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It all started when the Queen agreed to work alongside fellow 91-year-old Sir David Attenborough on a conservation documentary dealing with wildlife in the Commonwealth.

She became personally interested in the damage to oceans caused by dumped plastic.

One thing led to another, and the Queen has now declared war on plastic, banning straws and bottles from the Royal estates.

Buckingham Palace has outlined new waste plans, which will include gradually phasing out plastic straws and bottles in public cafes and banning them altogether in staff dining rooms.

Internal caterers at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh will now only be allowed to use china plates and glasses, or recyclable paper cups.

Takeaway food items in the Royal Collection cafes must also now be made of compostable or biodegradable packaging.

As well as the Queen’s interest, The Prince of Wales also regularly speaks about the damage to the oceans caused by dumped plastic and recently warned that the world was facing an "escalating ecological and human disaster" from refuse in the seas.

Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing a 10-year refurbishment program which will make the royal residence far more green, The Telegraph reported.

Food & Drink Business

One year on from the launch of its $3 billion multi-beverage business, Suntory Oceania is now the number two player in Australian RTDs. New Suntory Global Spirits Oceania managing director, Ashish Gandham, talks to Food & Drink Business about what comes next.

Australian small-to-medium sized food and beverage manufacturers looking to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency stand to benefit from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENA) new $10 million co-investment fund, delivered by the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC).

Australia’s 2026 winegrape crush fell to 1.27 million tonnes, 19 per cent lower than the 2025 vintage of 1.57 million tonnes and the smallest since 2000. Believed to be a result of market conditions as well as climate and seasonal factors, the reduced national crop did not result in stronger grape prices.