environment – Page 106 – The NEN

Hollywood thriller will launch capital debate on ‘forever chemicals’

Edinburgh Napier Dean to lead panel discussion

EXPERTS will debate controversial ‘forever chemicals’ and the threat they pose to human health and the environment following a special preview screening of a powerful new Hollywood blockbuster.

Dark Waters, starring Mark Ruffalo and Anne Hathaway, is to be shown at The Cameo in Edinburgh’s Home Street on Tuesday February 25, three days ahead of its official UK opening.

The screening will be followed by a 45-minute panel discussion, hosted by Professor Gary Hutchison, Dean of the School of Applied Sciences at Edinburgh Napier University.

He will be joined by academics, environmental activists and business representatives for a discussion of the issues raised by the thought-provoking film, based on a notorious toxic chemical scandal in the USA.

In Dark Waters, directed by Todd Haynes, Ruffalo plays lawyer Rob Bilott, who became involved in a lengthy crusade against the DuPont chemical company over the pollution of West Virginia’s water supply with PFAS or per-and-polyfluoroalkyl substances used to make Teflon.

In 2017, DuPont and spinoff Chemours agreed to pay $671million to settle thousands of lawsuits. They included claims linked to thyroid disease, and kidney or testicular cancer.

Critics have hailed the new film as “a dense, angry drama” and “A David vs Goliath legal thriller for our times”.

Joining Professor Hutchison at the panel discussion and Q & A session, which follows a 6pm screening in Cameo 3, will be Professor Julie Fitzpatrick, Scientific Director of the Moredun Research Institute, and Dr Fiona Stainsby a senior lecturer in microbiology at Edinburgh Napier.

Environmental charity Fidra, who are leading on a petition asking UK supermarkets to stop packing products in PFAS, and the Arcadis consultancy will be represented by Dr Kerry Dinsmore and Ian Ross respectively.

PFAS are synthetic chemicals which don’t occur naturally and are known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they don’t break down in the environment.

Professor Hutchison said: “I am very much looking forward to seeing Dark Waters and feel sure that the screening will provoke a lively discussion afterwards.

“PFAS chemicals are found in food, food packaging and other everyday products, and the panel will provide expert input into the ongoing debate surrounding how they should be regulated and the need to protect human health and the environment.”

Register for Tuesday night’s event here

The event is jointly hosted by the University, Think-Film Impact Production , who believe the presence of forever chemicals in air, water, food and food packaging should be a pressing concern for Scottish audiences, and eOne.

Scottish football clubs urged to follow Hibernian in green pledge

Football clubs in Scotland have been urged to follow the lead of Hibernian in setting out bold plans to lower their emissions and tackle the climate emergency by Lothians MSP Alison Johnstone.

Already ranked third in the UK for environmental issues after Forest Green Rovers and Manchester United, Hibs have pledged to build on being “the greenest club in Scotland” by the end of the year, by removing all single use plastics from its catering, switching its car fleet to electric vehicles and introducing vegan food to its matchday kiosks.

Responding, Scottish Greens sports spokesperson Alison Johnstone said: “This is impressive leadership shown by Hibs. Tackling the climate emergency cannot be the responsibility of individuals alone, it needs leadership by government and big businesses to make it easier for us all to play our part.

“That’s why football clubs, with their position in the hearts of our communities, can play such a vital role.

“Hibernian already use renewable electricity and take a lead on recycling, but I congratulate Hibs chairman Ronald Gordon and chief executive Leanne Dempster for showing this leadership and understanding that we need to go further if we are to provide an emergency response. I strongly urge clubs across the country to take inspiration from them.”

The Leith club announced their environmental intentions on Thursday.

Club chairman Ronald Gordon said: “Today we are very proud to announce that Hibernian FC pledged to be “The Greenest Club in Scotland” in support of action to combat climate change.

“Hibernian is a major Scottish football club and a leading Scottish sports brand, and as such we have a responsibility to use that amazing platform to lead by example, to serve our community and our city.

“It seems nowadays that on almost any evening the news has stark images of how our climate is changing and impacting on our lives, our wildlife and our planet. There is almost a danger that the incredible changes we are witnessing – wildfires and famine caused by prolonged droughts, catastrophic flooding, the devastation of our forests and the melting of our ice caps – begin to seem normal.

“So how can a football club make a difference to this global challenge? We do it by stepping up, by taking a lead, and by harnessing the power that football undoubtedly has in order to raise awareness and influence people in our community. By taking a leadership role.

