Circular Economy

The constant stream of new models, products and processes that are helping organizations extend the useful life of resources and materials while reducing, repurposing and ultimately eliminating waste in all its forms

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Circular EconomyCircular Economy
Largest Vertical Farm in the US Becomes Zero Organic Waste Facility
Largest Vertical Farm in the US Becomes Zero Organic Waste Facility
Published on August 21, 2013
About a 2 minute read

Chicago land-based vertical farm FarmedHere, has launched a program to convert all of its organic waste into compost used to feed other urban farms across Chicago.Through a unique soil-free process that utilizes vertical farming technology, FarmedHer... View More

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Organizational GovernanceCircular Economy
IKEA and Kingfisher Pledge Ambitious 'Net Positive' Agendas, But Can They Work?
IKEA and Kingfisher Pledge Ambitious 'Net Positive' Agendas, But Can They Work?
Published on August 20, 2013
About a 6 minute read

In a world in which natural resources have become scarcer, can these companies truly contribute to the planet more than what they can, and will, take from it? ... View More

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Circular EconomyCircular Economy
RecycleForce Keeps Electronic Waste Out of Landfills and Ex-Felons Out of Prison
RecycleForce Keeps Electronic Waste Out of Landfills and Ex-Felons Out of Prison
Published on August 17, 2013
About a 5 minute read

Since 2006, Indianapolis-based RecycleForce has paid over $10 million in wages and employed 650 ex-felons to recycle over 20 million pounds of electronic waste. The non-profit social enterprise has a dual mission: to help people coming out of prison ... View More

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Circular EconomyCircular Economy
Diageo Reducing Material Use to Achieve Zero Waste by 2015
Diageo Reducing Material Use to Achieve Zero Waste by 2015
Published on August 14, 2013
About a 2 minute read

Global beverage company Diageo says it is working towards zero waste to landfill targets at all of its sites by 2015, but is looking to make its waste management activities a higher priority via a five-pronged approach.The company's latest sustainabi... View More

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Circular EconomyCircular Economy
New Global Brewers Survey Shows Industry Making Notable Reductions in Water, Energy Use
New Global Brewers Survey Shows Industry Making Notable Reductions in Water, Energy Use
Published on August 13, 2013
About a 2 minute read

The Worldwide Brewery Industry Water and Energy Benchmarking Survey, which is carried out by Campden BRI and KWA on behalf of the Dutch Brewers Association every four years, reveals that breweries have reduced their energy usage by over 9% and water ... View More

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Circular EconomyCircular Economy
Crayola's Colorcycle Program Turning Used Markers Into Clean Energy
Crayola's Colorcycle Program Turning Used Markers Into Clean Energy
Published on August 12, 2013
About a 2 minute read

JBI, Inc., a clean energy company that recycles waste plastic into liquid fuels, has announced it is partnering with Crayola on its "Colorcycle" program, which converts markers into clean energy.The program will be conducted throughout the ... View More

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Circular EconomyCircular Economy
Irish Marine Pilot Project Upcycles Abandoned Fishing Nets
Irish Marine Pilot Project Upcycles Abandoned Fishing Nets
Published on August 10, 2013
About a 3 minute read

A pilot project to manufacture commercially viable products from recycled polyethylene fishing nets has been completed successfully in a collaboration between Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM - the Irish Sea Fisheries Board) and Liverpool-based plastics recy... View More

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Circular EconomyCircular Economy
Researchers Discover Process to Absorb Toxic Metals from Water, Using E-Waste
Researchers Discover Process to Absorb Toxic Metals from Water, Using E-Waste
Published on August 9, 2013
About a 3 minute read

A team of Hong Kong researchers has found a way to use ground-up circuit boards from discarded cell phones, computers and other gadgets to absorb toxic heavy metals found in water, according to Chemical & Engineering NewsEach year, around 20 to 5... View More

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Circular EconomyCircular Economy
Nokia Joins O2 Campaign to Ship Cell Phones Without Chargers
Nokia Joins O2 Campaign to Ship Cell Phones Without Chargers
Published on August 8, 2013
About a 2 minute read

Nokia has joined O2’s “Chargers Out of the Box” campaign, which makes the Nokia 301 the first mass-market handset to ship without a charger. The handset will come with just a USB cable, encouraging customers to use existing mains chargers acqui... View More

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Circular EconomyCircular Economy
UK Engineers Develop Urine-Powered Fuel Cell
UK Engineers Develop Urine-Powered Fuel Cell
Published on August 5, 2013
About a 2 minute read

