Products & Chemicals
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The latest products and chemicals news, analysis, best practice, data and insight, covering products, supply chain, chemicals, producer responsibility and labelling
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In focus
Why a court decision to slash an ‘unreasonable’ EA fine has implications for all regulated industry
With unlimited Variable Monetary Penalties for environmental permitting offences coming into force in December, a decision this month to reduce an ‘unreasonable’ penalty imposed by the Environment Agency shows that the body’s decision-making is not beyond challenge, writes Simon Tilling
Latest products & chemicals news
Products & chemicals analysis
Can the UK still describe itself as a 'world leader' in the fight against microplastic pollution?
Wide-ranging controls on microplastics are on the brink of being adopted in the EU, whilst the UK government is dragging its feet on the issue. As the chemical policy divergence between the EU and the UK widens, is the UK at risk of falling behind?
‘Flying by the seats of our pants’: Why did two men die at one of England’s most highly regulated environmental hazard sites?
One freeport. Two dead men. Multiple regulatory failures. Tommy Williams and John Mackay lost their lives in 2019 during the demolition of ammonia washers in Teesside, on the site now razed in preparation for the Teesside Freeport. Their families know how they died, but not why. In a new investigation, ENDS can reveal the operational failures at the site of their deaths that went unnoticed by regulators
Primer: HSE’s recommendations for regulating PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ in the UK, explained
The Health and Safety Executive finally published at the end of March its highly anticipated analysis of how to tackle PFAS in the UK, stopping short of following EU proposals for an all-out ban. Shosha Adie explores the report’s key points and assesses what it could mean for future policymaking
The growing evidence of the impact of PFAS on wildlife
Evidence of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ impacts on wildlife and the environment is growing with more than 330 species worldwide found to be contaminated with the man-made chemicals. Rachel Salvidge and Leana Hosea report
‘This is really here’: 6 things we learned from webinar on UK’s PFAS problem
Expert speakers, including the lawyer who inspired the film Dark Waters and a senior official from the European Chemicals Agency, earlier this week took part in an ENDS webinar on the PFAS threat facing the UK. Here’s what we learned
How much do we know about the UK’s PFAS problem?
Datasets used to produce a map of PFAS contamination across Europe reveals a number of hotspots across the UK, however knowledge of the scale of the problem remains limited. Rachel Salvidge and Leana Hosea explain what we know – and what we don’t – about the UK’s PFAS problem
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Case studies
Interviews
Legal comment
Why a landmark win against the government over its river protection plans leaves unanswered questions
Last month the government’s plans to restore rivers was found unlawful in landmark ruling, which could have huge consequences for waterbodies across England. Ned Westaway explains where the government’s case fell down, and asks, what happens next?
Why a court dismissed claims that DEFRA’s sewage spill reduction plan was unlawful
The High Court rejected applications for judicial review by two NGOs, but the case is unlikely to be the last on the subject, writes Angus Evers
Why a judicial review of sea fishing licences underlines the weight being given to environmental conservation
A ruling that the Scottish government had failed to act in accordance with Scotland’s National Marine Plan when varying fishing licences demonstrates the weight being given to environmental conservation by the courts, writes Laura Tainsh
The (legal) lessons to be drawn from the failed High Court ULEZ challenge
Few judicial review outcomes have been as hotly anticipated this year as that brought against the mayor of London over plans to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone. While the political implications of its failure continue to be felt, Nina Pindham asks what legal lessons can be taken from the case
Why developer CG Fry’s nutrient neutrality challenge is unlikely to succeed on appeal - for now
Earlier this month the High Court dismissed a claim previously branded as having 'considerable importance' to how Natural England’s nutrient neutrality advice is applied by local councils. While its chances of success at appeal are limited, writes Ned Westaway, the passing of the Retained EU Law Act could make future such cases harder to predict
Why the dismissal of ClientEarth’s case against Shell will have ramifications for other NGOs seeking to change corporate behaviour
The High Court’s dismissal of ClientEarth’s ground-breaking claim against the directors of Shell shows that minority activist shareholders hoping to use the courts to change corporate behaviour have a mountain to climb, writes Simon Tilling
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From ENDS Europe
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MEPs push to make ecocide a crime, but clear political divisions remain
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PFAS ban proposal: 9 things you need to know
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ECHA unveils proposed blanket ban on ‘forever chemicals’
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Global plastics production continues apace as clamp-down looms
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‘Arguing like children’: Acrimony as RED talks cancelled over delay to green hydrogen rules
From ENDS Waste & Bioenergy
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Wales claims to only landfill 1.6% of waste
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New consultation over RDF-producing site after air-emissions report left out
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Powerfuel Portland EfW appeal under way
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UK’s largest biomethane-to-grid facility gets greenlight
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Velocys’ sale shows while SAF could be groundbreaking it is also no ‘silver bullet’