$2.2bn renewable energy joint venture announced

The 50/50 partnership between TotalEnergies and Masdar will merge the companies’ onshore renewable activities in key Asian markets, creating a new platform headquartered in Abu Dhabi to support the region’s rapidly growing electricity demand.

The agreement will establish a new renewable energy platform with a combined portfolio of 3 GW of operational capacity and 6 GW of projects in advanced development, expected to become operational by 2030.

Each company will contribute assets of comparable value to the venture. Once the transaction closes, the new entity will serve as the sole vehicle for developing, building, owning and operating onshore solar, wind and battery storage projects for both partners in selected Asian markets.

The joint venture will be headquartered in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and is expected to employ around 200 staff from both companies.

Renewable energy expansion across nine Asian markets

The partnership will focus on renewable projects across nine countries in Asia:

• Azerbaijan
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Uzbekistan

The new platform is intended to help the companies capture the region’s rising electricity demand while accelerating renewable deployment.

Responding to rising electricity demand in Asia

Asia is expected to be a major driver of global electricity demand growth in the coming years, creating opportunities for large-scale renewable power development.

His Excellency Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, said the partnership builds on the UAE’s track record in global energy investment.

“The UAE has established itself as a global energy leader by delivering at scale, investing with conviction, and building partnerships that endure. Masdar epitomizes that approach. We are proud to have pioneered renewable energy deployment in Central Asia and the Caucuses, and we have an expanding portfolio in some of the most attractive growth markets in Asia-Pacific. Asia will be the main driver of global electricity demand growth this decade, and this collaboration with TotalEnergies will accelerate our progress across the continent, unlocking new opportunities to deliver the competitive, reliable energy solutions that our partners and customers need,” said His Excellency Dr, Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar.

Strategic partnership for renewable growth

Executives from both companies said the joint venture will combine expertise and resources to expand renewable energy development across Asia.

Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, said the collaboration will strengthen the company’s position in renewable power markets.

“We are delighted with the signing of this agreement with Masdar, which brings together two major renewable players to build a renewable champion in Asia. It will allow us to combine the strengths of our two companies to secure significant positions in these markets and create more value than if we were acting alone. This agreement is fully in line with the renewable energy strategy of our Integrated Power business. We are also pleased to further deepen, in this area, the long-standing relationship between the United Arab Emirates and TotalEnergies,” said Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies.

Portfolio diversification and energy transition

The joint venture will also expand Masdar’s renewable portfolio while supporting the company’s international growth strategy.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, said the collaboration strengthens Abu Dhabi’s role in global energy development.

“This joint venture reinforces Abu Dhabi’s status as a global center for energy leadership, combining the expertise of Masdar and TotalEnergies to drive renewable energy deployment across Asia. For Masdar, this JV strengthens and diversifies our portfolio, unlocking new opportunities in attractive, high-growth markets, while bringing in a like-minded partner to accelerate growth and deliver additional value in our existing markets.” said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar.

Sustainability and clean energy transition

The partnership is designed to support the deployment of renewable power at scale across Asia as the region’s electricity demand continues to increase.

By combining their existing renewable portfolios and development pipelines, TotalEnergies and Masdar aim to expand solar, wind and battery storage projects in the region while accelerating the transition to low-carbon electricity generation.

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Technical support and funding to strengthen farm resilience

ADM has announced a new partnership with American Farmland Trust (AFT) aimed at strengthening resilience among U.S. farmers as they navigate shifting market demands, evolving trade policy, advancing technology and ongoing uncertainty.

Backed by a $500,000 investment from ADM Cares, the initiative will engage farmers across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky and Missouri. The programme will provide direct technical assistance, succession planning support, peer networks and grant funding to help improve productivity, market access and farmer wellbeing.

Strengthening business and farm stewardship

Through the partnership, ADM Cares and AFT will work with hundreds of farmers to deliver practical support designed to strengthen both farm businesses and land stewardship.

“The Farm Forward Initiative reflects our continued commitment to working alongside American farmers and strengthening America’s farm economy,” said Gary McGuigan, ADM Senior Vice President and President, North America Ag Services & Oilseeds and Global Trade.

“By partnering with trusted organizations like American Farmland Trust, we’re offering American farmers access to the tools, resources and support they need to strengthen their businesses, care for their land, and sustain their families.”

The partnership comes at a time when U.S. farmers are adapting rapidly to a changing agricultural landscape. According to ADM, 315 family farms filed for bankruptcy last year, up 46% from 2024.

ADM said strengthening resilience requires a balance of economic strength, environmental stewardship and farmer wellbeing, making coordinated support and practical investment increasingly important.

American Farmland Trust to lead farmer engagement

American Farmland Trust will lead on-the-ground engagement, delivering hands-on support tailored to local needs through established networks focused on farm viability and land stewardship.

“Farm resilience starts with strong planning, strong networks, and strong communities,” said John Piotti, President and CEO of American Farmland Trust.

“Through this partnership, we’re building on our work to advance soil health to further help farmers invest in their future – while attracting the next generation – by providing practical resources, direct financial assistance, peer connections, and expanding access to succession planning support.”

Farm Forward Initiative supports long-term farm sustainability

The collaboration forms part of ADM’s Farm Forward Initiative, which brings together the company’s existing investments, partnerships and on-the-ground engagement into a unified platform focused on farmer resilience in a rapidly changing agricultural landscape.

The initiative aims to help farmers expand access to markets, resources and support while strengthening farm businesses and rural communities.

“Standing beside American farmers has always been a priority for ADM,” said McGuigan.

“Our success is closely connected to the success of the farmers we work with every day. The Farm Forward Initiative brings greater focus to that commitment: building on longstanding efforts and partnerships to help ensure farmers and rural communities remain strong for the long term.”

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DRIVING PRECISION IN SUSTAINABILITY DATA  

With sustainability becoming an increasingly important factor in enterprise purchasing, Lenovo is advancing its approach by delivering configuration-level Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) for its ThinkPad portfolio through a partnership with Makersite. 

The move reflects a broader shift in enterprise expectations, as buyers are no longer satisfied with product-level carbon estimates and are instead seeking detailed insights into the environmental impact of specific configurations. This includes demand for data that is aligned with International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) frameworks and supported by verifiable methodologies. 

Historically, ThinkPad PCFs were reported at the model level, providing an accurate portfolio-wide view but lacking the granularity needed to reflect variation across thousands of possible configurations. This created challenges during enterprise tenders, where customers increasingly requested configuration-specific data, often requiring additional manual analysis. 

By adopting Makersite as a complementary system, Lenovo has transitioned to a more detailed and scalable approach. The integration enables automated Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), enhanced supplier data utilisation, and standardised modelling processes –supporting greater accuracy and transparency in sustainability reporting. 

ENABLING DATA-DRIVEN PURCHASING DECISIONS  

The shift to configuration-level PCFs allows Lenovo to provide enterprise customers with more meaningful insights into how individual component choices influence overall carbon impact. 

Variations in storage, memory, displays, and other hardware elements can significantly affect a device’s footprint. With enhanced modelling capabilities, Lenovo can now demonstrate these differences clearly, helping customers balance performance, cost, and sustainability considerations. 

