EU-funded researchers are exploring how to make strong and sustainable new materials from hard-to-crack nutshells
Gierlinger hopes that a material produced from nut shells could be one of many solutions contributing to the reduction of plastic waste in Europe and globally. “I think walnut trees might become more important in the future because they are tough, resilient trees with good wood and healthy nuts,” she said. “We are always trying to think which products might become more important in a sustainable society.” Her proposal also fits well with Europe’s “safe and sustainable by design” voluntary framework, developed to guide the innovation process for safer and more sustainable chemicals and materials.
In response to United States President-elect Donald Trump's threats to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian imports and his escalating hostile rh
A circular economy requires that a variety of stakeholders—consumers, businesses, governments, non-governmental organizations, and academia, among others—co-operate to transition away from a linear economy (buy, use, throw away), and, instead, repurpose materials and energy.
Building a circular economy is critical because wasted materials and energy not only damage the environment, but are also growing increasingly scarce and expensive. My recent study examines whether higher rates of industrial circularity can increase a nation's trade.
Circular economy boosts trade
Using several years of data from all 27 European Union countries, my study found a clear connection between circular material use and international exports of the largest types of waste trade—metals, plastics and chemicals.
The EU tracks annual circular material use rates by country. My analyses showed that across material types, higher national circularity drives international trade in waste and scrap. In other words, countries with higher circularity rates engaged in more international trade.
This direct link highlights the potential for firms to invest in the business of the circular economy. Once this fact is understood, then the international market opportunities await.
Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy, prompting fashion experts to speculate about a downward trend in the fast-fashion industry.
"Consumers are waking up to the environmental impact of the choices they make — including the fact that so much apparel ends up in landfills — and recognizing that a sector based on a buy it/wear it/toss it ethos is unsustainable in both the economic and ecological senses."
//This is the real reason why being woke is being made into a bad thing, its killing consumption driven profits and wasteful culture
Forever 21, once one of the preeminent names in fast fashion, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after months of reports and specula
"Rapid deployment of clean energy technologies is also increasingly displacing oil in transport and power generation, adding downward pressure to otherwise weak demand drivers,"
World faces oil surplus in 2025 on weak demand, IEA says
Oil demand growth has been weaker than expected this year in large part because of China. After driving rises in oil consumption for years, economic challenges and a shift towards electric vehicles are tempering oil growth prospects in the world's second-largest consumer.
Solar-Powered Weeding Robot by Bulgarian Startup Raises €2.36M EIC Funding
Bulgarian Smart Farm Robotix, a fully autonomous solar-powered lightweight weeding robot, secured €2.36M in funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC)
Founded in 2022, Smart Farm Robotix primarily focuses on organic herb producers, targeting a gap in existing technology that often overlooks the perennial plants segment and the semi-mountainous terrains of Southern Europe.
Smart Farm Robotix produces a fully solar-powered weeding robot equipped with cameras, positional sensors, and AI for weed detection with autonomous navigation. It deploys both contact and contactless methods to cope with weeds.
The first two prototypes were developed with the founders’ funding and with the support of the PARA incubator, 2022 edition.
In their own words:
According to the company’s founder, Rossen Kolev, “Most weeding robots from Europe are designed for the flat, well-aerated, well-watered fields in Northern and Central Europe. So, there is a lot of potential here that is simply neglected.”
In a nutshell: Bulgarian Smart Farm Robotix, a fully autonomous solar-powered lightweight weeding robot, secured €2.36M in funding from the
The first 100% solar powered weeding robot, suited for work in hilly and mountainous terrains, removing weeds with surgical precision even i
In the HAI550 mall in Shanghai, most of the clothes are produced by small local brands using materials such as old plastic bottles and used
Lined with department stores, malls and flagship stores for global fashion brands, the Huaihai Road has been described as Shanghai’s answer to Fifth Avenue or the Champs Élysées. But at the street’s latest destination venue, most of the clothes are produced by small local brands using materials such as old plastic bottles and used bicycle tubes.
Stretching over 7,000sq m on eight floors in what used to be a bright pink Barbie store, HAI550 opened last month as China’s first sustainable lifestyle mall. Backed by Youngor, a Chinese fashion retailer that owns international brands such as Undefeated and Helly Hanson and holds a stake in Alexander Wang, it is targeting affluent consumers.
“Our customers are normally well educated, they have overseas experience and they love design. They respect original designs,” said Cindy Wang, who runs a shop in the mall selling sustainably produced clothes and shoes.
“All the materials are recycled. The leather is recycled. The denim is recycled from plastic bottles and the sole is made from natural rubber and wine cork.”
While renewable energy has become the top choice for unlisted investments, more work is needed to remove financial and structural barriers.
In 2023, renewable energy attracted 37% of unlisted investments in Africa, marking a significant shift. This sector now outpaces financial services, which have long been the dominant choice, according to the latest report from the European Investment Bank (EIB) released on November 7. This change highlights a major turning point, with capital moving away from fossil fuels, which now make up just 4% of investments, in favor of more sustainable solutions. Investors are increasingly drawn to green assets, which are seen as vital for resilience in Africa, a continent facing growing climate challenges.
This trend aligns with the global search for sustainable and cost-effective alternatives. As African countries remain particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, developing green infrastructure is viewed not only as an ecological necessity but also as a strategic economic opportunity. The perspectives of African banks reflect this shift: 67% of those surveyed see the climate transition as an opportunity, and 79% have set specific climate-related goals. While this positioning points to a growing commitment to renewable energy, there are still challenges to overcome.
From wind turbine to tiny house at dutch design week 2024
During Dutch Design Week 2024, Superuse and Vattenfall showcase the discarded wind turbine part they’ve transformed into a furnished tiny house powered by solar panels. The design studio and energy company convert a nacelle, which is the top part of a wind turbine or the container of the engine, into a compact and movable furnished home, and visitors to the Dutch event can see it firsthand between October 19th and 27th, 2024, in Eindhoven.
