The Problems With Glow Sticks: an earth911 report

 

The Problems With Glow Sticks

ByMary McDonald

Apr 12, 2022 plastic waste, single-use plastic

Initially designed for military and civil security use for emergency lighting, glow sticks have applications as varied as camping lights and night-fishing lures. Yet, you’ll most often see them dangling from the wrists of 7-year-olds at birthday parties or brandished on nightclub dance floors. They’ve become almost synonymous with celebrations like Independence Day, Halloween, and music festivals. But after the celebration, what do you do with these plastic wands? Are glow sticks recyclable or reusable? And how can you dispose of them when they stop glowing?

As celebratory as they are, glow sticks pose multiple problems for the environment:

• They’re disposable, designed for single use.
• They’re made of plastic.
• They’re non-recyclable.
• They contain questionable chemicals.

Glow Sticks Create Waste

There’s no question that we use a lot of glow sticks. Take a look around after a parade or a concert. You’ll see thousands strewn about the ground. The glowing wands are enormously popular. Amazon lists more than 20,000 different products under the category “glow sticks.” Party packs come with hundreds of flexible glow sticks that revelers can fashion into glowing necklaces, bracelets, headbands, and more.

These disposable plastic tubes are single-use plastics — they can only be used once. While they vary on how long their chemical glow lasts, when it stops, they become waste. But concerns about plastic waste don’t seem to be affecting their popularity; a report from Fact.MR projects that glow sticks will only increase in popularity during the next decade.

Are Glow Sticks Toxic?

Glow sticks use several chemicals to create their trademark glow. One, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), is banned in Europe for use in cosmetics. The EPA put DBP under a risk assessment to evaluate health concerns. Specifically, the EPA is looking into DBP’s effects on reproductive and developmental health.

Glow sticks are often labeled nontoxic, but consumers need to be wary of this claim. The term nontoxic has no formal definition, according to the Federal Trade Commission. In other words, a product can be labeled as nontoxic, but nobody is being held to account for making the claim.

Despite DBP being under an EPA assessment, the North Carolina Poison Control Center states that glow sticks are low in toxicity. They say if you ingest it, not to be “alarmed if lips and tongue glow for a few minutes.” You can be the judge on that one.

These glow glowing tubes are single-use plastics, adding to our growing problem with plastic waste.

How Should I Dispose of My Glow Sticks?

There aren’t a lot of great options for safe disposal. The chemicals used in glow sticks contaminate the plastic so it’s not recyclable. Worse, the chemicals can leak into soil and water once they are disposed of.

Some sources advise placing spent glow sticks in plastic bags or bottles before tossing them in the trash. Have you ever seen what happens to trash once it’s picked up? Or watched a video of trash being added to the landfill? It’s hard to imagine that disposable glow sticks survive the bulldozer intact.

To prevent the chemicals in traditional glow sticks from entering the environment, we recommend treating them as household hazardous waste (HHW). Find an HHW drop-off location near you where you can dispose of these items safely.

Are There “Green” Options?

Again, a word of caution about over-generalized terms that have no regulatory muscle behind them. “Green” and “environmentally friendly” are two terms commonly used by marketers who are greenwashing the environmental safety of their product.

An Amazon search for “environmentally friendly glow sticks” yielded 72 results. A closer look at three products revealed little to indicate why they were marketed as “environmentally friendly.”

That being said, there are slightly better alternatives to single-use chemiluminescent glow sticks.

1. LED Alternative

There are glow sticks that use LEDs (light-emitting diodes) instead of chemicals for their light source. There are quite a few, judging by Amazon’s listing of 10,000 products under that search.

This Life-Gear’s reusable glow stick use LR44 button batteries that last up to 200 hours. That’s a far cry from the disposable sticks that last less than a day. You can replace the batteries to reuse the product over and over. Batteries are e-waste and need to be disposed of properly.

2. Photoluminescent Alternative

UVPaqlite’s photoluminescent glow sticks use large strontium aluminate crystals. Similar to glow-in-the-dark stars that kids stick on their walls, their glow sticks absorb ambient light and glow for up to 10 hours. Though they only come in one color, UVPaqlite’s version can be recharged indefinitely.

3. Bioluminescent Alternative

Bioluminescence is the ability of living creatures to create their own light. One company, Nyoka, is using bioluminescence as the inspiration for its alternative to glow sticks. It has engineered a dissolvable powder that glows when added to water. Currently sold out on pre-order, Nyoka’s light wands are reusable with supplemental bioluminescent charges.

These light wands aren’t a scalable — or affordable — option at this point. Nyoka sold them for $100 on its Kickstarter campaign but the company is still fairly new. It’s possible that, with each new phase of development, the price will come down.

To Glow or Not To Glow?

What’s an eco-minded person to do when it comes to glow sticks? As with so many other products, the best choice for the planet is simply refusing to buy them. But do those of us who care always have to deny ourselves the fun stuff?

Maybe we need a little balance. Maybe we don’t say no to all that glows. Maybe we just need a lot more people to join us. Consider this quote from zero-waste chef Anne-Marie Bonneau, “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”

One piece of advice: If you must buy a glow stick, you owe it to the planet to take the time to dispose of it responsibly.

I must admit I did wonder what was inside of these harmless looking sticks and now I know. Luckily these are well at the bottom of any of my shopping lists, mainly because I was always reluctant to give them to my kids when they were younger because of what was inside them.  If they snapped one, what would happen if the liquid got onto their skin etc..

