Month: April 2022

Technology that sucks carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere will be essential to prevent climate change, a UN report concludes today.  Even a wholesale switch to renewable energy and everyone giving up driving and flying may no longer be enough to avoid a crisis.  Global warming is already 1.1C above pre-industrial levels and scientists warn of irreversible harm if this exceeds 1.5C.  The report, by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), says an urgent shift from fossil fuels is needed for any chance of keeping warming below this level. 

Shoemaker is aiming to remove all physical paperwork by the end of this year.  Global footwear retailer Clarks has announced a tie-up with circular economy start-up OtailO that aims to slash the waste produced in the online product returns process.  An update from the 200-year-old shoe maker on Friday claims the partnership with the Israeli company would result in Clarks customers being able to return their purchases in a more sustainable way.  OtailO’s system enables online shoppers to return purchases through a web application that eliminates the need for pre-printed labels, it explained. Meanwhile, an in-built inspection mechanism uses machine learning to assess the condition of the product being returned, while it is still in the customers hands, enabling Clarks to take more efficient business decisions and returns routing, it said.

Five-year goals help drive continuous improvement in important areas. Both former companies had long histories of setting and achieving aggressive goals. Raytheon Technologies’ 2025 EH&S sustainability goals will drive significant improvement, build on our past achievements and represent “best of the best” ideas. In addition to these goals, our unwavering commitment to compliance with local regulations is a bedrock for the company.

An important new research project into how the UK could increase its use of hydrogen and alternative liquid fuels, as part of the country’s commitment to reaching Net Zero in 2050, is set to begin at the University of Bath.  From 1 April, Professor Tim Mays, from Bath’s Department of Chemical Engineering, will head up a new project funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) aimed at tackling the research challenges blocking the wider use of these low carbon fuels in the UK.  Professor Mays will become one of two UK Hydrogen Research Co-ordinators who aim over the next six months to establish national Centres of Excellence based at their home institutions. The other co-ordinator project exploring better systems integration of these fuels will be headed up at Newcastle University by Professor Sara Walker.  Professor Mays said: “A thriving, low carbon hydrogen sector is essential for the government’s plans to build back better, with a cleaner, greener energy system. Large amounts of low carbon hydrogen and alternative liquid fuels such as ammonia will be needed, which must be stored and transported to points of use. Much research is required, and we will work collaboratively across multiple disciplines to help meet these challenges.”

Shampoo and conditioner powders are the latest innovation in the world of eco-friendly hair care. I thought I had tried every green, plastic-free, refillable, compostable, all-natural hair-washing method until I received two emails in the same week from companies now selling these washing powders.   “Powders?” I thought in confusion, and promptly accepted the samples they were offering. One came from a brand new startup called Cocofomm, the other from established eco-beauty brand Meow Meow Tweet. Both arrived in paper envelopes and consisted of a light-colored granular powder.  Cocofomm’s delivery came with a small shaker bottle, but as founder Liz Qiao-Westhoff explains, any leftover spice shaker will do. That piqued my interest because it’s a zero-waste product that makes use of packaging most people already have at home, and the envelope in which the powder comes is plastic-free and compostable.

In the middle of the Sahara desert on the western border of Algeria, refugee camps hosting tens of thousands of people rely completely on humanitarian aid: Water, food, and other basic supplies come in on trucks. Trash, on the other hand, doesn’t really leave; until recently, all the waste from the camps was dumped nearby in the desert into an ever-growing pile of plastic. But at a new recycling center at one of the camps, refugees are now turning that plastic trash into furniture and other products that they can use.  Precious Plastic, an organization with a DIY recycling system developed by a Dutch designer who wanted to make recycling more accessible, helped set up the center after the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, put out a call for solutions to help with the waste challenge at the camps.

One of Australia’s leading hydrogen fuel cell vehicle manufacturers, H2X Global (H2X), is gearing up for a stellar year with the launch of its extended-range hydrogen-powered Warrego ute during the next quarter.  Securing more than $50 million in pre-orders from enthusiastic early adopters, the Warrego can drive 750 kilometres before needing to refuel its 220KW motor, can reach speeds of 150kph, and accelerates to 100kph in eight seconds.  Demonstrating that ‘clean fuel cells’, H2X recently expanded its operations in Scandinavia after signing an agreement with one of Sweden’s major municipal waste companies Renova.  The Sydney-headquartered company will provide hydrogen fuel cell-powered trucks and light vehicles to the city of Gothenburg, in a deal that H2X believes will pave the way for it to develop and produce vehicles for the wider Scandinavian transport industry in the future.

Canada on Monday will announce its support for General Motors Co’s multi-billion-dollar investment in two plants, including one that will produce electric commercial vehicles (EVs), a government source said.  Both the federal government and Ontario’s provincial government will invest in the two GM plants in Ingersoll and Oshawa, said the source, who provided no further details and was not authorized to speak on the record. Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and Ontario Premier Doug Ford will make an announcement about “an important investment in the future of Canada’s automotive manufacturing sector” at 11 a.m. EST (3 p.m. GMT) on Monday, according to a statement.  GM Canada declined to confirm or comment. GM said early last year it would invest C$1 billion ($799 million) to convert its CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, to produce its BrightDrop EV600 commercial delivery vans.

In the face of the emerging global energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the IEA’s 10-Point Plan to Cut Oil Use proposes 10 actions that can be taken to reduce oil demand with immediate impact – and provides recommendations for how those actions can help pave the way to putting oil demand onto a more sustainable path in the longer term.

