Circular Economies – Purdue University

Circular Economies – Purdue University

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Traditionally, goods produced by our industrial system have a linear lifecycle. As a result, both industrial activities and society rely on the continuous extraction of finite natural resources with substantial amounts of waste discarded to landfills and incinerators. Concerns over this unsustainable linear production and consumption model have led to the development of the “circular economy” concept, which seeks to close the loop on material and product flows, this increasing the efficiency of resource use and reducing waste generation. The circular economy concept aims to decouple economic growth from resource depletion and environmental degradation to achieve balance among environment, society, and economy. Transitioning to a circular economy requires fundamental changes in product design, process technologies, business models, government policy, and consumer behavior.

Recycling Li-Ion Batteries Through Bioleaching

Recycling Li-Ion Batteries Through Bioleaching

ByThe Circular Economy Team

There are more than 1.4 billion cars in the world today, and that number could double by 2036. If all those cars burn petroleum, the climate consequences will be dire. Electric cars emit fewer air pollutants and if they’re powered by renewable energy, driving one wouldn’t add to the greenhouse gases warming Earth’s atmosphere. But producing so many electric vehicles (EVs) in a decade would cause a surge in demand for metals like lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese. These metals are essential for making EV batteries, but they’re not found everywhere. Most of the world’s lithium lies under the Atacama Desert in South America, where mining threatens local people and ecosystems. Leading manufacturers of EVs need to keep import costs low and find a reliable source of these raw materials. Mining the deep sea is one option, but it could also damage habitats and endanger wildlife. At the same time, waste electronics filled with precious metals are piling up in landfills and in some of the world’s poorest regions – with 2.5 million tonnes added to the total each year.

Mercedes me Charge recharging ecosystem debuts in the Mercedes EQS luxury EV

Mercedes me Charge recharging ecosystem debuts in the Mercedes EQS luxury EV

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Mercedes-Benz has formed a strategic partnership with ChargePoint to streamline the charging process for its upcoming EQS luxury EV. As a result, Mercedes me Charge is now the official charging ecosystem of the latest EQS and other future electric mobility products from the German premium automaker. Mercedes me Charge comes loaded with exciting innovations to take the guesswork off finding a charging station and selecting a payment method across all major charging networks in North America. The system integrates seamlessly with MBUX and the Mercedes Me app to plan your trip, locate charging stations, and initiate payment for all charging sessions on ChargePoint’s public network of 60,000 stations nationwide.

Researchers say Thwaites Glacier may be more stable than expected

Researchers say Thwaites Glacier may be more stable than expected

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Thwaites Glacier is one of the largest ice sheets globally, and in the past, researchers said that it was in imminent danger of a sudden collapse. However, it turns out those researchers may not have been correct. According to a new study from researchers at the University of Michigan, the glacier may be more stable and in less danger of sudden collapse than previously predicted.

Fed-up young workers fear they need offices to save their careers | Bloomberg News

Fed-up young workers fear they need offices to save their careers | Bloomberg News

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Managers hoping to lure employees into offices may find their youngest and newest staff are their strongest allies. Young white-collar staff feel caught between a rock and a hard place—they value quality of life over old-fashioned 9-5 commuting, but are even more worried about seeing their careers stall unless they head back into an office. That’s encouraging many to be among the first to return to their desks. Workers enter the Goldman Sachs offices in London. The Wall Street bank is pushing ahead with plans to bring staff back.
While experienced employees often have established professional networks and dedicated home offices, younger staff say the pandemic has left them under-informed and cut off from their teams. There are now growing concerns that they are missing out on career opportunities older colleagues took for granted.

Circular economy

Circular economy

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Sir, – I was intrigued to read that the words “circular economy” mean little to the public and half of the members of Irish Business and Employers Confederation admit that they have not a clue what it means (“‘Circular economy’ legislation set to have huge impact”, News , June 19th). Back in the day, reuse, repair and recycle were the norm, and domestic appliances like cookers were built to last for over 30 years and other items like clothes and schoolbooks were carefully handed down. So it seems we are going round in circles. Perhaps not such a square thing. – Yours, etc, AIDAN RODDY, Cabinteely, Dublin 18.

Jaden Smith to be honored by UCLA’s Institute of Environment and Sustainability – The Hollywood Reporter

Jaden Smith to be honored by UCLA’s Institute of Environment and Sustainability – The Hollywood Reporter

ByThe Circular Economy Team

At 22, Jaden Smith has already inked his resume with professions such as actor, director, rapper, artist, activist and brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton and New Balance. He can now add Environmental Champion to the list when he is honored with the title on Oct. 13 by UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. Awarded to Smith for his efforts for environmental justice and clean, safe water, he will join a list of previous laureates that include Ted Sarandos, Barbra Streisand, Al Gore and Jeff Skoll. “I am delighted to honor these young leaders of activism and action for climate justice,” said Marilyn Raphael, the Institute’s first black leader. Lawrence Bender, Producer and Co-Chairman of the Board, adds: “There is no doubt that Jaden represents the new generation of environmental warriors who understand not only the climate crisis but also climate justice. I could not be more delighted to pay tribute to him and in so doing help shed light on these most pressing issues.

