Articles from February 2025

Is it time the UK had a circular packaging plan?

circular packaging

Following the official launch of PackUK, Zoe Brimelow, a Director at packaging manufacturer and consultancy Duo, looks at whether a national packaging plan is now needed to support packaging circularity.

The recent Packaging Innovations and Empack trade show saw the public launch of the UK Government’s packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme administrator, PackUK.

A panel of representatives from the administrator’s steering group came together to outline the aims of the pEPR and highlight the importance of the scheme for driving change and investment in packaging and packaging waste.

Part of the pEPR and PackUK’s remit involves stimulating an estimated £10 billion investment in recycling services and infrastructure over the next decade, as well as promoting more sustainable packaging alternatives.

This will be delivered alongside other initiatives, including Simpler Recycling and the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers.

With so much happening and big investment promises, there seems to be a strong case for a circular packaging plan to build business confidence and industry collaboration.

Industry deserves transparency

Zoe Brimelow
Zoe Brimelow, a Director at packaging manufacturer and consultancy Duo.

Investment in the UK’s recycling infrastructure is desperately needed to increase waste collection services, enhance material segregation and significantly improve the quality of recycled plastic pellets.

Sustained investment averaging £1 billion per year over the next decade could also help to balance supply and demand for recycled plastic in the UK and provide this part of the market with much-needed stability in terms of recycled plastics prices.

Although the promise of investment is welcome, there’s a sense of déjà vu around investment being derived from an economic stimulus that’s intended to support packaging recycling.

In April 2022, the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) was introduced to provide an economic incentive to encourage the use of recycled plastic.

According to HMRC data, from August 2024, the PPT generated £553million in revenues during its first and second years.

There’s been no clarity about how this new stream of tax revenue has been used. The optimist in me wants to believe it has been spent on funding initiatives, such as Simpler Recycling and government-backed projects that support innovation in sustainable plastic packaging.

However, this is nothing more than guesswork and a key reason why we should have a plan for pEPR revenues.

If businesses are going to fund £10 billion of investment via pEPR payments, they deserve clarity about how and when this money will be spent.

A circular packaging strategy could outline key areas of investment in recycling and show how pEPR payments will reduce the reliance on virgin resources by increasing the volumes of recycled content in packaging.

A plan could also provide transparency about the value of industry collaboration to encourage greater support among businesses.

Inspiring confidence, fostering collaboration

Packaging

The official launch of PackUK announced intentions for three working groups, including the Recyclability Assessment Methodology Group, Efficiency and Effectiveness Group, and Communication and Behaviour Change Group.

These groups create opportunities for businesses to pitch ideas and share knowledge and experience. This is crucial for helping to shape reforms and suggest practice measures that will positively impact packaging sustainability and recycling.

Producing a national, publicly available circular packaging plan could help show how these working groups and collaborations are benefitting industry and those professionals taking the time to participate.

There’s a genuine risk that businesses feel that economic stimuli, such as the pEPR and PPT, are a bit like speed and traffic cameras.

The roadside devices are intended to improve road safety but are often viewed as nothing more than revenue generators, which ultimately detracts from their core purpose. The same sentiment can be levied at recycling-related fees and taxes.

If businesses aren’t clear about how revenue from the schemes is benefitting the transition to a circular economy, it can cause scepticism about the value of collaboration and deter businesses from genuinely backing schemes.

The British Plastics Federation and RECOUP produced a Recycling Roadmap that pinpoints three key changes required to improve UK recycling.

These changes, in part, look at the importance of improving communications and investing PPT funds in recycling infrastructure.

A government-led circular packaging plan could be a positive step towards achieving these changes and creating confidence among businesses about how pEPR funds will be reinvested in improving packaging recycling.

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The State of Plastic Waste: A Global Overview

plastic waste

Mass-produced plastic has changed the world for better or worse, Jessica Bradley explores how plastic has reshaped the Earth and what the global landscape currently looks like.

In some ways, plastic has been a modern miracle – it’s durable, lightweight, strong, and low-cost, to name a few of its attributes.

It’s no wonder then that since we started mass-producing plastic in the 1950s, society has gradually become reliant on the material and is now overwhelmed by it.

It’s in the clothes we wear, the packaging in our homes, the transport we rely on, and an overwhelming number of the everyday products we use and enjoy.

Global plastics production and consumption has doubled over the past two decades – and it’s expected to triple by 2060 – but the consequences of our insatiable appetite for plastic are having many devastating consequences.

Less than 10% of all the plastic that’s ever been made has been recycled – partly, because a lot of plastics are difficult to recycle, and also because some countries have poor or no waste management.

The production of plastic is also hugely carbon intensive – globally, plastics were responsible for around 1.7 Gt of greenhouse gas emissions in 2015.