The blog song for today is " she bangs the drums" by the Stone Roses

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Corporate Sustainability: Genuine or Just for Show? an earth911 report

 

Corporate Sustainability: Genuine or Just for Show?

ByEarth911

May 10, 2022 corporate responsibility, sustainable business

As climate issues continue to escalate, sustainability has become crucial to both the environment and modern business models. Consequently, some corporations may promote themselves as sustainable to appeal to consumers without taking the necessary measures, a practice known as greenwashing.

In light of these trends, you may wonder if any corporate investment in sustainability is genuine.

Companies That Champion Environmental Stewardship

While greenwashing is common, certain companies have taken effective steps toward sustainability. Determining businesses’ overall environmental impact can be challenging, but transparency among these companies highlights impressive strides.

Here are three examples of corporations whose sustainability efforts seem genuine.

1. Autodesk

Construction software company Autodesk placed third on Corporate Knights’ top 100 sustainable companies in 2022. The company already boasts net-zero emissions, powering all its buildings, data centers, and cloud services with renewable energy.

Autodesk’s product itself also improves sustainability. The software helps construction firms streamline their operations and reduce waste, which, in turn, reduces their ecological impact. Even if companies employ it for the business benefits, they still stand to reduce construction-related emissions and solid waste.

2. Ford

Many automakers, from Mercedez-Benz to Lamborghini, are pursuing electrification, Ford was the first U.S. automaker that committed to the Paris Agreement’s CO2 reduction goals. . The company aims to be carbon-neutral by 2050, eliminating manufacturing emissions and water waste on top of vehicle-related emissions.

The company is investing more than $11 billion in electric vehicles, electrifying even iconic gas cars like the Mustang. Ford plans to eventually sell only EVs, eliminating its vehicle emissions entirely.

3. Cisco

Tech manufacturing giant Cisco has repeatedly ranked toward the top of sustainability indexes. The company has implemented more than 400 energy efficiency projects in the past five years, and it’s not done yet.

In 2022, Cisco announced plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement. They’re already on track to meet those goals, as 85% of its electricity comes from renewables, and it’s reduced 60% of its direct and indirect emissions.

Companies That Have Engaged in Greenwashing

While Autodesk, Ford, and Cisco have truly embraced sustainability, going green is merely a marketing tool for others. The following three corporations’ environmental efforts have fallen short of what they seem.

1. SC Johnson

SC Johnson announced a new Windex bottle made of 100% recycled ocean plastic in 2019. This led consumers to believe that the company was taking plastic from the ocean to recycle, but experts pointed out that this isn’t the case.

The plastic SC Johnson and many similar companies used comes from plastic banks in Haiti, Indonesia, and the Philippines. This plastic was “ocean-bound,” meaning it would’ve otherwise ended up in the ocean, but the company made no distinction. This led many consumers to believe they were making a larger impact than they actually were.

2. IKEA

IKEA has been outspoken about sustainability, calling for responsible forest management, protecting endangered species, planting trees, and announcing plans to reduce its waste. However, Romanian environmental groups have accused the company of logging without a permit or ecological assessment.

Reporters have also found that IKEA’s wood consumption has doubled in the past decade, despite its public commitment to reduce waste. The company has come under fire for similar allegations in the past.

3. Shell

A recent study found that while oil giant Shell has increasingly mentioned sustainability goals and announced environmental plans, its actual impact has fallen short of these announcements. Shell’s clean energy spending reports only go back three years, and the company has missed its historical low-carbon investment pledges.

The company has also increased its oil production, not decreased it, despite “commitments” to go green. It’s also released statements on social media asking consumers what steps they’re taking to go green, shifting the blame for sustainability away from itself.

Corporate Sustainability Initiatives Are a Mixed Bag

While some companies are going above and beyond to protect the environment, others hinder the movement through rampant greenwashing. Consumers and governments may have to hold these businesses accountable to drive meaningful environmental change.

Money is the most powerful motivator you have at your disposal. If consumers stop buying products from greenwashing brands and instead spend money at genuinely green companies, it can motivate more businesses to embrace sustainability. Spreading awareness of these issues is another important step.

Consumers and environmental organizations should research companies’ environmental efforts before supporting them. Publicly calling out greenwashing examples can drive action like broader boycotts that penalize greenwashing. These movements may eventually lead to stricter environmental regulations, pushing more companies to genuine sustainability.

About the Author

Oscar Collins is the founder and editor-in-chief at Modded. Follow him on Twitter @TModded for frequent updates on his work.

 I was not surprised to read about IKEA, I watched a documentary about them and they are not what they seem to be.  It was very disappointing to watch it and afterwards I did look into the claims made in it! It did and does not look very good for them.

It's interesting to see what is going on in the UK regarding promises made during COP26 and how they are using any excuse to wriggle out of them.  It really does look quite simple what needs to be done, but the powers that be (who in essence,work for the people who voted for them, but seemed to have forgotten this important fact) are too caught up in everything except what they are paid to do, are not doing it.

