Industry news

Industry news Swatch shuts stores after Royal Pop watch launch sparks crowd chaos Swatch was forced to close stores across the UK and parts of Europe and the US over the weekend after the launch of its limited-edition Royal Pop watch triggered huge crowds, scuffles and police intervention. The £335 timepiece, created in collaboration with luxury Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet, drew shoppers and resellers to Swatch stores overnight,... Retail Gazette · 18 May 2026 Industry news Industry analysis notes ‘surging’ plastic costs and demand from Iran conflict Global demand for recycled plastics has rapidly increased in response to the onset of the recent conflict between the US and Iran, new industry research claims. Packaging News (UK) · 18 May 2026 Industry news Herbert Walkers invests in new Heidelberg press Herbert Walkers has acquired a second new Heidelberg Speedmaster XL106 6+L. Packaging News (UK) · 18 May 2026 Industry news Buying five reused items saved me £3.5k – the government should help everyone do the same I think my love of the circular economy may have started with the love of a bargain. I can’t begin to calculate the many thousands of pounds I’ve saved only filling my wardrobe with secondhand clothing and furnishing my home with high quality finds from […] Green Alliance blog (Inside Track) · 18 May 2026 Industry news The Label Makers delivers foil labels for haircare brand The Label Makers has created holographic foil labels for the Head Candy Professional Peptide Range from Inline Health and Beauty. Packaging News (UK) · 18 May 2026 Industry news Mondi and Dreco create new powder detergent packaging Mondi has partnered with Dreco to develop powder detergent packaging with 50% post-consumer recycled content. Packaging News (UK) · 18 May 2026 Industry news Glass sector warns over impact of rising environmental costs UK glass manufacturers have warned that rising environmental levies and energy-related costs could threaten investment and long-term competitiveness within the sector. Packaging News (UK) · 18 May 2026 Industry news SEPA appoints new Deputy Chief Executive The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has appointed Kirsty-Louise Campbell as Deputy Chief Executive following an internal recruitment process. SEPA says the newly created Deputy Chief Executive role will enable […] Water Magazine · 18 May 2026 Industry news Sir Robert Goodwill appointed as chair of Yorkshire Bathing Water Partnership Former MP Sir Robert Goodwill has been appointed the chair of the Yorkshire Bathing Water Partnership. The partnership brings together Yorkshire Water, the Environment Agency and local authorities where Yorkshire’s bathing waters are located. […] Water Magazine · 18 May 2026 Industry news Farmer fined after pollution kills a thousand fish A Cornish farmer has been told to pay out £3,765 after a spill of digestate at his farm led to a fish kill in the River Ottery. Truro magistrates’ court heard that Norman Osborne, 57, […] Water Magazine · 18 May 2026 Industry news Southern Water misses FEO deadlines at Burham works The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has reported that Southern Water has failed to meet two deadlines set out under a Final Enforcement Order (FEO) at its Burham works. The missed […] Water Magazine · 18 May 2026 Industry news Buildapp - Mobile - buildapp.unilever.com Unilever news · 18 May 2026 Industry news Water UK appoints alternative dispute resolution services provider Water UK has appointed Dispute Resolution Ombudsman to deliver free and independent alternative dispute resolution services for water company customers in England and Wales. Most customer disputes are resolved directly […] Water Magazine · 18 May 2026 Industry news Emma Hardy to deliver keynote address at Flood & Coast 2026 The organiser of Flood & Coast 2026 has announced that Emma Hardy will deliver the keynote address at the event, due to take place in Liverpool from 9-11 June 2026. […] Water Magazine · 18 May 2026 Industry news Minister Browne welcomes progress on landmark wastewater projects in Donegal Uisce Éireann’s landmark investment in three new wastewater treatment plants across Donegal was marked last week with a visit by Ireland’s Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne […] Water Magazine · 18 May 2026 Industry news DWI issues warning letter to United Utilities over Cranage water quality case The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has issued a warning letter to United Utilities over deficiencies in the management and investigation of water quality concerns affecting four properties in Cranage, Cheshire. […] Water Magazine · 18 May 2026 Industry news Nature Minister Mary Creagh visits Heacham Habitat Bank in Norfolk to see Biodiversity Net Gain in action The Minister for Nature, Mary Creagh MP, visited Heacham Habitat Bank in Norfolk to see how large-scale nature recovery is being delivered through a combination of approaches, including Biodiversity Net […] Water Magazine · 18 May 2026 Industry news Volvo’s low-emission trucks and National Parks’ peatland restoration project: The sustainability success stories of the week As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie delivers this member-exclusive weekly round-up of five of the best sustainable business success stories of the week. In this week's edition, Volvo’s low-emission trucks, and much more. edie — Circular Economy tag · 18 May 2026 Industry news Bring Library of Things to Lancaster - Library of Things Library of Things · 18 May 2026 Industry news Xinjiang labour transfers test brand due diligence Forced labour transfers of Uyghur workers from Xinjiang to factories across China have “increased significantly” since the end of zero-Covid, […] Ecotextile News · 17 May 2026 Industry news Cotton LCA claims net negative emissions New US cotton LCA reports net negative cradle‑to‑gate emissions, highlighting fertiliser, field emissions and irrigation as key hotspots CARY — […] Ecotextile News · 17 May 2026 Industry news Fire and ‘sheer volume’: how Britain’s 6m-vape problem is putting recycling under strain Despite the ban on disposables, waste professionals say the mountain of discarded devices is a £1bn-a-year issue It is 2pm and Ana, 47, has just started the afternoon shift at the Suez recycling plant near Birmingham city