ESG in 5 Sustainability News - 14-04-2026
- Apr 14
- 2 min read
Corporate ESG momentum continues to accelerate, with major investments in renewable energy, supply chain decarbonisation and carbon removal scaling globally. From IKEA’s energy expansion to UK hydrogen funding and evolving retail and finance strategies, this week highlights how businesses are embedding sustainability deeper into operations, value chains and long-term growth models.
Ingka Group (IKEA) expands €8.1bn renewable push in Germany.
Ingka Group is accelerating its clean energy strategy with a new 110 MW solar buildout in Germany, as part of its €8.1 billion renewable energy investment plan. The project strengthens its position as one of the largest private investors in renewable energy globally, with assets spanning wind and solar across multiple markets.
The move reflects a broader corporate shift toward direct ownership of energy infrastructure to manage long-term costs, reduce exposure to volatile energy markets and meet net-zero commitments. Large multinationals are increasingly acting as energy producers, not just consumers, embedding decarbonisation directly into their operating models.
Thrive Market targets carbon and plastic cuts across 1,000+ brands.
US-based online retailer Thrive Market is working with more than 1,000 brands to reduce both carbon emissions and plastic use across its platform. The initiative includes measuring product-level emissions, improving packaging sustainability and encouraging suppliers to adopt lower-impact materials.
This highlights a growing trend in retail: platforms are using their scale to drive ESG improvements across entire supply chains. Rather than focusing only on their own footprint, companies are pushing sustainability standards onto third-party brands, creating system-wide change in consumer goods production.
JPMorgan backs 60,000 tonnes of carbon removal with Graphyte.
JPMorgan has agreed to purchase 60,000 metric tonnes of carbon removal credits from Graphyte, a US-based firm specialising in biomass-based carbon storage. The process involves converting agricultural waste into stable carbon blocks that can be stored long-term, preventing emissions from re-entering the atmosphere.
The deal signals increasing confidence in engineered and hybrid carbon removal solutions. Financial institutions are moving beyond traditional offsets toward higher-integrity removal credits, supporting the development of scalable technologies needed to address residual emissions.
Greggs raises 2030 sustainability targets after hitting key milestones.
UK food retailer Greggs has increased its 2030 sustainability ambitions after achieving several ESG milestones ahead of schedule. Progress includes improvements in energy efficiency, waste reduction and responsible sourcing across its operations.
By tightening future targets, Greggs reflects a wider corporate pattern: companies that make early progress on ESG commitments are being forced to go further and faster. Stakeholders increasingly expect continuous improvement, not just delivery against static goals, particularly in consumer-facing sectors.
UK government backs ITM Power with £85m hydrogen investment.
The UK government and Great British Energy have committed £85 million to ITM Power to expand green hydrogen manufacturing in Sheffield. The funding, comprising £40m from Great British Energy and a £46.5m government grant will support electrolyser production and create around 400 new jobs.
Green hydrogen remains a critical pillar of net-zero strategies, particularly for hard-to-abate sectors like heavy industry, aviation and shipping. This investment highlights the UK’s focus on scaling domestic clean energy manufacturing while linking decarbonisation with regional economic growth and job creation.