This level of visibility also strengthens engagement during procurement processes. Evidently, rather than relying on broad estimates, sales teams can present data-backed comparisons, enabling more informed decision-making. For example, alternative component selections with lower carbon impacts can be identified and evaluated using credible, standardised data. 

The approach aligns sustainability more closely with practical purchasing decisions, making it a measurable and actionable factor within enterprise IT strategies. 

BUILDING A SCALABLE DATA FOUNDATION 

To support this sustainable transformation, Lenovo has established a unified and auditable data framework by integrating Makersite into its workflows, which consolidates sustainability, engineering, and commercial data, ensuring consistency across teams and outputs. 

Millions of supplier Full Material Declarations (FMDs) have been incorporated into the platform, enabling detailed, substance-level LCAs and improving the accuracy of carbon modelling. A structured validation process has also been introduced to maintain data quality as new components are added. 

This centralised approach enhances confidence in sustainability reporting whilst improving efficiency in responding to customer requirements. It also enables Lenovo to scale its configuration-level modelling capabilities across its product portfolio. 

SUPPORTING NET ZERO AMBITIONS 

Lenovo’s investment in advanced carbon modelling supports its broader commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions by 2050, with targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). 

The accurate measurement of emissions across the value chain remains a key challenge, particularly as a significant proportion of emissions fall within Scope 3, including product use by customers. By providing configuration-level PCFs, Lenovo is enabling organisations to better understand and manage their own IT-related carbon impact. 

Through data-driven tools and enhanced transparency, the company is strengthening its sustainability strategy whilst supporting customers in making more informed, environmentally conscious purchasing decisions. 

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UK Government commits £1bn to accelerate transport electrification

The UK Government’s recent £1bn commitment to transport electrification marks a significant step forward in the transition to net zero. This funding underlines the scale of ambition to decarbonise the transport sector and accelerate the adoption of zero emission vehicles.

Since December 2025, the UK Government and industry have been engaged in several significant consultations. At last count, EO Charging has responded to at least six, including ESA requirements for interoperability, tariff interoperability, licensing conditions for operators of large loads (>300MW), security, EV tax (eVED) and a ZEV mandate for electric HGVs.

This represents significant effort and clearly demonstrates that the current administration is serious about achieving its net zero objectives.

Why decarbonising transport is critical to the UK’s net zero targets

January’s HGV consultation highlights these key framing principles:

The Climate Change Act 2008 commits the UK to achieving economy-wide net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050, with the decarbonisation pathway marked by legally binding five-yearly carbon budgets. Accelerating to net zero offers huge opportunities for the UK. Domestic transport is the biggest contributor to the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), comprising 29% of emissions in 2023.

HGVs alone account for 16% of total transport emissions. By electrifying and therefore decarbonising the transport sector, the UK government has the opportunity to remove 30% of the country’s carbon output. This is a significant proportion of emissions and is entirely achievable with today’s technologies, the right policies and appropriate incentives.

Fleet electrification is already gaining momentum

Outside of these Government targets and incentives, UK commercial fleets (vans, trucks and HGVs) have already started to decarbonise.

Our research, conducted in collaboration with Vanson Bourne, surveyed over 300 fleet operators to understand the state of the market and found that what began as ambitious endeavours has now become a mainstream business strategy.

On average, more than half (53%) of organisations’ fleets are already electrified. This momentum is being driven by a powerful mix of factors, including financial savings, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) commitments, a favourable regulatory environment and the desire to build a more responsible reputation.

As a result, the vast majority (84%) of organisations are at least partially implementing a net zero transportation initiative, clear evidence that electrification is no longer just about meeting targets but about driving transformation.

The three stages of fleet electrification adoption

The report shows that decarbonisation and electrification efforts have started within the fleet sector and that there is now significant momentum.

Of course, not everyone has achieved full electrification, and all organisations are on a journey. As with any change management exercise, there are those who lead the way and have already electrified (who we call ‘the Pioneers’), those who are actively progressing (‘the Navigators’) and those who are still developing their plans (‘the Transformers’).

Key barriers to EV fleet adoption

Along this journey, organisations face a series of practical challenges.

The first major hurdle is bridging the operational gap when operating a commercial EV fleet, with high upfront costs cited by 42% of respondents, difficulties in integrating EVs with existing systems reported by 38% and limited availability of charging infrastructure (36%).

Two of these three challenges – high upfront costs and access to charging infrastructure – are directly tied to finances.

While traditional fleets also faced significant upfront purchase costs, their refuelling infrastructure was typically outsourced to fuel retail stations. In contrast, electrifying a fleet requires organisations to invest in both new vehicles (such as vans, trucks and HGVs) and the supporting charging infrastructure, creating a very different financial and operational model.

Total cost of ownership and the long-term business case for EV fleets

Despite these hurdles, many Pioneers and Navigators have looked beyond the initial costs, recognising that the overall total cost of ownership (TCO) of an electric fleet is, or will soon be, lower than a conventional ICE fleet.

Long-term planning has given fleet operators at every stage – whether a Pioneer, a Navigator or a Transformer – the confidence to move forward, demonstrating that electrification is not only operationally viable, but also financially advantageous.

How the UK’s new electrification grants support fleet transition

Against this backdrop, the recent £1bn funding commitment is particularly encouraging.

The Department for Transport has made available the following grants:

• £81,000 off the heaviest zero emission trucks, covering up to 40% of upfront cost.

• £1 million toward installing depot charging infrastructure for vans, coaches, and HGVs, covering up to 70% of costs.

These represent a substantial financial incentive. Reducing 40% of a vehicle cost or reducing the installation costs by £1 million (or up to 70%) is a significant bonus.

However, no two customers are the same, and every site has unique operational needs. As a result, it is not possible to state exactly how much these grants will reduce TCO. Careful analysis for each customer will be required to determine the impact, but these funds should strengthen the business case for electrification.

Why businesses must act quickly to secure EV funding

The grants are already live, and such funding often has a limited time span. Therefore, businesses must act quickly and apply now to maximise their benefit.

There are now two major funding schemes covering both the purchase of vehicles and installation of EV charging infrastructure, creating strong alignment between the key challenges fleet operators have highlighted (high vehicle costs and access to EV charging infrastructure) and the support now available.

A new era for zero-emission transport

This is a standout moment in collaboration between government and industry to decarbonise the transport sector. Trials are conducted, challenges are highlighted and practical solutions are delivered.

Surely, this marks the start of a golden era for electrification and decarbonisation as the transition from fossil fuels to zero emission vehicles continues to accelerate.

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Scaling fuel cell technology for heavy-duty applications

The collaboration will combine Daimler Truck and Volvo’s commercial vehicle expertise with Toyota’s fuel cell development, production technology and manufacturing experience. The partners aim to develop, produce and commercialise fuel cell systems for heavy-duty vehicles and other applications with comparable requirements.

Toyota and cellcentric also intend to jointly manage the development and production of fuel cell unit cells, the core component of fuel cell systems, along with related architecture and control elements.