“So what have we done? We are the first Club in Scotland to participate in the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.

This means the Club will strive to:

– Promote greater environmental responsibility

– Reduce the overall climate impact from sports

– Use our platforms to educate for climate action

– Promote sustainable and responsible consumption

– Advocate for climate change through our communications

“We already buy 100 per cent renewable electricity, and our waste management recycling efforts are ranked first in Scotland and third in British football behind Forest Green and Manchester United. But we want to move beyond that, so we are working with Circular Edinburgh on engaging in the circular economy. The City of Edinburgh Council has declared its aim of making Scotland’s Capital carbon neutral by 2030, and we will work to support that.

“Every aspect of the Club’s activities will be reviewed, with a determination to achieve overall carbon neutrality. We are looking at how we use power better, how we might generate power, how to reduce our use of water, how we create partnerships with other like-minded organisations determined to reduce our impact on the planet.

“It’s the right thing to do, but it’s also the smart thing to do. Customers and partners of almost every business are now looking to patronise those organisations which show they run their business in a sustainable way that addresses the challenges we all face.

“Hibernian has a long tradition of innovation and firsts. This may be our biggest one yet.”

You can find out more about Hibs’ pledge here.

Letters: We must act NOW to save the environment

Dear Editor

The destruction of the world’s forests is leading to vast areas of barren earth. The destruction of trees reduces the amount of vital oxygen needed to combat CO2 gasses and support life everywhere. Excess CO2 in thr atmosphere is now driving climate change.

Everyone should be alarmed by what is being done by private companies, their investors and the financial institutions and governments behind them.

The continued large scale extraction of coal, oil and water to boost the profits of these investors is a crime against every living being who also share this planet.

People must call for an immediate ban on the destruction of the world’s forests as the situation of our climate is now at a critical point. The current rate of extinction and exploitation must be reversed before it is too late.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Mossmorran: ‘Action, not words’

‘Unplanned flaring’ during ExxonMobil’s Mossmorran restart is a reminder of why short and medium term solution are critical, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said yesterday.

SEPA advised that early indications suggested that the near four hours of flaring was a result of a problem with one of the process units and reduced capacity of ground flares. The agency understands the restart is likely to continue into the weekend and SEPA advised it will continue daily regulatory updates.

The agency, which had regulatory, noise and air monitoring capabilities deployed across the incident, said it heard clearly the level of community anxiety caused by Thursday night’s flaring event.

Initial data collected by the agency suggests no breach of UK Air Quality Standard. 28 SEPA Air Quality Reports, including weekly reports, available at sepa.org.uk/mossmorran

SEPA said it was focused on the rapid conclusion of its ongoing regulatory investigation to an evidential standard and that to avoid any delay, Thursday night’s flaring would be reviewed following outcome of current investigation.

The agency advised that the situation was a reminder of why short and medium term solutions are so critical. The approach includes noise reducing flare tips being installed in 2020 and 2021 and planning, design then delivery of new ground flare capacity afterwards.

Chris Dailly, SEPA’s Head of Environmental Performance (above), said: “Thursday’s unplanned flaring during ExxonMobil Chemical’s restart at Mossmorran is a real reminder of why short and medium term solutions are critical to addressing the root causes of unacceptable flaring.

“While elevated flaring is a possibility during restart it was not expected last night. Once again we heard clearly and powerfully the very real concerns and frustrations of local communities.

“We think it’s important to be clear on the causes of the flaring in the final stage of this restart. We know people also want information on our monitoring. Since last year SEPA has had monitoring points around the site.

“Initial data suggests that whilst clearly there was elevated flaring, there was no breach of UK Air Quality Standard. We publish the data we collect on a weekly basis and now some 28 detailed reports are available.

“We accept that flaring is causing people worry, anxiety and stress. That’s why our firm focus is on addressing the root-causes of ‘unacceptable flaring’ and making flaring an exception rather than routine, which is currently not the case.

“The short and medium-term investment we’re requiring the operators to make, from noise reducing flare tips in 2020 and 2021 and planning, designing then delivering new ground flare capacity will make a real difference to local communities.

“We appreciate communities want action, not words which is why we’re focused on rapid conclusion of regulatory investigation to an evidential standard and to the next steps in driving systemic change at Mossmorran.