The blog song for today is: "Ant Music" by Adam and the Ants

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RAW architecture uses recycled plastic + bamboo for workshop and residence in indonesia

A report from designboom

Sitting on top of a hill in mekarwangi village, indonesia, is the ‘piyandeling’ workshop and residence designed by RAW architecture. following the studio’s ‘guha‘ project, this latest design works with local craftsmanship and local materials – predominately bamboo – to create three organic-shaped buildings that integrate into the context. 

the project consists of a residence and artisan workshop

 

 

 

 

Photo courtesy of RAW architecture

The residence is contained within a circular, three-story building with a 3 x 3 m footprint. designed by RAW architecture for a single family, the program includes two kid’s bedrooms, one master bedroom, and shared bathrooms. the openable building envelope is constructed using recycled plastic panels that cover and protect the inner bamboo structure.

the workshop is a floating two-story structure with an undulating roof

The envelope forms an 800 mm service corridor with double cross air ventilation and double wall insulations to the core living space of the building. this forms an adaptation of traditional and more industrial approaches, mixing traditional joineries and glued joinery of bamboo. the technique is developed from RAW’s guha bambu and alfa omega projects, which allows the experimentation of the 3 storys of the bamboo structure by the diagonal bamboo structure of the floor plate construction.

The residence is contained within the smaller, curved building, which has been constructed using recycled plastic panels to cover and protect the inner bamboo structure

The other building – named saderhana – is a simple 1 story volume located on the perimeter of the site, which contains a dentist space, design studio, and underground space. the building is constructed with a stone platform and bamboo roof providing a ‘talahap’ – overlapping curve traditional bamboo construction covered with layers of waterproofing membrane and nipah. the underground studio is constructed with bamboo skeleton and concrete, which creates a retention wall with bamboo-shaped formwork. the idea was to create a raw, honest, and humble finish.

Piyandeling is designed by RAW as an example of bricolage architecture. the project utilizes and adapts local craftsmanship and locally-available materials to create a design that appears to grow out from the land. 

The upper floor of the workshop features an undulating balustrade to echo the movement of birds or kujang, which is a traditional weapon in sunda tradition.

An underground studio is constructed with bamboo skeleton and concrete, which creates a retention wall with bamboo-shaped formwork.

project info:

project name: piyandeling

location: mekarwangi village, bandung, indonesia

architecture firm: realrich architecture workshop (RAW)

design team: realrich sjarief, amud, eddy bahtiar, sudjatmiko, alifian kharisma, vivi yani santosa, regi kusnadi, miftahuddin nurdayat, jovita lisyani

photography: eric dinardi – bacteria photography 

When my hubby told me about this I was really intrigued.  What an  amazing place.

I am sorry that there are no photos to look at, I suggest you go to the web site and see for yourself,iot is absolutely fantastic.

The blog song for today is: "You take my breath away" by Queen

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These houses by conceptos plásticos are built with blocks made from waste plastic- A report from Designboom

Everyday, bogotá, colombia, sees 740 tons of plastic waste that could take around 300 years to degrade and we’re quite sure the situation is the same in different parts of the world. thankfully, a start up in colombia is trying to mitigate the negative environmental impact of waste plastic by transforming it into an alternative construction material. created by fernando llanos and architect oscar mendez, conceptos plásticos — plastic concepts — is based on the transformation of plastic residues and rubber in pieces like blocks, which are used for housing construction.

‘the objective of plastic concepts is to answer to different problematic that affect the community nowadays, contributing at the same time with the reduction of the pollution that plastic residues have on the environment and his incident on the global warming,’ said ricardo rico, business manager, conceptos plásticos.

Conceptos plásticos empowers communities of recyclers around the world, starting in colombia all the way to africa. to create the LEGO-like building blocks, they use plastics that not everyone recycles and others that are difficult to dispose of. each type of plastic gives the bricks a different property, so they are mixed in different ways to obtain the desired product. the resulting bricks are easy to assemble, durable and inexpensive. they are also stronger than traditional construction materials; are thermo-acoustic, meaning they can be used in both hot and cold weather; they are also anti-seismic; and do not spread flames.

at first, it happens to us everywhere that people say: a plastic house! and think of a bag, people associate plastic with a bag. so they think that by bringing a lighter closer, it will ignite and that by putting a finger through it it will break. when they see the product and how solid it is, they realize and begin to weigh in a different way, then breaking that initial barrier for the user is very easy,’ oscar méndez comments.

In 2019, conceptos plásticos partnerted with UNICEF to develop a factory to convert plastic waste in côte d’ivoire into modular, easy-to-assemble, low-cost plastic bricks for classrooms. ‘this project is more than just a waste management and education infrastructure project; it is a functioning metaphor—the growing challenge of plastic waste turned into literal building blocks for a future generation of children,’ concluded UNICEF representative aboubacar kampo.

Interested in how plastic is being used around the world as a building material? see another project in kenya on designboom here: 

https://www.designboom.com/technology/gjenge-makers-recycled-plastic-bricks-kenya-02-08-2021/.

What a great way to deal with the plastic problem and the housing shortage too!  I like the way it involves the local community too.  I see more and more of these projects popping up all over the world and it gives me a lot of joy to see it.

The blog song for today is: "All right now" by Free

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What is – and is not – in the energy strategy and what does it mean for bills? a report from the London Evening Standard

 UK energy strategy

What is – and is not – in the energy strategy and what does it mean for bills?

The energy strategy has a focus on new nuclear, boosting offshore wind and doubling hydrogen production capacity.

Hinkley Point construction (Ben Birchall/PA) / PA Archive

By

Emily Beament

The Government’s much delayed energy strategy focuses on securing UK energy supplies in the coming years, but has faced immediate criticism that it does nothing to help families with soaring bills now.

