Fibre From Familiar Fruit Bananas are the most common fruit consumed worldwide. In 2019, the banana export market produced 21 million tonnes of fruit. This is less than 20% of the total global banana production market. A majority of bananas produced globally are not for export but for in-country consumption. The banana plant has a…
Reforming waste. How can we retrieve valuable materials from e-waste and multi-component materials in rural and remote locations? All Recycling Is Local We make significant efforts to know where our food is coming from. Is it not time we knew where all our waste goes? In January 2018, China implemented a ban on the import…
Clean Water Daily access to clean potable water is a global issue. UNICEF and WHO state that globally, 1 in 3 people do not have access to safe drinking water. Worldwide, 2.2 billion people lack access to safe in-home drinking water services. 4.2 billion people are without safely managed sanitation services, and 3 billion people…
Curitiba City, Brazil Curitiba City is the capital city of Paraná state, in south-east Brazil. The city has a population of approximately 1.95 million. Around 3.7 million people live in Curitiba’s metropolitan area. With over 80 million m² of preserved green area, this is equivalent to 41m² of green space per city resident. Curitiba is…
Sustainable Grass Bamboo are the fastest growing plants on earth. They utilise unique rhizome (underground stems) to self-multiply. This allows some species of bamboo to grow up to 0.91m or 3 feet in one day. Due to its fast growth, bamboo is a useful construction material. Engineered bamboo is created from the laminated and treated…
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…
At Viable AlternativEnergy “green” (sustainable/ recyclable/ alternative) projects, products and ideas “give us life”. People who create and design new products with these concepts in mind inspire us. The annual Green Product Awards look at products designed to support the change towards a green way of living. They choose products for their aspects of design,…
Waste Hierarchy The Amended Waste Framework Directive (EU) 2018/851 put in place by the European Parliament establishes waste prevention and management legislation and policy. This directive includes the fiscal incentives for the application of the waste hierarchy. In this directive, ‘waste’ is defined as any substance or object which the holder discards or intends or…
The Decline In Biodiversity The loss of biodiversity in the food and agriculture sector threatens global food security. Furthermore, the decline in bees and pollinators are another major worry. Our reliance on pesticides and agrochemicals threatens our ecosystems and clean sources of groundwater. The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) of the United Nations states that…
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,…
In 2018, “What a Waste 2.0” the Urban Development Series produced by the World Bank gave a snapshot of global solid waste management until 2050. Organic waste comprised 56% of the total waste composition for low income countries, from an annual total waste volume of 93MT per year (million tonnes) or 5% of global waste…
Sustainable Waste Management Amager Bakke, also known as CopenHill, brings a sustainable waste management solution to the doorstep of city living. CopenHill is the cleanest waste-to-energy power plant in the world, on the industrial waterfront of Amager, Copenhagen, Denmark. Amager is Denmark’s most densely populated island. The Amager Bakke waste-to-energy plant covers 41,000m² and rises to…
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….
The average photovoltaic (PV) solar panel has a lifespan of 25 years. Solar panels contain glass, polymers, aluminium, silicon, lead, cadmium, tellurium and gallium. These potentially hazardous materials require specialised waste treatment at the solar panels end-of-life. In 2016, the International Renewable Energy Agency estimated there were 250,000 tonnes of global solar panel waste. In…
Aquaponics symbiotically combines hydroponics and aquaculture. Hydroponics is the cultivation of plants in nutrient-rich water without soil. Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic animals such as fish, prawns and snails in tanks. Aquaponics is an alternative farming method for areas where protein-rich foods such as fish are scarce or poor soil quality is a problem….