“Greenhouse gases are released at every stage of the plastic life cycle, from extraction to production, trade, use, recycling and end-of-life phases,” says Lynn Sorrentino, programme officer, plastics at IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

The global impact of plastic waste

Global plastic wasteMost plastics don’t degrade; they fragment into microplastics and nanoplastics, which are having detrimental effects on human, animal and planetary health.

“Plastic pollution is pervasive – it’s everywhere on earth, from the Arctic to soil and the air we breathe,” says Elena Buzzi, environmental policy analyst on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) circular economy team.

Exposure to plastic pollution, including micro-and nano-plastics, severely impacts biodiversity and the health and resilience of all ecosystems.

“Plastic pollution significantly reduces ecosystem resilience to climate change and the ability to benefit from disaster risk reduction, as well as amplifying all aspects of the triple planetary crisis,” says Lynn Sorrentino, programme officer, plastics at IUCN – referring to climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.

Communities in the Global South and small island developing sits (SIDS), she says, are disproportionately impacted by the effects of plastic pollution. This is part of the huge economic cost of plastic pollution.

Studies suggest that the cost to global marine ecosystems is more than €11 billion. In Europe alone, removing plastic waste from beaches and coasts is estimated to cost around €630 million every year.

Plastic pollution also presents risks to human health. Microplastics can make their way into food and through the human body and have even been found in the human placenta and breastmilk.

Recent research suggests that the levels of microplastics in our brains could be rising rapidly too. Studies show microplastics accumulate in organs and can lead to biological changes, including inflammation.

One analysis of studies found suspected human health risks from microplastic exposure in three body systems: digestive, reproductive, and respiratory.

“The smaller particles [of microplastics] mean there’s a higher likelihood they can interfere with biological functions,” says Buzzi.

The effects on the environment are also caused by events further up the lifecycle of plastics. Buzzi says processes and extracting the resources needed to produce plastic also use fossil fuels.

She says: “Plastic has a range of impacts all along the life cycle, and degrades throughout its use, production and recycling phase, so it releases microplastics that also contribute to pollution levels.”

Research is ongoing, Buzzi says, but there isn’t yet peer-reviewed evidence regarding the exact levels of plastic pollution exposure that pose risks to human health.

However, scientists recommend that action is taken to slow down our exposure to prevent long-term effects.

Microplastics aren’t the only risk associated with plastics. Phthalates – chemicals that are added to plastics – have been linked to a higher risk of preterm birth, and scientists warn that exposure can affect the immune and reproductive systems.

What are the solutions to plastic problems?

Plastic waste

The global aim of reducing plastic pollution is to move towards the principles of a circular economy for plastic, which will fuel the nascent trend, in Europe at least, of a higher uptake of recycled materials and a decrease in plastic consumption.

This means ending plastic pollution will require huge innovations and improvements in waste management systems to improve the capacity to process plastic waste, many experts say.

The initial important step is being able to consistently and effectively differentiate between plastic waste and scrap plastic for secondary production, to ensure that plastic waste doesn’t end up sitting in dump sites or floating in oceans and rivers, says Rob Delink, senior economist at the OECD.

“The first major thing we need to do is tease out more clearly the composition of waste, and to what extent we can recover plastics or energy,” he says.

In recent years, technologies have been emerging to help tackle plastic pollution at the source, including systems to collect and remove plastic waste from oceans and rivers, using methods such as passive drift systems and autonomous surface vessels, to trap and collect plastic debris.

Additionally, there has been a growing focus on technologies that can plastic waste. Many technologies are emerging to help prevent plastic waste, such as Ecobricks which allows people to repurpose plastic waste into building blocks and plastic roads, which incorporate recycled plastic waste into the asphalt mix.

Internal cooperation is also central to improving waste management because the capacity to handle plastic waste differs widely between countries, Delink says.

Making sure that less waste needs collecting, and investing in recycling more waste and improving sorting practices, is the best approach environmentally, he says.

If we don’t close the tap of producing more plastics, waste management systems might be overstretched.

However, Delink adds, we won’t be able to end plastic pollution if we only look at the end product.

“In Dutch, we have a saying: mopping with the tap open,” he says. “If we don’t close the tap of producing more plastics, waste management systems might be overstretched.”

For example, not all biodegradable plastics can be composted in the same way, which can present financial restrictions for some recycling plants. In addition, these materials only degrade in specific conditions which means they can be just as polluting to marine life.

The higher costs of some plastic alternatives can be prohibitive for consumers – but Deling points out, that this is largely because plastics are artificially cheap by ignoring impacts on the environment.

However, developing alternatives to plastic, and knowing how to nudge consumers’ behaviour, will require more clarity around alternatives to plastic, experts argue.

It isn’t as simple as swapping plastic for alternatives, says Deling, because the environmental impact of substitutes isn’t always zero.

“What’s missing is the decision about what impacts we’re talking about, and the lifecycle impact of alternatives, such as glass,” he says.

“Glass is good for reuse, but if you only reuse it once (and) then discard it, the impact is even higher. We need to understand the full lifecycle of substitutes for plastic.

