SustainInteract

“Scientists at UCLA have developed synthetic crystals that trap gasses like a smart sponge. The crystals are highly selective, allowing them to achieve a 400% improvement in CO2 capture over current technologies.

The crystals are three-dimensional and code information in the same manner as DNA. While not as sophisticated as DNA, the developers consider it a significant advancement in chemistry and materials science.

The scientists hope the technology could be used to capture CO2 from both large sources like power plants, and smaller ones like vehicle exhausts and smaller factories. The material could also potentially be used to convert CO2 into a fuel.

Ideally, these highly efficient crystals could be used for CO2 capture in lots of different settings while we try to transition to cleaner technologies.”

This power-saving device, physically disconnects consumer electronics from the outlet. It is hard to tell when electronics are or are not taking energy and many never stop taking energy if they are plugged in (e.g. cellphone chargers). this product solves that problem by using a timer circuit and electromechanics to eject its plug which disconnects your device from the wall outlet. Once the plug falls out, all energy consumption stops and only resumes once the plug is inserted again.

This is a nice idea, made from one piece of wood and laser etched for durability. Just the price that lets it down, $950

On Friday 12th February, “the world’s most successful businessperson and most powerful philanthropist did something outstandingly bold, that went almost unremarked: Bill Gates announced that his top priority is getting the world to zero climate emissions.”

“Gates spoke about his commitment to using his massive philanthropic resources (the Gates Foundation is the world’s largest) to make life better for people through public health and poverty alleviation (“vaccines and seeds” as he put it). Then he said something he’s never said before: that is it because he’s committed to improving life for the world’s vulnerable people that he now believes that climate change is the most important challenge on the planet.

Even more importantly, he acknowledged the only sensible goal, when it comes to climate emissions, is to eliminate them: we should be aiming for a civilization that produces no net emissions, and we should be aiming to live in that civilization here in the developed world by 2050.”

Having dragged it’s heels for years during the George W Bush years America is finally beginning to drive the climate change debate forward. Listen to President Obama’s words in his State of the Union speech this week. “I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change [...] But here’s the thing–even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future” is the key phrase, but his speech was peppered with other climate-change references and warnings:

We still have a long way to go but, with America on board and it’s enormous access to research within the scientific community, this has to be a better thing?

This has to be one of the greatest initiatives I have seen. “The One Foundation is the charitable division of Global Ethics Limited. We are a UK-based registered charity that works with communities in Africa to address the most pressing humanitarian needs, such as clean drinking water, nutrition and HIV/AIDS testing.” 100% of the companies profits from selling bottled water go to building PlayPump® water systems in Africa.
“Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest ones. Like the amazing PlayPump® water systems you help fund every time you buy a bottle of One Water.

The PlayPump® uses a specially crafted children’s roundabout to pump water from deep underground. So, as children spin on the roundabout, fresh, clean water is pumped from a borehole into a storage tank for use by the entire community.

It’s a simple idea but one that is changing the lives of thousands of African people. Now, instead of walking for hours to collect water, children can go to school and the entire community benefits from access to fresh drinking water.

A PlayPump® provides much more than clean water. It provides a community with a sustainable resource that saves time and energy and facilitates education, hygiene and health. Plus, excess water can be used to irrigate vegetable gardens, giving communities the opportunity to grow and sell their own crops. ”

Finally after month’s of speculation Apple have revealed their new product iPad. At the moment opinion seems split between the hard core Mac fraternity and the speculative Windows users. There is no doubt though that Apple are going to sell millions of iPads and just like the iPod and iPhone it will make a massive difference to our lives, the way we access the web, view video and still images, read books and manage our lives.
Apple have a very good record when it comes to sustainability and there products are designed to minimise their environmental impact.The iPad is no exception. LIke the iPod, iPhone and iMac, MacBook Pro etc it has been designed by English designer Jonathan Ive. Ive’s and Apple’s Steve Jobs attention to detail and functionality is remarkable.
“iPad embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress. It is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:
* Arsenic-free display glass
* BFR-free
* Mercury-free LCD display
* PVC-free
* Recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure”
You can get more info on Apple’s environmental Reports here: http://www.apple.com/environment/reports/

I came across these on the http://www.fastcompany.com/ web site. Below are a few examples of designers challenging our use of every day items and coming up with novel solutions for a sustainable future.

