Monday 26 March 2012
CO-MOO !
Planes, Trains & Automobiles, no not the film or even the main contributors for carbon emissions. Chuck the friendly Cow into the mix where a United Nations report has identified the world's rapidly growing herds of cattle as the greatest threat to the climate, forests and wildlife. The 400-page report by the Food and Agricultural Organisation, entitled Livestock's Long Shadow, also surveys the damage done by sheep, chickens, pigs and goats. But in almost every case, the world's 1.5 billion cattle are most to blame. Livestock are responsible for 18 per cent of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming, more than cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together.
Burning fuel to produce fertiliser to grow feed, to produce meat and to transport it - and clearing vegetation for grazing - produces 9 per cent of all emissions of carbon dioxide, the most common greenhouse gas. And their wind and manure emit more than one third of emissions of another, methane, which warms the world 20 times faster than carbon dioxide.
Wastes from feedlots and fertilizers used to grow their feed over nourished water, causing weeds to choke all other life. And the pesticides, antibiotics and hormones used to treat them get into drinking water and endanger human health.
Burning fuel to produce fertiliser to grow feed, to produce meat and to transport it - and clearing vegetation for grazing - produces 9 per cent of all emissions of carbon dioxide, the most common greenhouse gas. And their wind and manure emit more than one third of emissions of another, methane, which warms the world 20 times faster than carbon dioxide.
Livestock also produces more than 100 other polluting gases, including more than two-thirds of the world's emissions of ammonia, one of the main causes of acid rain.
Ranching, the report adds, is "the major driver of deforestation" worldwide, and overgrazing is turning a fifth of all pastures and ranges into desert.Cows also soak up vast amounts of water: it takes a staggering 990 litres of water to produce one litre of milk.
Ranching, the report adds, is "the major driver of deforestation" worldwide, and overgrazing is turning a fifth of all pastures and ranges into desert.Cows also soak up vast amounts of water: it takes a staggering 990 litres of water to produce one litre of milk.
Wastes from feedlots and fertilizers used to grow their feed over nourished water, causing weeds to choke all other life. And the pesticides, antibiotics and hormones used to treat them get into drinking water and endanger human health.
The pollution washes down to the sea, killing coral reefs and creating "dead zones" devoid of life. One is up to 21,000sqkm, in the Gulf of Mexico, where much of the waste from US beef production is carried down the Mississippi.
The report concludes that, unless drastic changes are made, the massive damage done by livestock will more than double by 2050, as demand for meat increases.
Paper In The Environment
Today, 90% of paper pulp is made of wood. Paper production accounts for about 35% of felled trees and represents 1.2% of the world's total economic output. Recycling one ton of newsprint saves about 1 ton of wood while recycling 1 ton of printing or copier paper saves slightly more than 2 tons of wood. This is because kraft pulping requires twice as much wood since it removes lignin to produce higher quality fibres than mechanical pulping processes.
Relating tons of paper recycled to the number of trees not cut is meaningless, since tree size varies tremendously and is the major factor in how much paper can be made from how many trees. Trees raised specifically for pulp production account for 16% of world pulp production, old growth forests 9% and second- and third- and more generation forests account for the balance. Most pulp mill operators practice reforestation to ensure a continuing supply of trees.
The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification and the Forest Stewardship Council certify paper made from trees harvested according to guidelines meant to ensure good forestry practices. It has been estimated that recycling half the world’s paper would avoid the harvesting of 20 million acres of forestland.
As it stands around 35% out of all landfill is of municipal solid waste by weight is paper and paper products.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has found that recycling causes 35% less water pollution and 74% less air pollution than making virgin paper. Pulp mills can be sources of both air and water pollution, especially if they are producing bleached pulp. Modern mills produce considerably less pollution than those of a few decades ago. Recycling paper decreases the demand for virgin pulp and thus reduces the overall amount of air and water pollution associated with paper manufacture.
