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Recycling centres across England and Wales have been facing growing challenges in dealing with unwanted fridges and freezers, highlighting wider pressures within the UK’s specialist waste and recycling infrastructure.

A number of recycling facilities have closed or become unavailable, contributing to a significant backlog of appliances awaiting recycling. More than 80,000 fridges were reported to be sitting at Newport Docks following the liquidation of a major recycling business.

The situation has been compounded by increased demand for refrigeration following recent heatwaves, while fridges and freezers require specialist treatment because they contain refrigerant gases and other materials that need to be managed appropriately.

The Local Government Association and environmental authorities have called for action to address the capacity issues, while a new recycling facility is planned to help alleviate some of the pressure.

Why does specialist recycling capacity matter?

The story highlights an important principle of the circular economy: recycling systems need sufficient infrastructure to work effectively.

It is not enough for products to be technically recyclable. There must also be appropriate collection, processing and treatment capacity available when those products reach the end of their useful life.

As the UK moves towards a more circular economy, investment in specialist recycling infrastructure will be essential to ensure that waste streams can be managed responsibly and valuable materials can be recovered rather than lost.

Heathrow’s proposed third runway has returned to the centre of the UK’s sustainability debate after the Climate Change Committee warned that airport expansion would create significant challenges for the UK’s carbon budgets.

In September, the Committee advised that Heathrow expansion could not be reconciled with the UK’s climate commitments under current policies. It said that if expansion proceeds, the aviation industry would need to address the additional emissions through measures including greater use of sustainable aviation fuel, improved efficiency and permanent carbon dioxide removal.

The issue has continued to attract competing arguments around economic development, infrastructure capacity and environmental impact. More recently, Prime Minister Andy Burnham declined to endorse the proposed third runway, while the project continues to face debate over its economic and environmental implications.

A wider sustainability question

The Heathrow debate illustrates one of the central challenges facing sustainability policy: how do we balance economic growth and increased demand with the need to reduce environmental impact?

It is a question that extends far beyond aviation.

Businesses across the UK are increasingly being asked to consider not only their direct emissions, but also the wider environmental consequences of growth, supply chains, infrastructure and consumer demand.

Finding practical ways to decouple growth from environmental impact will remain one of the defining sustainability challenges of the coming years.

A new wave of community energy projects could give local authorities and community groups greater control over how clean energy is generated and used in their areas.

The Government announced the first wave of its People’s Power programme in September, with funding being made available to support locally owned renewable energy projects.

Projects could include solar panels on community buildings, village-owned wind farms and hydro schemes. The programme is also intended to allow communities to take an ownership stake in renewable energy projects, with the aim of keeping more of the financial benefits of clean energy within local areas.

The announcement forms part of the wider expansion of community energy in the UK and reflects growing interest in models where communities are not simply consumers of energy, but participants in its generation.

Why is community energy important?

The transition to a lower-carbon energy system is not just a question of technology. It also involves ownership, participation and local engagement.

Community energy projects can create opportunities for local organisations to become directly involved in renewable generation while potentially supporting local investment and resilience.

For businesses considering their own sustainability strategies, the growth of community energy is another reminder that the transition to cleaner energy is increasingly becoming a local as well as a national conversation.

The UK’s debate over North Sea oil and gas has taken another turn this August.

New analysis suggests that the potential climate-related economic damage associated with developing two major North Sea fields, Rosebank and Jackdaw, could substantially outweigh the economic benefits claimed for the projects.

The analysis estimates that climate-related economic damages from the carbon pollution associated with the fields could reach between £119 billion and £336 billion, compared with an estimated economic value of £28.7 billion attributed to the developments.

The figures have reignited a debate that sits at the heart of the UK’s energy transition:

Can continued investment in fossil fuel extraction genuinely support long-term economic security?

Energy security versus climate security

Supporters of North Sea development argue that domestic oil and gas production can strengthen energy security, protect jobs and reduce Britain’s dependence on international energy markets.

Opponents argue that oil and gas are globally traded commodities and that continued investment risks locking the UK into an increasingly expensive and carbon-intensive energy system.

The debate is particularly significant as renewable energy becomes an increasingly important part of the UK’s energy mix.

