Solar panel “upcycling” venture gears up for first factory in Victoria

Good News Notes: “A new solar panel “upcycling” plant should be up and running in Victoria by the end of 2023, with further facilities in the development pipeline, according to an update from the team behind the project. A research update published by the University of Melbourne, a partner on the project with RMIT University and…

Scotland Ends Coal Power With A Bang

Good News Notes: “Scotland recently demolished its last coal-fired power station, ending coal’s reign in the country with a literal bang – ending decades of reliance on the emissions-heavy fossil fuel. “Today’s event is a symbolic reminder that we have ended coal-fired power generation in Scotland, as we work in a fair and just way towards becoming…

Mars Petcare to use food-safe recycled plastic in packaging

Good News Notes: “US-based food and petcare company Mars Petcare is preparing to launch wet pet food packaging made from food-safe recycled plastic content for its SHEBA cat food brand in Europe. The move is part of the company’s larger commitment to using more recycled content in its plastic packaging. SHEBA will be the first…

Young Woman With ALS Creates Nonprofit for People Like Her

Good News Notes: “When Leah Stavenhagen was 27, she was living in Paris and traveling through Europe. But an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis forced her to give up her job as a consultant with Ernst & Young and dashed her dreams of continuing to work abroad. At the time, she seemed healthy, but she started having…

Enzymes and wood biomolecules, a winning combo for sustainable packaging

Good News Notes: “A biotechnology company hidden among the forests of southern Finland thinks trees can help sustainability in Europe to become deep-rooted. Sustainable multi-purpose products Researchers at Metgen Oy are mixing enzymes and biomolecules from wood and bark to replace raw oil-based materials. Some of these renewable biomaterials have already been developed and used in different…

Greening deserts: India powers renewable ambitions with solar push

Good News Notes: “As camels munch on the fringes of Thar desert, an oasis of blue solar panels stretches further than the eye can see at Bhadla Park — a cornerstone of India’s bid to become a clean energy powerhouse. Currently, coal powers 70 percent of the nation’s electricity generation, but Indian Prime Minister Narendra…

Compostable Produce Packaging Adds Shelf Life and Sustainability

Good News Notes: “Compostable packaging solutions from Tipa are being implemented worldwide by leading brands in Europe, Australia, and the US. There is a particular focus on food and fashion industries, as these are two key markets that use a high volume of flexible packaging. In the US, Tipa worked with  Fresh Harvest to deliver effective solutions for its customers….

Collaboration to make fully compostable diapers

Good News Notes: “Disposable diapers present a huge waste problem worldwide. According to reports an estimated 20 billion disposable diapers accumulate in landfills in the US alone. Similar numbers are true for Europe. Producers aim to make diapers more sustainable and while many components have already been made compostable, the absorbent material essential for any diaper…

CSRWire – Baker Hughes Foundation Contributes $250,000 to Global Reforestation

Good News Notes: “The Baker Hughes Foundation has announced a $250,000 grant to One Tree Planted in support of global reforestation initiatives. The grant will be applied toward projects to plant 250,000 trees in regions where Baker Hughes operates in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. One Tree Planted is a leading environmental non-profit focused on the…

Google updates Maps, Search, Shopping, Nest for sustainability

Good News Notes: “On Wednesday, Google launched a suite of changes to many of its core products to help consumers make sustainable choices more easily. “Today, climate change is more than a threat,” Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google and parent company Alphabet, said in a prerecorded video during a virtual press event Tuesday. “It is a…