Good News Notes: “Trees, crops and even organic waste can be transformed into a bewildering array of plastics to use in products ranging from single-use bags to heavy-duty airplane wings. These so-called biopolymers could play a vital role in weaning us off petroleum plastics—which will help cut greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure plastics come from…
Tag: plastic pollution
High school student designs working boat from recycled plastic water bottles
Good News Notes: “Andrew Karafa dreams of designing boats professionally one day. In the last year, he saw a trash problem he could use to his advantage and get a head start. “It’s 1,154 12-ounce water bottles, two gallon jugs and 33 two-liters,” says Karafa. “I call it the S.S. Boattle.” The junior at Forest…
Nile fishermen protect stocks by pulling plastic from river
Good News Notes: “For 17 years, Mohamed Nasar has supported his family of five by fishing in the Nile River near the banks of the tiny island of Al-Qursaya close to central Cairo. But the 58-year-old says fishermen like himself catch fewer fish every year as the Nile has become clogged with plastic bottles, bags…
11 Most Innovative Sustainable Packaging Ideas
Good News Notes: “Sustainable packaging is the development and use of packaging that’s recyclable, reusable, and made from rapidly renewable resources or materials. This practice reduces the environmental impact and ecological footprint of consumer product waste. There’s been a bounty out on packaging ever since Keep America Beautiful released its notorious 1971 “Crying Indian” PSA. The…
Sir David Attenborough Backs New Tech That Can Recycle All Plastics
Good News Notes: “Wildlife filmmaker Sir David Attenborough has appeared in a video campaign for a new plastic recycling technology in the U.K., alongside other naturalists calling for stronger protections for the world’s oceans. The campaign heralds the start of construction in the U.K. of a groundbreaking recycling facility which the firm behind the technology…
Dunkin’ debuts new sip lid for sweet cold foam drinks, continues testing biodegradable straws at Massachusetts locations
Good News Notes: “Dunkin’s drinks might look a little different starting Wednesday, as the company introduces a new type of lid. The new sip lid is designed specifically for sweet cold foam drinks, which also debuts nationwide on Wednesday. ‘The sip lids are a great innovation to introduce with our sweet cold foam because they enhance the sipping…
Biodegradable Food Packaging That Also Increases Food Shelf Life
Good News Notes: “While developing biodegradable food packaging from upcycled cheese whey and almond shells, the EU-funded project YPACK has discovered that integrating zinc oxide and oregano essential oil helps biopapers protect against bacterial contamination in food packaging. This promises to increase the shelf life of fresh products such as meat, fruit, vegetables, and fresh…
Marshall University to go plastic-free by 2026
Good News Notes: “Marshall University has announced it has made a commitment to go plastic-free by 2026. The university joined the ‘zero waste’ movement. Marshall University President Jerome Gilbert recently signed the ‘Break Free from Plastic Campus Pledge.’ It’s a campus-wide commitment to eliminate all single-use disposable plastics. The pledge specifically addresses accessibility and inclusivity…
Vuori Vows to Help Eliminate Plastic Waste From Oceans
Good News Notes: “Vuori, the California-based activewear brand, is committed to keeping the oceans clean. So it is partnering with CleanHub, a company dedicated to freeing the planet from plastic pollution, to calculate its plastic usage and invest in programs to remove an equal or larger amount from the environment. In a blog post on…
Pair upcycle plastic waste into benches for public in a Hong Kong town, showing the potential of a circular economy to reduce marine pollution | South China Morning Post
Good News Notes: “Old milk containers, juice jugs and toy cups are not the type of products usually associated with high-concept furniture, but two designers in Hong Kong have taken these and other items and upcycled them into stylish pieces of public furniture. Tasked with creating a collection of 12 benches for the town hall…