Shaken Not Burned

Highlighting changemakers and solutions

Glossary - Cultured meat

Cultured meat, also known as lab-grown, cultivated or cell-based meat, is real meat produced by growing animal cells in a lab instead of raising and slaughtering animals. Cells are fed with a nutrient-rich solution called a growth medium, which contains essential nutrients such as amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and growth factors that the cells need to multiply.

The final product is exactly the same as meat produced through conventional farming, but it consumes far fewer resources and is widely considered less cruel to animals. The idea is to appeal to meat eaters, rather than vegetarians or vegans, to help them replace products derived from farming with a more sustainable alternative.

Busting a myth - The CSDDD doesn’t affect smaller businesses

Although the CSDDD, and equivalent regulations in other countries, do not explicitly apply to smaller businesses, they require large corporations to detail the impacts of their entire value chain. As these large corporations gather their data and attempt to reduce their footprint, they will depend heavily on the engagement of their smaller suppliers. They will favour those who can help them to comply, and exclude those who aren’t engaged.

The initial size/turnover criteria are only the first step: in the future, we can expect similar rules to be introduced for smaller companies, so it helps to be prepared in advance.

What we’ve been reading this week

• Renewable sources have overtaken fossil fuels to generate 30% of the EU’s electricity in the first six months of this year. Coal and gas were outstripped by solar and wind in 13 Member States, including Germany, Belgium, Hungary and the Netherlands.

• UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has confirmed the new Labour Government’s plans to increase and extend the windfall tax on oil and gas companies, while simultaneously decreasing their investment allowance. 

• The number of plastic bags found on UK beaches has dropped by an impressive 80% since the introduction of mandatory charges between 2011 and 2015. This is a clear example of policy decisions driving widespread behavioural change, raising the hope that similar measures could be successful in tackling other single-use items.

• CEOs are encountering a record number of both ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and anti-ESG shareholder proposals. Support for these proposals is mixed, with varied opinions on the importance and implementation of ESG principles in corporate governance. While it is positive to see these issues raised at the board level, the growing divide between investors is somewhat concerning.

• The record temperature for the world’s hottest days has been smashed twice in one week, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service. This is a stark reminder that we are tipping further and further into unchartered territory.