Ion pairings change honeycomb crystal states

Ion pairings change honeycomb crystal states

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Tohoku University researchers have observed a rare change in the structure of a mineral-like crystal that, if controlled, could lead to the development of new functional materials.  The findings were reported in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (“Cation Dimerization in a 3d1 honeycomb lattice system”).  The crystal structure of ilmenite-type magnesium vanadate (MgVO3). The yellow line shows the honeycomb lattice. The thick lines indicate the location of V-V dimers. The crystal structure was drawn using VESTA-3 software.  Altering the atomic arrangements within materials can change their magnetic, electrical and optical properties. For instance, the pairing of positively charged cations in quasi one-dimensional crystals, such as vanadium dioxide (VO2), creates ‘covalent’ bonds, which can change the material’s electronic state and thus its conductivity.

The Sustainability Disconnect Between Consumers & Retail Executives

The Sustainability Disconnect Between Consumers & Retail Executives

ByThe Circular Economy Team

First Insight and the Baker Retailing Center at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania asked senior retail executives and consumers in the U.S. how sustainable practices are impacting consumers’ shopping habits and purchase decisions. The results point to a profound sustainability knowledge gap between these two cohorts, which presents opportunities for retailers not only to bolster their reputations and enhance consumer loyalty but also to increase profits. Retailers and consumers are disconnected on factors ranging from consumers’ willingness to pay more for sustainable products to their utilization and preference for resale/recommerce models.

UK local authority league table 2020/21: Is recycling in the UK becalmed?

UK local authority league table 2020/21: Is recycling in the UK becalmed?

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Resource Magazine has been scrutinising local authority waste data to understand trends for almost 20 years. Our focus is the journey towards zero waste. And while that is not going to be achieved anytime soon, rating performance according to the amount of residual waste that people produce is an effective gauge to measure progress.  For obvious reasons, governments, businesses and citizens are focused on tackling CO2e emissions, yet the intensity of our resource use and wastage still warrants consideration. Not only are there implications in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, but failure to conserve raw materials has the potential to derail socio-economic stability. Unchecked demand for and supply of raw materials also puts communities and natural habitats at risk the world over.

Egypt eyes issuing sustainability bonds for first time to finance Decent Life’s development projects – Economy – Business

Egypt eyes issuing sustainability bonds for first time to finance Decent Life’s development projects – Economy – Business

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Egypt is considering issuing sustainability bonds in 2022 to finance the presidential Decent Life (Hayah Karima) initiative in order to reach the country’s sustainable development goals (SDGs), Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat told UN officials.  The comments were made during a meeting Thursday between Al-Mashat, the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt Elena Panova and UN-appointed expert and adviser Antonio Vigilante to chart a vision for cooperation between the UN and Egypt over securing funding for Decent Life’s inclusive development projects.

PepsiCo Beverages North America Invests $35 Million to Help Close Gap In Recycling Access

PepsiCo Beverages North America Invests $35 Million to Help Close Gap In Recycling Access

ByThe Circular Economy Team

PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA) announced today a $35 million investment with Closed Loop Partners that will create the “Closed Loop Local Recycling Fund,” an innovative circular economy initiative to advance new small-scale, modular recycling systems in communities across the U.S. The fund aims to increase recycling in areas with no or limited access to recycling, reducing waste and unlocking a new supply of recycled plastic (rPET), among other valuable materials, to support PepsiCo’s pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) sustainable packaging goals.  “As companies – including PepsiCo – set ambitious goals to use more recycled content in their packaging, there is more need than ever for partnerships and investments to increase recycling in the U.S.

Redditch firm’s ‘lonely aerosol’ drive to boost recycling rates – The

Redditch firm’s ‘lonely aerosol’ drive to boost recycling rates – The

ByThe Circular Economy Team

REDDITCH-based Alupro, the aluminium packaging recycling organisation, has launched a campaign to encourage people to recycle their empty aerosol cans.  Running until February 21, ‘the lonely aerosol’ will see social media users targeted with a series of creative digital animations.  Sharing best practice recycling advice, each animated character has been specifically created to represent the diversity of aerosol containers found in the home.  From ‘Pump up the Volume’ a glamorous hairspray can to ‘Any Old Oil’ a wise old oil can, the fun personalities aim to show viewers the critical importance of aerosol recycling.  The campaign is part of a wider cross-industry programme, spearheaded by Alupro and run in partnership with members Ball Aerocan and the British Aerosol Manufacturers association (BAMA), which seeks to establish a proper baseline for aerosol recycling rates.