Here is what is, and is not, in the new strategy.

– Nuclear

There is a big focus on new nuclear, including smaller “modular” reactors, to replace Britain’s ageing fleet, with the Government hoping to get 25% of power supplies from the zero carbon technology by 2050.

That includes an aim to take the decision to go ahead with one project within the next two years and for another two projects in the five years after that, potentially progressing work on up to eight new reactors across those projects by 2030.

The nuclear industry has strongly welcomed the plans, which it says will create tens of thousands of new jobs and help to achieve energy security, but even industry groups acknowledged that new nuclear power stations will take well over a decade to build.

The Nuclear Industry Association said steps are now needed to speed up investment, such as removing barriers to getting projects started, money from a promised fund allocated “at pace” and sites made available for development.

But nuclear power remains relatively expensive, and the Liberal Democrats warned construction of the full eight reactors could add £96 a year to household energy bills.

– Offshore wind

As part of a drive to generate 95% of UK power from low carbon sources by 2030, with fossil fuels shrinking from around 40% today to 5%, the Government has set a new ambition for 50 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind – up from a previous goal of 40GW.

The cost of offshore wind has fallen dramatically in the past few years, and the energy contracts windfarm operators have to deliver power are now significantly cheaper than the current wholesale electricity price which is driven by the high gas prices.

A sailing boat passes the Kentish Flats Offshore Wind Farm (Gareth Fuller/PA) / PA Archive

This means energy prices are lower than they would be without renewables on the system – a trend expected to continue as more, and cheaper, offshore wind is added to the grid.

– Onshore wind

Despite being one of the cheapest forms of electricity, along with solar, and widely popular with the public, onshore wind has effectively been banned by Tory governments in England for nearly a decade through planning restrictions.

The Government is not planning a wholesale change in the planning regulations for onshore wind.

It said it will “consult on developing local partnerships for a limited number of supportive communities in England who wish to host new onshore wind infrastructure in return for guaranteed lower energy bills”.

“The consultation will consider how clear support can be demonstrated by local communities, local authorities and MPs,” it said.

But Boris Johnson has said new sites “will have a very high bar to clear” and would have to reward local residents with cheaper energy.

– Hydrogen

The strategy doubles the target for hydrogen production by 2030, to 10 gigawatts, with the intention of making at least half of that using electricity, which could come from clean renewables.

Hydrogen is seen as a potentially clean way of shifting from the use of fossil fuels, as it could be an alternative fuel for power plants, industrial processes, heavy goods vehicles and even instead of heating with gas boilers.

But energy expert Jan Rosenow said: “Using hydrogen for home heating is much less efficient than heat pumps and district heating. All recent independent research agrees that hydrogen for home heating is costly.”

And he warned: “If the hydrogen is made from fossil gas it would mean that the UK would increase its dependence on fossil gas. This is because blue hydrogen from fossil can only be produced with a significant efficiency penalty.”

A view of Romney Marsh Solar Farm in Kent (Gareth Fuller/PA) / PA Archive

– Solar

The costs of solar power have also plummeted in the past decade, and the strategy expects to see a five-fold increase in deployment by 2035.

There will be a consultation on amending planning rules to strengthen policy in favour of development on non-protected land, while making sure communities still have a say, and moves to simplify planning permission for rooftop solar.

– Oil and gas

Promoting the new energy strategy, the Prime Minister said the Government was taking a “sensible and pragmatic view” on new North Sea oil and gas and said it was important to license domestic resources rather than importing higher carbon fossil fuels from Russia and other places.

But the International Energy Agency has said there should be no new oil and gas exploration after 2021 to meet targets to avoid the most dangerous warming, and UN scientists have called for the end of the fossil fuel age.

Onshore, while the Government has launched a review into the science of fracking, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has said shale gas would not deliver at a commercial scale for years, and would do nothing for bills now.

(PA Graphics) / PA Graphics

The Government’s independent Climate Change Committee has said the best way of reducing consumers’ exposure to volatile prices is to cut demand for fossil fuels, through developing more wind and solar power, electric vehicles, heat pumps and energy efficiency such as insulation in homes.

Yes, what about energy efficiency?

While the strategy highlights existing energy efficiency measures, there is nothing new on helping cut demand for gas and boost insulation – which is seen as the quickest way of reducing exposure to Russian gas and cut energy bills.

Analysis by climate think tank E3G finds that energy efficiency and clean heat such as heat pumps in homes could be implemented within this year, would reduce bills, and would cut gas use by the equivalent of 149% of current Russian imports by 2025.

A focus on insulation is also backed by the public, with a poll for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit finding that 84% thought it was important the Government should take steps to insulate homes to cut Russian gas.

Insulation being installed in a loft (Philip Toscano/PA) / PA Wire

– So what does it mean for bills?

By the Government’s own admission, the energy strategy will do little to reduce bills in the immediate term, though ministers say other policies will help.

This is a long-term strategy, with technologies such as nuclear, the scaling up of offshore wind, and tapping into further domestic oil and gas resources set to take years or even decades to deliver.

With households hit by an energy price hike of more than 50% in April and further rises looming in October, pressure is likely to mount on the Government to take more action to help make homes cosier and curb energy demand and bills.  Unfortunately the government is twisting and turning to wriggle out of the COP26 agreement (what a surprise) and are using any and every excuse to keep lining the pockets of fossil fuel companies with tax reductions (or no tax bills at all) paid for by the ordinary people.