Researchers in the United Kingdom say they have created a fuel cell that uses bacteria to break down human liquid waste to generate enough electricity to charge a mobile phone.Currently, the amount of electricity produced is just enough to make one c... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsCircular Economy
New Leaf Paper Joins 17 Firms Registering as Benefit Corps in Delaware
New Leaf Paper Joins 17 Firms Registering as Benefit Corps in Delaware
Published on August 2, 2013
About a 2 minute read

New Leaf Paper and Plum Organics were among the 17 companies on Thursday that were the first to register as Delaware benefit corporations after the legislation legalizing it was signed on July 17.Some of the other registering companies included leadi... View More

Article
Circular EconomyCircular EconomyInnovation & Technology
Patagonia Launches New Program to Upcycle Flip-Flops
Patagonia Launches New Program to Upcycle Flip-Flops
Published on August 2, 2013
About a 2 minute read

Patagonia has commenced a new remanufacturing program to continuously recycle its flip-flops, which could reduce production waste by nearly a third.The clothing company has partnered with small upstart firm PLUSfoam to create flip-flops that are 100 ... View More

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Circular EconomyCircular Economy
Environmental Groups Call on Rayovac to Help U.S. Consumers Recycle Their Batteries
Environmental Groups Call on Rayovac to Help U.S. Consumers Recycle Their Batteries
Published on July 31, 2013
About a 2 minute read

Texas Campaign for the Environment (TCE) — a nonprofit, grassroots group known for its advocation of electronic waste recycling — has announced a campaign to press battery manufacturer Rayovac to step up its efforts on recycling and waste reducti... View More

Article
Circular EconomyMaterials & Packaging
Canadian Coffee Company Releases Guilt-Free Single-Serve Coffee Pods
Canadian Coffee Company Releases Guilt-Free Single-Serve Coffee Pods
Published on July 31, 2013
About a 3 minute read

A Canadian coffee company says it has developed a more environmentally friendly alternative to the ever-popular, single-serve K-Cup pods, made a household name in recent years by the ubiquitous Keurig home coffeemakers. ... View More

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Consumer Behavior ChangeCircular Economy
Want to Nudge Consumers to Waste Less? Make It Easy, Fun and Popular
Want to Nudge Consumers to Waste Less? Make It Easy, Fun and Popular
Published on July 23, 2013
About a 6 minute read

As my Green Marketing students are learning, companies large and small are reducing their carbon footprints by adopting strategies to make their operations, goods and services more environmentally sustainable. But with the world population headed tow... View More

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Circular EconomyCircular Economy
UK Paper Company Might Just Rid the World of Paper Cup Waste
UK Paper Company Might Just Rid the World of Paper Cup Waste
Published on July 23, 2013
About a 3 minute read

UK paper company James Cropper has developed technology that enables the recycling of disposable coffee cups into high-quality paper products. Last week, the company opened a £5m reclaimed fibre plant using this technology at its production mill in ... View More

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Circular EconomyCircular Economy
How Your Leftovers Can Destroy the World – or Save It
How Your Leftovers Can Destroy the World – or Save It
Published on July 19, 2013
About a 5 minute read

Food waste is probably the least sexy of all sustainability subjects. After all, it has to do with what we eat — after we’ve already eaten it. As long as we scarf down grass-fed beef, sustainable seafood and organic fruits and vegetables, we are ... View More

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Circular EconomyCircular Economy
Most Electronics Retailers Getting Failing Grade on Recycling Programs
Most Electronics Retailers Getting Failing Grade on Recycling Programs
Published on July 18, 2013
About a 3 minute read

Only three electronics retailers are making a serious effort to help consumers responsibly recycle their old electronic products, according to a new report card released Wednesday by the Electronics TakeBack Coalition (ETB). The Coalition is calling ... View More

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Circular Economy
What Internet Citizens Should Know About the Personal Data Economy
What Internet Citizens Should Know About the Personal Data Economy
Published on July 17, 2013
About a 7 minute read

John C. Havens is founder of the H(app)athon Project, a contributing writer for Mashable, and author of the upcoming book, Hacking Happiness. At Sustainable Brands ’13 last month, he spoke on the main stage about “Unleashing the Personal Data Eco... View More

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Circular EconomyCircular Economy
2013 ESPYs Achieve Zero Waste to Landfill, Carbon Neutrality for Fifth Year Running
2013 ESPYs Achieve Zero Waste to Landfill, Carbon Neutrality for Fifth Year Running
Published on July 16, 2013
About a 3 minute read

ESPN has announced that its annual awards show, the ESPYs, will be carbon neutral and achieve zero waste-to-landfill for the fifth and sixth consecutive years, respectively.To achieve carbon neutrality, the sports network says it will apply energy co... View More

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