The UK’s own Renewable Energy Planning Database continues to track a large pipeline of renewable electricity projects progressing through planning, construction and operation.

The challenge is therefore not simply whether the UK can produce energy.

It is what kind of energy system it wants to build for the next 20 to 30 years.

The transition is also a jobs challenge

There is another important dimension to this debate: people.

Recent government figures obtained through freedom of information requests suggest that more than 110,000 jobs linked to North Sea oil and gas could disappear by 2050, with employment in the sector projected to fall dramatically as production declines.

That makes the just transition critical.

It is not enough to say that workers should simply move from fossil fuels into renewables.

The UK needs investment in skills, retraining, infrastructure and regional economies so that communities currently dependent on the oil and gas industry can participate in the next phase of the energy economy.

Offshore engineering expertise, project management, marine skills and technical capabilities could all have a role to play in the expansion of offshore wind and other clean technologies.

Sustainability is an economic question

Perhaps the biggest lesson from this debate is that sustainability cannot be separated from economics.

Businesses make investment decisions based on what they believe will create value over the long term.

Governments should be thinking in much the same way.

If climate-related costs, stranded assets, changing consumer expectations, regulation and the declining cost of renewable technologies are all considered, the economic case for different energy investments can look very different.

The UK’s transition to net zero therefore isn’t simply about turning off fossil fuels.

It is about deciding where the country’s capital, skills and infrastructure should be directed next.

The North Sea has powered Britain for decades.

The question now is whether it will also play a meaningful role in powering Britain’s transition.

And perhaps the most important question for policymakers and businesses alike is this:

Are we investing in the energy system of yesterday, or building the one we will need tomorrow?

Artificial intelligence is transforming almost every part of the economy.

From automated customer service and predictive analytics to scientific research and generative AI, the technology promises enormous opportunities for businesses and society.

But behind every AI query, model and digital service sits something very physical: data centres.

And in August, new analysis has highlighted just how significant their environmental footprint could become in the UK.

Two planned data centres in England could collectively generate more than 4.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year, according to analysis by environmental organisation Foxglove. That figure would exceed the UK emissions attributed to ExxonMobil in 2023.

The projects are expected to require around 1.3GW of electricity.

That creates a fascinating sustainability dilemma.

We cannot simply electrify our way out of the problem

Data centres are central to the digital economy, and demand for computing capacity is growing rapidly as AI adoption accelerates.

But electricity demand matters.

The UK is working to decarbonise its electricity system, while simultaneously trying to accommodate new and increasingly energy-intensive industries.

In the case of the two proposed data centres, concerns have been raised because lengthy grid connection times could lead to the facilities using on-site gas-fired power generation.

That creates a paradox.

AI is often presented as a technology that can help businesses optimise energy use, reduce waste and improve sustainability.

But the infrastructure required to run AI can itself consume huge amounts of energy.

The sustainability question businesses should be asking

This isn’t an argument against AI.

The technology has enormous potential to support sustainability.

AI can help organisations:

• Identify energy inefficiencies.
• Optimise logistics and transport.
• Forecast demand.
• Reduce material waste.
• Monitor environmental data.
• Improve renewable energy management.
• Analyse complex sustainability datasets.

But businesses need to consider the whole lifecycle and infrastructure footprint of digital transformation.

If an organisation announces that it is becoming more sustainable because it has digitised processes or introduced AI, the conversation should not end there.

Where does the computing happen?

How much energy does it consume?

What is the source of that electricity?

How efficiently is the data centre operating?

What happens to the hardware at the end of its useful life?

And how much additional digital infrastructure will be required as usage grows?

Green AI needs more than green claims

There is a growing opportunity for businesses to think about responsible AI and sustainable digitalisation together.

The UK’s transition to a low-carbon economy will require more electricity, more digital infrastructure and more computing power.

That makes energy efficiency and renewable generation increasingly important.

It also means sustainability teams will need to work more closely with IT, procurement and finance departments.

The sustainability conversation is no longer confined to manufacturing plants, vehicles and buildings.

It is increasingly happening inside servers, networks and cloud infrastructure.

AI may help us solve some of the world’s biggest sustainability challenges.

But if we want that future to be genuinely sustainable, we need to make sure the technology itself is being built on sustainable foundations.