“We do need alternatives, but we need to be careful we don’t substitute something bad with something worse.”

Buzzi emphasises that it isn’t enough to just switch from single-use plastics to alternatives.

“We need to move to new systems to ensure whatever materials we’re using will be reused multiple times,” she says.

“When we look at waste and what use we can make of it – recycling or energy recovery – a lot will depend on how it’s been designed and what materials it contains.”

It’s important, she adds, to support innovation into producing plastics that are easier to manage and less harmful to the environment, and enable some of the solutions we want to see later on in the lifecycle.

“We’ve had 50, 60 years of plastic, and countless types of plastic and chemicals have additives in them,” she says.

Will we ever see an end to plastic pollution?

The production of plastic has grown exponentially since the 1950s, and in recent years, governments around the world have made efforts to curb plastic pollution. But there’s a growing recognition of the importance of international cohesion in this regard.

And while there’s more and more innovation allowing plastic to be repurposed, experts say there is a long way to go until there is something resembling a circular economy for plastics in place internationally.

Reducing the amount and impact of plastic pollution requires significant action across the lifecycle of plastic, including manufacturers, retailers and consumers. But while there is a long way to go, some experts are optimistic that we could have a future without plastic pollution.

The post The State of Plastic Waste: A Global Overview appeared first on Circular Online.

Reuse charities call for government support to achieve circular economy goals

Reuse

The impact of UK reuse charities must be supported to help achieve the UK’s circular economy goals, according to a report released by Reuse Network.

Reuse Network says it is attempting to clear the barriers currently prohibiting the reuse sector from operating at full potential and supporting the UK government’s circular economy goals.

The charity argues that without policy reform and investment, the sector will struggle to continue delivering environmental and social benefits.

The Reuse Network’s Reuse Roadmap sets out five points that it is asking the UK Government to consider when developing its new Circular Economy Strategy.

These include:

–           breaking the link between waste and reuse by managing resources;

–           removing regulatory burdens obstructing reuse;

–           upgrading to new recruits to manage large item waste;

–           supporting the existing reuse sector;

–           and recognising and valuing the social benefits and public savings created through reuse.

Commenting on the roadmap, Craig Anderson, CEO of Reuse Network, said: “For decades, reuse charities have stepped in where policy has fallen short, ensuring that essential household goods remain accessible to those who need them most.

“Yet, despite our environmental, social, and economic contributions, the value of the reuse sector has never been fully recognised or supported.

“The UK Government must act now to remove restrictive policies and champion reuse in order to unlock its full potential in driving the circular economy forward. The time for recognition and action is long overdue.”

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AI project receives £250,000 investment to reduce waste in construction sector

Construction

Northumbria University secures £250,000 in research funding to enhance sustainability in the construction industry through AI technologies.

The project will develop “AI-driven decision-support systems” to help construction managers identify waste generation points, implement effective handling strategies, and assess project sustainability.

Northumbria University said the systems will measure waste handling efficiency, resource utilisation, and adherence to sustainable practices.

The £250,000 of research funding was secured in the latest Horizon MSCA call from the European Commission,

The project, led by Dr Pablo Martinez Rodriguez from the Department of Architecture and Built Environment at Northumbria, aims to improve waste recycling efficiency, reduce landfill dependency, and promote circular economy principles across the globe.

Commenting on the project, Dr Martinez said: “Sustainable construction is essential for addressing global environmental challenges.

“Our research harnesses AI to precisely track waste generation, optimise resource usage, and provide construction managers with real-time, data-driven insights to enhance waste management efficiency.”

By promoting circular economy principles, we aim to catalyse a global shift toward sustainable construction practices.

The research will also aim to establish best practices, industry guidelines, and policy frameworks to facilitate the adoption of sustainable construction methods.

The University said it will focus on materials reuse and designing buildings for disassembly and reassembly to align with UN Sustainable Development Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production.

This latest project follows existing research by Dr Martinez Rodriguez and Dr Osama Mohsen from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia into how AI can tackle construction waste in the UK and Saudi.

Dr Martinez added: “By promoting circular economy principles, we aim to catalyse a global shift toward sustainable construction practices.

“This research will not only benefit the UK and EU but also set a benchmark for responsible construction worldwide.”

Northumbria University was recently awarded £9 million by UK Research and Innovation to establish a Centre for Doctoral Training in the field of AI.

Known as the Citizen-Centred AI (CCAI), it focuses on the inclusion of citizens in the design and evaluation of AI.

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Net zero sector growing three times faster than UK economy

Net zero

The net zero sector is growing three times faster than the overall UK economy, analysis by the CBI shows.

Between 2023 and 2024, the net zero sector grew 10.1% – three times faster than the 3.2% growth in the overall UK economy.

The analysis by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) found the sector now generates £83.1 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA), a measure of how much value companies provide through goods and services.

The report, commissioned by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, analysed the economic growth attributable to businesses working in net zero including waste management and recycling, green finance, renewable energy, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and energy storage.