Hydrogen Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe. The power source that most stars burn to produce energy. First observed by Paracelsus around 1525 when experimenting with metals and acids. In 1766, Henry Cavendish isolated a gas 7-11 times lighter than air. Antoine Lavoisier named hydrogen in 1783, Greek for born…
In 2017, Europe recycled 84.6% of its cardboard and paper packaging. We derive this percentage from the total quantity of recycled packaging waste, divided by the total quantity of generated packaging. The same year, a study by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) states that businesses and consumers discard 10 million tonnes of furniture each year…
Christoph Tochtrop created the Vinson Multi-tool. It’s described as the rotary device for the household. The average household electronic device includes a power source (battery or plug), a motor, the drive, and the controls unit. However, Vinson is an innovative and interchangeable product which takes into consideration practical, eco-friendly methodologies and harmonious design. The essential…
In 2018, Professor Gérard Mourou (École Polytechnique) and Professor Donna Strickland (University of Waterloo) jointly won half of the Nobel Prize in Physics for ground breaking inventions in laser physics. “For their method of generating high-intensity, ultra-short optical pulses.” Chirped Pulses Professor Mourou and Strickland’s technique uses Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA), which they initially imagined…
Circuits and Conductive Materials Electrical and electronics are complicated subjects to grasp and implement for a majority of people. The reason even self-build home projects always recommend a qualified electrician. Most of us don’t know how the light comes on, we just know how to press the light switch. I enjoy a good equation and…
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…
A spotlight on 5 independent and sustainable personal care businesses from around the world. Oui the People Every year 2 billion plastic razors end up in the landfill. OUI the People is a zero-waste, sustainable, New York based company. They make safety razors and shaving products for sensitive skin. Furthermore, their shaving cream is refillable…
How are drones used for emergency medical response and disaster relief? Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or Electric Autonomous Aircraft (EAA) are commonly known as drones. Humanitarian and commercial applications successfully use drones to assist in emergency response. Medical Drones deliver packages at room temperature and cold chain (between 2-8ºC). Supplies delivered vary from whole blood,…
Edible Cutlery Made From 100% Natural Flours. In 2010, Narayana Peesapathy and Pradnya Keskar founded the company Bakeys in Hyderabad, India. Bakeys was the first company to produce edible cutlery. The baked utensils shaped like spoons, forks and chopsticks made of millet, rice, wheat and water. They come in various flavours varying from plain, savoury and…
A modern modular take on flat-pack construction, Ten Fold Engineering has an innovative design that makes flat-pack housing and construction units desirable and luxurious. The buildings can adapt to need. Therefore, allow a broad range of purpose for a smaller amount of space. The opening and closing movement are powerless. The transition takes place via…
In 1995, Mohammed Bah Abba, a teacher from northern Nigeria, invented the Pot-in-Pot preservation cooling system also known as Zeer pot cold storage. His design consists of five simple items: – two clay pots, sand, water and a cloth cover. By combining these simple items Mohammed produced a cool chamber or refrigerator for desert regions…
Food waste is a global problem. 1.3 billion tonnes or one-third of food produced globally for human consumption is wasted or lost every year. Whether you are the farmer, distributor, seller or consumer, wasted food is expensive. Food waste impacts the climate, water and biodiversity. The “Food Waste and Date Marking” survey by the European…
Is it possible to reuse N95 masks without a reduction of the respirator’s effectiveness? Terminology In this article when I mention reuse, I am using European waste processing terminology. As described in the EU Waste Framework Directive waste management hierarchy. Reuse is the second option after prevention and before recycling. Prevention is the streamlining of the…
Location, Location, Location… Taipei 101 is the tallest sustainable skyscraper in the world, standing at 508m (1,667 ft) and 101 floors. When completed in 2004, this was the tallest building in the world until 2010 when the Burj Khalifa in Dubai surpassed it. The Taipei 101 was originally uncertified as a sustainable build. However, the architectural,…
What is the future of renewable energy? Last week Planet of the Humans a documentary presented by Michael Moore and directed by Jeff Gibbs was released on YouTube. The documentary painted an alarming picture of renewable energy in the United States. We are not here to discuss money or politics. However, we cannot throw away…
Reduced air pollution during COVID-19 shows us that air quality is the first environmental factor we can solve. Effect on Industry and health View this post on Instagram A post shared by Adnan Abidi (@adnanabidi) Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) COVID-19 has affected all industries. The global travel, hospitality and tourism industry is one of those most affected…
Could air pollution be an indicator to aid businesses and the environment to thrive harmoniously post COVID-19? Effect of Pollution on Health The environment has a huge influence on human health. Environmental factors, air, soil and water cause various health issues. Contaminated water because of pathogens (bacteria, parasites), radiation and chemical pollution (from agrochemical run-off to heavy…
The United Kingdom is currently under a Coronavirus disease 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) COVID-19 lockdown. The majority of the population will be spending all hours at home. A fortunate few may be able to work from home. However, many people have been furloughed or have lost their main source of income. Below is a list of 10…
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…
Let’s take a few minutes to appreciate the power of soap. Over the past few weeks, health ministries around the world have inundated us with advice. The main WHO guidelines are regularly clean your hands, avoid touching your face, cough into your bent elbow and social distancing. Most importantly, stay home if you feel unwell….