“We’ll provide more information as quickly as possible and would encourage anyone impacted to report any concerns at www.sepa.org.uk/report so these are formally reviewed and considered by specialist officers.“

Leithers hoping to save the planet in just 6 minutes

Got a spare 6 minutes to save the planet? With a climate crisis looming, every second counts. So local Edinburgh businesses and artists are being invited to give just a few minutes of their time to share their top tips for sustainability at a special ‘Let’s Talk Waste’ event in the capital later this month.

Brought to you by The Leith Collective – crafters, makers, artists and business owners will come together on Thursday 20^th February to discuss ways in which they are reducing their waste and making a difference.

Taking place at Ocean Terminal, the evening will feature a diverse range of speakers; from a craftsman who creates unique works of art from items otherwise destined for landfill, to an accountant who has transformed his office into a completely paperless environment.

The event is part of The Leith Collective’s ongoing ‘Plastic Resolution 2020’ campaign which aims to encourage people to reuse, recycle and upcycle everyday items.

‘Let’s Talk Waste’ event organiser and founder of The Leith Collective, Sara Thomson (above), said; “I’m a big believer that knowledge is power, and that by sharing inspirational stories and exchanging top tips in this accessible, easy-to-digest 6 minute format, everyone can learn something new, and together we can make a massive difference.”

EVENT INFORMATION

‘Let’s Talk Waste’ will take place at The Image Collective Gallery, Ocean Terminal, on Thursday 20^th February, 6pm – 8:30pm. Refreshments will be provided.

Local businesses, artists and makers are invited to book a 6 minute slot at the event and share their top tips for reducing waste. Slots are free of charge but availability is limited. To reserve your spot email info@theleithcollective.com.

The event is free for anyone to attend but space is limited. To reserve your place head to www.facebook.com/leithcollective.

Meet the Bog Squad!

Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation celebrates six years of the incredibly successful ‘Bog Squad’ initiative next month.

Begun in 2014 this ‘Squad’, of volunteers established and managed by Butterfly Conservation Scotland, is tasked to carry out rehabilitation works on damaged peat bogs across the Scottish Lowlands. These volunteers are working on the front lines in the battle against the climate crisis.

Scotland’s bogs are vast stores of carbon laid down by slowly decaying vegetation in wet, acidic conditions over thousands of years. Unfortunately, many of Scotland’s bogs have been damaged by attempts at drainage and burning, causing them to become net carbon emitters.

Scottish peat bogs are also key wildlife habitats providing homes for species such as the bog specialist Large Heath butterfly, which has declined in range across the UK by over 50% since 1976. Other increasingly rare butterflies such as the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Green Hairstreak benefit from lowland bog habitat too.

Since 2014 Bog Squad volunteers have been putting in huge efforts to save our peatlands and their habitats. Restoration work has focussed on blocking old drainage ditches and removing water-sapping invasive scrub, allowing Sphagnum mosses, the driving force behind peat formation, to flourish again.

Funded by the SNH-led Peatland ACTION project, the Bog Squad have carried out work at 26 bogs across Scotland with 330 hectares of bog improved. Nearly 300 individual volunteers have joined in to carry out this vital work.

Bog Squad spokesperson David Hill said: “It’s been fantastic to work with so many enthusiastic volunteers over the last six years. Lowland bogs are such wonderfully rich places for wildlife. Added to that their potential value in battling climate change makes restoring them a real win-win both for wildlife and people.

“Butterfly Conservation Scotland warmly welcomes the Scottish government’s announcement in the budget that peatland restoration measures will receive £20m next year, up by £6m.

“We are particularly pleased that the funding will continue for at least 10 years, allowing peatland restoration techniques to be refined, and for businesses engaged in restoration to acquire the right machinery and train their staff.

“This will be a significant improvement in our ability to conserve these areas which are so valuable for wildlife, for purifying water, and for locking up carbon.”

Mackay to deliver ‘Green Budget’

Scottish Budget to prioritise the climate emergency

Tackling the global climate emergency will be at the heart of the Scottish Budget this week. Speaking ahead of the budget, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said: “This week I will set out the Scottish Government’s spending plans for the year ahead.

“The global climate emergency was at the centre of our Programme for Government and will be a priority theme in the budget this week.

“We have already put in place the most ambitious climate legislation and targets of any country including decarbonising Scotland’s railways by 2035 and making the Highlands and Islands the world’s first net zero aviation region by 2040.

“This budget will set out how our spending plans and investments will help us achieve these ambitions.

“We will also provide certainty for local government and vital public services. Despite the delay to the UK Government announcing its budget, we will confirm individual local authority funding allocations, having already announced that we are giving them the flexibility to increase their council tax levels by up to 3% in real terms.

