Alternative products and projects that utilise prevent, re-use, recycle and recover plastics. Projects range from Sustainable Art using a variety of media to Precious Plastics.
Marine Debris Every year, global production of plastic is rising. In 2019, the amount of plastic produced globally was approximately 368 million tonnes. This is 9 million tonnes more than in 2018. In our article Floating Island of Plastic Waste, we discussed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is 1.6 million square kilometres or three…
These top articles from Viable AlternativEnergy focus on sustainable, environmental and socially conscious projects, products and ideas. Please join us, as we recap our 7 top articles from 2020. 1. Cubo Modular Bamboo Housing This top article was a favourite with our readers from the Philippines. Cubo, created by Earl Patrick Forlales is a modern,…
Plastic Waste at Sea Marine debris caused by household garbage travels from rivers into seas and oceans. Across the globe, there are five oceanic gyres. It’s estimated that the largest oceanic garbage patch, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is 1.6 million square kilometres, three times the size of France or twice the size of Texas….
What is Sustainable Art? Sustainable art encompasses a wide range of artistic concepts, everything from thought-provoking environmental critique to studios working with carbon neutral or green footprint objectives. Additionally, using reclaimed materials, eco-friendly methodologies, and restorative practices. The artists below delve into this realm of sustainable, conceptual, eco-art. Contemporary Artists Tan Zi Xi @MessyMsXi (Tan…
Earthship Homes use approximately 45 per cent recycled materials. Old tyres, glass bottles and drinks cans are all essential construction materials. Michael Reynolds the inventor and owner of Earthships Biotecture describes the buildings as vessels. “These vessels encounter the phenomena of the earth, to provide sustenance for people.” These vessels do everything for themselves, producing…
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) PPE is any protective garment or equipment designed to protect the wearer’s body from injury or infection. This can include protective clothing, helmets, goggles and dust masks. One of my jobs at a hazardous waste facility in the United Kingdom was to order and stock the company PPE room. During this…
Chewing gum is consumed by millions of people every year. Over £14 billions spent on chewing gums globally. Like Marmite, you may love it or hate it. Singapore has banned its import since 1992. However, over £60 million was spent to clean up Britain’s streets of carelessly disposed of chewing gum in 2018. The mastication…
UBQ is a thermoplastic that can substitute minerals, wood and plastic in thousands of applications. Globally every year, 2 billion tonnes of waste is produced. Approximately 80% of this waste goes to landfills. Food loss and waste contribute 7% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. UBQ Process When all the waste that can be composted,…
BioCellection is an advanced recycling technology company based in California. Globally, only 9% of plastics are recycled. The remaining 91% goes to landfills, incinerators, or ends up in the ocean because of poor waste management practices. There is a huge gap in the market for a company that could close the “plastic life cycle” by…
Precious Plastic Universe (Precious Plastic version 4) launched on Tuesday 7th January 2020. At Viable AlternativEnergy, we’ve been waiting anxiously for this new update since August 2019. With earlier versions of Precious Plastic (version 2 and 3), followers have primarily used the information shared as educational tools or for small-scale projects. A major limitation was…
In 2013, Skipping Rocks Lab start up created Ooho an edible water “bottle”. Ooho’s peelable membrane comprises algae (brown seaweed) mixed with calcium and water. It can hold any kind of liquid. In addition, this membrane containing edible water is compostable and biodegrades in 4 to 6 weeks. Algae is one of nature’s renewable resources…
MarinaTex is an alternative to plastic film. It is made from agar from red algae and proteins from fish processing waste. MarinaTex is stronger than LDPE (commonly used in plastic bags) of the same thickness. It is 100% biodegradable in a soil environment and can be composted at home in less than 6 weeks. MarinaTex…
In 2002 Brazilian mechanic Alfredo Moser invented a way of illuminating his workshop without using electricity. He used a plastic bottle filled with water and some bleach. The lamp was able to give off as much light as a 40 to 60 watt light bulb. However this invention had limitations since it could not store…
Plastic particles that are 5 mm or less are described as microplastics. Microplastics often found in facial scrubs and shower gels as microbeads. The breakdown of larger plastics and machine washing of synthetic clothing also results in microplastics. These microplastics then make their way into waterways and are virtually impossible to remove through filtration. Microplastics…
Precious Plastic is an open source platform that shares their findings on how to solve plastic pollution. This project was created by Dave Hakkens from the Netherlands in 2013. The video below gives you a background on this project via the version 3 launch. We are patiently awaiting the updates that will come with the…
In 2004, all waste generated in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital went to landfill. Presently, Ljubljana diverts 80% of its refuse from the landfill. Furthermore, 68% of this waste gets recycled. Ljubljana won the title of the 2016 European Green Capital award. This was a major win because Ljubljana was the only nominee out of the 5…
Binners’ Project supports the most marginalised people in urban areas. Helping them to create an income from the collection of redeemable containers and other things from bins. Enabling these groups of waste pickers to sustain their livelihood and to divert waste from landfills.
What is the decomposition rate for items we send to landfill? From banana peels, to milk carton, cigarette butts, plastic bags and leather. How long does it take to for our discarded goods to decompse?
San Pedro La Laguna is the first community on Lake Atitlán. Also, the third municipality in Guatemala, to ban the use of plastic bags. The new provision is stringent. The provision outlaws plastic straws, Styrofoam containers and all packaging material made of polystyrene.
Wecyclers allows people in low-income communities to capture value from their waste. This Lagos based company provides a door to door collection service. Giving households a chance to generate value from waste. Also providing a reliable supply of raw material to the local recycling industry.