Viable Alternatives Knowledge Hub
Explore expert insights, practical solutions, and real-world case studies that help organisations reduce waste, improve resource efficiency, and advance circular economy and zero-waste outcomes.
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Feature Articles
Explore key sustainability concepts, technologies and initiatives.
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Tour Guides – Unseen & Invisible
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,…
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Wooden Nails – LignoLoc by BECK
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,…
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Ecology | Energy | Reduce waste | Sustainable
Sustainable Fashion – 3D Digital Design
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…
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Ecology | Farming | Prevention | Reduce waste | Sustainable | Water
Curitiba City, A Model In Sustainable Urban Planning
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…
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Energy | Re-use | Recycle | Reduce waste | Solar | Sustainable
Upcycling or Recycling of End-of-life Solar Panels
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…
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Rice Straw – Waste to Packaging
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…
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Electric | Energy | Hydrogen | Recovery | Sustainable | Zero Waste
Train Powered by Hydrogen
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…
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Water Scarcity and the Namib Beetle
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,…
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Zai Pit System
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….
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