Hydrogen as a key pathway to decarbonisation

Daimler Truck, Volvo and Toyota have positioned hydrogen as one of the key energy sources to decarbonise transport. Through cellcentric, the companies aim to advance technological innovation in fuel cell systems and contribute to the development of a hydrogen society.

The partners also plan to collaborate with industry associations and partners across the hydrogen value chain to support the development of hydrogen supply and infrastructure in its early stages.

Karin Rådström, President & CEO, Daimler Truck, said:

“We are proud that Toyota plans to join cellcentric as a shareholder. This will enable us to strengthen development and further scale hydrogen technology, which we believe complements battery-electric drives in decarbonising transport”.

Equal shareholding and joint venture structure

The three companies intend to collaborate based on an equal shareholding, with Toyota joining as the third partner in cellcentric. To achieve this structure, Toyota plans to participate in a capital increase in the joint venture.

Cellcentric will continue to operate as an independent and autonomous entity, serving customers across heavy-duty on- and off-road transport and stationary applications. Daimler Truck, Volvo and Toyota will continue to compete independently in all other areas of their respective businesses.

Collaboration across the hydrogen value chain

The agreement highlights the importance of collaboration in advancing hydrogen technologies. The companies intend to work with like-minded partners to share technological developments and address common challenges, with the aim of achieving sustainable and effective implementation of fuel cell systems for heavy-duty applications.

Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO, Volvo Group, said:

“We are thrilled to explore this collaboration with Toyota, so that we through cellcentric can accelerate and create critical mass for hydrogen applications. This is an important signal to customers, suppliers, and others in the ecosystem. Given the importance of accelerating the transformation into net-zero transportation, the need of great companies coming together and collaborating is more important than ever. Welcoming Toyota onboard will be a big leap towards realising decarbonisation of our industries.”

Leadership perspectives on fuel cell collaboration

Andreas Gorbach, Daimler Truck Board Member responsible for Truck Technology and former cellcentric CEO, said:

“Joining forces with the world’s largest automotive manufacturer and fuel cell pioneer is a privilege for us―and a game changer in making hydrogen in transportation a reality and cellcentric the go to place for fuel cell technology in commercial vehicles worldwide.”

Koji Sato, President and CEO, Toyota, said:

“We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to soon be joining Daimler Truck and Volvo Group as partners in building a hydrogen society. cellcentric which possess deep expertise in commercial fields together with Toyota’s over 30 years of fuel-cell development in the passenger car sector, can combine their strengths to deliver one of the world-leading fuel cell systems for heavy commercial vehicles. Toyota will continue to contribute to realising a hydrogen society alongside like-minded partners.”

Nicholas Loughlan, Managing Director and CTO, cellcentric, said:

“We are extremely proud that Toyota intends to join as a shareholder of cellcentric―a great sign of trust in our company from one of the world’s leading automotive companies. Together, in this new set-up, we look forward to seizing the opportunity to significantly improve our company across the entire value chain.”

Next steps for the agreement

The agreement is non-binding, and the parties will continue discussions with the aim of reaching a legally binding agreement. Any final agreement will be subject to approval by relevant boards and regulatory authorities.

The collaboration also aims to contribute to the long-term vision of the European Green Deal objectives and the hydrogen society act in Japan, supporting the wider deployment of fuel cell systems in heavy-duty transport.

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Real-world electric freight deployment

The report highlights the growing commercial viability of electric freight vehicles and draws on operational data gathered from UK logistics fleets participating in the Electric Freightway project.

Electric Freightway is part of the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme (ZEHID), funded by the UK Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.

The programme brings together more than 30 industry partners, led by GRIDSERVE, to accelerate the adoption of electric trucks and the development of charging infrastructure.

To date, the initiative has deployed eHGVs across 25 hauliers operating on UK logistics routes, collectively covering more than two million zero-emission kilometres. The real-world trials have generated operational insights into vehicle performance, charging requirements and fleet integration.

Building the business case for electric freight

The fourth Electric Freightway report also explores the financial case for electrifying freight fleets. According to the findings, electric HGVs could reach cost parity with diesel vehicles in certain operating conditions, particularly where fleets operate high annual mileage and optimise charging between depot and en-route infrastructure.

Operational experience from participating fleets also indicates growing driver confidence, with many drivers reporting positive feedback on vehicle performance and drivability once they gain hands-on experience with electric trucks.

Nick Day, Director of Distribution, UK at ADM Milling, said:

“As a business, we are constantly seeking more sustainable solutions to service our customers’ needs and have been exploring ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions in our manufacturing processes for many years now.

“Using electric trucks was the natural next step in this process and so we started engaging with a third-party haulier to introduce electric trucks and charging solutions into our fleet and then expanded this capability through the ZEHID scheme.

“While we still have more work to do to fully embed eHGVs within our operation, we are encouraged by the progress we’ve made so far and the ZEHID project has been a great opportunity for us to gain hands-on experience operating them.”

Industry collaboration driving freight decarbonisation

The project also highlights the role of collaboration between logistics operators, infrastructure providers and technology companies in accelerating the transition to zero-emission freight transport.

Leon Clarke, Head of Operations and Delivery at Hitachi ZeroCarbon, said:

“Electric Freightway demonstrates what can be achieved when industry partners come together with a shared ambition to decarbonise road freight.

The collaboration between hauliers, infrastructure providers and technology specialists has been key to getting electric trucks on the road and generating real-world insights that will help the industry achieve its long-term net zero goals.”

Next phase: scaling zero-emission freight

With the initial deployment phase complete and electric trucks now operating across multiple fleets, the Electric Freightway programme will move into its next phase of development.

This stage will focus on collecting long-term operational data, refining charging strategies and supporting the wider transition to zero-emission freight transport.

Mike Biddle, Executive Director Net Zero at Innovate UK said: 

“Electric Freightway, led by GRIDSERVE in collaboration with principal partner Hitachi ZeroCarbon, has been instrumental in supporting the early efforts towards UK road freight decarbonisation, facilitated through the UK government’s Zero Emission HGV & Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.

This report reflects on the project’s extensive findings as it moves beyond the earlier deployment efforts into large scale data collection in real world operations for the next five years.”

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Developing new materials for circular design

Among the materials developed by the company are Original Blended Material, a paper-based material made from bamboo, sugarcane fibres and recycled paper, and Triporous, a porous carbon material produced from rice husks. Together, these materials form part of Sony’s efforts to reduce environmental impact through its long-term environmental plan, Road to Zero environmental plan, which aims to achieve a zero environmental footprint by FY2050.

Sony’s material innovation programme focuses on developing alternatives that make more effective use of renewable or recycled resources while enabling new design possibilities.

What is Sony’s Original Blended Material?

Original Blended Material was initially developed for use in product packaging. By combining bamboo, sugarcane fibres and recycled paper, the material delivers a paper-based solution designed to support effective material circulation. Its use has expanded beyond packaging to include applications such as business cards and exhibition fixtures across Sony Group companies.

The material can also be moulded into different forms by adjusting the size and structure of its fibres. This allows it to be processed into compressed boards through heat pressing or formed into cord-like structures by thinning the fibres. In some applications, Sony has incorporated a plant-based binder derived from corn stalks and wheat straw to reinforce its environmentally conscious design.

