental and carbon management policies. In general, the league shows great improvements in 12 out of the 13 criteria used to rank universities and measure their transition to a fair and sustainable future. 

More info...People & Planet

Rapid growth in sustainability market drives merger of leading players

Five Winds International has announced it is to merge with PE International in an attempt to enable market penetration in North America for PE International, while also bringing Five Winds Consulting Services to a more global audience, including the UK. The merger of an experienced sustainability management consulting firm with a fellow expert consulting company is a significant response to the increasing demand for business solutions that address enterprise-wide, sustainability performance on a global basis.

More info...Five Winds

EPA to revitalise communities with $76 million scheme to clean up contaminated sites

Lisa  Jackson, US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator has announced plans to spend $76 million on cleaning up neglected areas such as abandoned industrial and commercial properties; like deserted gas stations or closed smelters. These investments hope to encourage redevelopment, economic growth and lead to new jobs within struggling communities. Armstrong claims the redevelopment of disused land will put the “nation on a path to a sustainable future.”

More info...EPA

 

Shipwrecks could become a thing of the past

Norwegian researchers have developed a method of recycling the thousands of recreational boats that are disposed of every year. Previously there has not been a way to recycle the composite materials used to build boats as the molecular bonds in the materials are not easily broken down. A chemical process has been developed by researchers at SINTEF that makes it possible to separate the polyester and fibreglass, so that both products can be reused. This means that retired boats can still serve a very useful purpose.

More info...SINTF

 

United Utilities charged £145,000 for polluting the Mersey

The Environment Agency has set an example for other companies to take heed of as United Utilies have been charged with a significant fine for polluting the Mersey with illegal discharge. The company’s overflow pipe, which is to be used only in emergencies, was discharging partially treated sewage into the River Mersey. The EA has urged companies to resist becoming complacent about to learn from this case. The EA will continue to monitor United Utilities to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to resolve this issue and get the best possible performance from the existing waste water treatment works

 

Image 1: peopleandplanet.org

Image 2: peinternational.com

Image 3 evophotography.com

Image 4: SINTF.com