With 10,625 businesses active in this sector, the renewable energy planning database – a database of renewable energy projects over 150KW to capture additional renewable energy businesses – was the largest component of the net zero economy.

Renewables and waste management and recycling were the next largest sub-sectors, with 7,138 companies and 5,428 companies, respectively.

The net zero economy is not only driving environmental progress but also delivering transformative economic and social benefits across the UK.

The report said: “The net zero economy is not only driving environmental progress but also delivering transformative economic and social benefits across the UK.

“With its high productivity, investment, and innovation, the sector is a vital pillar of the UK’s transition to a sustainable future.”

The analysis found that employment within the net sector has grown by 10.2% over the past year, with the net zero sector supporting the equivalent of 951,000 full-time jobs.

Jobs in the sector are also outliers for productivity, the analysis found, as each full-time role generates £105,500 in economic value, 38% above the UK average.

The West Midlands, Yorkshire & the Humber, and South West England were the largest net zero hotspots in the UK, collectively accounting for 16.3% of the net zero economy, or £4.7bn to the UK net zero economy.

Scotland’s net zero economy grew by 21.3% since 2022, contributing £9.1 billion in GVA and supporting 100,700 full-time jobs.

The analysis found net zero businesses attracted £23 billion in private investment since 2019, alongside £1.1 billion in Innovate UK grants.

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Announcement – Web3 Development with Foundry Course Launched

In the ever-expanding web3 realm, the Foundry has emerged as one of the most promising inventions in the Ethereum blockchain. However, many individuals do not possess the right skill set and expertise to capitalize on its growing demand. We are excited to announce that the Web3 Development with Foundry course launched on our platform. The course will help you build a solid foundation in web3 as well as Foundry.

The ongoing expansion of blockchain technology has led to the emergence of new toolchains. Foundry is undoubtedly among the top toolchains that exist within the Ethereum blockchain network today. With the growing adoption of blockchain, employers are searching for candidates who have solid expertise and proficiency in web3 development, including blockchain and Foundry. The Web3 Development with Foundry Course by Gimer Cervera (Ph.D., Blockchain Engineer) will help you develop the top skills needed to become a competent web3 professional. 

Master Web3 development with Foundry and craft powerful dApps on Ethereum—build the future, one smart contract at a time!

The Web3 development with foundry course

The fundamental strength of the Web3 Development with Foundry Course revolves around the value that learners can derive from it. The course will serve as a top learning platform that will help you learn the fundamentals of web3.

The web3 development course is the perfect partner that will help you master web3 as well as Foundry fundamentals. The Web3 Development with Foundry Course covers the topics along with hands-on exercises, demos, whiteboard discussions, and interactive exercises. that will help you comprehend the end-to-end process relating to smart contracts development. The rich insights that you will gain will definitely ensure that you can learn Foundry at an in-depth level.

The blockchain foundry course launched recently will equip you with the necessary web3 competencies and proficiency. Moreover, you can apply the skills you have learned in a real-life setting to excel as a web3 professional. Learners have the amazing chance to take advantage of the web3 foundry course launched and choose the career path that suits them.

Target audience for the Web3 development with foundry course

The Web3 Development with Foundry Course launched on the platform is the perfect course for anyone who has a passion for web3 and Foundry. You do not have to possess complex technical prowess to enroll in the course. The course can create immense value for learners who belong to the following categories:

  • Anyone who wants to gain knowledge about how to develop web3 applications and smart contracts can join the course and gain proficiency in these areas.
  • Software engineers or Software developers can gain valuable insights into Foundry, including its libraries and tools.
  • The course can certainly help IT professionals develop highly efficient applications and solutions for Ethereum Blockchain by using the concepts relating to Foundry and Solidity.
  • Innovation Managers, as well as Entrepreneurs, can learn Foundry and confidently progress in the evolving Web3 landscape.

Certified Web 3.0 Professional Certification

Basic insight into the web3 development with foundry course

The important elements you need to know about the blockchain foundry course launched on the learning platform include the learning objectives as well as the covered topics. Below are the chief learning objectives of the course, which can certainly define your learning trajectory. By enrolling in the course, you can:

  • Gain solid knowledge of the fundamentals of Web3, including the deployment and verification of web3 applications.
  • Learn Foundry and understand the core capabilities of its library and tools. 
  • Identify the best practices of utilizing Foundry on the Ethereum Blockchain network and apply them in the real-world setting.
  • Pursue promising career paths in the attractive web3 realm and gain a competitive edge over other professionals. 

You can easily accomplish these objectives with the help of the web3 foundry course launched on the platform. The below modules will provide proper direction to you so that you can become proficient in web3 and Foundry.

