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Aspartame is one of the world's most popular sweeteners, used in products from Coca-Cola diet sodas to Mars' Extra chewing gum. In its first declaration on the additive, announced early on Friday, the Lyon-based International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) said aspartame was a "possible carcinogen". Several scientists not associated with the reviews said the evidence linking aspartame to cancer is weak. There was also some limited evidence that aspartame has some chemical properties that are linked to cancer, the IARC said. Scientists with no links to the WHO reviews said the evidence that aspartame caused cancer was weak.

Persons: Francesco Branca, " Branca, JECFA, Branca, Mary Schubauer, Paul Pharaoh, Pharaoh, Kate Loatman, Frances Hunt, Wood, Richa Naidu, Caroline Humer, Catherine Evans Organizations: World Health Organization, WHO, Agency for Research, Cancer, Food, Agriculture Organization, FAO, Reuters, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, International Council of Beverage Associations, International, Thomson Locations: Lyon, Geneva, United States, Europe, Cedars, Los Angeles

[1/4] Diet Coke is seen on display at a store in New York City, U.S., June 28, 2023. Aspartame, used in products from Coca-Cola diet sodas to Mars' Extra chewing gum and some Snapple drinks, will be listed in July as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" for the first time by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization's (WHO) cancer research arm, the sources said. Pepsico removed aspartame from sodas in 2015, bringing it back a year later, only to remove it again in 2020. Listing aspartame as a possible carcinogen is intended to motivate more research, said the sources close to the IARC, which will help agencies, consumers and manufacturers draw firmer conclusions. But it will also likely ignite debate once again over the IARC's role, as well as the safety of sweeteners more generally.

Persons: Coke, Shannon Stapleton, Health Organization's, JECFA, Nozomi Tomita, Zsuzsanna, Germany’s Bayer, Frances Hunt, Wood, Mars Wrigley, Kate Loatman, –, Jennifer Rigby, Richa Naidu, Michele Gershberg, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, International Agency for Research, Cancer, Health, Joint WHO, Food, Agriculture Organization's, WHO, Reuters, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour, Welfare, Food Safety Authority, U.S, International, Association, Cargill, International Council of Beverages Associations, Ramazzini Institute, EFSA, Pepsico, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, United States, Europe, Geneva, France, Italy, sodas

JECFA, the WHO committee on additives, is also reviewing aspartame use this year. The first group includes substances from processed meat to asbestos, which all have convincing evidence showing they cause cancer, IARC says. Like aspartame, this means there is either limited evidence they can cause cancer in humans, sufficient evidence in animals, or strong evidence about the characteristics. Pepsico removed aspartame from sodas in 2015, bringing it back a year later, only to remove it again in 2020. Listing aspartame as a possible carcinogen is intended to motivate more research, said the sources close to the IARC, which will help agencies, consumers and manufacturers draw firmer conclusions.

Persons: Coke, Shannon Stapleton, Health Organization's, JECFA, Nozomi Tomita, Zsuzsanna, Germany’s Bayer, IARC, Frances Hunt, Wood, Mars Wrigley, Kate Loatman, –, Jennifer Rigby, Richa Naidu, Michele Gershberg, Mark Potter, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, International Agency for Research, Cancer, Health, Reuters, Joint WHO, Food, Agriculture Organization's, WHO, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour, Welfare, Food Safety Authority, U.S, International, Association, Cargill, International Council of Beverages Associations, Ramazzini Institute, EFSA, Pepsico, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, United States, Europe, Geneva, France, Italy, sodas

☆ Online brands and companies like Nike are going old-school and returning to brick-and-mortar department stores
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Yeji Jesse Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Online brands like Warby Parker and Allbirds are also opening brick and mortar shops. Brands that have moved away from department stores and physical shops in recent years are now pivoting back to traditional retail tactics after experiencing first-hand the difficulty of acquiring and retaining customers directly online. And they're not alone: even digital-first brands like Warby Parker and Allbirds have also opened new physical storefronts. A recent study by UBS predicted that retail stores would continue to close over the next five years and estimated that 50,000 shops would disappear by 2028. Nike has also recently announced that it's expanding partnerships with other physical retailers like Designer Brands and Foot Locker after years of steadily cutting its wholesale relationships.