Luckily summer is almost here and the electricity bills should go down, unless you have air conditioning and they will probably stay high!  We're a "leave the windows open" family when it comes to summer time! I'm not a big fan of re-circulated air and most people don't know that the filters need to be cleaned regularly to keep those nasty bugs out!

The blog song for today is: "Waterfall" by the Stone Roses.

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Construction starts on world's largest wildlife crossing to let animals roam over 10 lanes of L.A. highway -A report from CNN

Construction starts on world's largest wildlife crossing to let animals roam over 10 lanes of L.A. highway

By Cheri Mossburg, CNN

Updated 1328 GMT (2128 HKT) April 23, 2022

A rendering shows how the bridge will let animals cross over traffic.

Los Angeles (CNN)Wild animals in Southern California soon will have more turf to roam thanks to the world's biggest wildlife crossing, which will span 10 lanes of Highway 101 in northwest Los Angeles to close a crucial gap for habitats.

Mountain lions, which typically wander a territory spanning 150 to 200 miles, will be among the chief beneficiaries of the new overpass, providing a safe passage from the Santa Monica Mountains, across the freeway, and into the Simi Hills of the Santa Susana mountain range. This week, an 18-month-old mountain lion recently separated from its mother and seeking its own terrain was hit and killed on the 405 freeway, Ana Cholo, spokesperson for the National Park Service (NPS) tells CNN.

The $87 million Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is named for the president and CEO of the Annenberg Foundation, a family foundation that supports non-profits. More than 5,000 individual contributions were made, said Tony Tavares, interim director of CalTrans, the California Department of Transportation, noting the crossing also will help protect motorists.

This cougar is often seen in the Hollywood area.

"We can protect California's ecosystems without jeopardizing the transportation and other infrastructure development that we need for a growing population," said US Sen. Alex Padilla at the project's groundbreaking ceremony Friday.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who was also there, promised $50 million for other similar projects throughout the state, though they will not be of the same size and scope. The Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is a partnership of the National Wildlife Federation and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and will be built by CalTrans.

"This project is truly incredible," said Wade Crowfoot, California secretary for natural resources. "We will look back decades from now and realize that this project galvanized a new era of conserving and reconnecting nature."

Because pumas demand such a large territory, being relegated to an "urban island" surrounded by busy freeways has led to inbreeding and lack of genetic diversity, according to the NPS, which has been studying cougars in the Los Angeles area for two decades.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, third from left, joins other dignitaries during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing on Friday.

"You're hemmed in to the point where all you can do is date your cousins," Brad Sherman said of the mountain lions, which thrive when they have a large territory to hunt and mate. We're "putting the mountain lions back on Tinder."

"I'm shocked to hear of a lack of food or sex in Hollywood, but for mountain lions, it's true," quipped Rep. Adam Schiff, whose district includes the glitzy region.

P-22, one of the mountain lions being tracked by the NPS, has gained fame in the area for roaming through the Hollywood Hills, a bad bout of mange after being exposed to rat poison, and even mauling a koala at the L.A. Zoo in Griffith Park. With its own social media accounts, an annual P-22 Day, and branded merchandise, this cat has garnered something of a cult following.

Mountain lion known for crossing 405 killed on the same Los Angeles freeway

 

California's cougars are getting the lion's share of attention for this crossing, as their enclosure threatens their very existence, the NPS said. But it also will provide habitat access to coyotes, bobcats, deer, snakes, lizards, toads and even ants.

"We can coexist side by side with all kinds of wild instead of paving it over and choking it off," said philanthropist Wallis Annenberg at the groundbreaking ceremony. "It is about bringing more attention to an ingenious solution so urban wildlife and ecosystems like this one cannot only survive, but thrive."

The crossing will blend with the surroundings and be covered in soil and native plants. The Santa Monica Mountains Foundation created a special plant nursery that will grow all of the fauna to be used in covering the crossing when it nears completion in 2025.

 

What a great idea and so wonderful for the wildlife,after all they were there before the road was built.

I like these kind of projects!

 

The blog song for today is "House of the rising sun" by the Animals

 

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The plastic flamingo collects, cleans, shreds + turns ocean bound plastic waste into construction planks- A report from DesignBoom

THE PLASTIC FLAMINGO – RECYCLING PLASTIC INTO ECO-LUMBERS

Founded in 2019 and also known as the plaf, the plastic flamingo is a social enterprise that collects and transforms plastics in the philippines into better products. the group of recyclers aims to fight the country’s plastic waste crisis — the philippines is the third-biggest polluter in the world — by turning bottles, soft plastics, and sachets into planks that can be used as a building material.

By collecting post-consumer plastics, the plaf aims to compensate the material’s footprint by giving them a second-life while educating communities about the plastic crisis. 

THE PLASTIC FLAMINGO COLLECTS ANY KIND OF PLASTIC WASTE IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND FROM LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Ocean plastic pollution is one of the world’s biggest environmental problems. its impact costs the world at least US$8 billion dollars per year. 60% of marine plastic waste has originated from south-east asia, particularly from china, indonesia, philippines, vietnam, sri lanka and thailand. in fact, in the philippines, 500,000 metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year.

