Author: Lucy Ravenhall

Lucy is a long-standing editor of the Forge Recycling blog and loves writing about her environmental passions.

A beginner’s guide to zero-waste restaurants

Food waste is a growing concern for the hospitality and food service industry in the UK. Every year, these sectors discard a staggering 1.1 million tonnes of food, amounting to a value of £3.2 billion.

Not only does this waste have a detrimental effect on businesses, but it also poses a significant threat to the environment.

Food waste accounts for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting its undeniable environmental impact.

While some establishments are actively working to minimise waste to safeguard their finances and the planet, a new trend is emerging in the UK: zero-waste restaurants.

Since the UK’s first zero-waste restaurant opened in Brighton in 2014, these innovative dining establishments have steadily gained popularity.

Let’s work up an appetite as we discover what zero-waste means, how a zero-waste restaurant operates, and where you can experience one.

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Is glitter bad for the environment?

Glitter is attractively sparkly and adds a touch of magic to many corners of our lives — from fashion and greetings cards to festivals and crafting.

While it’s undeniably pretty, glitter’s impact on the environment has become a hot topic in the broader conversation on sustainability.

Let’s shine a spotlight on glitter and see how this snazzy product has become a glaringly obvious problem for the planet.

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How to reduce your business’s digital carbon footprint

The digital revolution has enabled countless positive changes in business regarding the environment and the reduction of CO₂ emissions.

However, as the world becomes increasingly digitised, every individual and business must recognise the impact their online activities have on the environment.

Every time you send an email, upload a photo to your website, or replace broken technology, you contribute to your digital carbon footprint and climate change.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce your company’s digital impact on the world, boost your corporate social responsibility, and enable a more sustainable future.

Let’s put ourselves in someone else’s shoes and define a digital carbon footprint before exploring simple ways to reduce it.

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Turfing out the untruths: Is artificial grass eco-friendly?

The synthetic grass market is set to reach $7 billion worldwide by 2025 thanks to numerous novel uses, a rise in sports investment, and consumers wishing to reduce their water bills.

Popular in commercial and domestic settings, fake grass is undeniably green in colour, but is it green in terms of its environmental impact too?

Join us as we turf out the untruths and investigate how eco-friendly artificial grass is.

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Eight ways to reduce waste in the retail sector

Environmental sustainability is a pressing concern, and businesses across most industries are actively seeking ways to reduce waste and minimise their ecological footprint.

The retail sector must play a significant role in adopting sustainable practices due to its large-scale operations and consumption rate.

Retail waste can encompass everything from unsold products to packaging materials, and waste causes and streams vary significantly between businesses.

With increasing consumer awareness and demand for eco-friendly practices, implementing waste reduction strategies in retail has become more critical than ever.

Let’s look at eight practical methods for retailers to reduce waste and promote sustainability, starting with the logical step of a waste audit.

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How to reduce food waste in UK schools

School food waste is a significant issue that has plagued the UK’s educational institutions for decades.

If you’re wondering, ‘how much food do schools waste per year?’, you’re in for a shock.

55,408 tonnes of food waste is generated annually by primary schools in England and 24,974 tonnes by secondary schools. That’s a total food waste weight of 80,382 tonnes across England’s schools annually — meaning urgent action must be taken.

Let’s address the reasons behind school food waste before outlining solutions.

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Six ways to reuse helium balloons

Think back to the last party you attended — the chances are it featured foil balloons filled with helium declaring someone’s age or announcing the occasion.

As the UK population becomes increasingly aware of its impact on the environment, items such as balloons are slow to reduce in popularity. In their various guises, balloons have been displayed in celebration of loved ones for decades, so there’s a strong emotional aspect to their use.

As balloons aren’t disappearing off the shelves anytime soon, let’s take a look at why you should reuse them and how to reuse foil balloons to give them another life before landfill.

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How to reuse candle wax and jars

A candle’s flickering flame and scent can soothe an anxious mind and trigger a meditative state.

It’s no wonder candles are such a popular purchase for home décor, with their atmospheric low light and rich, relaxing fragrances.

Unfortunately, burning candles results in leftover containers and wax, but there are ways to make your passion for candles environmentally friendlier.

Let’s take a look at how we can reuse and recycle candle wax and jars, and fix a broken candle wick.

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How to recycle your old phone case

There are 71.8 million mobile connections in the UK, which is 4.2 million more than the UK’s population.

From this data, we can assume most adults have at least one mobile phone, and many have a second connection — often a work phone.

As mobile phones are crucial to many of us and expensive to repair or replace, most are protected by a phone case.

On average, we change handsets every 21 months, which means we all buy a lot of phone cases — but how does this impact the environment?

Let’s discuss phone case waste and how it can be reduced or avoided.

Continue reading How to recycle your old phone case