Asset Resale and Recycling Services | Dell Technologies US

Asset Resale and Recycling Services | Dell Technologies US

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Dealing with IT equipment that’s no longer needed can keep you up at night. Not only do you have to wrestle with complicated logistics, but the risks associated with data security and environmental liability seem to increase by the day. Dell helps securely and responsibly retire your old assets while protecting both your business and the planet. And if you do it when assets are at their maximum value, you’ll transition to what’s next with more money in your pocket.

Intel’s Ireland Milestone: First Tool Roll-in at Fab 34

Intel’s Ireland Milestone: First Tool Roll-in at Fab 34

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Intel Ireland last week chalked up a milestone in its $7 billion Fab 34 construction project: A team rolled in the new plant’s first huge chipmaking tool. The machine, a lithography resist track, arrived by truck at Intel’s Leixlip, Ireland, plant after a flight across the Atlantic Ocean from an Intel Oregon plant.  An Intel team guides a lithography resist track into Fab 34 in Leixlip, Ireland, on Jan. 12, 2022. It is the first chipmaking tool delivered to Fab 34, which is part of a $7 billion construction project that will double Intel Ireland’s manufacturing space when it goes online in 2023. Ireland’s new lithography tool runs in conjunction with an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) scanner, a crown jewel in Intel’s manufacturing capability. The new tool provides precision coating of silicon wafers before alignment and exposure inside the EUV scanner. The wafer then returns to the lithography tool for a series of precision oven bakes, photo development and rinsing.
Read the full article at: www.hpcwire.com

The Lure of Automation and Efficiency – Modern Materials Handling

The Lure of Automation and Efficiency – Modern Materials Handling

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Small, fast-growing companies are often reactive rather than proactive. They have no choice: They’re running so fast to take advantage of new sales opportunities that their fulfillment operations can barely keep pace. Operations end up sprawled across multiple facilities, with labor and manual operations muscling orders out the door. They get the job done until they reach that point where it’s not feasible to just throw more labor at the problem.  That was the situation at Pitman Creek Wholesale. Based in Kentucky, Pitman Creek is one of the largest players in an industry that otherwise flies under the radar—sportfishing lures and tackle, with a deep specialization in bass fishing.
Read the full article at: www.mmh.com

Air Travel – Genève Aéroport builds sustainability into its East Wing terminal

Air Travel – Genève Aéroport builds sustainability into its East Wing terminal

ByThe Circular Economy Team

The Aile Est (East Wing) terminal at Genève Aéroport has officially opened after work began on the four-phase project in 2012.  Even though it was originally conceived more than 10 years ago, the East Wing in Switzerland’s second largest airport is ambitious in its approach to reducing operational energy with a design aspiration to be energy-positive.  It aims to produce more energy on site than it consumes by maximising on-site renewables and reducing energy demand through passive design measures and efficient active systems.

Leveraging the built environment to reach net zero: The start of your sustainability journey | Planon

Leveraging the built environment to reach net zero: The start of your sustainability journey | Planon

ByThe Circular Economy Team

There is simply no time to waste in the battle against climate change. Although the Paris Climate Agreement was viewed as a watershed moment in the drive for environmental sustainability, global carbon emissions continue to put us on a dangerous path. In August 2021, for example, the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a report stating that humanity had already warmed the planet by approximately 1.1 degrees Celsius and that the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold was likely to be reached, or exceeded, in the next two decades without performing drastic changes.