The material is made by blending bamboo, sugarcane fibres and post-consumer recycled paper, creating a durable and recyclable paper material that can be moulded to suit a wide range of packaging formats. The use of rapidly renewable plants such as bamboo and sugarcane helps reduce reliance on traditional wood pulp and supports more sustainable resource use.

By combining recycled fibres with longer plant fibres, Sony has developed a material that maintains structural strength while enabling versatile packaging designs. The approach also helps reduce plastic use and encourages more effective recycling by using a single paper material across different packaging components.

What are the key uses and benefits of Original Blended Material?

• Plastic-free packaging alternative – designed to reduce reliance on petroleum-derived plastics in product packaging.
• Made from renewable and recycled resources – combines bamboo, sugarcane fibres and post-consumer recycled paper.
• Supports material circulation – using one paper material across packaging components simplifies recycling and material recovery.
• Versatile and mouldable – can be formed into many packaging elements including outer boxes, inner boxes, cushions, sleeves and protective sheets.
• Lower resource impact – uses fast-growing plants such as bamboo and sugarcane rather than relying only on wood-based pulp.
• Reduced ink and colouring needs – text and logos can be embossed directly into the material.

Triporous turns agricultural waste into functional carbon material

Sony has also developed Triporous, a naturally derived porous carbon material created from rice husks.

Rice husks are produced in large quantities as agricultural by-products. Japan alone generates around two million tonnes annually, while global production is estimated to exceed 100 million tonnes each year. By converting this biomass into Triporous, Sony aims to support the transition towards a more recycling-oriented society.

The material’s patented microstructure enables a range of potential applications, including water purification and air purification, highlighting its potential as a functional sustainability material.

Because of these properties, the material is being explored for a wide range of applications, from water purification and air filtration systems to products in sectors such as textiles, food, cosmetics and electronics. Sony is also licensing the technology so other companies can integrate Triporous into their own products and environmental solutions.

Potential applications of Triporous

• Water purification systems capable of removing pollutants, viruses and bacteria.
• Air purification and deodorisation, helping adsorb industrial gases, odours and pollutants such as particulate matter.
• Environmental cleaning filters for wastewater treatment and other industrial applications.
• Textiles and apparel, including fibres designed to absorb odour molecules in clothing.
• Product applications across multiple industries, including cosmetics, electronics and consumer goods.

Design as a platform for sustainable materials

Sony’s Creative Center continues to explore how design can help unlock new value from these materials and broaden their potential applications.

“At Sony, design stands on the philosophy to “Create New Standards”. We envision new paradigms, give meaning to ideas, and engage globally — a process that resonates with a diversity of values, bringing new standards, or the future, into being,” says Daisuke Ishii, Head of Creative Center, Sony Group Corporation. “With ESQUISSE, we explore the hidden potential within materials and connect them with diverse disciplines, seeking to create new experiences that resonate emotionally while contributing to a more sustainable world.”

Milan Design Week installation explores future materials

Sony will showcase these materials at Milan Design Week 2026 through an installation titled ESQUISSE – A dialogue with materials for the future, presented as part of the FuoriSalone 2026 – INTERNI MATERIAE exhibition.

Hosted at the University of Milan from 20–30 April 2026, the installation explores how materials can connect different disciplines and creative practices.

The exhibition will feature furniture and spatial elements made from Original Blended Material, alongside cushions and rugs created using Triporous. The installation aims to highlight the tactile and expressive potential of these materials while exploring new applications beyond their current uses.

Collaborative pieces designed by Milan-based designers Setsu Ito and Shinobu Ito will also be included, reflecting the multidisciplinary dialogue around materials, design and sustainability.

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STRONGER TOGETHER

The report captures a defining shift in how the continent’s mining sector is approaching growth – with sustainability, collaboration, and long-term value creation firmly at its core.

In line with this year’s theme ‘Stronger together: Progress through partnerships’, Mining Indaba 2026 moved decisively beyond dialogue, positioning collaboration as the central mechanism for delivering meaningful and measurable outcomes across the industry.

With more than 12,000 delegates in attendance, the event’s scale reflected rising global interest in Africa’s mineral potential.

Yet, as the report emphasises, the true significance lies not in the numbers, but in the depth and intent of engagement across stakeholders.

FROM CONVERSATION TO COORDINATED ACTION

A central takeaway from the report is the industry’s transition from high-level discussion to practical implementation.

Across ministerial forums, investment sessions, and technical dialogues, stakeholders demonstrated a shared commitment to turning ambition into delivery.

Mining is increasingly being positioned not as an isolated activity, but as a catalyst for broader economic transformation.

This requires alignment between governments, mining companies, investors, and communities – a theme that resonated strongly throughout the event.

Rather than relying on one-off agreements, the report highlights a growing emphasis on long-term partnerships grounded in trust, transparency, and shared responsibility. These relationships are essential to ensuring that mining projects deliver sustainable outcomes well beyond their operational lifespan.

SUSTAINABILITY AT THE CORE

The report underscores how sustainability has become fully embedded within the mining agenda.

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations are no longer treated as separate from business performance – they are fundamental to it.

From reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency to strengthening community engagement and responsible sourcing, mining companies are increasingly aligning operational strategies with global sustainability goals.

This integration is not only critical for meeting regulatory and societal expectations but also for enhancing efficiency and resilience.

The report also highlights a growing industry focus on achieving zero-waste and low-emission operations, particularly as demand for critical minerals accelerates in support of the global energy transition.

THE RISE OF ECOSYSTEM THINKING

One of the most significant insights from Investing in Mining Indaba 2026 is the shift from project-based approaches to ecosystem-driven development.

The report outlines how mining projects are being reimagined as anchor assets within broader industrial ecosystems.

When integrated effectively, they can unlock investment in infrastructure, stimulate local supply chains, and enable downstream processing and manufacturing.

This approach is exemplified by the launch of the Compendium of Africa’s Strategic Minerals, which reframes the continent’s mineral wealth through an Africa-centred lens. By linking resources to infrastructure, policy, and capital, the initiative provides a roadmap for translating natural endowment into sustainable economic transformation.

BENEFICATION AND THE JUST ENERGY TRANSITION

As global demand for critical minerals intensifies, the report reinforces Africa’s strategic importance in the energy transition.

However, it also highlights a clear shift in priorities – from exporting raw materials to capturing greater value within the continent.

Beneficiation and local processing are increasingly seen as essential to building resilient, diversified economies.

By developing regional value chains and industrial capabilities, African nations can strengthen their position in global markets while driving inclusive growth.

At the same time, the report stresses the importance of a just transition. Ensuring that local communities benefit from mining activities – through jobs, infrastructure, and social development – remains central to the sector’s long-term sustainability.

TECHNOLOGY, SKILLS, AND THE FUTURE WORKFORCE

Mining Indaba 2026 also placed strong emphasis on the role of technology in shaping the industry’s future.

Advances in digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and automation are enabling more efficient, safer, and lower-impact operations.

