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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

Maggie Beer Holdings (MBH) chair Mark Lindh has used the company’s 2025 AGM to lay out a clearer path for stabilising and rebuilding the business, telling shareholders the group has “earned the right to grow” after a year of intense restructuring, cost-cutting and strategic refocus.

Winners of the 63rd annual Australian Export Awards were announced in Canberra on 26 November, featuring several food and beverage industry success stories – including Marquis Macadamias, Almondco Australia, and Munda Wines.

As 2025 draws to a close, many businesses are taking time to reflect and assess how they can stand their business in good stead for the year ahead. RSM Australia national manufacturing lead, Manufacturing, Louis Quintal, explains why future-proofing your business should be your 2026 new year’s resolution.