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ESG in 5 Sustainability News - 21-07-2026

  • Jul 21
  • 2 min read

This week’s ESG in 5 explores advances in affordable renewable energy storage, the EU’s plans to accelerate electrification and Telefónica’s new emissions targets. We also look at Gap’s latest sustainability appointment and Sephora’s first fully plastic-free beauty brand.



Queen’s University develops £74 renewable energy battery.


Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast have developed a low-cost, 3D-printed flow battery cell designed to support renewable energy storage research.


The iron-based design costs around £74 to produce, compared with £2,000–£3,000 for a commercial research cell, and avoids reliance on vanadium, which can be expensive and difficult to source. The team has made the design and assembly guide freely available to researchers worldwide, helping institutions produce comparable results.


The researchers are now testing larger stacks of cells to explore how the technology could be scaled for industrial use.



EU targets 46% electrification by 2040.


The European Commission has launched a plan to double the share of the EU economy powered by electricity rather than fossil fuels, increasing electrification from 23% today to 46% by 2040.


The plan aims to accelerate the use of electric technologies across transport, buildings and industry, including electric vehicles, heat pumps and industrial equipment. The Commission estimates that reaching the target could save the EU €260 billion annually in fossil-fuel imports.


Proposed measures include reducing taxes on electrification technologies and addressing the price gap between electricity and gas.



Telefónica targets 56% value-chain emissions cut.


Telefónica has launched its Global Sustainability Plan for 2026–2030, setting new environmental, social and governance targets across the business.


The telecommunications group aims to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 90% and Scope 3 value-chain emissions by 56% by 2030. It is targeting net-zero emissions by 2040 and zero waste by 2030.


The plan also covers renewable energy, energy efficiency and the circular use of equipment, alongside measures to strengthen supply-chain resilience, improve customers’ digital wellbeing and increase oversight of artificial intelligence, privacy and cybersecurity.



Gap appoints Levi’s sustainability chief.


Gap has appointed Jeffrey Hogue, formerly Chief Sustainability Officer at Levi Strauss & Co., to lead its global sustainability strategy.


Hogue will oversee areas including climate, water, waste, materials, circularity, human rights and regulatory compliance. He will also work with suppliers, governments, charities and industry partners to embed sustainability across Gap’s international operations.


The retailer, which also owns Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta, is targeting net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2050. It also plans to become water positive by the middle of the century.



Sephora welcomes its first plastic-free beauty brand.


Mexican beauty company AORA has joined Sephora’s product range, becoming the retailer’s first fully plastic-free brand.


AORA packages its products using tin, aluminium or wood and incorporates locally sourced Mexican ingredients, including chillies and cactus flower. Each purchase also funds the removal of nine times its weight in plastic waste from the environment through a programme certified by rePurpose Global.


Sales have so far supported the removal of more than 2,390 kilograms of plastic waste, which the company says is equivalent to around 400,000 single-use plastic bags.



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