Waste Not
The latest in the growing number of efforts directed at reducing, repurposing and ultimately eliminating waste in all its forms.
There's a Powerful New Use for Waste from This Incredibly Stinky Fruit
Cross-Posted from Cleantech. The inedible core of the world's stinkiest fruit — the durian — could one day be used to charge your phone, according to researchers at the University of Sydney.
Trending: In Fashion, What’s Outside Also Counts
Cross-Posted from Chemistry, Materials & Packaging. New partnerships aim to tackle the fashion industry’s packaging footprint — with circular solutions for polybags and MATCHESFASHION’s new, recyclable boxes furthering the cause.
How Partnerships Can Extend Sustainable Solutions
Cross-Posted from The Next Economy. Partnerships and closer collaboration between organisations are critical if we are to build new, more sustainable ecosystems. One key to the success of any collaboration is that the partners have complementary strengths to exploit.
Anti-Plastic Regulation Risks Less Sustainable Alternatives
Cross-Posted from The Next Economy. Faced with shortages of suitable recycled material, a growing consumer backlash and a hostile regulatory environment, it is no wonder that some companies are shifting away from plastics. But encouraging this shift towards material choices that do little to improve end-of-life environmental impact would be the worst possible outcome for the planet.
Trending: Inventive Solutions to Food Waste Continuing to Grow
Here, we have 3 examples of startup innovation at its finest — with stellar solutions from Ambrosia, Back to the Roots, Treasure8 and Shameless Pets promising to bite off a chunk of the US’ massive food waste issue.
Will We Get Closer to Circularity in 2020?
Cross-Posted from The Next Economy. While the concept of a circular economy has made its way into the public consciousness; unfortunately, as of 2018, circularity globally is only at 9%. In order for circularity to deliver on its potential in this decade, we’ll need to see more of the following …
What Will a Circular Economy Mean for Branding?
Cross-Posted from Marketing and Comms. While a circular economy will present huge challenges to most brands' conventional business models, there are huge opportunities for those who embrace and adapt to this change — while those who drag their heels with incremental changes will undoubtedly fall behind.
Dow: Intent on #PullingOurWeight Around Cleaning Up Plastic Waste
Waste is a fact, but it doesn’t have to be feared. We can tackle this through collection, sorting and processing; and by understanding where and why trash is finding its way into the environment, so we can stop it.
Recyclate – A New Lease on Life for Consumer Packaging?
Consumers appreciate recycled packaging as long as it doesn’t affect the quality, functionality and price of the product. But how do brands remain competitive in view of added costs for high-quality recycling and the low price of virgin plastics?
Meet the Team Reconnecting Communities to Oceans, While Cleaning Them Up
Cross-Posted from Behavior Change. The Ocean Legacy Foundation's new EPIC Program gives communities a four-step program for dealing with plastic pollution — education, policy interventions, improved infrastructure and ongoing clean-up efforts.
Better Resource Management Is the Key to Achieving All SDGs
Whether the eradication of poverty, or the support of climate positivity, all of the SDGs are about creating a balance of resource flows. Responsible production and consumption are essential to this — and achievable through connection, community and a bit of creativity.
Give More, and Better, This Season: The 2019 SB Holiday Gift Guide
What better way to celebrate and participate in the season of giving than with gifts that truly keep on giving? Here are just a few of our favorite discoveries this year of products we'd be thrilled to give and receive.
Trending: The Latest and Greatest Ways to Imbibe More Sustainably
Or, how to expand your conscious consumerism to include anti-waste cocktails, carbon-negative nightcaps and a hard kombucha that’s easy on the environment.
25 Years On: Lessons Learned from Interface’s Ongoing Sustainability Journey
Cross-Posted from Product, Service & Design Innovation. Why are lessons learned by a flooring company relevant? Many of the challenges we had to solve are the same that companies are struggling with as they pursue sustainability. Our accomplishments are significant because they show it is possible to transform a business and put sustainability at the core.
The Biosphere Rules: Sustainability Is a Destination, Not a Journey
Cross-Posted from Product, Service & Design Innovation. Envision a future where every material thing in our world is made out of a handful of materials, carefully selected to be safe, healthy and infinitely recyclable. Everything from coffee cup to countertop could be broken down and used as raw materials for a new shawl or lampshade.
New Retail Platforms Aim to Take Waste Out of Online Clothes Shopping
As we enter the season of giving — and the season of returns — two new, next-gen online retailers aim to address the rampant clothing waste inherent in e-commerce; and reward users for donating their used, unwanted clothing.
The Plastics Industry Is Changing — Because It Has to
Cross-Posted from Chemistry, Materials & Packaging. The plastics industry has become acutely self-aware. Directive targets must be met; new processes researched, developed and launched; and consumer education delivered. And looming over all of this is the spectre of sustainability, and the demonisation of plastics.
SB Oceans Showcases Solutions Aimed at Restoring Our Aquatic Abundance
Cross-Posted from Product, Service & Design Innovation. AI, a conscientious credit card, social plastic and underwater forests are just a few of the solutions showcased at SB Oceans that can help us restore their abundance.
New Report Provides Blueprint for Circularity of PET Bottles in Southeast Asia
Cross-Posted from The Next Economy. The report provides first-of-its kind, systematic and comparable baseline collection rates for PET bottles in Southeast Asia; and identifies a series of priority actions to transform the post-consumer PET landscape in the region.
Hidden: The Waste That Goes Into Making Stuff and How 2 Companies Are Tackling It
The waste we produce in our daily lives is just one small portion of the total waste stream. Public Thread and Rewilder, two winners of the recently announced Upcyclers Network Annual Product Awards, are putting non-household waste streams to creative use.