However, the report makes clear that technology alone is not enough. Realising its full potential requires investment in people – from upskilling existing workers to preparing the next generation of mining professionals.

Initiatives such as the Young Professionals Programme – which is run by Mining Indaba in collaboration with key partners – reflect a broader commitment to building a diverse, inclusive, and future-ready workforce.

Gender inclusion and youth engagement are increasingly recognised as critical drivers of innovation and sustainable growth.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE AS ENABLERS

Whilst the opportunities are significant, the report highlights the structural challenges that must be addressed to unlock Africa’s full mining potential.

Infrastructure – particularly in energy, transport, and logistics – remains a key constraint. Strategic investment in these areas will be essential to enabling large-scale industrial development.

Equally, strong governance is identified as a competitive advantage. Transparent regulatory frameworks, policy certainty, and institutional capacity are critical to attracting investment and sustaining long-term partnerships.

Encouragingly, many governments used Mining Indaba 2026 to present concrete reform agendas and investment-ready projects, signalling a shift from policy ambition to execution.

A DEFINING MOMENT FOR AFRICAN MINING

As outlined in the newly released report, Mining Indaba 2026 represents a turning point for the African mining sector. The conversation has evolved beyond extraction toward building integrated, sustainable, and resilient economic systems.

Partnerships are no longer a supporting theme – they are the foundation of progress. By aligning stakeholders, embedding sustainability into operations, and focusing on long-term value creation, the industry is laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and durable future.

The message is clear – Africa’s mineral wealth holds immense potential, but its true value will be defined by how it is developed, shared, and sustained for generations to come.

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A growing offshore wind UK order book

The proposed facility represents a capital investment of more than €250m and would produce nacelles and hubs for the company’s V236-15.0 MW offshore wind turbine. The investment could create up to 500 skilled direct jobs, while supporting additional employment across the wider supply chain.

The announcement follows record-breaking AR7 auction results in January 2026, a growing offshore wind order book for Vestas in the UK, and strategic discussions between the UK Government, the Scottish Government and Vestas on developing and co-investing in the facility.

Investment linked to UK offshore wind auctions

Vestas said the final investment decision will depend on securing sufficient UK-based orders through the AR7 and AR8 auctions.

Subject to the timing of those results and the planning process, the facility could start production by 2029/2030. Plans also include identifying opportunities to co-locate sub-suppliers producing other major turbine components.

“The UK government has made a big statement with AR7, showcasing how wind energy creates a positive impact on energy security, sustainability, and affordability for end consumers. We welcome the UK and Scottish governments’ dedication to fostering a competitive offshore wind market and look forward to working together to progress our co-investment plans”, said Henrik Andersen, CEO Vestas.

“Establishing a nacelle and hub assembly factory in Scotland would create hundreds of local jobs and support further jobs across the wider supply chain, delivering long-lasting economic benefits to the region.”

Government support for clean energy investment

The proposed facility is intended to support the UK’s clean power ambitions and energy security, with government leaders highlighting the role of offshore wind in driving investment and employment.

“The Government’s clean energy mission is delivering good industrial jobs for Scottish workers-boosting growth as part of our drive to give the UK energy security,” said UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.

“This is happening because of the Government’s record-breaking offshore wind auction and the confidence our mission has given industry to invest in Scotland. We will not stop in driving to create many more jobs like these for Scotland and the UK.”

Strengthening Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain

 “Vestas’s proposal to develop a hub and nacelle factory in Scotland, with the potential to support hundreds of jobs, speaks to the huge potential of the Scottish offshore wind sector and our attractiveness as an investment destination,” said Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister and Economy Secretary.

“Scottish Ministers have engaged closely with Vestas since 2021, and we look forward to continuing to work with the company and delivery partners to develop our offshore wind supply chain and deliver long-term economic benefits for our communities.”

Vestas said the potential factory would become its fifth factory in Europe dedicated solely to the manufacturing of offshore wind turbine nacelles and blades, reflecting its approach of investing where a strong and visible pipeline can support a competitive and sustainable business case.

200 GW milestone reached

​In mid-December 2025, Vestas reached 200 GW of installed wind turbines globally with the installation of a V172-7.2 MW turbine at German energy investor and developer ENOVAs 65 MW Meppen repowering project in Germany.  

Achieving 200 GW of installed wind turbines is both a testament to Vestas’ position within wind energy solutions and the scale at which renewables is growing in the global energy system.

Vestas was also the first to reach 100 GW of installed wind turbines in 2018. A milestone that was four decades in the making, and in contrast the subsequent 100 GW have been installed in less than seven years, underlining wind energy competitiveness, scale and fast deployment.  

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Flexible plastic packaging driving global pollution

The report has been endorsed by 47 businesses, NGOs, investors and academics, all supporting efforts to accelerate innovation in paper-based flexible packaging solutions.

Flexible plastics — including sachets, wrappers and pouches — are the fastest-growing type of plastic packaging worldwide. According to the report, these materials represent a major source of pollution in regions with limited waste management infrastructure.

In countries with low formal collection and recycling systems, flexibles make up around 80% of the plastic packaging that ends up in oceans. The report notes that small-format flexible packaging is widely used for everyday products ranging from snacks and shampoo to coffee and milk.

The Foundation warns that, without intervention, an estimated 20 trillion flexible plastic packaging items could enter the oceans over the next 15 years.

The potential role of paper-based alternatives

The report — titled Paper-Based Flexible Packaging – The role it could play in tackling small-format flexible plastic pollution in markets with high leakage rates — suggests paper could provide an alternative to plastic in certain applications.

Paper-based packaging can potentially be designed to be both recyclable and biodegradable. In markets where flexible packaging frequently escapes into the environment, these materials could reduce persistent plastic pollution while still allowing recycling once collection systems improve.

The research highlights that this approach could be particularly relevant in countries such as India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, where packaging leakage rates are high.

Safeguards needed to ensure environmental benefits

Despite its potential, the report warns that paper packaging must be carefully designed and sourced to avoid creating new environmental problems.

To address this, the report outlines six criteria for responsible paper-based flexible packaging:

• Responsibly sourced to avoid contributing to forest degradation.
• Responsibly produced to minimise pressure on climate and water resources.
• Meets technical, economic, and consumer needs to be viable in practice.
• Recyclable locally and supported by efforts to scale up collection infrastructure.
• Avoids hazardous chemicals and persistent plastic pollution. 
• Fits within a broader, socially inclusive circular economy strategy.

Sander Defruyt, Plastics Strategy Lead at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said:

“Flexible plastic packaging pollution is a systemic challenge – with an estimated 20 trillion items expected to enter our oceans over the next 15 years. There’s no silver bullet, therefore adding paper-based alternatives to the mix helpfully expands the toolbox, complementing other priority solutions such as reusable packaging.

“This will require major innovation and action from industry and policymakers to speed up development and scaling, guided by the six critical criteria in this report to ensure we don’t replace one problem with another.”

While innovation is progressing, the Foundation notes that paper-based flexible packaging solutions are not yet available at the scale, cost or performance levels required for widespread adoption.

Launched in 2010, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is an international charity accelerating the transition to a circular economy – one that is globally resilient and thrives within planetary boundaries. 

