With so much happening in the world of corporate sustainability, SustainabilityOnline has introduced The Sustainability Brief – a regular round-up of some of the top stories making headlines around the world.
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Europe paying €203 million a day diesel premium amid high fuel prices
Europe is paying an estimated €203 million a day in additional diesel costs as geopolitical disruption tightens supplies of refined oil products, according to a new Transport & Environment study. Diesel accounts for 38% of passenger cars on EU roads, while drivers are paying an additional €19 per 50-litre tank and truck operators around €236 a week. T&E estimates 30% of Europe’s diesel fleet is more than 15 years old.
EIB provides €19 million financing for Reactive Technologies
The European Investment Bank is providing Reactive Technologies with €19 million to expand its GridVerix platform for real-time monitoring of electricity-grid stability. Up to €7 million will support R&D at the company’s centre in Oulu, Finland, while €12 million will fund deployment across the EU. “Europe needs electricity grids that can keep pace with the rapid growth of renewable energy,” said EIB Vice-President Karl Nehammer.
De Beers reports 14% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions
De Beers Group has published its 2025 Sustainability Report, reporting a 14% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2021 towards its target of cutting its carbon footprint by one-third by 2030. The company manages 375,000 acres for conservation across Southern Africa and said its Okavango Eternal partnership supported the designation of Angola’s first Ramsar Wetland, protecting the source of 95% of water flowing into the Okavango Delta. “At De Beers, we believe natural diamonds can do more than sparkle,” commented Al Cook, CEO.
Ocean Network Express reports 65% fall in Scope 1 emissions intensity
Ocean Network Express has published its 2026 Sustainability Report, reporting a 65% reduction in Scope 1 emissions intensity against its 2008 baseline, according to reports. The shipping company has also expanded assured Scope 3 emissions data to include upstream transportation and distribution, while 98% of new suppliers complied with its supply-chain management guidelines.
Haffner Energy launches biomass process targeting 50% lower SAF production costs
French renewable-energy company Haffner Energy has launched SB-HEFA, a process using solid biomass to produce renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel without converting biomass oil into syngas first, according to reports. The company says available feedstock costs less than 20% of the oils used in conventional HEFA/HVO pathways and is targeting an approximately 50% reduction in production costs.
EU-funded projects deliver tools for greener European ports
The EU-funded PIONEERS and MAGPIE projects have completed five years of work testing clean-energy, alternative-fuel, electrification, digitalisation and infrastructure solutions in European ports. PIONEERS conducted 19 demonstrations and MAGPIE tested 14 solutions, while the projects have delivered a Green Port Master Plan and open digital tools for other ports. The initiatives involved ports including Antwerp-Bruges, Barcelona, Venlo, Constanța, Rotterdam, HAROPA, Sines and DeltaPort.
Tetra Pak invests $1.2m in Johannesburg carton recycling facility
Tetra Pak has invested R19 million ($1.18 million) in a carton recycling machine operated by Unique Timber Plastics in Johannesburg, according to reports. The equipment separates plastic and aluminium from used beverage cartons and converts the recovered material into pellets for products including roof tiles, pipes and furniture. Carton recycling in South Africa has increased from 8% in 2023 to 33% in 2026.
Green Fuel Forward expands sustainable aviation fuel alliance in Asia
Green Fuel Forward has expanded its industry alliance as it moves from building awareness of sustainable aviation fuel towards facilitating corporate participation in SAF and SAF certificate transactions across Asia. The Center for Green Market Activation and Singapore Sustainable Aviation Fuel Company have joined the steering committee, while Amazon, Bain & Company and Temasek Trust have joined the alliance. The initiative was launched by GenZero and the World Economic Forum in 2025.
