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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

After more than two years in the making, Treasury Wine Estates has launched a $15 million low- and no-alcohol wine production facility in the Barossa Valley. Kim Berry toured the site in late 2025 and reports on its progress.

The Australian Industry Group – Confectionery Sector’s annual conference is marking its 30th anniversary at its 2026 event on 2 June, at the MCG in Melbourne.

Perth-based food technology company, Whole., has launched a Pre-Series A investor round, aiming to commercialise its proprietary WINX (Whole Ingredient Nutrient Extraction) platform, which transforms plant ingredients into functional food formats.