There have been lots of new positive climate stories over the past few weeks, and they’re guaranteed to put a smile on your face! So grab a cuppa and settle down to read our latest positive planet newsletter.

Manchester’s reuse centre has repaired and resold 50,000 items

The Renew Hub, based in Manchester, is the UK’s biggest reuse centre. It allows residents to donate items like furniture or clothing, which are in good condition or just need minor repairs. They then get repaired and resold at various shops around the city to give them a new lease of life. The Renew Hub recently hit its first huge milestone of having resold over 50,000 items and saved over 500 tonnes of material from going to landfill.

The world’s biggest offshore wind farm opens in the North Sea

The world’s biggest offshore wind farm is now fully operational, and can generate enough electricity to power 1.3 million homes. Wind farms are a great renewable energy source, and are used to replace burning fossil fuels, which are harmful for the environment. The new development, called Hornsea 2, has taken five years to create and lies 55 miles off the coast of Yorkshire.

More supermarkets ditch best before dates

Many supermarkets in the UK like Asda, Aldi and Sainsburys have decided to scrap the best before dates on produce to try tackle food waste. Best before dates, unlike use by dates, are simply there to inform people about the quality of food rather than the overall safety. This can lead to people throwing away perfectly good food which is still safe to be eaten. It’s hoped that ditching the best before dates will help prevent this wastage.

The first ever bubble barrier prevents plastic from reaching the sea

The ‘Great Barrier Bubble’ has recently been installed in Amsterdam to stop plastic from the canals flowing into the North Sea. The barricade comes from air being pumped through tubing to produce a curtain of bubbles. The bubbles then propel plastic waste to the surface, before guiding it to a catchment system on the side of the waterway.

Hawaii has closed its last coal plant

The doors of Hawaii’s last ever coal plant have recently been shut, following a state-wide law which bans the use of coal energy production from next year. The closure of the coal plant will stop 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 from being emitted. Hawaii has a goal of transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2045, so this is definitely a step in the right direction for them to achieve it!

UK doctors to prescribe active travel and free bikes in a new pilot

A government funded plan aims to improve physical and mental health by prescribing walking and cycling. The new pilot aims to relieve the pressure on the NHS as well as improving air quality. The plan includes measures such as cycling training, walking groups, and free bike loans to get people out and about. The scheme will be available to people in 11 cities across the UK such as Leeds and Nottingham.

We hope that our positive climate news stories have helped to brighten your day! Keep a lookout for our next positive planet newsletter in two weeks time, but until then you can follow us on social media @ForHousing to learn more about sustainability.