Groundbreaking research at UL helps develop ‘cheaper and more sustainable’ carbon fibre – Limerick Leader

Groundbreaking research at UL helps develop ‘cheaper and more sustainable’ carbon fibre – Limerick Leader

ByThe Circular Economy Team

GROUNDBREAKING technology developed by researchers at the University of Limerick could lead to the cars of the future being manufactured from paper waste. The researchers, based at UL’s Bernal Institute, have produced carbon fibre from sustainable bio-resources. These materials have been used to produce car wing mirrors and sections for wind turbine blades, paving the way towards a more sustainable future for materials used in the automotive and wind energy sectors. Carbon fibre is used as a reinforcement in plastic materials to produce composite materials, which are deployed in commercial high-end goods such as cars, aircraft computers and sports equipment like golf clubs.

Innovations in sustainable fashion – new ways to grow green – Fashionnex.com

Innovations in sustainable fashion – new ways to grow green – Fashionnex.com

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Sustainability in fashion is a path-breaking concept. Not that the textile industry has been steadily working towards making the industry a little greener than it was. But to accelerate from the present slow pace, we need technological and creative disruptions. We remember when Adidas went all the way to create sneakers from ocean waste. Many brands have been working towards such goals. The leather industry has been a painted target for both sustainable evangelists as well as animal lovers. Bioengineers from Provenance fabrics are now designing collagen molecules to create lab-made leather. Nano textile technology is also on the surge. It helps to add a special property to fabrics like odor repellency, temperature control, bacterial repellant, etc, without using harmful intermediaries. This protects both the user as well as the environment from harmful exposures. Japanese studio Nendo has collaborated with Italian studio Up To You Anthology, to design handbags people can assemble at home. Linear panels will cut down production lines and manufacturing costs.

The time for a Chief Sustainability Officer is now | theHRD

The time for a Chief Sustainability Officer is now | theHRD

ByThe Circular Economy Team

ONE OF THE BIGGEST TRENDS IN THE FINANCIAL WORLD IS THE RAPID ASCENT OF ESG ISSUES UP THE CORPORATE AGENDA. INCREASING PRESSURE FROM CONSUMERS AND GOVERNMENTS ALIKE IS PUSHING THE INDUSTRY TO ACT, WITH MAJOR INVESTORS LIKE BLACKROCK PRESSING COMPANIES ON A HOST OF ESG ISSUES, FROM HUMAN RIGHTS TO BIODIVERSITY AND DEFORESTATION. SIMULTANEOUSLY, VCS ACROSS EUROPE ARE NOW ROUTINELY ADDING ‘SUSTAINABILITY’ CLAUSES TO THEIR DEALS WITH STARTS-UPS THAT DEMAND A COMMITMENT TO A GREENER, CLEANER WORLD. These incentives – as well as legislation such as SFDR from the EU which imposes sustainability disclosure requirements on financial firms – means that, in order to attract investment, SMEs will soon need to present a clear and persuasive narrative around their sustainability bona fides and, crucially, have the data to back up such claims. Gathering, interpreting, and presenting all this information is a huge task, never mind identifying and leading sustainability initiatives to reduce a business’ environmental impact. As a result, many companies are finding they need to add a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) to their senior leadership team far earlier than anticipated.

Only 17% of e-waste formally recycled in 2019 – WHO – Telecompaper

Only 17% of e-waste formally recycled in 2019 – WHO – Telecompaper

ByThe Circular Economy Team

E-waste, and namely the informal processing of discarded electrical and electronic devices, is affecting the health of children, young people and expectant mothers worldwide, according to the ‘Children and Digital Dumpsites’ report from the World Health Organization. “In the same way the world has rallied to protect the seas and their ecosystems from plastic and microplastic pollution, we need to rally to protect our most valuable resource -the health of our children- from the growing threat of e-waste.” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

Top 10 Sustainable Supply Chain Initiatives

Top 10 Sustainable Supply Chain Initiatives

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Consumers are calling for greater sustainability in every area of their purchasing, even those non-customer facing elements such as supply chain. In a 2020 survey, 70% of consumers said they thought it was important that the brands they buy from are sustainable. Here we consider the top 10 supply chain initiatives that are taking a stand to put sustainability first and promote eco-friendly as the new normal. 