Businesses explore next-generation packaging solutions

Major consumer goods companies are already exploring paper-based packaging technologies.

Pablo Costa, Global Head of Packaging, Digital & Transformation at Unilever, said:

“Next-generation paper-based flexible packaging is a key focus for Unilever and an industry-wide priority.

“This report is clear on the important role paper will play and what it will take to scale solutions that are desirable for consumers, better for the environment, and viable for businesses.”

Allison Lin, Global VP Healthy Planet at Mars said:

“Well-designed, responsibly-sourced paper, as laid out in this report, is one of the viable solutions against plastic pollution.

However, we need more innovation to broaden the scale and applications of paper-based packaging, including coating and adhesive technologies. We hope this report highlights the need for additional investments and innovation into this space, as well as the necessary guardrails.”

Gilles Demaurex, Head of Global Packaging Development at Nestle said:

“Nestlé believes paper-based flexible packaging can play a valuable role in addressing virgin plastic reduction and minimizing flexible packaging waste and pollution.

This report provides stakeholders with a much‑needed common vision and a clear set of criteria to ensure that paper‑based flexible packaging solutions are developed and deployed responsibly. We call on the entire value chain and policymakers to join us in taking action to accelerate innovation aligned with these criteria, while prioritizing collection and recycling systems for all packaging.”

David V Allen, Vice President Sustainable Packaging at Pepsico said:

“Business, governments, financial institutions and civil society all have a role to play to continue to drive packaging circularity.

We hope this report helps align all stakeholders behind a common vision and set of critical criteria to responsibly advance paper-based flexibles as one of the possible levers to support circularity.”

Research highlights need for innovation and collaboration

Experts say innovation across materials, design and supply chains will be needed to make paper-based flexibles viable.

Gaurav Goel, Professor at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, said:

“This report, backed by evidence and stakeholder input, sets the initial canvas on challenges and critical conditions to turn the promise of paper flexibles into a scalable reality.

“It strongly emphasises the need to combine judicious material choice and radical material innovation with deep collaboration and data-driven assessment for engineering packaging solutions that protect the product and the planet.”

Erin Simon, Vice President and Head, Plastic Waste and Business WWF said:

“Small-format flexible packaging is a significant contributor to plastic pollution, particularly in high leakage markets, making it one of the most pressing challenges we face.

Material substitution has an important role to play in addressing this crisis, but it must be applied thoughtfully — alongside elimination and reuse solutions — to avoid unintended trade-offs. This report provides the much needed guardrails and practical guidance to ensure that any transition to paper-based packaging is pursued responsibly and delivers real environmental and social benefits.”

Paper packaging part of a broader circular economy strategy

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation stresses that paper alternatives represent only one part of a broader strategy to tackle plastic pollution.

Its research prioritises reducing reliance on small-format flexible packaging overall, including scaling reuse models alongside material innovation.

The new report forms part of the Foundation’s wider 2030 Plastics Agenda for Business, which identifies small-format flexible packaging as one of the key systemic barriers to achieving a circular economy for plastics.

How supply chains play a key role in paper based packaging

The report highlights that transitioning to paper-based flexible packaging is not simply a material substitution but a supply chain transformation requiring end-to-end coordination.

From responsibly sourced fibre and certified forestry inputs to converters, brands and retailers, every stage must align to ensure sustainability gains are realised.

The findings also point to significant downstream challenges, particularly the lack of collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure needed to handle paper-based flexibles at scale.

Without these systems, material innovation risks shifting environmental impacts upstream rather than reducing them.

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How Nike turns textile waste into performance fabric

Nike has unveiled its new federation football kits featuring Aero-FIT, a performance cooling technology that also marks the company’s first elite apparel made from 100% textile waste through textile-to-textile recycling.

The innovation is designed to help athletes cope with hotter playing conditions while reducing the environmental footprint of performance apparel.

Traditionally, recycled sportswear polyester has been made largely from plastic bottles. Nike’s new process instead uses advanced chemical recycling to transform discarded textiles into high-performance recycled polyester yarn comparable to virgin material.

This shift moves the industry closer to a circular textile system—where old garments become raw material for new ones—rather than relying on fossil-fuel-derived plastics.

The material will debut globally in national team kits worn by Nike-sponsored federations during the tournament.

The move could help demonstrate the viability of circular textiles in high-performance apparel, a sector where durability, breathability and moisture management have historically limited the use of recycled materials.

Designed for a hotter game

The sustainability milestone is paired with a performance innovation. Aero-FIT fabrics are engineered to move air between the skin and garment, helping athletes regulate body temperature in increasingly hot and humid conditions.

The knit fabric combines open and closed mesh zones that channel airflow across the body and slightly lift the fabric away from the skin. According to Nike, the material allows more than twice the airflow of previous fabrics, helping sweat evaporate more efficiently during play.

“Nike exists to make athletes better, and our breakthrough Aero-FIT technology delivers the future of our industry-defining apparel innovation in both elite performance and sustainability at scale,” said Janett Nichol, Vice President of Apparel and Advanced Digital Creation Studio Innovation at Nike.

Designers used heat mapping and motion data to determine where ventilation zones should be placed across the jersey, ensuring cooling benefits without compromising mobility or durability.

Climate adaptation meets circular design

The technology reflects the dual pressures facing sportswear brands: climate change and textile waste. Rising temperatures and humidity are increasingly affecting athletic performance, while the fashion industry remains one of the world’s most resource-intensive sectors.

“Our national team kits start with the athletes who wear them and the fans who stand behind them,” said Amy Montagne, President of Nike. “These kits bring the best of Nike together with an apparel innovation designed to remove climate as a variable for athletes.”

By combining circular materials with climate-adaptive design, Nike is attempting to address both challenges simultaneously.

A proving ground for circular sportswear

The 2026 tournament provides a powerful testing ground. Elite athletes will wear the kits under intense conditions, offering a real-world demonstration of whether textile-to-textile recycling can match the performance of traditional fabrics.

If successful, the approach could influence broader adoption of circular materials across the sportswear industry. High-profile sporting events often accelerate innovation cycles, turning niche technologies into mainstream standards.

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DELIVERING ON PEP+ WATER GOALS

In the lead-up to World Water Day – which took place last Sunday 22^nd March – PepsiCo, Inc. (PepsiCo) announced the successful achievement of two of its 2025 PepsiCo Positive (pep+) water goals.

The company has replenished 100 percent of the water used at all company-owned facilities located in high water-risk watersheds, restoring an equivalent amount – or more – back into natural water resources through conservation, infrastructure, and agricultural initiatives.

Alongside this, PepsiCo has fully adopted the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard across all its high water-risk manufacturing sites globally, providing a recognised framework to measure, manage, and improve water use and its wider impacts.

RESTORING WATERSHEDS WORLDWIDE

PepsiCo’s progress has been driven by more than 60 active, locally led, community-centred projects aimed at improving watershed health and resilience.

In 2025 alone, these initiatives helped replenish nearly 29 billion litres of water back into local environments, supporting ecosystems, strengthening communities, and advancing sustainable water management practices.

