Breakthrough for carbon footprint labels on food

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing July 15, 2021 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines One of the world’s biggest food and consumer goods companies is set to [introduce carbon footprint labels on its products for the first time]( by the end of the year - marking a key moment in the shift to badge products with their cost to the planet, The Independent reveals today. Unilever, which has 75,000 products including Magnum ice cream, Pot Noodle, Marmite and Hellmann’s mayonnaise, said that the carbon footprint of 30,000 of these products would be measured within six months, with carbon footprint labels on a select range by the end of 2021. The labels will be piloted on up to two dozen products in Europe or North America and could adorn packaging in UK supermarkets by the end of 2022. Unilever said it plans to badge its entire product range over the next two to five years and also floated the idea of supermarkets creating “carbon-neutral or carbon-friendly” aisles, just like they have ”vegetarian aisles”, to help consumers make greener choices. The Balearic Islands of Spain were [moved to the amber list]( on Wednesday, in the latest reshuffle of the government’s traffic light lists for travel - a day earlier than planned. Grant Shapps announced the islands’ move as part of the Department for Transport’s tri-weekly travel review, in which he also bounced the British Virgin Islands down to the orange grade. The Spanish islands, which include holiday favourites Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca, officially joined the “green list” just over a fortnight ago. Territories rated green don’t require quarantine on return but do still require a pre-departure lateral flow test and a day two PCR test. The Balearics’ change in status to amber, which comes into effect from 4am on 19 July, will trigger a 10-day quarantine and two PCR tests for unvaccinated travellers aged 18 and over. It is expected to kick off a stampede of Britons back to the UK to beat the quarantine deadline. Text messages will be sent to 650,000 people this week [encouraging them to bring forward their second Covid-19 jabs](. The drive to speed up the country’s vaccine rollout comes shortly ahead of the lifting of coronavirus restrictions on Monday. So far, more than 29 million people in England have received both doses, while a further 9 million people have had their first shot. Earlier this year, the recommended waiting time between injections was 12 weeks, but this has been lowered to eight weeks in all age groups. Since mid-May, more than 2.5 million people have rescheduled their second vaccine appointments for an earlier date. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [Police forced to deny Wembley operation ‘failed’ as more blunders emerge]( [At least 30 missing after homes washed away by freak rain in Germany]( [Frost admits it’s ‘too much trouble’ to trade with Northern Ireland since his Brexit deal]( . . Stories chosen for you - [David Frost admits Brexit has made it ‘too much trouble’ for firms to trade with Northern Ireland]( - [Tory MPs who hyped Brexit fishing benefits have abandoned us, fishermen say]( - [Tory MPs who hyped Brexit fishing benefits have abandoned us, fishermen say]( - [Are the Tories the ‘nasty party’ again? | Andrew Grice]( - [Spanish holiday islands downgraded to amber in day-early traffic light update]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News Daily Briefing email, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.