  • Web3 and Foundry Fundamentals 
  • Testing with Foundry, Advanced Testing and Debugging 
  • Deployment and Verification of Web3 applications 
  • Development of NFTs with Solmate
  • Web3 project with Foundry

Curious to develop an in-depth understanding of web3 application architecture? Enroll now in the Web3 Application Development Course

Top Reasons to Choose the Web3 Development with Foundry Course

The Web3 Development with Foundry course is undoubtedly the ideal learning platform for web3 professionals who wish to establish a career in blockchain and use the Foundry toolchain. Below are the top reasons why you must select the course immediately.

Top-notch Training

The course will ensure that you can get top-quality training in diverse areas, including web3 and Foundry. Experienced instructors will offer prompt guidance and support to learners so that they can develop top skills to thrive in the evolving web3 landscape.  

Opportunity to Learn Practical Skills

To master new web3 concepts, learners need to have solid theoretical knowledge along with practical skills. The course has been carefully designed so that you can gain hands-on expertise in both these areas. You can apply the knowledge and skills at a comprehensive level in the practical setting while working as a web3 professional. 

Seamless Learning Experience

By enrolling in the course, you do not have to worry about missing out on any important lessons or concepts. The self-paced nature of the course will ensure that you can complete the module in a flexible manner. As there is no specific time limit, you can certainly have a seamless learning experience by choosing the course. 

Hands-on Exercises

Another promising reason to choose the new Web3 Development with Foundry Course launched on our platform is the value and benefit of hands-on exercises. You can utilize the hands-on exercises to practice the skills you learn in each module of the Web3 Development with Foundry course.

Final thoughts 

The Web3 Development with Foundry Course is certainly an ideal resource that will help you transform into a web3 expert. By enrolling in the course, you can be equipped with top skills and prowess related to web development. 

You can undoubtedly gain expertise in Foundry’s tools and techniques and understand how to use them in a real-world setting. The training course will serve as the ultimate pathway that will help you reach new heights as a Web3 professional. 

Advance your Career with Blockchain & Web3 Skills

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Hydrogen fuel can reduce CO2e emissions produced by aluminium recycling “by up to 90%”

Aluminium recycling

Novelis Inc. says it has reduced CO2e emissions produced by the aluminium recycling furnace at its UK plant in Warrington by up to 90% by replacing natural gas with hydrogen fuel.

The recent trial found using hydrogen instead of the same amount of natural gas when operating a melting furnace can reduce CO2e emissions by up to 90%.

The aluminium recycler Novelis Inc. installed new burners, regenerators, and furnace lining material as part of the tests at its plant in Latchford, Warrington, which are part of a UK government decarbonisation programme.

The demonstration project at Novelis Latchford is part of the UK government’s Industrial Fuel Switching Competition programme.

Supported with a grant of £4.6 million, as part of the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio and the wider regional HyNet project, the programme aims to support industry to decarbonise their operations through a switch from natural gas to low carbon hydrogen.

We are transforming the Latchford site into a prototype for high-recycled content and decarbonised aluminium production.

Commenting on the trial, Emilio Braghi, Executive Vice President, Novelis Inc., and President, Novelis Europe, said: “With the significant expansion of our local recycling capacity, we are transforming the Latchford site into a prototype for high-recycled content and decarbonised aluminium production.”

Novelis said it conducted several series of tests, which involved blending different percentages of hydrogen with natural gas (30%-100%) to evaluate the impact on existing infrastructure and equipment compatibility.

During the trial campaign, several hundred tonnes of 3000 series scrap aluminium alloy were remelted and cast into sheet ingots, Novelis said.

Novelis now plans to complete further downstream processing, including rolling and finishing, at its other plants in Europe to establish the “end-to-end” parameters of a hydrogen-based, recycled alloy production process.

Following the full post-trial evaluation and assessments, a report will be released as part of the UK government’s Industrial Fuel Switching programme later this year.

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Why 2025 Could Be a Breakout Year for Bitcoin Adoption?

The domain of cryptocurrency is growing like never before today. One of the specific cryptocurrencies that is booming at the moment is Bitcoin. The maturation of the cryptocurrency market is most likely to define the trajectory of Bitcoin in 2025. If you wish to understand how the Bitcoin adoption rate is expected to undergo change, you must take into account diverse factors. The expanding prominence of bitcoin in the global finance landscape may play a catalytic role in contributing to the adoption of bitcoin. Let us dive deeper into the topic to uncover why 2025 may be a breakout year for Bitcoin adoption.

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What Factors May Lead to Bitcoin Adoption? 

Bitcoin has had a remarkable journey since its emergence. However, in the year 2025, bitcoin may witness greater prosperity and reach diverse corners of the world. That’s right! A diverse range of variables are likely to come into play, leading to its accelerated adoption. Have you been wondering – ‘How much will Bitcoin reach in 2025?’ In order to answer the question, you need to consider the following important factors:

  • Rise in Institutional Adoption of Bitcoin

One of the main drivers of Bitcoin adoption in 2025 is that its presence is skyrocketing at the institutional level. In fact, in 2024, the trend was already observed, and it is likely to gain further momentum in the future. The participation of diverse institutions in the Bitcoin market will definitely lead to a higher Bitcoin adoption rate.