Persons: it's, Warby Parker, Allbirds, —, they're, Simeon Siegel, Noble, Locker Organizations: Nike, Service, Brands, Journal ., Interim, Getty, BMO Capital Markets, International Council of Shopping Centers, Ross Stores, Barnes, Body Works, Walmart, UBS Locations: Macy's, Burlington

☆ The world’s most eco-conscious airlines
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Elissa Garay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Most sustainability experts will scoff at the idea of “sustainable” and “airlines” in the same sentence. In 2022, an Airbus wide-body Beluga XL transport aircraft was filled with Sustainable Aviation Fuel" (SAF) for the first time. WiderøeNorway-based Widerøe, the largest regional airline in Scandinavia, says it is on track to become one of the world’s first fully emissions-free airlines. Alaska AirlinesAlaska Airlines has invested heavily in Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty ImagesWhile most major global airlines are targeting 2050 for net-zero carbon emissions, Alaska Airlines intends to meet that target as soon as 2040.

Persons: ”, Pedro Piris, Sola Zheng, Sina Schuldt, Nicolas Jammes, ” Akbar Al Baker, “, Zheng, –, that’s, it’s, Beata Zawrzel, Fabrizio Gandolfo, Nicolas Economou, Bauer, Griffin, It’s Organizations: CNN, Environmental Defense Fund, International Council, Clean Transportation, Commercial, International Air Transport Association, UN, Airbus, Beluga XL, Sustainable Aviation, Qatar Airways, SAF, European Union, Google, Environmental Defense, Airlines, United Airlines United, Aerospace, United, Flight Fund, Widerøe Norway, Widerøe, Royce, SAS SAS, Scandinavian, SAS, Wizz, Wizz Air, Etihad Airways Etihad, Getty, Etihad Airways, United Arab Emirates, Boeing, Etihad, Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines, Aviation Fuels, AaronP, Alaska Airlines, Air Canada Canadian, Air Canada Locations: Europe, Denmark, Sweden, ICCT, Scandinavia, Norway, Canada

☆ Gen Z likes shopping in stores just as much as they do online, survey finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Gen Z are a tech-savvy generation but they like shopping in physical stores just as much as online. A new survey found that Gen Z like being able to see, touch and try a product before buying it. A new report by the International Council of Shopping Centers surveyed 1,008 people aged 16 to 26 about their shopping habits and preferences. It found that although 95% of Gen Z like shopping online, just as many (97%) also enjoy going to the mall. Gen Z are voracious shoppers with social media encouraging young people to buy new clothes regularly.

Persons: —, Gen, Gen Z, it's Organizations: Service, International Council of Shopping Centers, Maxx, Walmart, Marshalls, Target, Social, Sheffield Hallam University Locations: Zara, England

☆ A ‘Dirty’ Job That Few Want: Mining Companies Struggle to Hire for the Energy Transition
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +10 min

Despite their part in the energy transition, mining companies face a perception of being in a “dirty” industry thanks to a legacy of mining disasters and accusations of worker exploitation and sexual assault. Canada’s mining and mineral-engineering enrollment was down 10% in 2020 compared with 2016, according to Canada’s Mining Industry Human Resources Council. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS What message should mining companies deliver to young workers to attract them to the industry? Mining companies also face accusations of exploitation of local workforces. She hopes that younger workers will help mining companies evolve, taking on more social responsibility and improving their mining practices.

Persons: Lily Dickson, Mawson, ”, Alex Gorman, Peel Hunt, Rohitesh Dhawan, Alex Gorman “, Gorman, “, Haydon Mort, Stacy Hope, Cole Burston, Hope, Codelco, Centamin, Martin Horgan, Mort, Geologize, Jamie Kelsey Fry, Dickson, Yusuf Khan Organizations: University of Leeds, Leeds, Rio Tinto, McKinsey, U.S . National Center for Education Statistics, Canada’s Mining, Resources Council, Peel, International Council, Mining, Metals, Tinto, of Labor Statistics, Australian Bureau, Statistics, Geologize Ltd, BHP, . Workers, Bloomberg, Codelco, Chilean, Walmart, Recruiting, Centamin, Sustainable Business, “ Locations: Finland, Vancouver, Europe, U.S, Australia, Rio, South Africa, Lily Dickson Canada, Botswana, “, Saharan Africa, Ontario, Canada, Chile, Africa, Congo, Ghana, Zimbabwe, yusuf.khan

☆ Cosmic Aerospace is working on an electric plane with real range
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Denver startup Cosmic Aerospace is developing a fully electric plane to reduce air pollution from regional flights. The aim is to build an electric plane that operates without any emissions but that can still fly for just over 600 miles. Alex Teng, a partner at 50 Years, told CNBC his firm invested in Cosmic partly owing to the cofounders' experience in aviation. The fund also liked that Cosmic is tackling a problem that other developers of electric planes and air taxis have not solved yet -- getting beyond the short hop flight. "Electric aviation has always suffered from a range problem," Teng said, "but my average flight is over 500 miles personally.

