New PET-like plastic made directly from waste biomass
It is becoming increasingly obvious that moving away from fossil fuels and avoiding the accumulation of plastics in the environment are key to addressing the challenge of climate change. In that vein, there are considerable efforts to develop degrada.....»»
Philippines deploys river rangers in battle against plastic
Using a long-handled net, Ronnel Narvas scoops up discarded plastic soft drink bottles, shopping bags and palm-sized sachets as he wades through a foul-smelling tributary in the Philippine capital Manila......»»
Secrets of sargassum: Scientists advance knowledge of seaweed causing chaos in the Caribbean and West Africa
Researchers have been working to track and study floating sargassum, a prolific seaweed swamping Caribbean and West African shorelines, and causing environmental and economic harm. The study, "Changes in holopelagic Sargassum spp. biomass composition.....»»
Decades of industrial waste to be cleaned up in Montana following years of negotiations
Decades of industrial waste to be cleaned up in Montana following years of negotiations.....»»
Proposed Plastics Law Could Slash Wasteful Packaging
A law proposed in New York State seeks to reduce plastic packaging, ban certain plastic chemicals and mandate that producers of packaged consumer goods fund the recycling or disposal of what they sell.....»»
Big brands are "failing to curb plastic sachet use"
Small plastic sachets commonly used in low- and middle-income countries must be phased out and packaging reuse systems promoted, urge campaigners and waste pickers, as new analysis reveals major corporations have failed to curb their use......»»
Ambitious targets are needed to end ocean plastic pollution by 2100, analysis finds
A collaboration between researchers at Imperial College London and GNS Science, suggests that reducing plastic pollution by 5% per year would stabilize the level of microplastics—plastics less than 5 mm in length—in the surface oceans......»»
Chocolate made with fewer calories, less waste
“Whole fruit chocolate” uses cocoa pulp and inner shell in lieu of sugar. Enlarge (credit: YelenaYemchuk) Commercialization has not dealt kindly with the Mayan Food of the Gods. Modern chocolate products are filled w.....»»
A fungus converts cellulose directly into a novel platform chemical
The fungus Talaromyces verruculosus can produce the chemical erythro-isocitric acid directly from cheap plant waste, thus making it interesting for industrial utilization......»»
A research team is developing a method to recycle more plastics
Despite consumer efforts to sort and separate recyclables, most plastic bottles still end up in the landfill. Standard recycling methods to sort, shred and remake plastics are limited to just type-1 and type-2 plastics—basically only soda bottles,.....»»
Sustainable, high-performance paper coating material could reduce microplastic pollution
Plastic pollution presents a global challenge that must be solved. In particular, packaging accounts for 30–50% of the total plastic consumption. While paper packaging is eco-friendly, it lacks crucial functionalities like moisture resistance and s.....»»
Packaged-meat labels that show freshness could replace use-by dates, reducing food waste
Patches that change color as raw meat freshness deteriorates in sealed refrigerated products could soon become a reality on supermarket shelves, making it easier for shoppers to know if it's still good to eat and reducing food waste......»»
New polystyrene recycling process could be world"s first to be both economical and energy-efficient
Engineers have modeled a new way to recycle polystyrene that could become the first viable way of making the material reusable. The chemical method identified to tackle hard-to-recycle packaging material, cutting landfill waste.....»»
Powering wearable devices with high-performing carbon nanotube yarns
With the growth of the Internet of Things, sustainable solutions for powering wireless sensors and devices are considered important. Thermoelectric generators, for example, which have the ability to convert waste heat into electricity, can offer a su.....»»
Researchers analyze how a chemical process could help recycle a common plastic waste
Researchers at Virginia Tech are exploring processes that might greatly increase the recycling of one of the world's most-produced plastics......»»
Plastic-greenhouse agriculture: A novel soil profile design for global sustainability and enhanced crop production
A research team has developed a novel conceptual framework for designing plastic-greenhouse soil profiles that cater to the needs of smallholder farmers. The soil profile includes four functional layers: a soil mulch layer for preventing evaporation,.....»»
Study shows how avocado pruning residues can be used produce more sustainable food packaging
Although plastic allows food to be packaged safely and hygienically, its extensive use constitutes a significant environmental challenge due to its limited recyclability and short shelf life. Thus, industry and the scientific community have been look.....»»
Soy biodiesel byproduct could enhance 3D printing industry
In a development that could advance the 3D printing industry, researchers at the University of Louisville have discovered a way to transform a significant waste output from soy biodiesel plants into a valuable resource......»»
Researchers develop increasingly sustainable methods for dissolving gold, silver and copper from recycled materials
Waste from computers and cell phones, solar panels and other discarded electronics are becoming an important source of noble metals alongside mining. Researchers at the University of Helsinki have developed sustainable dissolution methods for noble m.....»»
Tiny pieces of plastic pose one of the biggest threats to Chicago River wildlife and water quality
Wendella engineer Miguel Chavez climbed down a ladder and over a small dock to pull up a trap floating in the Chicago River near the Michigan Avenue Bridge. The size of a standard garbage can, the trap is designed to collect trash and can hold up to.....»»
Turning trash into treasure: Exploring biotic and abiotic methods for PET plastic upcycling
A paper published in Eco-Environment & Health introduces innovative biotic and abiotic methods for recycling and upcycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The review delves into sustainable strategies that improve the processing and utility of PET.....»»