The question isn’t whether AI can help us become more sustainable.

It’s whether the growth of AI can itself become sustainable.

August has brought another uncomfortable reminder that climate change is no longer a distant environmental issue. It is a growing challenge for the UK’s infrastructure, economy, public services and communities.

The UK has experienced its fifth heatwave of the summer, alongside wildfires, drought conditions and increasing pressure on water resources. Yet, at the same time, new figures have raised questions about whether the country is investing enough in adapting to the climate impacts we are already experiencing.

A Freedom of Information request revealed that just 20 of Defra’s 6,613 staff are working specifically on climate adaptation. That equates to around 0.3% of the department’s workforce.

The figure is striking, particularly when considered alongside warnings from the Climate Change Committee about the growing risks facing the UK.

Adaptation is no longer optional

For years, much of the climate conversation has centred on mitigation: reducing emissions, transitioning away from fossil fuels and reaching net zero.

Those efforts remain essential.

But even if global emissions were to fall dramatically tomorrow, the UK would still experience the consequences of climate change already locked into the climate system.

That means businesses, councils and government departments must increasingly ask a different question:

Are we prepared for the climate we are going to have, rather than the climate we have historically had?

Flooding, extreme heat, drought, water shortages, wildfires and disruption to transport and energy infrastructure can all carry significant economic costs.

The Climate Change Committee has warned that climate risks could result in economic losses running into hundreds of billions of pounds annually by 2050 without significant improvements in adaptation.

What does this mean for business?

Climate adaptation should not be viewed solely as a government responsibility.

Businesses need to understand how changing weather patterns could affect their own operations and supply chains.

That could mean:

• Assessing exposure to flooding, heat and water scarcity.
• Reviewing business continuity plans.
• Understanding climate risks across global supply chains.
• Protecting employees from extreme heat.
• Considering resilience when selecting sites and infrastructure.
• Incorporating physical climate risks into financial and strategic planning.

For sustainability professionals, this represents an important shift.

Climate strategy is no longer simply about calculating carbon footprints and setting reduction targets. It is also about understanding physical risk, resilience and long-term business continuity.

From response to resilience

The UK’s extreme weather this summer should not simply be viewed as a series of isolated events.

It should be treated as a stress test.

The question is not whether the UK will experience more extreme weather. The evidence increasingly suggests that it will.

The question is whether our infrastructure, businesses, communities and public services will be ready when it arrives.

At Go Green Now, we believe sustainability needs to move beyond targets and reporting and towards practical action that builds stronger, more resilient organisations.

Because a sustainable business is not simply one that reduces its impact on the planet.

It is one that is prepared for the planet we are creating.

What does climate resilience look like for your organisation?

The conversation needs to move from “How do we prepare?” to “How quickly can we act?”

Our team recently sat down with EcoElara to highlight to our community who they are, what they do, and how they can help to support businesses within our community.

Introduction – why we’re featured and what makes us stand out
EcoElara is a research-led UK retailer helping households make more informed choices about the products they use to clean and care for their homes. We research products, ingredients, materials, environmental claims and the brand behind them before deciding what earns a place in our range. Put simply: we do the research, so our customers don’t have to.

About the Member – Who is EcoElara?
Recently founded by Sandra Wilson, EcoElara was born from a lifelong connection to natural cleaning traditions passed down through her
Barbadian family, and a personal experience of watching a loved one react to the synthetic chemicals and microplastics hidden inside cleaning products.

EcoElara does not judge, EcoElara educates on how to read ingredients, spot greenwashing and the effects of ingredients. EcoElara provides a safe space for people wanting to swap from conventional cleaning products. EcoElara brings together the best ethical, certified brands alongside carefully selected plastic-free cleaning tools – using a natural cleaning product with a plastic sponge is a contradiction.

What We Do – What EcoElara Offers
EcoElara sells a range of eco-friendly, plant-based cleaning products for the home, laundry and personal care. All products are vetted, ensuring each claim is verifiable. We ask the questions so you don’t have to, and we tend to say ‘no’ more than ‘yes’. We consistently review our products by keeping up to date with the Suppliers/Brands ingredients, and we do not hesitate to remove products from our range if we find out about any change in the Brands/Suppliers ingredients.