Key projects include the Windy Gap Connectivity Project in Colorado, US, which restores river flow and biodiversity, and an agroforestry initiative in the Dominican Republic that supports farmers in reducing erosion and improving groundwater conditions.

Additional efforts span Egypt’s Nile watershed, where programmes enhance agricultural resilience, Spain’s Segura River restoration, and irrigation efficiency projects across Türkiye, helping farmers transition to modern drip systems.

IMPLEMENTING THE AWS STANDARD

Since joining AWS in 2018, PepsiCo has worked to embed the AWS Standard across all high-water-risk manufacturing facilities.

This has involved cross-functional teams identifying local water challenges and implementing site-specific stewardship practices to ensure responsible and sustainable water use.

BUILDING TOWARDS 2030 AMBITIONS

These milestones represent a key step in PepsiCo’s broader pep+ strategy, supporting wider goals around climate resilience and regenerative agriculture. Both achievements have been independently assured by a third party.

Looking ahead, the company will build on this progress through its 2030 ambitions, including expanding water-replenishment efforts across its franchise bottlers, improving water-use efficiency, and providing safe water access to 100 million people. PepsiCo will report further progress against these targets in the year ahead.

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Rapid change affecting global economies

The Earth’s climate is becoming increasingly unstable as greenhouse gas concentrations continue to drive warming across the atmosphere and oceans, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The organisation’s State of the Global Climate 2025 report shows that the past eleven years have been the warmest on record, with 2025 ranking as the second or third hottest year globally.

The report highlights rapid changes to the climate system, including rising ocean heat content, melting ice and increasing sea levels, alongside escalating extreme weather events affecting communities, economies and infrastructure worldwide.

Record temperatures and climate indicators

According to WMO, the period from 2015 to 2025 represents the eleven warmest years on record. The globally averaged temperature in 2025 was about 1.43°C above the 1850–1900 pre-industrial average.

Extreme weather events—including heatwaves, heavy rainfall and tropical cyclones—caused widespread disruption during the year, demonstrating the vulnerability of interconnected economies and societies.

“The State of the Global Climate is in a state of emergency. Planet Earth is being pushed beyond its limits. Every key climate indicator is flashing red,” said António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

“Humanity has just endured the eleven hottest years on record. When history repeats itself eleven times, it is no longer a coincidence. It is a call to act.”

Earth’s energy imbalance reaches record levels

For the first time, WMO’s flagship climate report includes Earth’s energy imbalance as a key climate indicator.

The measure tracks the difference between energy entering the Earth system from the sun and energy leaving the planet. Under a stable climate these levels are roughly equal, but rising greenhouse gas concentrations have disrupted this balance.

Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide concentrations have reached their highest levels in at least 800,000 years, driving a growing imbalance that reached a new high in 2025.

“Scientific advances have improved our understanding of the Earth’s energy imbalance and of the reality facing our planet and our climate right now,” said Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization.

“Human activities are increasingly disrupting the natural equilibrium and we will live with these consequences for hundreds and thousands of years.”

How oceans absorb heat

The report shows that the oceans continue to absorb the majority of the planet’s excess heat. More than 91% of excess heat is stored in the ocean, helping to buffer temperature increases on land.

Ocean heat content reached a new record in 2025, and the rate of warming has more than doubled between the periods 1960–2005 and 2005–2025.

Over the past two decades, the ocean has absorbed heat equivalent to around eighteen times the annual human energy use each year.

Despite La Niña conditions, around 90% of the ocean surface area experienced at least one marine heatwave in 2025, according to the report.

Melting ice and rising sea levels

Melting ice sheets and glaciers continue to contribute to rising sea levels.

Both Antarctica and Greenland have lost significant ice mass, while Arctic sea ice reached either the lowest or second lowest annual average extent since satellite records began in 1979.

Glacier loss also accelerated, with exceptional levels recorded in Iceland and along the Pacific coast of North America in 2025.

Global mean sea level in 2025 was comparable to the record highs recorded in 2024 and now sits around 11 cm higher than at the start of the satellite altimetry record in 1993.

Ocean warming and melting ice are expected to drive sea-level rise for centuries.

Climate impacts on economies and communities

Extreme weather events in 2025—including heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, storms and flooding—caused thousands of deaths, affected millions of people and generated billions in economic losses.

“On a day-to-day basis, our weather has become more extreme. In 2025, heatwaves, wildfires, drought, tropical cyclones, storms and flooding caused thousands of deaths, impacted millions of people and caused billions in economic losses,” adds Celeste Saulo.

The report also notes that climate stress can have cascading impacts on food security, migration and economic stability.

“In this age of war, climate stress is also exposing another truth: our addiction to fossil fuels is destabilizing both the climate and global security. Today’s report should come with a warning label: climate chaos is accelerating and delay is deadly,” continues António Guterres.

Climate data and decision-making

The report is intended to support decision-making by governments, businesses and institutions and is based on scientific contributions from national meteorological services, WMO regional climate centres, United Nations partners and dozens of experts.

“WMO’s State of the Global Climate report seeks to inform decision-making. It is in keeping with the theme of World Meteorological Day because when we observe today, we don’t just predict the weather, we protect tomorrow. Tomorrow’s people. Tomorrow’s planet,” said Celeste Saulo.

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Operational impact through optimisation

The airline will become the first carrier to receive the new seats, which are manufactured by Mirus Aircraft Seating. The agreement covers easyJet’s future Airbus A320neo and A321neo deliveries as part of its order of 237 aircraft.

The seat upgrade forms part of easyJet’s broader strategy to reduce operational impact through fleet modernisation, lightweight engineering and operational efficiency measures.

Sustainability gains from lightweight aircraft design

The new Kestrel economy seat is more than 20% lighter than the seats currently used by easyJet. Its advanced lightweight structure can deliver a weight saving of up to 500kg per aircraft on larger models in the fleet.

These reductions are expected to generate annual fuel savings of more than 12,936 tonnes, equivalent to over 40,513 tonnes of CO₂.

Designed specifically for short- to medium-haul operations, the seat provides improved passenger space and comfort while contributing to reduced aircraft weight and fuel consumption.

David Morgan, Chief Operating Officer at easyJet, said:

“We are delighted to be introducing the Mirus Kestrel seat across our future fleet. This investment supports our continued focus on making our operations as efficient as possible, capitalising on small incremental gains that result in meaningful reductions in fuel burn and Co2 emissions.

On top of the sustainability benefits, the additional legroom and enhanced comfort these seats will provide will also deliver an improved onboard experience for our customers which we know they’ll love.”

Circular materials and longer lifecycle design

The Kestrel seats have been designed with sustainability and lifecycle performance in mind.

A simplified structure and low part count reduce maintenance requirements while supporting durability during long-term service. At the end of life, the seat is approximately 98% recyclable, supporting circularity and reducing waste.

Testing and development were carried out at Mirus Aircraft Seating’s UK-based MTEST facility, one of the largest commercial testing centres of its kind. Using this facility helps reduce time, cost and carbon emissions by removing the need to transport seats for external certification.

