Air pollution makes it harder for pollinators to find plants

Air pollution makes it harder for pollinators to find plants

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Exposing bees, butterflies and other pollinators to air pollution severely impairs their ability to sniff out the plants they feed on. That could be bad news for both insect populations and the crops that rely on them for pollination.  Pesticides and land use changes are two of the biggest drivers of plummeting insect numbers, but a new field trial suggests that polluted air caused by diesel cars may be a major cause too.  Previous evidence from lab studies has shown how air pollutants degrade the floral odour particles released by plants, making it harder for insects to locate them.

Insect and Hydroponic Farming in Africa: The New Circular Economy of Food

Insect and Hydroponic Farming in Africa: The New Circular Economy of Food

ByThe Circular Economy Team

People have eaten insects and hydroponic crops for hundreds of years. But farming them is new, with huge potential for human food and animal feed all year round with very little resources. Farmed insects can be fed organic waste, then quickly become protein-rich foods for humans and animals. Waste from insects can then return to the soil as biofertilizer, creating a circular economy.
Africa already has hydroponic farms and more than 850 insect farms that produce food and feed. But the sector is still in its infancy, with the potential to create millions of jobs, including for women and youth, if it is scaled up in Africa and beyond. Join our event to learn from insect farmers, development experts and World Bank staff who are pushing the frontier of agriculture to create jobs, improve food security and save the planet.

Corporate Sustainability: Making Sustainability Profitable and Profitability Sustainable

Corporate Sustainability: Making Sustainability Profitable and Profitability Sustainable

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Successive lockdowns and the slowdown of the world economy over the last 18 months put a sharp focus on global and corporate sustainability. We marveled as skies cleared, commuter traffic waned, and wildlife thrived in previously out-of-bounds urban areas. We worried about the environmental impact of masks littering our streets and the return to disposable coffee cups. And, prompted by the shutdown of many of our favorite stores, we reconsidered our appetite for fast fashion and the next retail hit.

Lenovo technology predictions for 2022: hybrid, sustainable, personal | Michael Ngan, Lenovo Philippines President and General Manager

Lenovo technology predictions for 2022: hybrid, sustainable, personal | Michael Ngan, Lenovo Philippines President and General Manager

ByThe Circular Economy Team

The past year was a time of transition – but which of the new approaches will take hold in Asia Pacific markets? For 2022 and beyond, Lenovo is offering a range of predications that incorporate what has been learned in the past year, to improve future products and services.  Intensely hybrid working models, a focus on carbon neutrality and the environment, and a need for more comfortable, intuitive ways to operate our technology all set the tone for the following emerging trends.

UM Today | Office of Sustainability | UM committee tackling responsible investment opportunities

UM Today | Office of Sustainability | UM committee tackling responsible investment opportunities

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Did you know the University of Manitoba is a signatory of the Investing to Address Climate Change: A Charter for Canadian Universities? The charter is a coalition of Canadian universities that have agreed to adopt a set of guiding principles that will govern the investment policies of university assets as they relate to climate change.  In fall 2020, UM established the Responsible Investment Committee to provide advice and make policy recommendations on matters related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues; socially responsible investing; climate change; divestment; impact investing; and shareholder engagement.

NWRA Celebrates 60 Years of Advocating for the Waste and Recycling Industry in 2022

NWRA Celebrates 60 Years of Advocating for the Waste and Recycling Industry in 2022

ByThe Circular Economy Team

This year marks 60 years since the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) was founded to advocate for the waste and recycling industry. NWRA, originally named the National Council of Refuse Disposal Trade Associations, has celebrated many accomplishments over the years and is excited to celebrate its 60th anniversary with its members, partners and the industry as a whole in 2022.  This year, the Association will launch various anniversary projects, including a video project and digital timeline produced by the NWRA Women’s Council; a social media campaign featuring NWRA’s members; and a specially designed, 60th anniversary-themed booth at WasteExpo. Additionally, NWRA will launch an official Association publication, with the first issue focused on NWRA’s 60th anniversary.