Sustainability

GEF Names Diego Mesa Puyo CEO as $4.3B GEF-9 Fund Cycle Launches

Washington – October 01, 2026 -- Diego Mesa Puyo began a four-year term as CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), taking charge of the world's largest public environmental funder as it opens its GEF-9 cycle backed by more than $4.3 billion in initial donor pledges for 2026-2030.

UK adds £330 million to GEF-9 replenishment as total donor commitments pass $4 billion

The UK government pledged £330 million to the fund last week, pushing country commitments to the ninth replenishment above $4 billion. The capital will finance environmental protection and restoration programs through 2030, with deepened support planned for Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, alongside expanded engagement with Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Bridgestone Named Sole Tire Supplier for Formula E's GEN4 Era

Rome – October 01, 2026 -- Bridgestone Americas will become the sole tire supplier for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship starting with the 2026/27 Season, equipping the fastest car in the series' history.

GEN4 car hits 208 mph with 815bhp, demanding new tire engineering

The new GEN4 racing car accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 1.8 seconds, reaches a top speed of 208 mph and delivers 600kW (815bhp) of peak power with permanent active all-wheel drive. Bridgestone developed the POTENZA GEN4 tire specifically to handle this performance increase, offering high grip, durability across full race distances and adaptability to varied global road and weather conditions.

DENSO Solar Facility in Athens, TN Offsets 14% of Plant's Power Use

Athens, Tenn. – October 01, 2026 -- DENSO Manufacturing Athens Tennessee (DMAT) has generated more than 3,200 MWh of electricity through August from a new 5.25-megawatt solar facility, offsetting an estimated 1,125 metric tons of carbon emissions since launching in May.

Solar facility covers 18.8 acres with over 10,000 modules

The installation, built on the north side of DENSO's Athens property, ranks among DENSO's largest onsite renewable energy projects in North America. At a nameplate capacity of 5.25 megawatt alternating current (MWac), the system is expected to offset nearly 14% of DMAT's annual power consumption once fully operational for a full year.

Kerry Opens First Pennsylvania Plant to Scale Coffee Extraction

Bethlehem – October 01, 2026 -- Kerry has opened its first manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania, a coffee extraction plant in Bethlehem that significantly expands the company's hot and cold brew capacity for North American customers.

Kerry cuts ribbon on Bethlehem plant with independent hot and cold brew lines

The facility, first announced in September 2025, officially opened September 30 with a ceremony attended by customers, industry partners and government officials. The site uses advanced extraction, concentration and thermal processing technologies to produce formulation-specific coffee ingredients for ready-to-drink beverages, alcoholic drinks, ice cream and savory sauces. Its independent extraction lines are designed to scale as customer demand increases.

Ecomondo 2026 to Host 1,800 Exhibitors as EU Circular Economy Act Takes Center Stage

Rimini, Italy – October 01, 2026 -- Ecomondo 2026 will gather roughly 1,800 exhibiting brands at Rimini Expo Centre from November 3 to 6, with international exhibitor participation rising 10% year-on-year, organizer Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) announced.

Show footprint expands to 169,000 square metres across 30 halls

The 29th edition of the circular and regenerative economy event will occupy 169,000 square metres and span 30 exhibition halls. More than 1,000 hosted buyers from around the world are expected, backed by support from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), according to Event Director Alessandra Astolfi.

ADAMA Launches Zero-Residue Botrytis Fungicide Actavan in ANZ

Beijing and Tel Aviv – October 01, 2026 -- ADAMA Ltd. (SZSE: 000553) has launched Actavan®, a plant-based fungicide for grapes, in Australia and New Zealand, offering growers a zero-residue tool against Botrytis with no pre-harvest interval.

Beet-extract compound activates grapevine immune defenses before infection

Actavan® is a Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) elicitor derived from beet extract. It triggers genes that produce enzymes degrading pathogen cell walls while stimulating antimicrobial phytoalexins, activating the plant's own defense response ahead of fungal attack.

Hoymiles Supplies 300 Microinverters for Freiburg Solar Upcycling Event

Freiburg, Germany – October 01, 2026 -- Hoymiles supplied 300 microinverters to convert 600 used solar panels into plug-in photovoltaic systems during an upcycling event in Freiburg, Germany, marking the company's third consecutive year supporting the initiative.

600 panels from a toothbrush factory get a second life

The panels had operated for 13 years on the roof of a toothbrush factory in the Black Forest before being dismantled. According to organizer BalkonSolar e.V., roughly 5% of the panels showed defects, while the remainder were suitable for immediate reuse. More than 500 citizens, alongside local organizations and public representatives, assembled 300 plug-in PV systems, each pairing two used modules with a Hoymiles microinverter and cabling.

Engineering Plastics Market Set to Nearly Triple to $300B by 2034

Pune – – September 30, 2026 -- The global engineering plastics market reached USD 125.10 billion in 2025 and is projected to hit nearly USD 300 billion by 2034, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 7.4% from 2026, according to a new analysis by Maximize Market Research.

Automotive and EV production drove 2025 demand for engineering plastics

Automotive & Transportation was the leading end-use industry in 2025, with engineering plastics used in battery housings, fuel systems, electronic modules, lighting, and structural components. Polyamide (PA) held the dominant market share by material type due to its strength, wear resistance, and chemical stability, while polycarbonate is gaining traction in EV battery enclosures, electronic housings, medical devices, and LED lighting.

Panasonic OASYS Air System Debuts in Houston Homes via Builder Deal

Newark, N.J. – – September 30, 2026 -- Panasonic Eco Systems North America (PESNA) has signed a strategic builder partnership with 1st Choice Development to install its OASYS whole-home indoor air quality system in new construction near Downtown Houston, targeting a market where humidity and ozone routinely degrade indoor air.

ICU nurse-turned-developer embeds health standards into first duplex and single-family build

Byron Holman, an ICU nurse and co-founder of 1st Choice Development, is integrating OASYS into the company's first duplex and single-family home currently under development. Holman said the goal is to extend healthier, higher-performing housing features to everyday homeowners rather than reserving them for luxury construction.

Ørsted Starts 200 MW Blackwater Solar Project in New Mexico

Austin – September 30, 2026 -- Ørsted has begun construction on Blackwater Solar, a 200 MW solar farm in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, marking the Danish energy developer's first project in the state.

Project will supply power equivalent to 56,000 homes under long-term contract

Located between Portales and Clovis, Blackwater Solar is backed by a long-term power purchase agreement designed to meet rising industrial electricity demand within the Southwest Power Pool territory. The facility will generate enough electricity annually to power the equivalent of more than 56,000 homes. Ørsted sourced the project's solar panels from domestic manufacturer First Solar. Commercial operations are expected to begin in late 2027.