This Week's Top 5 Stories in Sustainability
5 June
World Environment Day 2025 arrives with renewed urgency and hope, as governments, industries and individuals unite under a single banner â to end plastic pollution.
Millions of tonnes of plastic waste enter oceans each year, harming marine life and ecosystems.
This yearâs theme, Beat Plastic Pollution, resonates deeply amid the escalating crisis that has permeated oceans, food chains and even human bodies in the form of microplastics.
Two months before the continuation of negotiations for a historic UN treaty to end plastic pollution, the global spotlight falls on the Republic of Korea, host of this yearâs World Environment Day.
The nationâs leadership on sustainable waste management and circular economy practices makes it a fitting stage for this year's host.
Since the adoption of Resolution 5/14 during the UN Environment Assembly in March 2022, momentum has been building toward a legally binding instrument to address the full lifecycle of plastic, from design and production to disposal.
âThe worldâs commitment to ending plastic pollution is clear and undeniable,â says Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
4 June
Italy's Mount Etna has erupted again, sending a plume of ash, gas and rock into the skies over Sicily.
The dramatic event has not prompted evacuations, but the potential for supply chain fallout is already drawing attention.
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) confirmed that "a pyroclastic flow probably produced by a collapse of material from the northern flank of the south-east crater" had taken place.
This fast-moving surge of volcanic ash, gas and debris poses substantial risks not only to the immediate environment but also to broader logistic networks.
Renato Schifani, President of the Sicilian region, attempted to reassure the public, stating that there was âno danger for the populationâ and that the pyroclastic flow had not extended beyond the Valley of the Lions, a well-known tourist area.
âThe partial collapse of the south-east crater, which generated an impressive eruptive cloud several kilometres high and a pyroclastic flow, is a phenomenon that we follow with extreme caution,â he added.
Despite these assurances, red alerts were issued to aviation authorities as the volcanic cloud reached an estimated 6.5km in height, posing a possible threat to air traffic.
Salvo Cocina, Head of the regional Civil Protection Unit, warned visitors to stay away from the area âin consideration of the potential evolution of the phenomenon.â
3 June
Chris Leong, previously Chief Sustainability Officer at Schneider Electric, has joined Ecolab as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer.
In her time at Schneider, Chris was recognised by Sustainability Magazine as one of the Top 250 Leaders in Sustainability and Top 250 Women in Sustainability.
âIâm exhilarated, thrilled, proud and humbled to join Ecolab as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer,â Chris said on LinkedIn when announcing her appointment.
âI am honoured and privileged to lead an incredible team of talented associates in global marketing, sustainability and innovation.
âA team anchored in deep-rooted understanding of customer needs, driving bold innovation, obsessed with delivering tangible value for our customers.â
Before joining Schneider, Chris held a variety of roles at Nokia from 2005 including VP Marketing, SVP Global Marketing Go-To-Market Operations and SVP Greater China, Japan and Korea.
Prior to her time at Nokia, Chris held a number of senior management positions in marketing communications firms.
5 June
The International Energy Agencyâs (IEA) latest outlook for 2025 paints a picture of growing momentum behind clean energy investment.
Global energy investment is forecast to reach US$3.3tn, 2% higher in real terms than in 2024, with clean technologies continuing to dominate the landscape.
However, the report also warns of persistent structural imbalances, especially in grid capacity and support for developing economies.
The report states that clean energy will attract US$2.2tn in 2025, twice the projected US$1.1tn for fossil fuels.
This includes spending on renewables, nuclear, electricity grids, battery storage, energy efficiency, low-emissions fuels and electrification.
âAmid the geopolitical and economic uncertainties that are clouding the outlook for the energy world, we see energy security coming through as a key driver of the growth in global investment this year to a record US$3.3tn as countries and companies seek to insulate themselves from a wide range of risks,â explains Fatih Birol, IEA Executive Director.
2 June
With world-known brands like Clinique, MAC, Too Faced and Bobbi Brown, The EstĂ©e Lauder Companies (ELC) is one of the worldâs largest cosmetics businesses.
The industry has significant impacts on the environment, from water use and packaging waste to chemical pollution and carbon emissions.
Upgrades to ELCâs manufacturing and fulfilment campus in Oevel, Belgium are strengthening its sustainability efforts, including through treatment of water, energy efficiency and waste management.
âOevel exemplifies how weâre committed to advancing sustainability for the long term,â says Nancy Mahon, Chief Sustainability Officer at ELC.
âIts leadership in biotech and ingredient sustainability, paired with innovative practices in a historic setting, reflects our dedication to reducing our environmental footprint and setting new benchmarks for sustainable operations.â
Oevel, Belgium is home to ELCâs largest global manufacturing and distribution campus.
It has a workforce of more than 1000 employees and specialises in the production, filling and distribution of its makeup and skincare portfolio.
Every year, it produces more than 100 million units.
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