“We will not stand by while the UK Government’s benefit cuts are hitting the poorest in Scotland so we will continue to mitigate the worst effects of these cuts to support low income households and tackle child poverty head on.

“I am focused on delivering a budget that promotes inclusive economic growth and puts wellbeing at the heart of our economic strategy to ensure as many people as possible across the country benefit.

“However, as we set out our spending priorities for the year, Brexit remains the biggest threat to our economy and the risk of a ‘no deal’ Brexit is still on the table with the UK Government ruling out any extension to the transition period.

“In a period of great uncertainty caused by Brexit, the national interest demands that the Scottish Parliament passes this budget in good order, and I urge all parties to work constructively to ensure that happens.”

Have your say on Clermiston Park plans

On behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT) have put together an Improvement Plan for Clermiston Park, making suggestions for the next two years.

ELGT are asking stakeholders and the local community to provide any feedback they may have on the plans, which will be considered and incorporated where appropriate.

A summary of the feedback received and an explanation of any subsequent changes made will be provided along with the finalised plan.

Clermiston-Park-Improvement-Plan-2020

2500 have their say in Big Climate Conversation

A public engagement programme on how to end Scotland’s contribution to climate change has shown widespread support for home energy efficiency improvements, increased use of public transport and transitioning to a more circular economy.

More than 2,500 people from across Scotland engaged in the Big Climate Conversation, with different audience types reflecting differing views on food, land use and energy.

The Big Climate Conversation findings will directly inform the update to the Scottish Government’s current Climate Change Plan and the development of a new Public Engagement Strategy for climate change.

Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “The reduction in emissions we need to achieve to end Scotland’s contribution to climate change within a generation will require action by everybody and must be a truly national endeavour.

“We must also ensure our transformation to net-zero takes place in a just and fair way – no one should be left behind. That’s why the Scottish Government undertook The Big Climate Conversation last year.

“This report shows the breadth and value of the discussions that took place and I look forward to these continuing as Scotland progresses further to a net-zero society during the important years ahead.

“We will soon announce plans for Scotland’s Citizens Assembly on Climate Change which will build on the important insights gained through the Big Climate Conversation. In the meantime, I would like to thank everyone who took part.”

Executive Director of the Raploch Community Partnership Janette Mitchell said: “As a local community regeneration charity, we were delighted to launch the community-led Big Climate Conversation. It was a wonderful focus for our wider Empowering Communities work.

“By holding our climate conversations, our service users and stakeholders helped us design our employability, training, volunteering and digital services with a new emphasis on tackling the global climate emergency.”

The Big Climate Conversation report is available on the Scottish Government website.

Toiletries: make it clear!

The battle against plastic waste is being held back by a mountain of poorly-labelled bathroom products that could go unrecycled, Which? is warning.

Which? analysed the recycling information on the labels of 20 common toiletries, as well as the type and volume of packaging, to determine how clearly the products are labelled and how difficult they would be to recycle.

The consumer champion found that 12 out of 20 (60%) products had no recycling information on the label, despite most of them being partially or wholly recyclable.

Only six of the products (30%) that Which? looked at seemed to be getting the labelling right – advising consumers that the products should be recycled and with specific instructions on how to do so.

The consumer group is concerned that this lack of coherent labelling could cause confusion among consumers and lead to significant numbers of recyclable products being sent to landfill.

Which? found that while two-thirds (67%) of people think recyclability of packaging is important when supermarket shopping, a majority (65%) of Which? members said they were not cutting back on plastics in the bathroom.

A third (33%) explained that this was because it would be too difficult to replace bathroom products they regularly use, while a quarter (23%) hadn’t thought about it before. One in six (16%) explained that they don’t know how to cut back on bathroom plastic.

Experts at Which? found that Head and Shoulders classic clean shampoo (500ml), L’Oreal Elvive Colour Protect conditioner (400ml) and Listerine Total Care mouthwash (500ml) had no clear labelling regarding recycling, despite being made of recyclable materials.

While many brands fell short of the standards Which? expected, Carex’s Complete Original handwash (250ml) displays clear labelling about how to recycle the bottle, and encourages people to do so. Radox Feel Refreshed shower gel (250ml) gives similarly clear instructions.

For most people, the recycling habit has taken hold more effectively with groceries and other kitchen products. Previous Which? research found that on average 58 per cent of packaging for grocery products was clearly labelled.

Which? is concerned that many toiletry brands are not doing enough to offer consumers clear information about whether or not their bathroom products are recyclable.