Sharklet antibacterial armour is a great example of science and technology inspired by nature. Sharks are the world’s largest fish, primarily thought of as fierce aquatic predators. In contrast to other large marine animals, sharks are resistant to fouling organisms in the water including algae and barnacles. Nanoscopic diamond-shaped scales called dermal denticles cover shark’s…
Tours guides by Unseen Tours started in London in 2010. This exceptional social enterprise was the brainchild of The Sock Mob (a volunteer meetup group). This volunteer network engages with people living on the streets of London. They train formerly homeless people to become tour guides. The guides train in several skills including public speaking,…
The fashion industry is globally one of the top 10 most polluting industries. Through water pollution during production, chemical addition and dyes, microfibres released during laundry and tumble drying. Furthermore, transportation of goods, insecticide and pesticides through cotton growth and soil degradation. Additionally, stockpiling of unsold and used/ unwanted garments. As well as the effects…
Rice straw is a by-product of rice production. Globally, over 800 million tons of this straw is produced per year. With intensive rice farming models, farmers expect two to three crops per year. This quick turnaround is not conducive to the conditions required for the natural decomposition of rice straw. To Burn Or Not To…
Water scarcity is a global problem. From Flint Michigan and California in the United States of America to Chennai, India and Cape Town, South Africa, 12 out of 17 countries with the highest water stress are in the Middle East and North Africa. Flooding, contaminated groundwater, and water stress affect every corner of the globe. When a natural disaster strikes whether a hurricane, tsunami,…
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…
Cubo modular bamboo housing is the brainchild of Earl Patrick Forlales. Manila, Philippines has a housing problem similar to many other cities around the world. Rapid urbanisation has caused people to migrate from their provinces to the city. Forlales’ vision is a Philippines without slums. Inspired by the traditional “Bahay Kubo”, he aims to provide a…
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…
Viable AlternativEnergy posts focus on environmental and socially conscious projects, products and ideas. Please join us, as we recap our 7 top posts from 2019. 1. Kamikatsu – Japan’s Zero Waste Town The first municipality in Japan to promote a zero-waste policy. Residents sort waste into 45 categories. Kamikatsu municipality managed to recycle 81% of…
LignoLoc compacted beech wooden nails are a sustainable alternative to glue and metal nails. They consists of a magazine of nails, which can be used for industrial or ecological construction projects. The hardness (tensile strength) of these wooden nails are comparable to aluminium nails. Therefore it is possible to drive the nails in with a hammer,…
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…
3D street crossings are a fantastic alternative to conventional speed bumps. This idea has been around for a long time. However the crossings in India by Saumya Pandya Thakkar and Shakuntala Panya have inspired many. Since then several countries have tried out this style of zebra crossing. South Africa, China, New Zealand, Canada, Nigeria and…
The Lumkani fire detector is a heat detector which is not sensitive to smoke. This device rates the rise of temperature. In dense informal settlements, fires spread rapidly. Causing large scale disaster in a short space of time. This device measures how quickly a home gets hot. Therefore rapid rise in room temperature can be detected…
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…
There are now several plants-based sustainable alternatives to leather. We categorise many of these as vegan leather. However, vegan leather was first known as pleather. Furthermore, leather is plastic leather made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PU (polyurethane) or textile-polymer composite microfibres. Let us look at 5 sustainable types of leather. Comprising three products that originate…
Compost worms primarily consist of red wiggler / tiger, African nightcrawler, Indian blue and Brandling. These worms are powerful allies to organic farmers. They assist farmers with various tasks. such as providing oxygen /aeration to roots of the plants through burrowing. Releasing helpful amino acids which can combat diseases in crops. Furthermore worm waste (vermicast/…
The Reppie Waste to Energy plant in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is the first Waste to Energy plant in Africa, completed in February 2018. Reppie Waste-to-Energy Facility. Image: Stuartkribki | CC BY-SA 4.0. | Wikimedia. Reppie is locally known as Koshe (Amharic for dirty). The Koshe dump site in the southeastern part of Addis Ababa and is…
Three environmentally friendly and sustainable methods of producing paints. From recycling old latex paints, to the production of paints using windmills and linseed. Finally the paints made from food which is safe for children to use and is also edible. Rona Eco Paint recycling in Canada. Paints derived from flax by Rigo in The Netherlands….