centre, standing beneath a sign reading “Non-ferrous sorting station” with a bucket of vapes in front of her. Sorting and dismantling them is part of her job as a site operati… The Guardian — Environment · 17 May 2026 Industry news CIWM South West & LARAC Resources and Waste Conference - Book now! - larac.org.uk LARAC (Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee) · 17 May 2026 Industry news PepsiCo, Inc. (Walkers Snacks Ltd) - PepsiCo UK PepsiCo UK stories · 17 May 2026 Industry news Canon Europe records Briefing Room session ahead of Dortmund event Presentation featuring Canon EMEA Sustainability and Government Affairs Director Peter Bragg will form part of next week’s Briefing Room programme during The Recycler Live & Trade Days 2026 in Dortmund. The Recycler (imaging consumables recycling) · 16 May 2026 Industry news Voting for The Recycler Awards 2026 closes soon! The countdown is on for The Recycler Awards 2026, with voting officially closing at midnight CET on 20 May 2026. The Recycler (imaging consumables recycling) · 16 May 2026 Industry news Request for information on Asbestos Disposal Policies and Procedures - North London Waste Authority North London Waste Authority · 16 May 2026 Industry news CO-OP MEMBER-OWNERS MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD AS PART OF TODAY’S AGM - Co-operative Group Co-op media newsroom · 16 May 2026 Industry news CIWM Midlands - CIWM CIWM (Chartered Institution of Wastes Management) · 16 May 2026 Industry news NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show Europe – Agenda & Highlights NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show Europe returns to Paris from 15 to 17 September 2026, promising three days of innovation, strategic discussions, and groundbreaking ideas. Held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, the event runs from 9am to 5:30pm on September 15 and 16, with the final day wrapping up at 4pm on 17 September.... Retail Gazette · 16 May 2026 Industry news From bottles to bars: easy swaps to cut plastic from your personal care routine Almost all cosmetic packaging is thrown away. But with a bit of forethought, it’s not hard to keep both your skin and your conscience squeaky clean Change by degrees offers life hacks and sustainable living tips each Saturday to help reduce your household’s carbon footprint Got a question or tip for reducing household emissions? Email us at changebydegrees@theguardian.com Who hasn’t opened a ba… The Guardian — Environment · 16 May 2026 Industry news UK mulls extended support for recycling-derived fertilisers MRW UK mulls extended support for recycling-derived fertilisers Proposals for new product regulations seek to improve availability of organic fertilisers amid supply crisis caused by Middle East conflict UK mulls extended support for recycling-derived fertilisers Daniel Bosley MRW (Materials Recycling World) · 15 May 2026 Industry news Industry analysis notes ‘surging’ plastic costs and demand from Iran conflict MRW Industry analysis notes ‘surging’ plastic costs and demand from Iran conflict Update from the Bureau of International Recycling argues that supply uncertainty has seen a reversal of recent market trends with notable rises in costs for both recycled and virgin materials Industry analysis notes ‘surging’ plastic costs and demand from Iran conflict Neil Merrett MRW (Materials Recycling World) · 15 May 2026 Industry news AI’s role in textile recycling and feedstock ID Strong turnout in Charlotte underscored growing US momentum on textile circularity, as speakers and attendees pointed to AI technology, sorting, […] Ecotextile News · 15 May 2026 Industry news AD and Biogas Industry Awards 2026 finalists announced AD and Biogas Industry Awards 2026 finalists announced The finalists for the AD and Biogas Industry Awards 2026 have been announced. Run by the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) and the World Biogas Association (WBA), the Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in the global anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas sector across 10 categories. The… ADBA (Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association) · 15 May 2026 Industry news Professor Sir Charles Godfray FRS is opening Footprint Festival Climate shocks. Energy costs. Supply chain volatility. Geopolitical disruption. These aren’t abstract risks — they’re hitting your margins, your sourcing and your strategy right now. Charles is one of the world’s leading voices on food systems and climate policy, Director of Oxford Martin School, former Chair of Defra’s Science Advisory Council and Chief Climate and […] Footprint Media (foodservice sustainability) · 15 May 2026 Industry news Corporate governance dispute engulfs South Korean waste tyre recycler LD Carbon LD Carbon, whose core technology converts end-of-life tyres into recovered carbon black (rCB) and fuel oil through pyrolysis, is currently subject to multiple legal proceedings following a disputed annual general meeting (AGM) held on 31 March 2026. The company operates within a sector of growing strategic relevance to the global tyre industry. As regulatory pressure on tyre producers to demons… Tyrepress · 15 May 2026 Industry news Certain Goodyear Treadmax tyres recalled in Europe Following an initial recall notice posted on 14 May 2026, the European Commission’s Safety Gate system reports that certain Goodyear TreadMax Utragrip Coach HL, TreadMax Kmax D ou S, TreadMax Ultra Grip Max D, and Next Tread MSDII tyres have been recalled due to a curing issue. Tyrepress · 15 May 2026 Industry news Toyo Q1’26 sales down 3.4%, but ordinary income up 17% Toyo Tire Corporation’s consolidated performance for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 featured net sales of 130,951 million yen, down 3.4 per cent on 2025. Similarly, operating income amounted to 20,610 million yen, down 8.1 per cent compared with the respective full-year 2025 figures. However, ordinary income in the period totalled 21,352 million yen up 3,096 million yen, or 17.0 per cent… Tyrepress · 15 May 2026 Industry news First test of CO2 removal with green sand finds no harm to marine life Adding olivine to the ocean could remove CO2 from the atmosphere, and a pilot project in New York state found no signs of adverse effects on seafloor organisms New Scientist — Environment · 15 May 2026