Today’s ESG Updates
- EU Bans Unsold Clothes Destruction: New rules aim to cut CO₂ by stopping companies from discarding apparel and footwear.
- UK Secures Record Solar Capacity: Britain’s latest renewable energy auction awarded 4.9 GW of solar power contracts, a record for solar, contributing to a total of 14.7 GW of renewable capacity enough to power around 16 million homes.
- EDF’s ‘Fish Disco’ to Protect Wildlife: £700 million system could save 90% of fish at Hinkley Point C.
- China’s LNG Imports to Rise: Forecasts show a 3–10% increase in 2026, though still below 2024 levels.
EU bans destruction of unsold clothes and shoes
The European Commission adopted new measures on 9 February 2026 under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) to prevent companies from destroying unsold clothes, accessories, and shoes before they’re used.
Every year in Europe, an estimated 4-9% of unsold textiles are destroyed before being worn. This waste produces around 5.6 million tons of CO₂, approximately equal to Sweden’s total net emissions in 2021. For example, about €630 million worth of unsold products are destroyed annually in France only, while in Germany, nearly 20 million returned items are discarded each year.
A ban will be introduced on the destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories, and footwear. Companies will also have to disclose information on unsold products they discard as waste. The ban will take effect for large companies on 19 July 2026, with medium-sized companies expected to follow in 2030. The reporting format starts from February 2027.
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Further reading: New EU rules to stop the destruction of unsold clothes and shoes
UK secures record solar capacity in latest renewable energy auction
Britain achieved a record amount of solar energy capacity in its latest renewable energy auction as part of its efforts to decarbonise the electricity sector by 2030. 4.9 gigawatts (GW) of solar power capacity was secured – a record for solar in the UK auction. In total, 14.7 GW of renewable capacity won contracts in this seventh auction round, enough to power around 16 million homes. 157 solar projects won contracts under the scheme. The price for solar contracts was £65.23 per megawatt-hour (MWh), which is below typical costs for new gas-fired plants. The contracts awarded by the government are called Contracts for Difference (CfDs), which offer developers guaranteed electricity prices for a set period.
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Further reading: Britain secures record amount of solar in renewable power auction
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EDF’s ‘fish disco’ could save 90% of fish at Hinkley Point C
A study commissioned by EDF Energy found that a new underwater system could dramatically reduce the number of fish sucked into the cooling water intake pipes at Hinkley Point C, a nuclear power station under construction in Somerset, UK. The proposed system, informally called “fish disco”, uses an acoustic deterrent with over 300 underwater speakers to repel fish before they enter the intake pipes.
The system is expected to cost about £700 million. It could potentially save up to 90% of fish that would otherwise be drawn into the cooling system. EDF will cover the cost itself, and the study’s results will be reviewed later in the year by the UK’s Marine Management Organisation.
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Further reading: £700m plan with ‘fish disco’ could save 90% of marine life, says Hinkley Point C study
LNG demand in China set to climb despite 2025 slump
China’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports are set to rise in 2026. An estimated increase is 3%–10% compared with 2025, or roughly 70.5–75.5 million metric tons. Even with this projected increase, imports are likely to remain below 2024 levels, following a rare 10% decline in 2025 due to weak industrial demand and a mild winter.
While domestic gas output is forecast to grow by about 12 billion cubic metres (bcm), it is still not expected to fully meet rising demand.
Analysts predict Asian spot LNG prices will average around $9–$9.50 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), with prices forecast to fall below $9/MMBtu in the second half of the year.
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Further reading: China’s LNG imports set to recover in 2026 though not to 2024 level
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: Nick de Partee