Ben McGuire, Chief Executive Officer, Mirus, said:

“Mirus is incredibly proud that easyJet, the UK’s largest airline and one of the world’s leading carriers, has placed its trust in us for what represents one of the largest single-model aircraft seat awards ever. This landmark agreement marks a defining moment for Mirus and reflects our shared commitment to enhancing passenger experience and comfort, while delivering sustainability and significant operational cost savings through reduced fuel burn and CO₂ emissions.”

Efficiency upgrades across easyJet’s fleet strategy

The seat programme is one of several engineering and operational initiatives designed to reduce aircraft weight and emissions.

easyJet recently introduced a lower-weight paint system across its fleet and has removed heavy paper flight manuals by digitising them, both of which contribute to lower fuel burn.

The airline says it continues to analyse every component of aircraft operations to achieve incremental weight savings that reduce emissions.

Fleet renewal supporting lower emissions

A key part of easyJet’s sustainability strategy is the transition to the Airbus NEO family of aircraft.

More than a quarter of the airline’s fleet is already made up of A320neo and A321neo aircraft. These newer aircraft deliver at least 13% greater efficiency and reduce noise by 50%.

The airline is gradually replacing older A319 and A320ceo aircraft with the newer models to further improve efficiency and reduce emissions.

Engineering initiatives to reduce fuel burn

easyJet is also deploying several operational initiatives designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

These include installing sharklets on A320ceo aircraft by summer 2026 to reduce drag, delivering annual savings of around 308 tonnes of fuel and 970 tonnes of CO₂ per aircraft.

The airline is also implementing taxi management optimisation, combining single-engine taxiing with improved taxi-time calculations to reduce unnecessary fuel load and weight.

Additional measures include the rollout of lighter aircraft paints, expected to deliver fuel savings of 1,296 tonnes and CO₂ reductions of 4,095 tonnes once implemented across the fleet by 2030.

Other initiatives include reducing auxiliary power unit usage through pre-conditioned air units at Milan Malpensa Airport and deploying Airbus FANS-C navigation software across its A320neo and A321neo fleet to improve route planning and reduce congestion, fuel burn and delays.

From 2026, the airline will also introduce SpaceFlex cabin upgrades on a number of its 180-seat A320ceo aircraft. The configuration allows an additional row of seats without reducing passenger comfort, helping reduce easyJet’s carbon intensity per passenger.

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Breaking down barriers to electrification

UK businesses are being offered this funding to accelerate the rollout of electric vans and trucks while expanding depot charging infrastructure. The initiative is designed to cut costs, support jobs, and reduce emissions across the logistics sector.

The funding is delivered through the Zero Emissions Truck and Van grants and the Depot Charging Scheme (DCS), addressing two major barriers to electrification: upfront vehicle costs and access to charging.

Investment: Reducing costs for UK businesses

Heavy zero-emission trucks can receive up to £81,000 in grants, covering up to 40% of the vehicle cost. Electric vans are eligible for up to £5,000 in savings.

Businesses and public authorities could also save up to £1 million when installing chargers for vans, coaches, and electric HGVs, with the government covering up to 70% of costs through the £170 million Depot Charging Scheme.

Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather said:

“This £1 billion investment cuts cost for British businesses, supports jobs, cleans up our roads, and gives operators protection against shifting global fuel prices. The logistics sector is the backbone of the UK economy, worth £170 billion and supporting 2.7 million jobs. We’re helping them expand and decarbonise their fleets whilst saving them cash, driving growth up and down the country.”

Technology: Expanding Electric Fleet Capabilities

The funding supports adoption of electric vehicles and rapid charging infrastructure. Companies such as Wren Kitchens and Bedrooms have introduced 44-tonne e-trucks alongside charging facilities.

Lee Holmes, Transport and Logistics Director at Wren Kitchens and Bedrooms, said:

“Government investment gives businesses like Wren the confidence to accelerate fleet decarbonisation while maintaining operational stability, even in periods of economic uncertainty. With this support, we’ve brought a number of 44-tonne e-trucks into our fleet alongside a rapid charging infrastructure, reducing our reliance on traditional fuels and strengthening resilience and reliability against ongoing market volatility.”

Julian Bailey, Head of Group Transport at M&S, added:

“In 2021, we set ourselves the ambitious target of becoming a net zero business across our value chain by 2040. Since then, we’ve made some great progress, which includes the onboarding of 24 battery electric vehicles across our transport fleet. We welcome this investment which serves as a reminder of the importance of the logistics sector in the UK and its role in decarbonisation.”

What are the Zero Emissions Truck and Van grants?

The Zero Emissions Truck and Van grants reduce the upfront cost of electric vehicles:

• Truck grant: Up to £81,000 off the heaviest zero-emission trucks (up to 40% of the cost)
• Van grant: Up to £5,000 off electric vans

These grants tackle one of the biggest barriers to fleet electrification: the high initial cost of vehicles.

What is the UK Depot Charging Scheme (DCS)?

The Depot Charging Scheme (DCS) helps businesses and public authorities install charging infrastructure for vans, coaches, and electric HGVs. Funding covers up to 70% of costs, supported by a £170 million government investment.

Toby Poston, Chief Executive of the BVRLA, said:

“The Depot Charging Scheme is playing a vital role in helping fleet operators and rental companies to install affordable, reliable charging infrastructure at their depots. The vehicle rental sector faces one of the most challenging paths to decarbonisation, and this additional support for depot charging will play a major role in building confidence. It will encourage more rental operators – particularly SMEs – to electrify at scale, reduce costs, and contribute to the UK’s net zero goals.”

Industry Impact: Driving growth and jobs

The funding follows an £18 million uplift in January to further reduce costs for green lorries. Companies such as M&S and Wren Kitchens and Bedrooms have leveraged these grants to decarbonise fleets and reduce operational costs.

The government also supports wider EV adoption through the Electric Car Grant, which has helped over 80,000 drivers save up to £3,750. Over £600 million is being invested to expand charging infrastructure, building on more than 118,000 chargers already available nationwide.

By reducing costs and expanding charging access, the initiative strengthens business resilience while advancing the UK’s sustainability and net zero objectives.

Industry and Trade Association Lobbying

“For several years, EO Charging been lobbying the UK Government with our trade association partners (BEAMA and REA) to deliver a clear and consistent electrification strategy for fleets,” said Richard Earl, Director of R&D at EO Charging.

“This would then enable investors and operators to unlock the significant amounts of private investment required to decarbonise the transportation sector. Following on the commitment to the ZEV Mandate and the industrial strategy, today the UK Government has made another significant strategic step forwards to help the electrification of fleets by the announcement of £1b of funding.”

“EO Charging welcomes this significant boost from the UK Government. Our own research with Vanson Bourne shows that the tipping point of Total Cost of Ownership of a fleet has already tipped towards an electrified fleet. Therefore, with this additional funding available from the UK government, it is now clearer than ever that operating an electric fleet is not only good for the environment but it now makes compelling financial sense.”

“Many of our customers already reap the benefit of operating an electrified fleet – zero emissions, simpler maintenance and an overall better experience for the driver, passengers and other road users. With this additional funding, we now anticipate many more companies enjoying these benefits as well as improved financial performance.”

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