In order to offer a solution to fight ocean plastic pollution in the philippines, the plastic flamingo collects any kind of plastic waste in the environment and from local communities, schools, factories, buildings, etc. the plastics are then cleaned, dried, and shredded. the resulting plastic flakes — the main ingredient for their upcycled products — are then extruded into posts and planks called eco-lumbers, which can be used in fencing, decking, and even in disaster-relief shelters.

 

 

PLASTIC FLAKES ARE TURNED INTO RECYCLED BUILDING MATERIALS

 

To create the eco-lumbers, the plaf mixes the flakes into a formulation where they undergo an extrusion process and are molded into different shapes. ‘regarding our planks, we have done research on the constitution of sachets and have found a formula that will make it possible to recycle up to 30%  in the mix to create the profiles,’ said the plastic flamingo. the company is also expanding their product line and will be revealing a larger range of products by the beginning of 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By creating eco-lumbers, the plaf ‘hopes to kill two birds with one stone. ‘adressing plastic pollution is our main mission, but by turning this waste into eco-lumbers, we hope to contribute to the housing sector by providing durable and maintenance-free alternatives. this country currently has an estimated housing backlog of 6.5 million and if this is not addressed appropriately, this can increase to 22 million within the next two decades,’ said anne-sophie van der spek, the company’s chief product officer, in ‘planks of promise, designing for change’, a video made by their partner the alliance to end plastic waste.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

project info:

 name: the plastic flamingo

juliana neira I designboom

oct 26, 2021

 

I am so impressed by this project! Visit the website it is amazing.

www.theplaf.com

You never know we may see more of this on our side of the planet!

The blog song for today is: "The long and winding road" by the Beatles

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Here’s how Indonesia plans to take on its plastic pollution challenge a report from: weforum.org

 

• Indonesia is announcing a plan to tackle plastic pollution.
• The country aims to cut marine plastic waste by 70% within five years.
• By 2040, Indonesia plans to be entirely plastic pollution-free.

What will it take to end plastic pollution within a generation?

For Indonesia, it all began with a radical vision.

Our beautiful nation is grappling with a serious plastic pollution challenge. We are home to the world’s largest archipelago – more than 17,000 islands, 81,000 kilometres of coastlines and a rich abundance of biodiverse marine ecosystems. Our pristine natural environment is a gift that we have treasured for thousands of years, and one that we must pass down to future generations.

At the same time, the amount of plastic waste generated in Indonesia each year is growing at unsustainable levels. In our cities, our waterways and our coastlines, the accumulation of toxic plastic waste is harming our food systems and the health of our people. Our booming fishing industry, the second-largest in the world, is under threat from rising levels of marine plastic debris. By 2025, the amount of plastic waste leaking into our oceans could increase to 800,000 tonnes – if no action is taken.

I’m proud to announce that Indonesia will be choosing not what is easy, but what is right. Rather than staying with a ‘business as usual’ approach, we will be embracing a sweeping, full-system-change approach to combatting plastic waste and pollution, one that we hope will spark greater collaboration and commitment from others on the global stage.

At the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos this year, we are presenting to the world a first look at Indonesia’s new plan for tackling plastic pollution, which aims to cut marine plastic debris by 70% within the next five years.

The vision goes even further: by 2040, we aim to achieve a plastic pollution-free Indonesia – one that embodies the principle of the circular economy, in which plastics will no longer end up in our oceans, waterways and landfills, but will go on to have a new life.

Plastic

What is the World Economic Forum doing about plastic pollution?

More than 90% of plastic is never recycled, and a whopping 8 million metric tons of plastic waste are dumped into the oceans annually. At this rate, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans by 2050.

The Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) is a collaboration between businesses, international donors, national and local governments, community groups and world-class experts seeking meaningful actions to beat plastic pollution.

In Ghana, for example, GPAP is working with technology giant SAP to create a group of more than 2,000 waste pickers and measuring the quantities and types of plastic that they collect. This data is then analysed alongside the prices that are paid throughout the value chain by buyers in Ghana and internationally.

It aims to show how businesses, communities and governments can redesign the global “take-make-dispose” economy as a circular one in which products and materials are redesigned, recovered and reused to reduce environmental impacts.

Five points of action

To successfully reach the 70% reduction target by 2025, we are committed to leading five system-change interventions that will change the way plastics are produced, used, and disposed of.

1) Reduce or substitute plastic usage to prevent the consumption of 1.1 million tonnes of plastic per year.[i]

We will work with industry leaders in Indonesia to transform their supply chains by rooting out plastic materials that can be avoided. Examples include replacing single-use packaging with reusable packaging; embracing new delivery models, such as refill shops; and empowering consumers to move away from single-use plastic consumption.

2) Redesign plastic products and packaging with reuse or recycling in mind. Recognizing that some forms of plastics cannot be substituted with alternative materials, we need to make sure that they do not become mismanaged waste. We will work with manufacturers and innovators to champion an industry-wide shift towards circular plastics – with the ultimate goal of making all plastic waste a valuable commodity for reuse or recycling.

3) Double plastic waste collection to 80% by 2025. Currently, around 39% of the total plastic waste in Indonesia is collected; in rural and remote areas, this figure is as low as 16%.[ii] We need to aggressively invest in our waste-collection infrastructure, both in the formal sector (government employees) and the robust informal sector (waste pickers, many of them women, who play a significant role in our national waste management efforts).

4) Double our current recycling capacity to process an additional 975,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year.[iii] In 2017, only 10% of plastics generated in Indonesia were recycled. We urgently need to close this capacity gap by directing investment into expanding existing infrastructure facilities and building new infrastructure to match the explosive growth in plastic production across the ASEAN region.