Relating tons of paper recycled to the number of trees not cut is meaningless, since tree size varies tremendously and is the major factor in how much paper can be made from how many trees. Trees raised specifically for pulp production account for 16% of world pulp production, old growth forests 9% and second- and third- and more generation forests account for the balance. Most pulp mill operators practice reforestation to ensure a continuing supply of trees.
The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification and the Forest Stewardship Council certify paper made from trees harvested according to guidelines meant to ensure good forestry practices. It has been estimated that recycling half the world’s paper would avoid the harvesting of 20 million acres of forestland.
This image below is of waste paper collected for recycling in Italy
What is today's landfill use of paper before recycling?
What is the impact regarding water and air pollution?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has found that recycling causes 35% less water pollution and 74% less air pollution than making virgin paper. Pulp mills can be sources of both air and water pollution, especially if they are producing bleached pulp. Modern mills produce considerably less pollution than those of a few decades ago. Recycling paper decreases the demand for virgin pulp and thus reduces the overall amount of air and water pollution associated with paper manufacture.
Some Stats...
As both paper recovery and paper consumption rose in 2010, the volume of paper estimated to be going to landfills remained near an all-time low of approximately 20 million short tons. This is about half the volume of paper that went to landfills in the year 2000.
Official Numbers...
(Originally Posted 20/03 Re-posted 26/03 due to an error in the display)
As both paper recovery and paper consumption rose in 2010, the volume of paper estimated to be going to landfills remained near an all-time low of approximately 20 million short tons. This is about half the volume of paper that went to landfills in the year 2000.
Official Numbers...
Paper Recovered (million tons) | Paper Landfilled (million tons) | |
1993 | 35.5 | 38.4 |
1994 | 39.7 | 37.9 |
1995 | 42.2 | 36.3 |
1996 | 43.1 | 34.4 |
1997 | 44.0 | 37.3 |
1998 | 45.1 | 38.4 |
1999 | 46.8 | 41.4 |
2000 | 47.3 | 40.0 |
2001 | 47.0 | 36.6 |
2002 | 47.6 | 37.7 |
2003 | 49.3 | 36.6 |
2004 | 50.2 | 39.9 |
2005 | 51.3 | 37.8 |
2006 | 53.3 | 36.9 |
2007 | 54.3 | 32.9 |
2008 | 51.8 | 28.1 |
2009 | 50.0 | 19.2 |
2010 | 51.5 | 20.3 |
Friday 23 March 2012
Pothole Season
These pictures are from a PR campaign to promote a new Canadian Iphone app called 'Pothole Season'. It is apparently a well known fact that the streets of Montreal are covered in potholes, many of which can do some serious damage to the suspension on your car.
The new app lets the user know precisely where the pot holes are and hopefully prevents a costly repair bill and unnecessary use of resources.
It is a national past time to count potholes after a Canadian winter and at the time of writing this post the link below was showing a total of over 7,000 reported potholes across Canada, which doesn't seem a lot really.
Tube Toys
There is a simplicity to these toys that is really appealing. Each one is constructed using its own cardboard tube packaging and is fully recyclable.
All the parts needed are contained in the tube and fit together through a series of precut slots and holes.
The only item to be discarded is the small piece of paper that contains the essential information for the retailer such as the barcode and product name.
This is a great way to introduce a very young child to the pleasure of making and cuts down on the guilt factor when it is passed over for the next, more interesting, thing 3 days later.
Shopping Bag Corset
A snip at $300, this corset is made from a vintage vinyl shopping bag and the back is laced up with reclaimed boot leather. It might be classed as sustainable fashion but I don't think I'll be wearing it anytime soon and I suspect that I'm not alone in that view. Picky perhaps, but surely, in the case of recycled goods, something only becomes sustainable when there is a proven market for the end result?
Starbucks First Global 'Coffee Lab', Amsterdam
I think this is beautifully done, right up my street, and full credit to Starbucks for breaking away from the usual soulless, dreary and corporate homogeneity of most other coffee chains. The Amsterdam Coffee Lab is the first of its kind for the company and is based upon a strategy to "create locally relevant stores that integrate local design in a sustainable way."
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Interesting details in the store's design include antique delft tiles, bicycle inner tube walls and 'Delfts blauw' murals.