☆ Why Porsche is investing $100 million on eFuels to keep its cars on the road
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Robert Ferris | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Porsche has invested more than $100 million in the development of eFuels. "With this approach we have another lever, another opportunity to reduce the CO2 footprint for the combustion engine-driven cars," said Karl Dums, senior manager of eFuels at Porsche. "Electric cars are more expensive to produce, so they are margin dilutive," said Daniel Schwarz, managing director at Stifel. "And Porsche managed to increase the share of electric cars and increase the profitability in parallel." But critics of Porsche's $100 million push into eFuels argue the resultant fuel will be too expensive and inefficient to ever compete with electrification.

☆ Lack of electric vans opens door for Chinese, other EV makers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

[1/3] Tristan Thomas, CEO of Packfleet, demonstrates charging an electric van made by Chinese brand Maxus at the fully-electric package delivery firm's headquarters in London, Britain, October 27, 2022. Packfleet grew tenfold in 2022 and CEO Tristan Thomas said most of the company's 53-vehicle fleet are Maxus vans. SAIC said it sold 18,000 mostly electric Maxus brand vehicles in Western Europe and Scandinavia last year, including buses and pickup trucks. Fleet manager Sean Clifton has 50 additional Ford vans and 20 Maxus vans on order, but will need more soon as Asda electrifies its 1,300 delivery vans. There is no difference in delays for conventional and electric vans at Renault, said commercial vehicle marketing director John Cleworth.

☆ EPA proposes new tailpipe rules that could push EVs to make up two-thirds of new car sales in US by 2032
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The agency anticipates the new rules would mean EVs could also make up nearly half of all new medium-duty vehicles, like delivery trucks, by model year 2032. One expert told CNN the Biden administration’s proposal is a pivotal moment for the US auto industry and consumers. Six in 10 respondents said they believe EVs help the environment “only a little” or “not at all,” Gallup reported. “Folks who purchase electric vehicles will see a cost savings over the lifespan of the vehicle, because they’re not having to buy gas, having to pay for maintenance,” Regan said. That means much of the US car industry will already be transitioning ahead of the proposed federal rules.

The EU has progressively tightened limits since "Euro 1" in 1992. The Commission's proposal widens real-driving emissions (RDE) testing and adds continuous testing of emissions via an on-board monitoring system. Euro 7 would take effect in mid-2025 for cars and in mid-2027 for trucks and buses. The European Commission estimates Euro 7 could add up to 150 euros to car prices and 2,600 euros for trucks and buses. A Commission spokesperson declined to comment on executives' statements, but said Euro 7's real-driving emissions tests were important because of "scandals in the past about cheating devices".

As part of this effort, White House officials said, they locked a commitment from Tesla to open thousands of its chargers to electric vehicles made by other manufacturers. Tesla has intended to open up its charging network in the US for years. But in one omission that will raise questions from staunch environmentalists, the new federally funded EV chargers will not necessarily be powered by clean energy sources. According to environmental impact research by Project Drawdown, compared to gasoline-powered vehicles, emissions drop by 50% when an electric vehicle's power is drawn from the conventional grid. During the briefing, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm emphasized that the President's goal is to get to a "fully clean electric grid" by 2035.

☆ The U.S. passed a historic climate deal this year — here's a recap of what's in the bill
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

The IRA's provisions have major implications for clean energy and manufacturing businesses, climate startups and consumers in the coming years. As 2022 comes to a close, here's a look back at the key elements in the legislation that climate and clean energy advocates will be monitoring in 2023. Taking aim at methane gas emissionsSome pumpjacks operate while others stand idle in the Belridge oil field near McKittrick, California. Mario Tama | Getty ImagesThe package imposes a tax on energy producers that exceed a certain level of methane gas emissions. And the bill has a hydrogen production tax credit, which provides hydrogen producers with a credit based on the climate attributes of their production methods.

Another was the requirement for companies to assess and disclose their impact and reliance on nature, despite the word "mandatory" being dropped from the final deal. While protecting nature comes at a cost, those companies that step up will attract more investors. "The big losers across the board will be 'business as usual'," said Eurasia Group senior analyst Franck Gbaguidi. A body representing some of the world's largest mining companies, including Glencore (GLEN.L) and Newcrest (NCM.AX), said disclosure would lead to a level playing field between sectors. The bill was ultimately calculated at $20 billion per year by 2025 and $30 billion per year by 2030.