The trend can play a major role in helping bitcoin scale new heights in the cryptocurrency realm. Several top firms, such as Mellon, BNY and many more, have already started integrating Bitcoin into their offerings. In the year 2025, other companies may follow their lead and adopt Bitcoin, thus helping the cryptocurrency to reach new heights.  

  • Changes in the Regulatory Landscape

The regulatory and legislative landscape of cryptocurrency is undergoing considerable change at present. It is likely to undergo further development that may drive the adoption of Bitcoin. It is justified to state that robust regulatory changes may certainly propel Bitcoin and help it skyrocket further.

In 2025, the introduction and implementation of favourable regulations may play a defining role in bolstering the presence of Bitcoin. Thus, the confidence of investors may increase, and they may be willing to engage in cryptocurrency trading. It can definitely lead to broader acceptance and adoption of bitcoin. However, it is equally necessary to keep in mind that the emergence of complex regulations can stifle the adoption of Bitcoin. 

  • Rapid advancement of technology

The 21st century is certainly an era that has witnessed exceptional development in the technological context. With the passage of time, further advancement is likely to take place. This can certainly boost the adoption of bitcoin at the global level. 

In the year 2025, the technological ecosystem of Bitcoin may undergo evolution due to rapid technological advancement. As a result, elements such as scalability, utility as well as privacy may get better. Furthermore, the integration of new types of technologies such as Lightning Networks as well as Fedimints is likely to boost the viability of bitcoin. It can surely push forward the viability of Bitcoin, thereby making it a popular and reliable medium of exchange. 

  • Significant role of Bitcoin Halving

Today, Bitcoin Halving is seen as a major event that may not only impact bitcoin price but also its adoption. Yes, that’s right! It is basically an event that occurs once every four years. It ultimately decreases the block reward by half or 50 %.

The practice relating to bitcoin halving has the potential to alter the existing bitcoin landscape. Moreover, it may reshape the market dynamics and influence whether people are willing to accept bitcoin as a finance instrument or not. The change in bitcoin price may redefine the sentiments of current as well as potential crypto investors.

  • Rising uncertainty in the Global Financial Environment

The current global financial environment is full of uncertainty and unpredictability. It is sad but true! A plethora of factors have led to such uncertainty including devaluation of currencies and increasing level of distrust in banking and financial institutions.

In such a context, the presence of Bitcoin can be seen as a breath of fresh air by many people. People may show their willingness to accept Bitcoin so that the shortcomings and loopholes in the existing financial systems can be eliminated. Bitcoin may serve as the perfect getaway that can help curb the level of uncertainty that people encounter in the current financial domain. It can act as a key factor that may heighten Bitcoin adoption 2025.

The year 2025 is full of new possibilities and opportunities when it comes to the bitcoin realm. It may be a defining point that may expand its overall acceptance and adoption at the global level. The willingness of people to adopt and use bitcoins instead of other financial instruments can lead to rapid cryptocurrency adoption. Therefore, the change in the behavior of people may change how the financial realm operates.

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Revolutionary Power of Bitcoin 

The emergence of bitcoin is nothing less than revolutionary in nature. It has not only led to the transformation of the cryptocurrency landscape, but it has shown potential to redefine the financial realm at the global level. Although the specific cryptocurrency had been written off by sceptics, it has not only survived but also excelled as a cryptocurrency. That’s not all!

Today, it has shown promise in redefining the financial domain by replacing traditional financial practices with modern and efficient practices. In order to unveil the revolutionary power of Bitcoin in 2025, some of the main attributes that you need to bear in mind are: 

  • Decentralization

The core power of bitcoin exists thanks to its feature relating to decentralization. Due to this attribute, the reliance on third parties is reduced entirely. In 2025, more people may be drawn toward the adoption of Bitcoin due to its decentralized nature. They may be attracted toward bitcoin adoption owing to better financial sovereignty. 

  • Scarcity

One of the most revolutionary features of bitcoin revolves around its scarcity. That is definitely true! In total, it is possible to mine 21,000,000 coins, and it is not possible to exceed this limit. Due to this scarcity, the practice of bitcoin halving has come into existence. The limited availability of bitcoins may shape the behavior of investors in the future. It can definitely play a major role to enhance the appeal of bitcoin, thereby escalating its adoption globally.  

  • Economic Hedge

Numerous issues in the global economic landscape in the form of inflation as well as devaluation of currencies. In this complex context, bitcoin may play a major role and serves as the ultimate shield against these elements. In 2025 bitcoin may act as a hedge against such risks and threats that exist. Thus, bitcoin may serve as an ideal choice that can help boost financial stability. 

  • Global Integration of Bitcoin

Gradually, the acceptance of bitcoin is expanding and reaching new levels. It is evident from the fact that bitcoin is making its mark as a medium of exchange. That’s not all! Today there are a number of financial institutions that are introducing debit cards with bitcoin-related features. It goes on to show the rising potential of bitcoins as a new and innovative type of financial tool. 

