The Know Daily - Wednesday 22 April 2026

_{Read in 4m 35s ∙ Listening to Zach Bryan∙}

A vaccine given during pregnancy is cutting baby hospital admissions for RSV by more than 80% in the UK. By passing protection on before birth, the jab helps shield newborns during their most vulnerable early months – offering families a little more peace of mind and a stronger start for babies. 💛

🌱 Greenwashing

Today is Earth Day – first established in 1970 to raise awareness about environmental protection – but it can also be a moment for companies push their “green” credentials, often to sell more products. We’re diving into the often confusing world of greenwashing and how to navigate it.

What is greenwashing?
It’s when a company exaggerates or misleads people about how environmentally friendly it really is. It can be as subtle as vague wording (“eco-friendly”) or as bold as advertising a product as “carbon neutral” without clear evidence. The idea isn’t always outright deception, sometimes it’s just poor communication, but the result is the same: consumers are left thinking they’re making greener choices than they actually are.

A review by the European Commission found that 42% of green claims were exaggerated, false or deceptive, while research from the UN suggests nearly half of consumers globally say they don’t trust sustainability claims. 

Where do we see it in everyday life?
Pretty much everywhere: supermarkets, fashion retailers, energy providers, even banks. Think of food packaging covered in leaves and earthy tones, clothing brands promoting “conscious collections”, or airlines offering optional carbon offsets at checkout.

Is greenwashing always bad?
It’s complicated. On the one hand, it erodes trust, confuses shoppers and can undermine genuinely sustainable brands. However, the rise of greenwashing has at least pushed sustainability into the spotlight as companies now know consumers care. Studies suggest that 80% of UK consumers say they’d be willing to pay more for sustainable products, which partly explains why brands are so eager to position themselves as “green”.

What’s the UK government doing about it?
Through the Competition and Markets Authority, they’ve introduced the Green Claims Code. This sets out clear rules: claims must be truthful, clear, and backed by evidence. Businesses can’t hide important information or make comparisons that aren’t fair.

How can you navigate greenwashing?
Save our handy guide of some common greenwashing terms for reference:

🚭 Children aged 17 or under will face a lifelong ban on buying cigarettes, as the Tobacco and Vapes Bill clears Parliament.

• The bigger story: The law means anyone born after 1 January 2009 will never be able to legally buy tobacco, in a bid to create a “smoke-free generation.” It also gives ministers new powers to regulate vaping – including flavours, packaging and where it can be used  – with bans extending to places like playgrounds, school areas and cars carrying children. Backed by health groups, the move is being framed as one of the biggest public health shifts in years, aimed at reducing smoking-related illness.

🇺🇦 A €90bn loan for Ukraine is expected to see a “positive decision” today, the EUs foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said.

🏛️ The Museum of the Year finalists have been unveiled by Art Fund, which awards a £120,000 prize.

💼 The UK's unemployment rate has fallen unexpectedly, which is partly a result of fewer students looking for work alongside their studies, the Office for National Statistics has reported.

💎 More than half of couples are opting for lab-grown diamonds for their engagement rings, making them more popular than natural diamonds for the first time in history. 

👩‍🚀 Astronauts' brains automatically hold on to the memory of gravity even after months in space, a new study has revealed. 

🚴‍♀️ Travelling to work during the London Tube strikes is encouraging commuters towards bikes – here’s how to cycle in safely. 

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Trivia answer: B) That’s according to locals, who have given the city a walkability score of 93%. 

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