☆ Yes, electric vehicles are greener than gas cars — even when they use dirty power
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

There's a persistent myth that electric vehicles are somehow worse for the planet than regular cars. But building an EV creates more planet-warming emissions than making a gas vehicle. But mining the necessary cobalt, refining the lithium, and packaging it all into little cells that fit neatly in a larger pack creates significant greenhouse gas emissions. But zooming in on specific regions reveals how vastly EV emissions vary across the country. Electric cars that hit American roads in 2030 could have a 76% greener lifespan than gas counterparts if the US builds an electrical grid in line with the Paris Agreement's goals, according to the ICCT.

A Tesla Model 3 vehicle is on display at the Tesla auto store on September 22, 2022 in Santa Monica, California. The data firm found that Tesla's market share of new registered electric vehicles in the U.S. stood at 65% through the third quarter, down from 71% last year and 79% in 2020. S&P forecasts Tesla's EV market share will decline to less than 20% by 2025, with the number of EV models expected to grow from 48 today to 159 by then. A drop in Tesla's U.S. market share was expected, but the rate of the decline could be concerning for investors in Elon Musk's autos and energy company. "Given that consumer choice and consumer interest in EVs are growing, Tesla's ability to retain a dominant market share will be challenged going forward."

☆ Palm oil is in almost everything, and it's devastating rainforests. This Bill Gates-backed company used microbes to create an alternative
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Palm oil grows best in the regions right around the equator, so palm oil producers chop down rainforest and clear that felled vegetation by burning it, making it a prime target of conservation organizations like the Rainforest Rescue and the World Wildlife Fund. Palm oil trees grow at the Cikasungka palm oil plantation, operated by PT Perkebunan Nusantara VIII, in Bogor Regency in West Java, Indonesia, on Monday, June 20, 2022. To make its palm oil alternative, C16 Biosciences uses a wild yeast microbe that makes a functional equivalent to palm oil with a kind of fermentation process. Photo courtesy: Cat Clifford, CNBCChemically, the palm oil that C16 Biosciences makes is not identical to the palm oil that is grown in industrial agriculture farms. However, "it contains the same fatty acids, which are the molecular fingerprints of fats and oils, that palm oil does," Heller told CNBC.

☆ Busking Brit crosses Iraq on his way to COP27 without flying
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Charlotte Bruneau | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] Briton Dan Hodd, 29 years old, who left Spain about a month ago to go to the COP27 in Sharm el Sheikh without flying, but mostly biking and using public transportation, plays the violin in Baghdad, Iraq October 26, 2022. “I am trying to illustrate the importance within the transport sector to do more about the climate crisis,” the 29-year-old Briton said. After a drop during the coronavirus pandemic, air traffic is expected to bounce back to 2019 levels by 2024-25, he said. Avoiding flying is not only part of Hodd’s message to delegates at COP27. His trip to Egypt is part of a long-term project to visit 100 countries in 10 years without flying, busking with his violin to earn enough to go on.

☆ First on CNN: GM investing in mushroom leather startup
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN Business —General Motors’ venture capital arm has invested in a California startup that’s making imitation leather from mushrooms. It could provide an alternative to both traditional leather made from animal skins, usually cattle, and artificial leather made from plastics. The resulting material feels like leather, has similar durability and can be colored using processes that do not involve harmful substances, just as animal-based leather can. Using various processes company representatives declined to discuss, the mycelia are made to interweave as they grow, forming the leather-like material. MycoWorks and GM Ventures both declined to say how much GM Venture is investing.

☆ South Africa mine dam collapse highlights patchy regulation
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Nelson Banya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A general view of the aftermath of a mine dam wall collapse in Jagersfontein, South Africa, September 12, 2022. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe disaster has raised questions about who should be responsible for tailings dams oversight in South Africa and across the world. The Jagersfontein dam burst follows the brumadinho tailings dam collapse in Brazil nearly four years ago, which killed hundreds when a Vale SA (VALE3.SA)-owned dam collapsed. South Africa's government, mining industry and experts are still in the process of updating the country's tailings code to align with the global standard, the Minerals Council of South Africa said. The experts say, for example, that the global standards require a clearer responsibility and accountability structure than the current mine residue code in South Africa.

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