Nearly 100 billion pieces of plastic packaging are thrown away by UK households every year, but just 12% is recycled in the UK: that’s the shocking finding of The Big Plastic Count, the “UK’s biggest nationwide investigation into household plastic waste” conducted by Greenpeace and Everyday Plastic. The Big Plastic Count took place for one week in May 2022, with nearly 250,000 participants recording how much plastic packaging they put in the bin or into recycling, and what type. Using this data, the organisers projected what was likely to happen to this waste: 46% is likely incinerated, 25% buried in landfill, 17% shipped overseas, 12% recycled in the UK. Read the full report here

In an effort to cut food waste, Marks & Spencer is planning to remove ‘best before’ labels from 300 varieties of fruit and vegetables in its stores, joining Tesco, Morrisons and Lidl who have already introduced similar measures. According to food waste charity Wrap, as much 45% of global greenhouse gas emissions can only be tackled by changing the way we make and consume products and food. Removing dates on fresh fruit and veg can save the equivalent of 7m shopping baskets of food a year. More from The Guardian here

The Design Museum and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) have revealed a £25m funding programme, which aims to produce design-led responses to the climate crisis. Future Observatory: Design the Green Transition will highlight how the UK is a “centre of design excellence” by finding fossil fuel alternatives through innovative design while also funding design research that supports the British Government’s efforts to reach net zero by 2050. Designers can apply from September. More details from Design Week here

“Are you working for a just transition – but need a break? Why not spend a long-weekend at a John Thackara ‘Show Up’ at his place in the South of France?” The design writer, thinker and curator of brilliantly thoughtful events is inviting people to come and spend a weekend at his house to swap ideas or just find some space to reflect. “We welcome everyone working towards a just transition: designers of all kinds, ecologists, curators, team leaders, professors, students, researchers, artists, writers…” its website says. “We’ll have a meal together when you arrive. During your stay, you can join [John] on a walk or a picnic, and swap ideas in an informal way. Or simply stay at the house and reflect quietly in our courtyard.” Details here

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