Algae is a term used to describe a wide variety of aquatic photosynthetic organisms. This includes both macroscopic, multicellular organisms (seaweed) and microscopic, unicellular organisms (cyanobacteria). Algae can survive almost any marine or land environment that has sufficient water, nutrients and sunlight. Run off from agricultural activities, causes excess nitrates and phosphates to enter aquatic…
Growing furniture? How do they do that? Using age old techniques of grafting, Full Grown nurtures modern sculptures into living furniture. Growing unique lamps, chairs, mirror frames and tables from trees. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Full Grown (@fullgrownfutureuk) https://youtu.be/FILOA_nnMX4
The Makoko Floating School was an idea inspired by the bustling water community of Makoko in Lagos, Nigeria. Kunlé Adeyemi completed the pilot project in March 2013. Kunlé and his team of architects and designers at NLÉ have collaborated with various partners around the world. From Venice in Italy, Bruges in Belgium and Chengdu in…
Costa Rica is set to achieve over 98% of electricity generation from renewable sources for the fifth consecutive year. In 2019, the National Center for Energy Control (CENCE) declared that Costa Rica should generate around 98.84% of its electricity from a variety of renewable methods. Hydropower accounts for 67.5% of the country’s renewable energy. Wind…
Groundwater and soil contaminated with arsenic affects millions of people worldwide. When arsenic makes its way into drinking water, crops and meats. The bioaccumulation of arsenic in the body can cause skin lesions, cancer and various other illnesses. Recent studies in Current Biology by Professor Jody Banks and Chao Cai at Purdue University show that…
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…
A father from Henan, a central province in China makes toys using low cost materials. Using cardboard boxes, bottles, wood skewers, elastic bands, bottle caps, marbles and a whole lot of imagination. His goals was to encourage his daughter to spend less time in-front of a screen. The result was more quality time with his 5…
The astronomer Ole Rømer first demonstrated the speed of light in 1676. “A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field” by James Clerk Maxwell showed how the movement of waves. Demonstrating electric and magnetic fields travel through space at the speed of light. Paul Drude was the first to use the symbol c for the speed…
The use of plants and trees to balance out urban landscapes is not a new thing. Green design is centuries old. However when done well it can benefit the residents of that city, the wild life and even help to control the rising temperatures and air pollution. Contemporary green design is visible in many places….
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…
Tyres are complex products consisting of more than 200 raw materials. These different raw materials make it difficult for tyres to be recycled. Around the world several artists have been inspired by tyres and are very effective in sculpting old used tyres. Truly turning waste into art. A few artists from around the world include…
The Coradia iLint is the first passenger train powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The train was by designed by Alstom teams in Salzgitter, Germany and in Tarbes, France. Electricity is generated by hydrogen fuel cells when hydrogen and oxygen combine to produce water. This makes the cells a promising zero emissions, energy source that…
DFAB House shows the potential of digital fabrication. Through the brilliant collaboration between architecture, construction, and science. DFAB House is the first house of its kind. Designed, planned and built, using digital processes.https://youtu.be/NNYxSo6h_vo
Fires, drought and harsh weather conditions cause damage to millions of hectares of land every year. Reforestation techniques are essential to combat this problem. Land Life Company has developed a suite of technology to tackle degraded land.
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…
Sugru is a tool that helps to strengthen the reuse step of the European waste hierarchy. The five steps are “Prevention, Reuse, Recycle, Recovery and Disposal” respectively. Often times it is extremely difficult to repair items for reuse. Sugru is a mouldable, flexible, temperature resistant, waterproof and durable glue. It is able to harden…
Nemo’s Underwater Garden is an eco-friendly and self-sustainable biosphere. It harnesses renewable energy from the sun and freshwater gained by the desalination of seawater. Temperature (of the surrounding seawater and the air inside the biosphere), sunlight illuminance and indoor humidity are the key factors allowing the plants to grow inside the biospheres. These underwater biospheres…
Over 700,000 people die from mosquito-borne diseases every year. There are over 3,500 species of mosquitoes. Dengue fever, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika are all viral diseases spread by mosquitoes. Malaria is the parasitic disease carried by female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. However, every mosquito species has a signature buzzing sound. Two University research…
Share Shed– a “library of things”. A place where you can borrow useful items like: sewing machines, household appliances, camping, gardening and sporting equipment and so much more! Would your local community benefit from a library of things?