5) Build or expand safe waste disposal facilities to manage an additional 3.3 million tonnes of plastic waste per year.[iv] This is our last chance to put a safeguarding measure at the end of the plastic lifecycle to prevent plastic waste from becoming plastic pollution. These facilities will allow us to safely dispose of non-recyclable plastic materials, as well as plastic waste that is generated in remote locations without recycling facilities.

Only a fraction of plastic is recycled. Indonesia plans to lead the way in reversing that trend

Image: Our World in Data

What’s next?

We believe urgent action is needed to turn the tide of plastic waste and pollution in Indonesia, and that all have a role to play in driving this change.

President Joko Widodo has set the course with two crucial pieces of legislation. The Indonesia National Waste Management Policy and Strategy (Presidential Decree No. 97/2017) and the Plan of Action on Marine Plastic Debris 2018-2025 (Presidential Decree No. 83/2018) have put the fight against plastic pollution at the top of the national agenda, creating the enabling environment that we needed as policy-makers to deliver on this ambitious vision.

The first step in this process was to bring the right stakeholders onboard. In March last year, we joined the Global Plastic Action Partnership, a new public-private collaboration platform hosted at the World Economic Forum, as its first national partner. We became the first country in the world to test-drive the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) model – a nimble, inclusive and solutions-driven approach to solving the challenge of plastic pollution. The same model is now being piloted in Ghana, and soon in Viet Nam.

Through the NPAP, we have created a platform for bringing together Indonesia’s top minds to take on plastic pollution together, from researchers to businesses to civil society. Collectively, we have created a national roadmap that lays out the concrete steps we need to take – in policy-making, manufacturing, awareness-building and driving investment – to achieve a plastic pollution-free Indonesia.

Although the full report is still in the final stages of preparation, I feel it is crucial to share its key recommendations and action steps at Davos, this unparalleled global convening of decision-makers and innovators, so that all can hear the good news: Indonesia’s unprecedented national effort to take on plastic pollution is crossing a new frontier in what is possible. Working from the basis of a radical idea, we have built a platform, mobilized willpower from all sectors, and identified a clear path towards our goal: to show that plastic pollution is not too complex or too enormous a challenge to overcome.

As we move from incubation to implementation in the months to come, I invite all to join us on this journey. As Indonesia puts this plan into action, we look forward to sharing our knowledge and to learning from others on bringing solutions and successes to scale. Together, we will demonstrate how we can work together to end plastic pollution and build a healthier, more sustainable future for our children and grandchildren.

Notes on data:

[i] This figure was calculated as part of an analysis adapted from global research by the Pew Charitable Trusts and SYSTEMIQ and was carried out with the Indonesia National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Expert Panel, Indonesia NPAP Steering Board, Indonesian government and other stakeholders. The analysis forms part of the full Indonesia plastic action roadmap, which will be released in spring 2020.

[ii] Data from JAKSTRADA database (Indonesia Ministry of Environment and Forestry), PUPR Waste portal (Indonesia Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing), and What a Waste Global Database (World Bank).

[iii] Data from analysis conducted on recovered plastics through both formal sorting centres and waste pickers.

[iv] The 3.3 million target corresponds to the remaining amount of collected plastic that is not recycled and is not channelled into landfills due to limited existing capacity within landfills. Calculated using data from the JAKSTRADA database (Indonesia Ministry of Environment and Forestry), and PUPR Waste portal (Indonesia Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing).

When I read reports like this I am given hope that people like me are trying to make a difference and the fact that it is far away from here is even better.  

The blog song for today is: "He's a rebel"by the Crystals 

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Fossil Fuels:20 oil and gas firms who support Paris Agreement projected to spend $932bn on new sites by 2030- A report from Sky News

 

Fossil fuels: 20 oil and gas firms who support Paris Agreement projected to spend $932bn on new sites by 2030

All 20 firms have voiced support for the Paris Agreement, but UN scientists warn any new oil and gas sites would put 1.5C Paris goal beyond reach.

Victoria Seabrook

Climate reporter @SeabrookClimate

Tuesday 12 April 2022 03:29, UK

Image: Twenty oil and gas companies who support Paris climate accord are projected to spend billions developing new sites

Just 20 fossil fuel firms including Shell and BP are projected to spend $932 billion (£715 bn) on new oil and gas fields by 2030, according to new research shared exclusively with Sky News.

All the oil majors have pledged support for the Paris Agreement, which commits to limiting global warming to ideally 1.5C above pre-industrial levels - firms who hadn't were discounted from the list.

The analysis from campaigners Global Witness and Oil Change International comes a week after the United Nations (UN) called it "moral and economic madness" to invest in new oil and gas.

UN scientists (IPCC) warned those assets risked becoming stranded by mid-century, and that new fossil fuel projects would tip the world well over the 1.5C Paris target.

Investments from companies that say they are aligned with Paris look "deeply hypocritical" and stand in "stark contrast" with the IPCC's findings, said Global Witness campaigner Barnaby Pace.

Image: The list excludes fossil fuel majors that haven't pledged alignment with the Paris Agreement

Image: The analysis predicts spend will increase to $1.5trillion by 2040

Russian state company Gazprom topped the list with a predicted spend of $138bn (£105bn), Shell ranked ninth with $46bn and BP fourteenth with $30bn, according to the researchers' analysis of Rystad Energy data.