  • Immutable Nature

The transactions involving bitcoins are immutable in nature. It means that it is not possible for anyone to erase or change any information involving bitcoin transactions. It certainly acts as a security blanket for cryptocurrency users. In current times, when security concerns give a sleepless night to individuals, the immutable dimension serves as a breath of fresh air for users of bitcoins. 

The unique features of Bitcoin may lead to its rising popularity and adoption. Although the specific cryptocurrency is in its nascent stage, it is full of promise and potential. The rapid pace at which the cryptocurrency landscape is undergoing change may positively impact the adoption of Bitcoin. 

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Conclusion 

Bitcoin adoption in 2025 may reach a new level that one cannot imagine. The specific cryptocurrency may reshape the existing financial realm at the global level. Moreover, it may influence how people behave and engage in financial transactions. A broad range of variables may come into play and lead to the rising acceptance and adoption of Bitcoin. 

As bitcoins have the potential to overcome the limitations of traditional financial tools, one must certainly keep an eye on the trajectory of bitcoin. In 2025, the increase in bitcoin adoption rate may open up new possibilities in the global financial setting.

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*Disclaimer: The article should not be taken as, and is not intended to provide any investment advice. Claims made in this article do not constitute investment advice and should not be taken as such. 101 Blockchains shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this article. Do your own research!

The post Why 2025 Could Be a Breakout Year for Bitcoin Adoption? appeared first on 101 Blockchains.

Sainsbury’s to produce biofuel from its recycled food waste

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury’s launches new initiative that will recycle the food waste produced by the supermarket to power 30 trucks at its Emerald Park distribution centre.

By producing biofuel from its food waste, Sainsbury’s says it will save over 3,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

Waste processor RenECO currently works with Sainsbury’s to turn food waste that can’t be donated or used for animal feed into biogas via anaerobic digestion.

Sainsbury’s said it will now use the biogas output of the anaerobic digestion to create a liquid biofuel suitable for HGVs.

Today’s announcement underscores the power that collaboration has in driving impactful change across business.

The supermarket said that the system ensures all fuel comes directly from Sainsbury’s waste, unlike traditional methods that mix certified biomethane with non-renewable gases.

Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Director of Property, Procurement, and EV Ventures, commented: “Today’s announcement underscores the power that collaboration has in driving impactful change across business.

“We are proud to have worked closely with our supplier RenCo to deliver a pioneering move that supports our commitment to circularity and helps us to take a further step towards becoming net zero across our operations by 2035.”

The post Sainsbury’s to produce biofuel from its recycled food waste appeared first on Circular Online.

What is Grok 3? Elon Musk Introduces the ‘Smartest AI on Earth’

The AI landscape is undergoing transformational change at the current time. The latest innovation that has come into existence in the AI realm is Grok 3 AI. Wait, there is more to it! It was introduced by none other than Elon Musk. In fact, Musk’s AI company – xAI has recently introduced Grok 3 artificial intelligence. It is the reason why the words Grok 3 Elon Musk are trending right now.

The Grok 3 release has gained global attention and there is a reason for it. In November 2003, Grok 1 was released, but it was nowhere close to the level of Claude 3.5 Sonnet or GPT-4o. Just a few months later, Grok 2 was released with some improvements, but it was still far behind the top models. However, Grok 3 AI comes with model improvement and an increase in training computing. The team claims that it is 10-15x more powerful than Grok 2.. Let’s dive deeper into the topic to broaden our knowledge of Grok 3.

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Grok 3 Uncovered: Breaking New AI Boundaries

grok 3 ai

Grok 3 is the latest AI chatbot that Musk’s xAI has unveiled. According to Musk, it is definitely the smartest AI to exist on earth. During the launch event, several of the features of the innovative tool were shown, including text-to-video conversion, advanced reasoning capability, and the mechanism relating to self-correction. Although it may be quite early to explore the capabilities of Grok AI at a comprehensive level, it has shown immense promise.

One unique feature that helps Grok 3 AI to stand out from its predecessor is related to the use of computational resources. The team behind the development of Grok 3 has used ten times the computational resources that were utilized in the previous model. On the basis of the tests that have been undertaken, Grok 3’s performance is much better than that of other AI tools that exist today. In order to address the question ‘What is Grok 3?’ holistically, you need to look at its core capabilities.

Core features of Grok 3

Grok 3 comes with a number of unique features and attributes that make it stand out from the crowd. By understanding its chief features, you can get a better idea of the capabilities of the novel invention. Some of the main features that contribute to the uniqueness of Grok 3 include:

  • DeepSearch

DeepSearch is definitely a distinguishing attribute of Grok 3 that you need to familiarize yourself with. It is basically an Artificial Intelligence-powered smart search engine. That’s not all! It has been specifically designed to improve the level of transparency and interaction. It is undoubtedly a standout attribute since it gives a glimpse into the thought process of Grok 3 AI. Moreover, it also simplifies queries into smaller parts and offers rich contextual insights. 

