Government-backed ESG reporting platform put up for sale as firms backtrack on eco-goals Business An ESG reporting platform backed by the government-owned British Business Bank has been put up for sale after appointing administrators, City AM can reveal, in the latest sign blue-chip companies are paring back their sustainability commitments. World Wide Generation, which operates the platform, known as G17 Eco, has opened the bidding to interested parties and [...]
Gen Z don’t want meaningless work – but that might be a good thing Opinion Gen Z will not accept meaningless work, nor should they. The burgeoning industry of green jobs could be the answer.
Controversial £2bn packaging tax could be scrapped as food inflation looms Retail The government is reviewing a controversial £2bn sustainable packaging tax as it faces increasing pressure from retailers to prevent food prices from soaring. The Treasury is reportedly looking at potential changes to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) tax, which requires large businesses to pay towards the cost of disposing of their packaging. Retailers have been [...]
Fevertree takes Environment Agency to court over green packaging tax March 24, 2026 Fevertree has launched a legal challenge against the Environment Agency over its application of a sustainability packaging tax, which is charged on glass bottles. The premium drink mixer brand claims the glass used in some of its products should be classified as non-household packaging and be exempted from the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) levy, and [...]
Nike and Superdry adverts banned in ‘greenwashing’ crackdown December 3, 2025 Adverts produced by Nike, Superdry and Lacoste which claimed to promote sustainable clothing have been banned by the advertising watchdog as part of a major crackdown on corporate greenwashing. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld complaints against the three fashion giants, assessing that environmental claims made in a series of search engine adverts were exaggerated [...]
Rachel Reeves told to ‘get out of the way’ ahead of Autumn Budget August 13, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been told to “let businesses get on with it and get out of the way” ahead of delivering her second Autumn Budget in the coming months. A group of 1,500 private business leaders surveyed by KPMG said the Chancellor should focus on promoting higher wages and lower costs for companies. They [...]
Calm heads make a welcome return to ESG debate July 2, 2025 In May 2022, HSBC’s head of responsible investing, Stuart Kirk, took to the stage at a City conference and did something extraordinary; he criticised the financial services industry’s obsession with climate change. With a degree of candour that would ultimately cost him his job, Kirk said “I feel like it’s getting a little bit out [...]
Inspired latest to attract private equity takeover bid June 26, 2025 Energy and sustainability consultancy Inspired has agreed to a £183.6m all-cash takeover from US private equity firm HGGC, marking a sharp turn in the firm’s M&A saga after previously rejecting a rival bid from Regent Acquisitions. HGGC will make the acquisition through a newly formed vehicle, Intrepid Bidco Limited, offering 81p per share – a [...]
Impax’s takings slump after global retreat on sustainability May 22, 2025 Impax Asset Management recorded a slump in revenue in the first half of the year as a global retreat on green policies turned clients away from its sustainability offering. The firm cited a “challenging first half of financial year” with assets under management falling to £25.3bn. This was down from £37.2bn at the end of [...]
‘Doing nothing isn’t an option’: How UK Sport is tackling sustainability April 22, 2025 On Earth Day, UK Sport CEO Sally Munday argues that collaboration is the key to a more sustainable future for the games and recreation that we love. At UK Sport, we firmly believe that by working together we can tackle the biggest challenges we face. Climate change is certainly one of those. We can see [...]