Dame Stephanie Shirley left Vienna in 1939 in something of a rush. Clutching just a few belongings, she was one of 10,000 or so Jewish children whisked away from Adolf Hitler’s impending Holocaust aboard the Kindertransport trains to a new life in Britain.  More than 80 years later we are talking over the phone about what happened next – we were due to meet in person at her home in Henley-on-Thames, but Omicron put paid to that. A fortuitous decision as it turns out. I test positive a few days later and catching Covid-19 from me would not have been much of a footnote to such an extraordinary life.

When we pursue success, there is only one way we want to achieve it: responsibly. Ricoh supports the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – a global partnership to address the challenges our world faces. The SDGs are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Our building blocks for these initiatives include people (society), planet (environment) and prosperity (economic activities).

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) embody the desire for development, but also the rebranding and exacerbation of (capitalist) sustainable development. In their new article in Sustainability Science,  Mary Menton, Carlos Larrea, Sara Latorre, Joan Martinez-Alier, Mike Peck, Leah Temper and Mariana Walter (2020), review and analyze the SDGs in relation to (an expansive reading of) environmental justice. Menton and colleagues give credit to the SDGs where it is due, while highlighting an enormous list of issues to be addressed. The SDGs promote projects such as hydroelectric dams, wind energy (factories) and conservation areas that have resulted in serious ecosystem degradation and injustice against people, as catalogued by the Environmental Justice Atlas.

Achieving carbon neutral goals requires the rapid decarbonisation, digitalisation, and decentralisation of our increasingly interconnected energy systems around the world. In light of the new possibilities offered by big-data-driven smart grid technological developments, most notably smart meters, the importance of engaging households in energy saving, shifting demand to off-peak time, and producing renewable electricity for their own use has attracted growing attention worldwide. However, existing government policies and economic incentives are not sufficient to foster household energy behavioural changes at scale. Socio-cultural factors, in particular public distrust in smart energy data, appear to be a key barrier that holds households back from adopting more environmentally friendly energy behaviours.

Nestled within Napoleone Family Orchards on St Huberts Road in Coldstream, Napoleone Orchard Bar is the newest addition to a wide range of artisanal venues in Victoria’s Yarra Valley. Located in the Pink Lady orchard, this stylish and sustainable shipping container bar has been crafted by a local maker to provide the ideal spot to taste housemade apple and pear ciders, imports from France and a selection of Australian guest ciders. 

With the increasing threat posed by global challenges, including climate change, environmental degradation, energy crisis, and water shortage, it has become essential to discuss them to move towards a better and more sustainable future for all. With this aim, NSS IIT Roorkee is organizing Sustainability Conclave to model these rising issues. It aims to empower young innovative minds with the expertise and proficiency of leaders and researchers by bringing them on a common platform. The Conclave is committed to fostering a space for driving collective action for advancing equity & opportunities for all humankind, thereby aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The redevelopment of Hartham Leisure Centre enters the net phase following the demolition of the western end of the building, enabling construction of the new extension to begin with recycled materials where possible.  The new building will feature additional studio space, a state of the art gym, new soft play facility and terrace style café opening out onto Hartham Common.  Brickwork from the demolition will be retained and reused as part of the landscape management of the development.  Other materials, including timber and steel will be sorted for reuse and recycling where possible.   Eric Buckmaster, executive member for wellbeing at East Herts District Council, who said: “The expansion and renovation of Hartham Leisure Centre will deliver new and improved facilities for residents and I am delighted we have reached this stage that will deliver some of the new and exciting aspects of the development including extra studio space, a state of the art gym, new soft play centre and a café.

In support of the UAE’s vision and progressive economic revival after the pandemic era, the region’s top retailer LuLu Group launched its newest hypermarket inside the world-class retail destination, Dubai Festival City Mall. H.E. Omar Al Futtaim, Vice Chairman and CEO of Al-Futtaim Group, presided over the inauguration of the new store. He was welcomed by Mr. Yusuff Ali M.A., LuLu Group Chairman & Managing Director, Mr. Ashraf Ali M.A., the Executive Director of LuLu Group, and the senior management of the Group.

Napa Valley’s eco-minded wineries are reducing their waste — keeping more and more grape pomace, water and glass out of the local landfill — but the cardboard and Styrofoam materials used for shipments, which overwhelming go out of the area, is another matter entirely.  According to Tim Dewey-Mattia — recycling and public education manager for Napa Recycling and Waste Services — there has been a rise in the number of sustainable packaging alternatives to Styrofoam.  “But some of them are not actually any better,” he said.

When buying clothes, most people don’t think about the impact it has on the environment. With more and more people buying from fast-fashion empires like Zara, H&M, and Forever 21, should this be a subject of concern for the public?   Fast-fashion is a new subject for most people, emerging within the last decade. Fast-fashion focuses itself on being cheap, trendy, and reliable.  Mass production always has negative impacts;, factories almost always have high pollution levels and poor work conditions.  According to a Princeton study on the impact of fast-fashion, approximately 20% of the wastewater worldwide is produced by the process of mass producing cotton for these brands. The same study shows that 35% of all microplastics entering our oceans are from producers turning to plastics for cheaper production. 

Raw materials are crucial to Europe’s economy. They form a strong industrial base, producing a broad range of goods and applications used in everyday life and modern technologies. Reliable and unhindered access to certain raw materials is a growing concern within the EU and across the globe. To address this challenge, the European Commission has created a list of critical raw materials (CRMs) for the EU, which is subject to a regular review and update. CRMs combine raw materials of high importance to the EU economy and of high risk associated with their supply.