Imagine paper that is tear resistant, water resistant, bleach and acid free, bright white in colour and no trees were harmed to make this paper. The manufacturing process has a lower carbon footprint than with traditional paper. Well no need to imagine it. This paper is made from recycled stone.
Songhai Centre in Port Novo, Benin is the pinnacle of a zero waste agricultural site. Here they integrate vegetable production, aquaculture and animal husbandry to produce a large selection of produce. From food (cooking oils, fruit, baked goods, juices and livestock for consumption) to biogas, biomass, plastic recycling, fish feed, animal feed, composting, soap production…
This A/C unit cools without using electricity. An eco-friendly air conditioners for the steamy climate of New Delhi, created by the Architecture firm Ant Studio.
The Water-Gate Barrier acts like a pop up dam. It can be used for flood control and toxic spills with very minimal infrastructure. https://youtu.be/k5-LS0LwH90
Zai Pits are a longstanding and well-documented tradition in the Sahel region, specifically in the north of Burkina Faso. Zai Pit System are “planting pockets” and “small water harvesting pits”. Seeds are sown into the pits after filling them with one to three handfuls of organic material such as manure, compost, or dry plant biomass….
Leaf republic has created a selection of packaging products. They make the transparent lids from bioplastic and recycled plastic. They make the plates and bowls from three-layers. The bottom and top layers are leaves. The middle layer comprises water-proof leaf-made paper. No synthetic additives, colouring or glue used in the production process. Furthermore, the bowl…
Solektra provide various effective solutions for rural communities across Africa. Their projects include lighting through solar power, clean water and an academy. Comprising Akon Lighting Africa, Solar Energy Solutions by Solektra, Clean Water Solutions and the Solar Academy. Solektra launched a new website on 03/03/2020 the links above reflect this change.
Near Stockholm, the road recharges the batteries of electric cars and trucks. By transferring energy from two tracks of rail in the road. The design is like that of a Scalextric track. However, should the vehicle overtake, it automatically disconnects the arm.
Smart Flower is solar technology from a natural design prospective. Mimicking the heliotropic properties of the sunflower. It tracks the movement of the sun throughout the day at an optimal angle.
The O-Wind multidirectional turbine spins on a single axis but can harness gusts coming from any direction. The turbine mechanical motion makes use of Bernoulli’s principle. It relies on differences in air pressure to generate momentum. They line the structure with vents that have large entrances and smaller exits for air. In the presence of wind, the…
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.
This off-grid tiny home on wheels generates its own solar power. They collect and store rainwater. Solar water heating is also available. Composts from human waste. Other organic wastes generate biogas for cooking.
Bite, brush and repeat. An environmentally friendly alternative to plastic toothpaste tubes. They make this toothpaste pill from natural ingredients. Additionally, all the packaging is recyclable, thus reducing waste to landfill.
A symbiotic and sustainable method to combine farming and animal husbandry. The ducks eat insects that are destroying the rice and then fertilize the crop with their manure. Therefore creating a cleaner rice paddy.
Hair, fur and fleece clippings donated to matteroftrust.org are used to soak up major oil spills. Also, help keep storm drains and waterways clean.
Researchers from the University of Manchester look at the potential of graphene sieves. These sieves can convert seawater into drinking water.
These solar panels can harvest power from raindrops to boost efficiency both day and night. Expanding the potential for two sided solar panels.
By combining the studies of shark behaviour, shark vision, shark neurology and marine life defence strategies. A fresh approach to the growing understanding of how to repel sharks.
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?
Kamikatsu, Tokushima Prefecture, was the first municipality in Japan to promote a Zero Waste policy. The residents sort waste into 45 types in 13 categories. The municipality managed to recycle 81% of all their refuse in 2016.
In The Netherlands microgrid communities are pioneering a new approach to generating and sharing energy. This would mean neighbourhoods of the near future could produce their own renewable power.
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.