Business
Research reveals preference for climate friendly products among Welsh shoppers
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TWO in three (67%) Welsh shoppers prefer to buy products that have a more positive environmental impact, but are unsure how to identify them, according to new research from Amazon.
According to a recent Amazon-commissioned study of 2,000 British shoppers, two in three (67%) shoppers in Wales prefer to buy products that have a more positive environmental and social impact, but are unsure how to identify them due to confusing sustainability statements on product labels.
In fact, Welsh shoppers surveyed find completing a giant crossword puzzle (41%), building flat-pack furniture (40%), and cooking an elaborate dinner party from scratch (30%), easier than figuring out which everyday products have a lower environmental impact when shopping online.
As a result, only 1% of Welsh respondents say they always understand a product’s environmental impact when they shop. More than half (59%) want retailers to help them easily identify products which have a more positive environmental and social impact. This ranges from everyday items like socks and sugar, to personal care products like soap and sunscreen.
Amazon makes it easier for customers to discover and shop for products with improvements in at least one aspect of sustainability. Its Climate Pledge Friendly badge helps shoppers to discover and filter products based on clear sustainability features – from products containing recycled materials and designed with less packaging, to items made from organic content and safer chemicals. These features are based on vetted and reputable third-party certifications, such as Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade International and Forest Stewardship Council.
Certifications matter to Welsh shoppers, with 74% saying they are more likely to trust a product’s sustainability claims if it is supported by an official certification from a reputable organisation. 32% of those surveyed also claim to have abandoned a purchase when they did not trust or understand its sustainability claims.
More than a quarter (29%) of respondents claim they are more likely to try a new brand or product if their social, ethical and environmental credentials are clear on the product itself, or at the point of sale online, giving them reassurance these brands align with their principles.
“Products with certified sustainability features are a top choice for UK shoppers, and it’s important that customers can easily understand exactly what those features are. At Amazon, we’re taking the guesswork out of the shopping experience, helping customers to shop for items that match their values,” said John Boumphrey, Amazon UK Country Manager.
Among the most sought-after sustainability features that Welsh shoppers surveyed look for are kindness to animals (52%), recyclable packaging (45%), made with chemicals safe for human health and the environment (43%), reduced packaging (34%), and items made with recycled materials (33%), while 31% seek products that are made with responsible farming and forestry methods.
The top five product categories that shoppers expect to find more sustainable options for include food and beverage items (54%), cleaning products (54%), cosmetics and beauty (51%), apparel (32%) and pet supplies (20%).
Nearly 37.6 million Amazon customers have switched to Climate Pledge Friendly badged products in 2023, leading to over 1.16 billion items sold, a 42% increase from 2022 – sending a strong signal to Amazon’s selling partners that customers want to shop for products with sustainability features. As of today, Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly product selection has grown to more than 1.4 million items globally – a 157% increase from 2022.
“Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly certifications help us to communicate our brand commitment to more-sustainable processes and products. The qualification process is reassuringly thorough which means when customers see the Climate Pledge Friendly badge, they can be confident they are purchasing a product that goes some way to help preserve the natural world we live in,” said Tom Lloyd, Co-Founder and Commercial Director at Bloomsbury Mill, an award-winning children’s and baby brand in the UK, with several popular Climate Pledge Friendly products on the Amazon UK store.
Amazon’s UK Climate Pledge Friendly programme features more than 50 independent sustainability certifications. Products which have one or more of these certifications can be found by clicking on Climate Pledge Friendly on Amazon.co.uk. Each Climate Pledge Friendly-badged product comes with clear and detailed descriptions of their sustainability features and underlying certifications, helping consumers make more informed choices when shopping online.
Business
Ministers set to approve £500m Tata Steel subsidy
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MINISTERS are expected to confirm an agreement providing Tata Steel with a £500 million grant towards its transition to electric arc furnace technology. The announcement comes as Tata Steel prepares to phase out its blast furnace operations at Port Talbot, one of the UK’s largest steelworks.
The switch to electric arc furnaces, which melt scrap steel, is part of a broader effort to reduce carbon emissions and modernise the UK’s steelmaking industry. The £500 million grant was initially approved by the previous Conservative government, and Labour has pledged to honour the commitment. The formal announcement is expected in the House of Commons later this week.
The transition will bring significant changes to the workforce at Port Talbot. Approximately 2,500 workers are facing redundancy, with an additional 300 jobs expected to be cut in the future. Despite this, Tata Steel and unions have agreed on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that could see further investments in the facility, including the development of a steel plate production plant for offshore wind turbines.
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Union sources have confirmed that the MoU includes assurances for the company’s other Welsh sites, such as Llanwern, Trostre, and Shotton, as well as commitments to explore new steel plate technology. This potential new facility in Port Talbot could play a vital role in the UK’s burgeoning offshore wind industry.
Gareth Stace, director general of UK Steel, emphasised the need for competitive electricity prices to support the transition to electric arc furnace technology. “As the steel sector in the UK moves to fully electric arc furnaces, and therefore using an enormous amount of electricity, having competitively priced electricity is critical to the success of our future,” said Mr Stace.