The figures cover new oil and gas sites being explored or developed, not those already up and running.

"We aren't ready to stop using oil and gas overnight, but these are investments in new oil and gas fields that will be only coming online in years or decades to come," added Mr Pace.

By the end of 2040, the collective spend is expected to reach $1.5 trillion, the analysis shows.

Clean energy investments by the oil and gas industry accounted for around 1% of total capital expenditure in 2020, according to the International Energy Agency.

ExxonMobil - which ranked second with a projected spend of $83bn - said it planned to invest $15bn in "lower-emissions technologies". These include hydrogen, biofuels, and technology to suck carbon out of the air - which scientists say is necessary and should be reserved for very limited sectors - but not renewable energy, other than to electrify some operations.

Shell expects a gradual decline in total oil production of about 1-2% a year, and plans to invest around £15bn in "low and zero-carbon" energy - including offshore wind and hydrogen - in Britain, representing 75% of their UK investment.

Chevron said oil and natural gas are "critical to ensuring reliable energy for decades" and it was reducing the emissions from the extraction process.

"As the energy transition unfolds, demand for fossil fuels will likely fall and companies must ensure that they... don't sanction high cost products that are not needed and ultimately will fail to deliver a return to their shareholders," said Mike Coffin from financial think tank Carbon Tracker.

That means companies planning on sanctioning new oil and gas projects are "thus effectively betting both on the collective failure to limit warming to 1.5 degrees, and on [the failure of] renewables and technologies such as battery storage to substitute for oil and gas," he said.

 

In his statement, Antonio Guterres said ‘high emitting governments and corporations’ were turning a blind eye to the imminent climate ‘disaster’

The British Government last week sparked criticism when it confirmed in its new Energy Security Strategy it would grant new licences for new oil and gas fields in the North Sea.

Unfortunately, this is what a lot of people have predicted would happen and just makes a farce of the whole COP26 agreement, as usual it is all about money.  What will it take to make these people stop?

It is so frustrating and sad that the human race is prepared to go down the road of destruction for money, we are screaming as loud as we can but they can't hear because they have their heads stuck in the sand.  I have always thought that prevention is better than cure but we all seem to be on this downward spiral to potential disaster if everyone doesn't do their part.

Just one person can make a difference!

The blog song for today is: " We can work it out" by the Beatles

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The Big Plastic Count - the UK's biggest ever investigation into household plastic waste for one week, 16-22 May 2022 (UK only)

 I’m joining #TheBigPlasticCount – the UK’s biggest ever investigation into household plastic waste. For one week, 16–22 May, people all over the country are counting their plastic packaging waste to help gather new, game-changing evidence of the true scale of the plastic problem. The results will show the government what really needs to be done to tackle it, and the more people who take part, the more impact we'll have. Will you join me? Here’s the link: https://act.gp/3iOmgvD

How do I order my pack?

When you sign up you’ll be asked for your mailing address to receive a physical pack. Of course it’s plastic-free and printed on recycled paper, but you can also opt out if you’d rather download a digital version.

Can we take part as a group?

We’d love community groups and teams of colleagues to get together and join The Big Plastic Count! Simply sign up individually and then you can swap tips during the week and share your results between yourselves.

My pack hasn’t arrived yet, what can I do?

Most packs will arrive a week before the count in May. If there’s an issue though you can access the digital pack here or it’s in the email you recieved when you first signed up. It includes a printable tally sheet – or you can tally online too.

What do I do if I miss a day of counting?

Don’t worry if you miss a day of counting – when you submit your results you can select how many days you counted for.

What if I miss an item of plastic?

If everyone does 7 whole days and counts all their plastic waste we get better data, but if you miss something, don’t worry! Your data is still important.

How do I work out which category to put an item in?

Use your instinct and judgement to categorise your plastic, you’ll probably get it right! But if you’re still unsure and would like some more help, visit our help page where you can find a long list of examples and definitions.

What aren’t we counting?

Don’t include: plasters, medication packaging, non-dairy milk/juice cartons (TetraPak), nappies, dog poo bags, plastic cutlery or period products.

What if we use a lot of plastic?

Please remember, this isn’t about feeling guilty about the amount of plastic you use! Too much single-use plastic is produced and there aren’t reusable alternatives that suit everyone’s needs. Together we’re gathering the evidence needed to push for proper action on plastic.

What should I do with my plastic afterwards?

Dispose of your plastic waste in the same way you would normally – reuse what you can, recycle what you can and throw away the rest. We know it may feel disheartening, but you’re doing your bit, and with the evidence you’re helping us build, we’ll push the government, big brands and supermarkets to do theirs.

Why is The Big Plastic Count only over one week

The aim for The Big Plastic Count is to get lots and lots of people involved, counting their household plastic packaging. One week is enough time to collect useful data without taking up too much of people's time.

How do you work out my footprint?

Once we have an individual household’s count results, we apply national data on different types of plastic to calculate how much, on average, would be collected for recycling, what’s then likely to happen to it, and what that means for your footprint.

I wish there was something like this here in Spain, although I am hoping that after the UK one, they may follow because it is linked to Greenpeace! I will be counting my plastic all the same, just out of curiosity!

It will be really interesting to see the results! I fear that we already know it will be bad, unfortunately official bodies like numbers, so that is the way it is done!

The blog song for today is: "Isis"  by Bob Dylan

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