circular manufacturing
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Credit: IrinaKr/Flickr
Reimagining plastic usage to combat pollution
In an interview with CBC, environmental scientist Pete Myers advocates for a significant reduction in plastic production and emphasizes the urgent need to address plastic pollution's health impacts.
In short:
- Pete Myers, chief scientist at Environmental Health Sciences, highlights the toxic health impacts of plastics and stresses the need for urgent reductions in their production.
- Myers criticizes the notion of recycling as a solution, suggesting it distracts from more effective measures like limiting virgin plastic production while Nestlé and other corporations call for collaborative global rules with less emphasis on production caps.
- Canadian Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault acknowledges the need to eliminate the most harmful plastics but expresses hesitation about imposing a cap on all plastic production.
Key quote:
“We have the ability to use the science we have today, which we didn't have when plastic was invented. We know why some plastics are safe and some aren't. And let's use that information, that chemical information, to design safer materials.”
— Pete Myers, chief scientist at Environmental Health Sciences
Why this matters:
Plastic pollution has penetrated every corner of our planet, threatening ecosystems and human health. Read more: Exposure to chemicals in plastics linked to cancer diagnoses.
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Credit: Nick Kurzenko/BigStock Photo ID: 344379418
Fashion's future lies in compostable mushroom leather
Imagine a future in which disposing of a pair of worn-out shoes might mean simply adding them to the compost pile.
In short:
- Romanian artisans and a South Carolina biotech company, MycoWorks, are innovating with mushroom-based textiles, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional leather.
- MycoWorks' material, called Reishi, is crafted from mycelium and agricultural waste, providing a sustainable and biodegradable option for fashion items like designer bags and upscale pillows.
- Advances in biotech allow for the growth of mycelium in controlled environments, presenting a viable, ethical, and environmentally sustainable alternative to animal leather.
Key quote:
"It has a bit of a velvety touch to it. It has a bounce. It has an absorptivity to the oils and heat that emanate from your fingers when you touch it."
— Matt Scullin, CEO of MycoWorks
Why this matters:
Mushroom leather not only offers a biodegradable option that could revolutionize waste management in fashion but also aligns with growing consumer demand for sustainable and ethically produced goods. The search continues for sustainable textiles and alternatives to fast fashion.
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Credit: Paul Sableman/Flickr
New research explores a restorative climate path for the Earth
Existing green growth policies are leading nowhere fast, so scientists say it’s worth exploring alternatives like degrowth to stay within planetary boundaries.
What happens when solar panels wear out?
The demand for solar energy is increasing, which means we need to speed up our solution to recycling solar panels.
| Stock Photo ID: 455989493 |
| Copyright: New Africa |
Funding circularity: Investing in Asia’s circular economy business models
As global raw material consumption soars and pollution skyrockets, the need to transition from a consumptive linear economy to a circular one — centering on reduced resource extraction and reuse and recycling to achieve zero waste — has grown more urgent. But paying for that transition poses many challenges.
Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection/Flickr/Commercial use & mods allowedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Can tires turn green?
Tire manufacturers are adopting greener production processes and more renewable materials, but they have yet to get a grip on tire particle pollution.
Ank Kumar/Flickr
In Scotland, making whisky with energy from wind, wood chips and tides
Scotland's whisky industry is trying to go net-zero. It's not easy.
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