Garden Greetings Botanical PaperWorks
“Most people bury the greeting cards they receive in drawers, but you can bury Garden Greetings in the backyard and watch them sprout into flowers or herbs. Embedded with seeds, the cards are “tree-free” — instead, Botanical PaperWorks uses 3.5 tons of paper waste a year. The cards retail for $5 apiece at specialty stores such as Paper Source.”

Din-ink
Zo-Loft
“Approximately 39 billion pieces of disposable cutlery are used in the United States each year; that’s 42 place settings per person. These 100% biodegradable, nontoxic, and hygienic pen caps take chewing on your Bic to a new level. Made from natural starch and fiber, the reusable caps, a Designboom “Dining in 2015″ winner, will be available in October.”

Green Box
Environmentally Conscious Organization
“Americans “use a pizza box for 30 minutes and then throw it away,” says ECO chief executive William Walsh. We toss up to 2.2 billion boxes a year. Walsh’s idea: more mileage per box. By adding perforation marks to divide the top into four plates, he eliminates additional waste. And the bottom can be folded into a fridge-friendly leftover case. Walsh is talking to the top pizza chains to make his to-go alternative box populi.”

Ditto Hangers
GreenHeart Global
“Every year, 3.5 billion wire hangers and 8 billion plastic ones rack up landfill space. “It’s hidden,” says CEO Gary Barker, “but they’re just a tremendous burden on the environment.” Barker’s primary goal is to replace the disposable hangers of dry-cleaners, hotels, and retailers, and he has won design awards for the pressed-paperboard hanger he created exclusively for Adidas’s Slvr stores. Growing consumer demand for the hangers, which hold 20 pounds, has led him to sell 10 for $15 via Amazon, and Bed Bath & Beyond commissioned its own 10-pack ($10).”

Dinnerware
VerTerra
“”The next wave in eco-awareness is compostability,” says VerTerra chief operating officer Josh Parker. VerTerra steams, heats, and pressurizes fallen palm leaves, processing 10 to 12 tons a month into high-end disposable dinnerware. The plates, bowls, and trays aren’t just compostable but also biodegradable, and they’re the china of choice in tier-one luxury boxes at the new Cowboys Stadium. They’re also being rolled out at Whole Foods for just $6.50 for eight.”

EcoCradle
Ecovative Design
Imagine a Styrofoam replacement so natural it could be mistaken for mushroom risotto. EcoCradle is made from agricultural by-products, such as rice hulls, and mushrooms, which serve as a binding agent for the packing material. “In nature, there is no litter,” says CEO Eben Bayer. EcoCradle can then be molded to fit products as varied as TVs and glassware. To meet demand, Ecovative Design will scale up production to 10,000 units of packaging a month by the end of the year.

“Recycle Match is an Online Market for Transforming Commercial Waste Into Value. Our web based marketplace provides a solution to reduce costs and environmental impact by converting waste streams from one company into useful materials for another company. By uncovering hidden value, RecycleMatch creates new cost savings and potential revenues for all parties while enabling supply chain solutions that can benefit the environment and your sustainability initiatives.”
This really is a great idea, we should all try and encourage initiatives like this. Lobby your company to make use of Recycle Match.

Quality printing from sustainable source can be problematic but Moab by Legion photographic Paper ~ A Fine art Archival Photographic paper made with all natural and sustainable fibers and strands such as, bamboo, rice and cotton offers a realistic solution. Moab paper is true air-dried, acid, lignin and OBA-free.”