Franchisor Tips: Five Reasons to Make Your Franchise a More Sustainable Business

Franchisor Tips: Five Reasons to Make Your Franchise a More Sustainable Business

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Sustainability is a hot topic right now, and after a period of pandemic-induced reflection, more people are investing in protecting the environment and safeguarding the future of the planet than ever. But what does it take to build a sustainable business, and from a financial standpoint, why is it worth doing? If you’re willing to research, learn, improve and act, you can create a sustainable business. And if you can create a sustainable business, you can create a future-proof source of profit for yourself. Many franchise operations already prioritise environmental compliance from the get-go, like commercial cleaning franchise Green Machine, and you could do the same. What is a sustainable business? So, what is a sustainable business? What does that actually mean? In short, a sustainable business is a business that attempts, however it can, to minimise its negative impact on the planet, or on society. For sustainable businesses, avoiding environmental degradation and not contributing to systems of inequality are the top priorities.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving: Thailand’s Scaly Quest for Food Security and Sustainable Livelihood

The Gift that Keeps on Giving: Thailand’s Scaly Quest for Food Security and Sustainable Livelihood

ByThe Circular Economy Team

“There is rice in the fields and fish in the water,” is an old saying that speaks to the natural abundance of Thailand as the land of milk and honey with fresh, affordable food aplenty. Most Thais are experts when it comes to naming freshwater fish, which is an easily accessible source of quality protein. There is, however, one particular fish that has become a common household name but its exact origin is unknown to the younger Thais. The mouthbrooder — a name it received from cradling its hatchlings in its mouth until the younglings come of age — is also known to scientists as Oreochromis niloticus or Tilapia nilotica, a cichlid fish native to the northern half of Africa and some parts of the Middle East. Colloquially named Nile tilapia in English from its natural habitat and pla nil in Thai from an abbreviation of its scientific name, this hardy fish whose versatility as a herbivore with omnivorous tendencies and trimester hatching cycles is ideally suited for any freshwater source. The story of this fish began in earnest with a school of 50 mouthbrooders raised in a palace pond whose offspring would one day go on to feed millions of people.

LeoLabs Selects the Azores as Site for its Next Space Radar; Accelerates Presence in Europe for LEO Services and Infrastructure – Parabolic Arc

LeoLabs Selects the Azores as Site for its Next Space Radar; Accelerates Presence in Europe for LEO Services and Infrastructure – Parabolic Arc

ByThe Circular Economy Team

LeoLabs, Inc., the world’s leading commercial provider of low Earth orbit (LEO) mapping and Space Situational Awareness (SSA) services, today announced the Azores as the site for its next space radar. As a strategic addition to LeoLabs expanding global constellation of LEO sensors, the Azores Space Radar will go operational in the first half of 2022. “We are very excited about our decision to locate in the Azores,” said Dan Ceperley, CEO and LeoLabs co-Founder. “This is a multi-decade investment on the part of LeoLabs, and a great opportunity for us to support the space sustainability goals of Portugal as they grow their presence in the global space community. It also signals LeoLabs commitment to a long-term presence in Europe.” “The mission of LeoLabs remains clear: serve the growth of the LEO economy, and ensure the long-term survivability of LEO for future generations. Today we are the only end-to-end supplier of radar infrastructure and services that can execute on this mission,” continued Ceperley.

Sustainable return of the experience industry the time is now | MCI United Kingdom | EN

Sustainable return of the experience industry the time is now | MCI United Kingdom | EN

ByThe Circular Economy Team

As we gradually step back into an in-person economy set for growth, we need to reassess how sustainability is factored into our dynamic industry’s return. Though we saw the largest absolute drop in emissions ever recorded during lockdown, amounting to 7% globally, we are set for a rebound in emissions as these restrictions are lifted based on data from the aftermath of previous global crises. There is also the looming deadline for delivering the net-zero United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, leaving businesses with only a few years to take decisive action on sustainability and commit to reaching these UN targets. The way countries stimulate their economies after the Covid-19 lockdowns will have a major impact on future emissions, and our industry will have a key role to positively influence this.

Aussie Space Startups Reveal Big Expansion Plans – Parabolic Arc

Aussie Space Startups Reveal Big Expansion Plans – Parabolic Arc

ByThe Circular Economy Team

In a week of big announcements, three South Australian startups have furthered their plans to support the international space industry.
All based in Adelaide, South Australia, the companies include Fleet Space Technologies, Inovor Technologies and Southern Launch.
Southern Launch has been approved to conduct three rocket test launches from its site at Whalers Way reserve on the southern tip of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.
Read the full article at: www.parabolicarc.com

How To Manage The Data Center Environmental Sustainability

How To Manage The Data Center Environmental Sustainability

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Forecasting technological advancements is difficult, but there are several models which have predicted that data centre energy usage could consume over 10% of the global electricity supply by 2030 at the current growth rate. Similar increases are also forecasted for gas emissions and e-waste. The technologies to counter this growing problem are available and they have the advantage of optimizing performance while reducing environmental impact.  

Sustainability Benefits: A Corporate Perspective

Sustainability Benefits: A Corporate Perspective

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Sustainability… It’s the topic of the decade, maybe even the century! We hear about it in all of our personal and social environments, and it seems to be aggressively penetrating every aspect of business and finance. But are Sustainability and ESG really here to stay? Is this a full paradigm shift, or just another passing trend? For businesses, is it just another regulatory challenge, or is it a true opportunity? How business leaders decide to answer this question will have huge impact on their company’s market position and longevity. Hopefully you are reading between the lines here and see that the answer to these questions is quite obvious. True North has shifted. There is a valuable opportunity to capture here, and if businesses don’t adjust their bearings, they will become lost and left behind. Even if businesses are not convinced about sustainability, basic business management fundamentals make a strong case for integrating ESG and Sustainability into business models across all sectors.