News in brief (30/08/23)

Aug 16, 2023

With news on: Veteran start-up given grant for military armour recycling scheme; Councils in Lancashire promote fostering on recycling vehicles; Aldi begins trials for vacuum-packed meat packaging; and, Better Waste solutions announce results of recent recycling at festivals survey.

London-based start-up Uplift360 has been awarded a £500,000 government grant to help develop its end-of-life body armour recycling technology.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Uplift360’s technology is able “to break down the fibres, often commercially referred to as Kevlar, a strong, heat-resistant synthetic fibre used in armour, while preserving its strength so it can be recycled back into the supply chain”.

The company on its website that it also creates “the chemical technology to regenerate these highly complex materials whilst also developing new materials, circular by design and non-fossil fuel derived”.

No further information on how the technology works has been provided, but the MoD said Kevlar is estimated to be 85 times more expensive than steel, so reusing this material brings benefits for both the environment and spending.

Minster of State for defence, Baroness Goldie said: “The process designed by Uplift360 is a really good example of how new and intelligent thinking can transform old practices in Defence.”

“Their innovative approach could reduce wastage, save money and secure supply without compromising on high quality kit for our armed forces. I look forward to seeing their important work continue to help Defence make even more progress toward reducing emissions.”

Currently when body armour such as Kevlar reaches the end of its useful life it is incinerated

Lancashire county council has partnered with Pendle borough council, Lancaster city council and West Lancashire borough council to promote fostering across its recycling vehicle fleets.

The first vehicles from Pendle and Lancaster councils can already be seen around the county with Preston and West Lancashire to soon follow suit.

County councillor Cosima Towneley, cabinet member for children and families said: “It’s a wonderful initiative and I’d like to thank my cross-district colleagues for supporting our county-wide fostering initiative by allowing us to use their vehicles to spread the word.

“Finding stable, loving homes in which children can thrive lies at the heart of what we do in Lancashire’s Children’s Services, and this is an eye-catching new way to remind people of a life-changing vocation which makes all the difference to a child’s life.”

Aldi has announced that it has begun trialling vacuum packed meat in stores located across the Midlands.

The packaging change by the supermarket is expected to cut the amount of plastic used by up to 73% and help reduce food waste as the packaging is thought to keep meat fresher for longer.

The move has been rolled out despite the fact Aldi’s rival Lidl was criticised for the scheme by some customers earlier this year, who said it impacted the quality of the meat, making mince appear ‘mushy’.

The supermarket however said that the aim of the trial is not just to reduce plastic waste but also get a clear understanding of which packaging consumers prefer.

Luke Emery, plastics, and packaging director at Aldi, said: “At Aldi we are constantly reviewing ways to become more environmentally friendly and reduce plastic where possible. These trials promise a range of environmental benefits without affecting quality and could lead to significant reductions in plastic, food miles and food waste if rolled out across all stores.”

Better Waste Solutions, a waste management broker, has reported the results of a survey it undertook into the “recycling habits of UK festival attendees”.

Better Waste said that British festival goers cause around 25,800 tonnes of annual waste and it conducted the survey of festival goers this year to see if recycling habits are changing.

According to the study one of the biggest contributors to waste at festivals is festival goers leaving tents behind. However, the results of the survey show that “81% of respondents claimed to take their tent home to reuse after a festival this year, while only 5% said they leave it on the grounds.”

Another big contributor to festival waste is plastic cups, Better Waste said. The most common response regarding what festival goers did with their cups, chosen by 35%, was to throw used cups into recycling bins if available, 10% said they put the cups in general waste bins and 11% admitted they dropped them on the floor.

Stephen Wilce, the founder of Better Waste Solutions, said: “Deposit schemes are a great way to discourage littering but it needs to be convenient otherwise people won’t partake. Festivalgoers also need clear instructions on which bins to place their cups which isn’t always available. However, attendees can take control by bringing their own reusable items.”

The report can be found here.

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