Poland toughens-up waste import rules —

Poland toughens-up waste import rules —

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Poland will imposed further restrictions on the import of waste from 1 February as the government steps up its “fight against environmental crime”.  The country was the second largest destination of waste from the UK after The Netherlands in the first three quarters of last year, according to the Environment Agency (below).  Under the new system, all waste transport to and through covered by the Waste Shipment Regulation, EU 1013/2006 must be registered in the ‘Sent Module’.  This was introduced in Poland in 2017 to register goods such as chemicals, fuels and tobacco, and is primarily used to capture tax revenues and reduce crime. 
Read the full article at: www.ban.org

Deloitte researches consumer sustainability behaviour

Deloitte researches consumer sustainability behaviour

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Throughout 2021, consumer perception changed drastically. As COP26 took place and businesses found the gaps in their sustainability strategies, consumers became more aware of the impact of their purchasing decisions. Now, we can finally assess how people have reacted to changes in the retail industry; changes that were also provoked by the coronavirus pandemic.  Deloitte released a research report that incorporates primary market research from consumers as they were asked a series of questions about their lifestyle changes in relation to sustainability. 

Global University for Sustainability | Defend Democracy Press

Global University for Sustainability | Defend Democracy Press

ByThe Circular Economy Team

On this first day of the new year 2022, we would like to wish you peace, health and happiness. May there be empathy and solidarity in striving for a world without injustice and suffering, in harmony with nature.  In the year 2021, without much choice, many activities have gone online. Global U participated in the January 2021 World Social Forum and the 7th South South Forum on Sustainability, organized the Venezuela lecture series, as well as produced books and edited videos.

Harsco Environmental’s SteelPhalt Renews Vision as Global High-Performance Asphalt Company

Harsco Environmental’s SteelPhalt Renews Vision as Global High-Performance Asphalt Company

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Harsco Environmental, a division of Harsco Corporation and the trusted global leader in environmental services and innovative products, announces it has re-launched SteelPhalt as a world-leading asphalt company with unique solutions for every roadmaking challenge. Through sustainable products that deliver high skid resistance and better durability, SteelPhalt makes high-performance asphalt to reduce the carbon footprint of road-laying by 40-percent. These trusted solutions aim to protect the planet and deliver durable roads for a more sustainable world.

David Darr Joins Vanguard Renewables as Chief Sustainability Officer

David Darr Joins Vanguard Renewables as Chief Sustainability Officer

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Vanguard Renewables, a U.S. leader in farm-derived renewable natural gas, announces the recent appointment of David Darr as its Chief Sustainability Officer. Darr joins Vanguard Renewables from Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) in Kansas City, KS. “For more than twenty years, David has worked to enhance sustainable and regenerative farming practices across the United States. At this time of expansive growth for Vanguard Renewables, it is a tremendous opportunity to bring David to our team,” said Neil H. Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Vanguard Renewables. “David’s knowledge, expertise, and energy will be instrumental in guiding our sustainability initiatives and solutions internally and for our farm and food industry partners.”

MDPH inks MOU with HelpUsGreen for making incense sticks with flowers

MDPH inks MOU with HelpUsGreen for making incense sticks with flowers

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Indore-based leading incense stick manufacturer Mysore Deep Perfumery House (MDPH) and HelpUsGreen, the pioneer in flower recycling technology, has inked a pact to produce incense sticks with recycled flowers.  ”MDPH and HelpUsGreen have recently inked an MoU to launch Nature Flower fragrant incense sticks made from recycled flowers,” a company release Thursday said.  Flowers are an integral part of divine rituals in India, be it at a temple, a gurdwara or a mosque and almost all the flowers are thrown out as waste in garbage or in rivers, it said. The rivers play an important role in India and are the lifeline of Indian culture, it added.  There is a constant need to clean the rivers and to give the flowers used in rituals a new lease of life, MDPH said.  MDPH with its flagship brand Zed Black is amongst the top three brands of agarbatti manufacturers in the country.

Mirova names new sustainability research director

Mirova names new sustainability research director

ByThe Circular Economy Team

Mirova has named Mathilde Dufour as its director of sustainability research and member of its management committee.  Dufour, who is currently the director of research for the listed equities area, will take over responsibility for the entire sustainability research team on February 1, 2022.   She succeeds Ladislas Smia who is leaving the firm after 11 years, and has been director of research since 2020.  During her time at Mirova, Dufour has been involved in the creation and launch of the Global Green Bond and Women Leaders strategies, as well as the firm’s engagement and voting policy.  She will report to Philippe Zaouati, CEO of Mirova, and will be a member of the management committee.