The onus is now on these brands to make significant changes to the way they approach the production of plastic packaging and how they communicate with their customers.

Which? is also calling on the government to make recycling labelling simple, clear and mandatory and ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place to make it easy for everyone to recycle, regardless of where they live.

Natalie Hitchins, Which? Head of Home Products and Services, said: “Recycling and sustainability are a high priority for many consumers – so the lack of clear information on the products we looked at is inexcusable in this day and age.

“With the packaging of many recyclable bathroom toiletries going into landfill in the UK, brands must take action to ensure bottles of shampoo, conditioner and shower gel are clearly labelled and can be disposed of in an efficient way.”

Which? advice for consumers:

Items such as shampoo, conditioner and shower gel bottles can usually be recycled by emptying, rinsing and replacing the lids.
When recyclable products have pump dispensers, you usually need to remove the pump and throw it away separately.
Some retailers offer refills for certain branded toiletries so you don’t have to buy another container.
A lot of plastic-free options can actually save money, such as using a soap bar and buying refills in bulk. Other plastic-free options include:
- Reusable face wipes
- Solid shampoo / conditioner bars
- Bamboo toothbrushes
- Toothpaste and mouthwash tablets
- Menstrual cups
- Plastic-free deodorant
- Recyclable / plastic-free toilet paper

Full table of products

Product	Packaging	Recycling information provided on label	Recyclability
Andrex: Classic Clean Toilet Paper (4 rolls)	Cardboard, plastic film	Tube – widely recycled	Cardboard collected at kerbside, plastic film not widely recycled
Sure Men: Invisible Ice aerosol anti-perspirant deodorant (150ml)	Aluminium	Widely recycled	Collected at kerbside
Sure Women: MotionSense Invisible Aqua deodorant (50ml)	Plastic (unspecified)	Widely recycled	Collected at kerbside
Simple: Kind to skin vital vitamin day cream facial moisturiser (50ml)	PP and cardboard	Please recycle me. Jar and lid are PP; carton is cardboard	Collected at kerbside
Simple: Kind to skin vital vitamin face wash (150ml)	PE and PP	Please check if packaging is recyclable in your country. Tube is PE. Cap is PP.	Collected at kerbside
Radox: Feel Refreshed shower gel (250ml)	PP	Widely recycled, please recycle but remove cap first	Collected at kerbside
Complete: Original handwash (250ml)	PET	Widely recycled, reuse our pump, recycle our bottle	Collected at kerbside when pump removed
Nivea Men: Rehydrating moisturiser (75ml)	Cardboard and LDPE	Mobius loop image	Cardboard collected at kerbside; LDPE not widely recycled – check local recycling
Gilette: Fusion5+ 10-blade men’s razor	Cardboard and plastic packaging	No recycling labelling	Packaging collected at kerbside, razors non-recyclable (except through specialist collection schemes like TerraCycle)
Gilette Venus: Swirl women’s razor	Cardboard and plastic packaging	No recycling labelling	Packaging collected at kerbside, razors non-recyclable (except through specialist collection schemes like TerraCycle)
Gillette: Fusion 5 shaving gel (200ml)	Steel	No recycling labelling	Collected at kerbside
Head and Shoulders: Classic clean shampoo (500ml)	HDPE	No recycling labelling	Collected at kerbside
L’Oreal: Elvive Colour Protect conditioner (400ml)	HDPE	No recycling labelling	Collected at kerbside
VO5: Matte clay hair styling product (65ml)	Aluminium	No recycling labelling	Collected at kerbside
Oral B: Indicator 35 medium toothbrush	Cardboard and plastic packaging	No recycling labelling	Packaging collected at kerbside, toothbrush non-recyclable (except through specialist collection schemes like TerraCycle)
Colgate: Total Original toothpaste (125ml)	Cardboard packaging and mixed plastic tube	No recycling labelling	Cardboard collected at kerbside; tube non-recyclable (except through specialist collection schemes like TerraCycle)
Listerine: Total Care mouthwash (500ml)	PET	No recycling labelling	Collected at kerbside
Tampax: Pearl Compak regular tampons (18 pack)	Cardboard packaging and plastic applicators	No recycling labelling	Cardboard collected at kerbside; mixed plastic applicators not widely recycled
Neutrogena: Hand cream (50ml)	LDPE	No recycling labelling	Not widely recycled – check local recycling
Radox Scent Touch Feel Fresh shower gel (200ml)	Mixed plastic	No recycling labelling	Not widely recycled