  • Availability

Many people have already started wondering about the availability of Grok 3 artificial intelligence. The novel tool is already available to Premium+ subscribers on X. Furthermore, the company plans to introduce a new subscription plan called ‘SuperGrok.’ Although it has not been launched till now, it will come into existence soon for the users of Grok 3.

  • Reasoning Model

Another distinguishing feature of Grok 3 artificial intelligence revolves around its reasoning capability. That’s right. The novel AI solution has been designed as a reasoning tool. It has not been designed like the traditional AI tools. Such a designing approach could mean that Grok 3 AI has stounding reasoning competencies and abilities. The team has consciously adopted such an approach so that Grok 3 AI can be more adaptable and intelligent than other AI tools. 

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Key things to know about Grok 3 AI

One may certainly expect Grok 3 artificial intelligence to be the next big thing that is about to enter the AI realm. In order to get familiar with Grok 3, you need to understand several things. Firstly, Musk, during the launch event, focused on the unique dimensions of the AI tool, including empathy and deep understanding. It implies that Grok 3 AI is most likely to combine these elements, thereby creating better value for users.  

Although Grok 3 AI is very new at the moment, its polished version may emerge within a week. Moreover, users can expect to see improvements in the novel AI tool every single day. A specific feature that the team has been working on revolves around voice interaction attributes.  It has the potential to revolutionize how users interact with AI technology.  

The team that has developed Grok 3 artificial intelligence has strengthened the capabilities of the tool by adopting a comprehensive approach. It has obviously made modifications to the training process in order to make it better and more effective. Additionally, the team has focused on other areas, including the implementation of synthetic databases, reinforcement learning, and self-correction capabilities. These key elements may play a catalytic role to enhance the overall performance of Grok 3 AI.  

Superior capability of Grok 3

During the live demonstration of Grok 3, there was an amazing revelation regarding the capability of Grok 3. Musk and the development team demonstrated the new AI solution’s capability. The comparison of Grok 3 with other popular AI models such as ChatGPT 4, DeepSeek, and Claude 3.5 Sonnet shows that Grok 3 is better than them. The performance of Grok 3 has been superior, especially in areas including mathematics, coding, and scientific reasoning. 

According to Elon Musk, Grok 3 AI has the capability to save hundreds of hours that one may spend on performing coding tasks. It is definitely amazing news for all the coders, engineers, and programmers all across the globe. The robust capabilities of Grok 3 artificial intelligence will play an instrumental role to heighten its relevance as well as applicability in the real world. 

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Need for frequent updates

In case users wish to derive optimum value from Grok 3 AI they need to update their Grok app. It will enable them to enjoy the most advanced features of the new AI tool. Furthermore, the SuperGrok premium subscription plan will serve as the ultimate pathway that will allow users to gain access to the latest AI developments. 

Since Grok 3 AI will be receiving updates very frequently, users need to check for updates frequently. Even in a matter of 24 hours, new capabilities, features, and improvements may arise that users can enjoy while using Grok 3 artificial intelligence.

Challenges and achievements by the development team of Grok 3

Many people today already believe Grok 3 to be an extremely promising AI tool. However, in order to develop the tool, the development team faced a broad range of challenges as well as obstacles. 

The team had to create their very own data center right from scratch while working on Grok 3 AI. Moreover, the complexity of the situation became intense since they had to do it in a matter of only four months. It was definitely not an easy feat to achieve. 

The team at xAI was able to get 100,000 GPUs up and running within just 22 days. That’s not all. It was also able to successfully double the capability in a span of 92 days. It is definitely a remarkable milestone for the entire team. Thus, the developers and all members at xAI have worked extremely hard to create Grok 3 artificial intelligence and integrate unique features into it.

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Bright future of Grok 3 AI

On the basis of the capabilities, features, and functionalities of Grok 3 AI, the future of AI seems to be extremely bright and prosperous. Its capabilities may lead to a surge in demand and use in the practical setting. 

Users may prefer the specific AI model over other models owing to its robust reasoning capabilities, high level of accuracy, and top-notch performance. As per the revelations by Elon Musk and his team at xAI, Grok 3 artificial intelligence could transform the existing AI arena and show human beings something new. However, one has to wait and watch to see the future trajectory of Grok 3 AI.

Final words

Grok 3 is the ultimate AI solution that Elon Musk’s xAI has launched. The new AI tool is full of promise and potential. It has been positioned as the smartest AI that has ever come into existence. 

Many believe that Grok 3 artificial intelligence could be the ultimate game changer in the prevailing AI realm. Users can explore the features and functionalities of the new novel AI to get a glimpse into its actual capabilities. Moreover, by regularly updating the application, users can derive maximum benefits from Grok 3 AI and enjoy its latest improvements. 

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