All of the main fixtures in the cafe, including a 17m coffee bar and the huge communal table pictured top are constructed out of recycled Dutch oak. The chairs are salvaged from local schools and given a face lift.
Who cares if this is ultimately about selling more coffee and enhancing the Starbucks brand. It is unique and relevant to the local culture and will remain so however many more of these 'concept' stores Starbucks intend to roll out globally. That has to be encouraging news in the face of the terminally bland, and dying, high street found the length and breadth of the UK.
Tuesday 20 March 2012
Recycled Mold Chairs
Based in Stockholm, Anders Johnsson was asked about creating design an Interior Architecture and Furniture Design program. They noticed that they had large quantities of waste materials that are normally just thrown away or burned and from this Anders had decided to use this wood as part as the project alongside Petter Thorne.
Below is the shortened process for the making of the chairs
Below is the shortened process for the making of the chairs
Final Chair Design
Monday 19 March 2012
Coca-Cola System!
The system operates in more than 200 countries, markets more than 500 brands and 3,500 beverage products, and sells 1.7 billion servings of beverages each day.
The Company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and includes six operating groups: Eurasia and Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America, Pacific and Bottling Investments. The Company sources ingredients; makes and sells concentrates, beverage bases and syrups to bottling partners; owns their brands and is responsible for marketing them. The Company, in consultation with bottling partners, also sets the sustainability agenda for the system and supports bottling partners, suppliers and customers in meeting the sustainability goals that are set.
Bottling partners: The key toward coca-colas success and their journey toward sustainability:
Bottling partners are engaging in water stewardship, reducing the Coca-Cola system’s carbon footprint and investing in and improving the communities where their facilities operate. Often, our bottling partners lead the way by finding new sustainability solutions.
For example:
For some time, the coca cola company has led the beverage industry in clean fleet technology by having more heavy-duty hybrid trucks in North America than any other fleet. They currently operate more than 700 hybrid electric trucks that reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30 percent when compared to a conventional truck.
Coca-cola customers:
Their customers include just about anyone who sells coca-cola products—grocery stores, restaurants, street vendors, convenience stores, movie theaters and amusement parks, among others.
The customers have a role to play in the sustainability efforts as well. They work to install more energy-efficient equipment. Their businesses are often women-owned and -operated, helping empower more women around the world. They are key to recovery and recycling efforts. And they are often deeply involved in improving their communities, providing guidance, connection and collaboration for our community improvement efforts.
POSTED BY BECKY, 19th MARCH, 20:47
Greenwash - Waterless Car Wash!
GreenWash is the Exclusive Freedom Waterless Car Wash distributor for Bulgaria. They are in year #2 of their successful business cleaning an array of vehicles. Despite a difficult economy, GreenWash is doing well and should be expanding in the future.
Environmentally conscious with a green approach that is aimed to bring customers user friendly cleaning solutions. This can be demonstrated by the use of waterless car wash products to save water when cleaning your car.
POSTED BY BECKY, MARCH 19TH, 21:01
Friday 16 March 2012
BioCouture
BioCouture is a research project harnessing nature to propose a radical future fashion vision.
Suzanne Lee, the project's Director is a Senior Research Fellow at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London. She is collaborating with scientists to unite design with cutting edge bio and nano-technologies.
The concept for Biocouture arose from a chance conversation between Suzanne Lee and Dr David Hepworth, a biologist and materials scientist. To cut to the headline, the outcome is a process that, in essence, uses Green Tea to make material for garments.
The technical process involves introducing specific bacteria, yeasts and other microorganisms to a vat of, temperature controlled, sugary green tea. The bacteria will feed on the sugar and spin fine threads of cellulose. These threads begin to stick together and, in so doing, form a dense skin on the surface of the liquid.
After two to three weeks the skin will have developed to be approximately 1.5cm thick and it is at this point the substance is removed from its growth bath. The material can be molded wet onto a 3D form or it can be dried flat and then cut and sewn into a garment.
The Green Tea material has some evident benefits; it doesn't exploit plants or petrochemicals in its production. It is similar in texture to vegetable leather and can be disposed of on the compost heap. It is super absorbent and so requires minimal amounts of dye if coloured. The drawback to these absorbent qualities though is that the material is currently unstable and will disintegrate when exposed to sweat or rain.
Bomber Jacket
Biker Jacket
The next crucial stage in the development process of the BioCouture fabric is to try and make it water resistant and so more stable than it is at present.
fashion textiles BioCouture is pioneering a new eco-friendly and sustainable alternative. The
future scale up of this material would also seek to use waste streams, for example from the food
or drinks industry, to fuel the microbial-cellulose production.
What started as a fashion project has now evolved into a biomaterials project – we are only just
beginning to imagine what other uses there might be for this material." Suzanne Lee
http://www.ted.com/talks/suzanne_lee_grow_your_own_clothes.html
Thursday 15 March 2012
Magic Mushrooms
Computers packed in mushrooms? It sounds implausible, even unpalatable but, nonetheless, fascinating and the brainchild of Dell Computers.
Michael Dell is on record as being committed to make his business "the greenest technology company on the planet" and set about doing so by announcing Dell to be carbon neutral in 2008. The following year the Texas based company became the first to ban the export of e-waste (nonworking electronics) to developing countries and operates a number of programmes for the recycling and disposal of unwanted electrical devices and ink cartridges . Dell have a slew of sustainable initiatives and have already reached many of their targets in this area. But it is their Three Cs philosophy that delivered the intriguing bamboo packaging and, more recently, the fungi version.
The three Cs are described thus:-
When Dell intoduced bamboo packaging it allowed them to move away from polyethylene foam to a natural and sustainable product.
Using bamboo ticked all the boxes labelled 'sustainable', 'responsible', 'ethical' and so on, but it was not a panacea for Dell. Bamboo had it's limitations, being ideal for smaller products such as laptops and smartphones but inadequate for larger products such as desktops and servers. Then along came mushroom bioscience.
Using common agricultural waste products such as cotton hulls, rice hulls or wheat chaff, these are placed in a mold and injected with mushroom spawn. Five to ten days later the process is complete. The mushroom root structure has completed its growth without the need for any external energy. The final product looks and acts like styrofoam. The obvious advantage over styrofoam is that this material is both organic and biodegradable and can be used as compost or mulch, thus, easily disposable.
Mushroom packaging is currently being piloted with the Dell PowerEdge R710 server multipacks and the company has plans to expand its use in the future.
Michael Dell is on record as being committed to make his business "the greenest technology company on the planet" and set about doing so by announcing Dell to be carbon neutral in 2008. The following year the Texas based company became the first to ban the export of e-waste (nonworking electronics) to developing countries and operates a number of programmes for the recycling and disposal of unwanted electrical devices and ink cartridges . Dell have a slew of sustainable initiatives and have already reached many of their targets in this area. But it is their Three Cs philosophy that delivered the intriguing bamboo packaging and, more recently, the fungi version.
The three Cs are described thus:-
- Cube. Reduce the size of boxes
- Content. Make the materials eco friendly
- Curb. Make the packaging materials curbside recyclable
When Dell intoduced bamboo packaging it allowed them to move away from polyethylene foam to a natural and sustainable product.
Using bamboo ticked all the boxes labelled 'sustainable', 'responsible', 'ethical' and so on, but it was not a panacea for Dell. Bamboo had it's limitations, being ideal for smaller products such as laptops and smartphones but inadequate for larger products such as desktops and servers. Then along came mushroom bioscience.
Using common agricultural waste products such as cotton hulls, rice hulls or wheat chaff, these are placed in a mold and injected with mushroom spawn. Five to ten days later the process is complete. The mushroom root structure has completed its growth without the need for any external energy. The final product looks and acts like styrofoam. The obvious advantage over styrofoam is that this material is both organic and biodegradable and can be used as compost or mulch, thus, easily disposable.
Mushroom packaging is currently being piloted with the Dell PowerEdge R710 server multipacks and the company has plans to expand its use in the future.
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