Sustainability News for 28th July: Introduction
Welcome to your Sustainability News for 28th July, where we spotlight stories that don’t just lift spirits but offer real-world solutions. From Paris’s famous river making waves again to seaweed-based ink and AI-powered berries, this week shows that progress comes in all shapes, and sometimes smells a bit like kelp.
At Play It Green, we love celebrating bold innovation. So grab a cuppa and read on for your weekly dose of eco optimism.
Paris Opens the Seine for Swimming After €1.4 Billion Clean-Up
For the first time in over a century, Parisians can legally swim in the River Seine. Thanks to a €1.4 billion clean-up campaign, three public swimming spots have opened, turning once-polluted waters into a place of leisure and community.
The initiative, driven partly by the 2024 Olympic Games, transformed the river with stormwater basins and daily monitoring. The result? A return of 34 fish species, vastly improved water quality, and families sunbathing in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.
Aglaé Janel, a local mum, said, “We’ll keep an eye on the kids, but we trust it.” Others, like expat Kathryn Boccuzzi, were pleasantly surprised by how clean the water felt, despite the odd floating leaf.
Scepticism hasn’t vanished overnight, and there’s still litter. But public sentiment is shifting. “It feels like a historic moment,” said student Mathis Beautrais. “And at the same time, it’s pleasant!”
This reopening is more than a summer novelty. This is a powerful reminder that nature can recover with time, effort and the political will to invest in clean urban living.
Seaweed Ink Blends Art with Ocean Conservation
Artists are turning to the sea, quite literally, for their latest medium. As part of WWF’s ‘Art For Your Oceans’ project, 16 creators including Antony Gormley have used biodegradable seaweed ink to craft pieces that support marine conservation.
The ink comes from regeneratively farmed kelp, which doesn’t just avoid harm to ocean ecosystems, it actively helps. Kelp absorbs carbon, boosts marine biodiversity, and has commercial uses ranging from packaging to bioplastics.
The seaweed-derived pigments were used in a recent Sotheby’s exhibition, raising funds to support ocean health and coastal community initiatives. Artist Anya Gallaccio even mixed mollusc shells and crushed stones into her work to reflect nature’s raw materials.
With the global seaweed market expected to hit £28.6 billion by 2033, this initiative brings awareness to a growing green industry. One that blends environmental repair with cultural value.
As Mollie Gupta from WWF UK said, “The funds raised will help considerably in our fight to bring our world back to life.” And if that includes some gorgeous kelp-themed art on your wall, all the better.
M&S Invests £1 Million to Cut Farm Emissions
Marks & Spencer is taking Scope 3 emissions seriously, and putting £1 million on the table to tackle them. Through its Plan A Accelerator Fund, the retailer is backing innovations to cut agricultural emissions, focusing on precision, AI, and methane-reducing techniques.
Current projects include AI-assisted ‘precision pollination’ to boost berry yields and biodiversity, and low-emission livestock trials, including changes in feed and cattle breeding.
It’s a smart move. 94% of M&S’s carbon footprint lies in its supply chain. With Scope 3 now a regulatory focus and reputational issue, this type of action is more than PR. It’s future-proofing.
Victoria McKenzie-Gould, the company’s corporate affairs lead, said their long-standing supplier relationships made innovation possible: “It’s about a shared belief in doing the right thing.”
Other retailers like Waitrose are joining the trend, offering their own funds to farmers for regenerative practices. But M&S has gone further, aligning its 2040 net-zero strategy with verified interim targets and science-based metrics.
It’s a solid reminder that corporate emissions don’t end at the warehouse door. It shows that funding the right ideas early can deliver both environmental and business value.
Sustainability News for 28th July: Wrap-Up
This week’s Sustainability News for 28th July shows what’s possible when investment meets imagination. From the Seine’s historic splash to AI-powered farming and kelp-powered art, these stories remind us that change can be creative, bold, and joyful.
At Play It Green, we believe your everyday actions, whether switching to green energy, rebalancing your footprint, or simply staying curious, all contribute to a cleaner, fairer future.
Let’s carry that momentum forward and keep showing the world what’s possible.
Make Positive Sustainability News of Your Own!
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Whether it’s adding nature repair to your sales process, engaging and educating employees, or strengthening your environmental credentials, the tools and support are there to make it simple and cost effective.
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