Sustainability Focus – Impact & Sustainability Commitment:
Our fundamental belief is simple:

Nature is here to look after us. We should care for it, respect it, and protect it so the cycle can continue – for us and every generation that comes after us.

We believe many consumers genuinely want to make more sustainable choices, but navigating environmental claims, ingredients, materials and terminology can be confusing. Choosing a product from an “eco” aisle can feel like doing the right thing, but consumers are not
always given the clarity they need to understand exactly what they are buying.

EcoElara wants to help change that through education and one simple sustainable swap at a time. By helping people understand ingredients, materials and environmental claims, we help to make better-informed choices easier and more accessible.

Our ambition goes beyond the products we sell. As consumers increasing expect transparency, we hope this encourages larger brands and retailers to provide clearer information, reconsider ingredients and materials where necessary, and make genuinely more sustainable products the norm rather than a specialist category.

Our vision is a future where there is no need for a single “eco aisle” because responsible, transparent choices can be found throughout the whole store

Why It Matters to Members – Why Our Members Should Connect
Collaborating with GoGreenNow is important to EcoElara because sharing knowledge and experience helps us remain informed about development in sustainability, environmental policy, legislation and responsible business practices. We can turn that knowledge into accessible educational content four our customers and wider community through our blogs, magazine and social channels.

But we also want to contribute. EcoElara is keen to share what we learn through our own product and supplier research, collaborate with like-minded businesses, highlight responsible brands and create opportunities for members to share their expertise with our growing community.

We see GoGreenNow as an important link in EcoElara’s chain – helping us ensure the products we select and the information we share remain relevant, current and evidence-led, while giving us the opportunity to learn from and contribute to a wider community working towards the same goal.

Key Achievements or Highlights – Notable Projects & Achievements
A key achievement is our Supplier Code of Conduct, providing a framework for assessing potential suppliers and products against our values.
We began building relationships with responsible suppliers and brands to to stock their products and inviting suppliers to contribute to our monthly VIP magazine, EcoElara has been selected to exhibit at the Ideal Home Show 2027, Olympia, London which gives us the opportunity to expandour educational approach beyond our website.

Becoming part of the GoGreenNow is another important milestone. We see collaboration, shared knowledge and continued learning as essential to building EcoElara into a trusted business.

Water resilience is becoming a sustainability priority

Following one of the driest starts to the year on record, millions of people across England have experienced hosepipe restrictions during July.

The situation has once again highlighted how climate change is increasing pressure on UK water supplies.

Experts continue to stress that improving long-term water resilience will require more than temporary restrictions. Investment in infrastructure, leakage reduction, rainwater harvesting and smarter water management will all play a crucial role.

Businesses also have an important role to play by:

• Monitoring water consumption
• Installing efficient fixtures
• Recycling grey water where possible
• Developing drought resilience plans

Water efficiency is increasingly becoming a key part of corporate sustainability strategies.

Why it matters

Climate resilience is about preparing for future environmental challenges, not simply reacting to them.

Businesses should prepare for another wave of sustainability regulation

July has seen further movement across UK sustainability policy, with continued development of environmental reporting, finance and climate-related legislation.

The UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF) has highlighted several policy updates affecting businesses, investors and organisations working towards Net Zero.

Areas continuing to evolve include:

• Sustainable finance
• Climate reporting
• Nature restoration
• Green investment
• ESG governance

Whilst many organisations are still adapting to existing reporting requirements, the policy landscape continues to develop rapidly.

Businesses that begin embedding sustainability into everyday decision-making now will find themselves far better prepared for future regulatory changes.

Why it matters

Sustainability is no longer simply about compliance. Increasingly it is becoming a competitive advantage.

Glasgow 2026 demonstrates how major events can reduce environmental impact

The upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are showcasing how large sporting events can be delivered more sustainably.

Rather than constructing numerous new venues, organisers have prioritised existing infrastructure, helping reduce carbon emissions, waste and construction impacts.

Alongside venue reuse, sustainability measures include improved accessibility, efficient operations and wider environmental considerations throughout the Games.

The event reflects a growing trend across the UK and internationally, where organisers are recognising that sustainability should be integrated into every stage of event planning.

Why it matters

From conferences to exhibitions and sporting events, sustainable event management is becoming the new standard.