The UK government has introduced schemes to reduce energy costs for major industries like steel, but Stace argued that more needs to be done to bring prices in line with European competitors in France and Germany. He also called on the government to use some of its £2.5 billion steel support fund to help lower electricity costs for producers like Tata Steel.
UK Steel has also urged the government to increase its use of domestically produced steel for major infrastructure projects, reducing reliance on imports. Mr Stace noted that the UK must make investments in facilities like a wide-gauge heavy plate mill to ensure the industry can meet future demands, particularly from the offshore wind sector.
A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said the government was committed to supporting the UK steel industry through its British Industry Supercharger scheme and the recently established Great British Energy initiative, aimed at accelerating the shift to clean energy.
“We’re working in partnership with trade unions and businesses to secure a green steel transition that’s right for the workforce and safeguards the future of the steel industry in Britain,” the spokesperson said. They also reaffirmed the government’s £2.5 billion investment commitment to rebuilding the UK steel industry and supporting affected communities.
Labour’s commitment to honour the previous government’s grant has been welcomed by unions and industry leaders. However, Welsh Conservatives have criticised Labour for taking too long to confirm the funding. Shadow Welsh Secretary Lord Davies of Gower called on the government to expedite financial aid to affected workers.
As Tata Steel and the government navigate the challenges of decarbonising the steel industry, the Port Talbot steelworks remains a focal point of the UK’s industrial future, with both environmental and economic implications at stake.
Business
Port of Milford Haven welcomes new Marine Support Officer to Pembroke Port
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AS part of its ongoing investments in Pembroke Port, the Port of Milford Haven has welcomed David Stubbins as its new Marine Support Officer focusing on assisting cargo, heavy lift, and renewable vessels on the Milford Haven Waterway.
Tasked with providing dedicated marine expertise and guidance to the Pembroke Port team, David is working closely with Commercial Manager, Sharon Adams, to ensure customers get the most out of Port’s facilities that include a heavy lift quay and a new enlarged slipway.
Speaking on his new role, David Stubbins, Marine Support Officer for Pembroke Port and the Port of Milford Haven, said: “Working on the Milford Haven Waterway is a full circle moment for me after growing up in Milford Haven and joining the Merchant Navy. It’s also a particularly exciting time to join the Port of Milford Haven with its continuing pilotage investment and with the new facilities available at Pembroke Port. I very much look forward to working alongside our customers to ensure they benefit from these investments.”
David will work collaboratively with the team at Pembroke Port, including Sharon Adams the Commercial Manager, to ensure that the level of service to customers in the cargo and renewables sector is excellent. Sharon added: “The new slipway, laydown facilities, workboat pontoons and office spaces created as part of the £60m Pembroke Dock Marine project will create fantastic opportunities for our customers. We recognise that Pembroke Port is an increasingly busy site and David will become an integral part of the team to ensure our customers always benefit from a safe, efficient and reliable operation. We are very excited for the future.”
Find out more about how you can use Pembroke Port on the Milford Haven Waterway at www.pembrokeport.com.
The Pembroke Dock Marine project is funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal through the UK and Welsh Governments, the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government and through private investment.
Business
20mph speed limits could reduce policy costs £50 per year, says insurance firm
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THE average driver could be looking at a £50 saving per year on their car insurance premium if 20mph zones, such as those introduced here in Wales last year, were rolled out in towns and cities across the UK.
The new Government is supportive of local authorities implementing 20mph zones, with Louise Haigh, the Transport Secretary, saying local authorities would have her “absolute support” to introduce the schemes in towns and cities.
In September 2023, the Welsh Government introduced legislation for a default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads with exceptions decided by Local Authorities. Earlier this year, esure reported a 20% drop in claims for car accidents in Wales since this nationwide limit was introduced. Now the firm has found that extending the restrictions across the United Kingdom would result in an average £50 saving for drivers.
esure’s Peter Martin-Simon, Chief Customer Officer, said: “We are already seeing the benefits in places where 20mph speed limits have been introduced. Not only does this make roads safer for drivers and pedestrians, but an extension would also materially reduce the number of car accidents, as well as the severity and cost of those accidents.
Within three months of us identifying a new 20mph zone, we will proactively reduce policy prices for customers like we have already done in Wales.”
esure reduced car policy premiums by c10% for drivers in Wales at the end of 2023.
esure Group partner 20’s Plenty, a Not-for-profit organisation, is asking for a speed limit of 20mph to be normal in residential areas and in town and village centres across the UK.
Reacting to esure’s announcement, Founder Rod King MBE said: “This confirms on a national scale the benefits from lower speeds not only reducing casualties and danger but also providing a benefit to drivers in reduced insurance premiums.
These premium reductions have been delivered in Wales because 20mph is now the norm for urban/village streets. English drivers will continue to face higher premiums until the current patchwork of 20mph limits by exception is consolidated into 20mph as a norm.
We thank esure for their interest and action in identifying and demonstrating these benefits to communities and drivers.”
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