Lovelier Planet: October 2026

Your Good News Stories for Autumn 2026

Sun shining through forest - Ray Bilcliff via Pexels

Some news stories to help you & the planet feel better!

1) Plastic from seaweed resin

Companies are looking at ways to use seaweed as an alternative to plastic & to slow down deforestation. A Welsh start up company ‘Plant Sea’ uses seaweed infused paper to reduce the amount of virgin wood pulp.

The sea weed is also incorporated into plastic free film; this breaks down without micro plastics which could be useful for dishwasher or laundry capsules.

https://plantsea.co.uk/

Seaweed acts as an excellent carbon capture which could be farmed to help with alternative packaging as well as capture the carbon at the same time!

Video below describes the durability of seaweed following a company in America

For some other companies utilising sea weed head on over to https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2024/04/seaweed-an-eco-alternative-to-single-use-plastics-packaging-004526/#

2) Reducing ships carbon emissions with lime pebbles

A London based company ‘Seabound’ has developed an interesting carbon capture system. They convert exhaust fumes from ships into limestone by flowing these fumes through quicklime pebbles. The limestone with CO2 captured can then be stored or sold on as required!

More info can be found at:

https://www.positive.news/science/technology/shipping-has-a-big-carbon-footprint-can-this-lo-fi-solution-shrink-it/

3) Stop floating plastic in the sea by 2040

The team at ‘Ocean Clean Up’ plan to clean up 90% of floating ocean plastic pollution by 2040 using barriers that scoop up plastics as it goes. The Great Garbage Patch (reported in a previous post) is being cleaned up (which along with smaller clean ups in rivers will help prevent plastics making it out to sea).

By 2026, 50 million kg of trash has been collected so far according to their timeline. They have been able to repurpose some of that plastic - one of the interesting projects was to use plastic salvaged from a river near Guatemala city, which was used to produce a Coldplay LP!

https://www.positive.news/environment/young-inventor-plans-to-stop-90-of-floating-sea-plastic-by-2040/

Some links to eco friendly vinyl:

https://pressonvinyl.com/ / https://www.normanrecords.com/eco-vinyl / https://atlasrecords.co.uk/blogs/all-about-vinyl/what-is-eco-vinyl

4) Gilbert the plastic eating robo fish!

The University of Surrey have created a plastic eating robot fish called ‘Gillbert’. Designed to swim through water eating up microplastics.

About the size of a salmon this 3D printed fish even has a tail to help steer it. Artificial gills help to guide water through mesh filters which trap the particles. The robo fish have been tested in lakes with the aim to make larger versions in the future.

https://ecoservantsproject.org/this-robo-fish-eats-microplastics-and-may-help-save-our-oceans/

Also check out this eco bot helping to cut back water pollution in the video below:

5) Seabed life triples after bottom trawling ban in Scotland

Scientists in a marine reserve, South of Arran, found life on the seabed increased significantly after a trawling ban was placed 10 years ago.

In a sample they recorded more than 1,500 organisms in around 100 litres of sediment. This equates to three times more seabed organisms and twice as many species compared to nearby waters.

https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/05/seabed-life-triples-after-bottom-trawling-ban-in-scotland-protected-area/

6) Ocean plastic clean-up for Commonwealth games Glasgow

There was a target of one million plastics to be cleared up from waterways in Commonwealth areas before the Commonwealth Games July 2026. This was reported by Positive News in June 2026, when 625k pieces of plastic had been collected.

On checking the Commonwealth Games website they have now made their target of a million. A job well done!

https://www.positive.news/environment/the-commonwealth-games-relay-taking-aim-at-ocean-plastic/ / https://www.commonwealthsport.com/kings-baton-relay/plastic-clean-ups

7) Deforestation rate is reducing – at last!

A new report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) showed that deforestation has slowed in every region of the world over the past decade with more than half of forests now covered by long-term management plans. More work is needed to decrease it further.

https://www.positive.news/society/good-news-stories-from-week-44-of-2025/

8) Restoring England's wildlife (selection of funds)

💚 A new campaign has been kick started by DEFRA called 'Wild Again: Restoring England’s Wildlife'. As part of this campaign, Natural England have pledged £90m in Apr 2026.

£60m over 3 year period will fund a 'Species Recovery Programme' with a further £30m going to the National Forest. This will help reintroduce threatened species, protect against habitat loss plus support & restore our native woodlands.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/largest-ever-government-investment-in-threatened-species-recovery

🌳 A Community Fund has been pledged to help plant 500,000 trees by March 2030, with an additional monetary boost to local Mayors to help support nature & climate protection within their local community.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/local-communities-to-receive-79-million-to-restore-nature

🦅 Meanwhile, the government also pledged £1m for the reintroduction of Golden Eagles in England with juveniles set to be released in the North of England next year.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/iconic-golden-eagles-to-make-comeback-in-england

8) Green bridge over A3 for wildlife

A new heathland bridge designed for safe animal crossing has been built over the A3 in Surrey which will connect two rare heathland areas. Funded by the National Highways, the 98ft wide bridge will also include a path for walkers, cyclists & horse riders to enjoy.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx24zw8ye57o

10) Building society launches savings account to aid Marine Conservation

In June it was announced a new savers account at Ecology Bank will be launched where a donated 1% will go to marine projects supported by the charity Sea Changers.

For information on the ‘Sea-Changers Impact Saver’ account go to: