Microbes Are Evolving to Eat Plastic Pollution, Study Shows

Good News Notes: “Millions of years ago, evolution turned tiny microbes into multicellular plants, animals, and humans. Now, evolution is turning them into something equally remarkable: environmentalists. So finds a new study from researchers at Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology.1 Published this month in the scientific journal mBIO, it found plastic waste is giving rise to a growing…

Recycled bottles transformed into luxury store’s stunning green facade

Good News Notes: “MVRDV’s stunning facade for Bulgari’s flagship store in Shanghai, China, is designed to look like the building has a luxurious jade finish, however the glowing green exterior actually has far humbler origins: the firm created it using recycled glass bottles. Bulgari Shanghai (the name is stylized Bvlgari) is located in a major…

Ford Takes Giant Baby Step On Recycled Plastic

Good News Notes: “Ford has just introduced a new car part made from recovered fishing nets, or “ghost gear,” and the company is billing it as the first ever use of recycled plastic from the ocean by the auto industry. That’s sure to catch the attention of other automakers eager to make an impression on…

Meet the Siblings Fighting Plastic Pollution

Good News Notes: “Can you both tell us about your organization, Hidden Plastic, and what inspired you to start an environmental initiative? Zara: Hidden Plastic educates people through a series of dark comedy videos on some of the problems, but also solutions, to the global micro-plastics issue. We started our journey in the summer of 2020 when…

Boat owners use drones to create global database on plastic pollution

Good News Notes: “AnimaMundi Ocean Data Solutions, DJI and Lagoon are using drones to build a comprehensive database of plastic waste on coastlines throughout the world. AnimaMundi is a not-for-profit organization based in Geneva, Switzerland. Its proprietary technology interprets photo and video records to extract a single-use plastic bottle count. The information can be captured via an app using…

This ‘floating continent’ could collect and recycle plastic from the ocean in future

Good News Notes: “‘The 8th continent’ is an award-winning design that recycles ocean plastic and is completely self-sustainable. Its five-part structure contains everything from greenhouses and living quarters to biodegradable waste collectors. Senior designer at Zaha Hadid Architects in London, Lenka Petráková, developed the idea for her student master thesis a few years ago in Vienna,…

Spanish Brand Hawkers Designs Sustainable Sunglasses

Good News Notes: “A new era of eyewear is on the horizon with Hawkers, a Spanish brand creating eco-conscious sunglasses at an attainable price. With a range of spectacles to choose from, Hawkers has garnered attention among soccer icon Lionel Messi and DJ  Steve Aoki who have been seen wearing the brand’s sleek styles.  The sustainable…

GE’s LM Wind Power to Produce Zero-waste Wind

Good News Notes: “GE Renewable Energy’s LM Wind Power said this week it planned to produce zero waste wind turbine blades by 2030. “LM Wind Power will play a central role in supporting its customers to develop fully circular wind turbines that generate less waste during their production. In practice, LM Wind Power’s vision of…