sustainability33.94 min read
EU urged to boost climate resilience amid mounting damage
11 days ago•Source: Reuters
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33.08 min•29 days ago
Climate change and La Niña drive catastrophic floods in southern Africa
A World Weather Attribution study links a climate-change–driven 40% rise in extreme rainfall to floods across southern Africa (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Eswatini), worsened by La Niña; about 200 people have died and hundreds of thousands are affected as some areas receive more than a year’s worth of rain in days, including Kruger National Park closures and mounting repair costs.
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Dutch PM to Miss COP29 Amid Amsterdam Soccer Violence Investigation
POLITICO Europe•1 year ago
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"LG's Duobo Coffee Machine: A Double-Pod Solution with Environmental Concerns"
LG Labs has developed a new pod-based instant coffee machine called Duobo, which uses two Nespresso-style pods to create a single cup of coffee, doubling the amount of trash generated. The machine allows users to mix flavors and customize their brew, but its alien-like design and placement of an LCD screen on the base, obstructing the cup placement, raise questions. The Duobo is being introduced through a Kickstarter campaign, with a hefty price tag of $399 for early bird backers, and it remains to be seen if there is enough interest to bring it to market.
Amazon's Sustainability Report Reveals Positive Shift in Carbon Emissions and Supply Chain Accountability
Amazon's 2022 Sustainability Report highlights their progress in building a more sustainable company, including powering operations with renewable energy, growing their fleet of electric delivery vehicles, minimizing waste and excess packaging, reducing supply chain emissions, and lowering their total emissions footprint and carbon intensity as the business grows. They are on track to power operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025, have over 9,000 electric delivery vehicles in their fleet, and have decreased single-use plastic by 11.6%. They are also working with supply chain partners to decarbonize their operations and have seen a decrease in carbon intensity and total carbon footprint.
"Fast fashion giants take action to reduce environmental impact and waste"
The fashion industry's waste problem is accelerating with the rise of fast fashion, and almost all clothing eventually ends up in a landfill. The industry contributes significant greenhouse gas emissions, and its carbon footprint is predicted to account for over 25% of the world's global carbon budget by 2050. Recycling old clothing into new clothing has barely made a dent in the industry, with less than 1% of textiles produced for clothing being recycled into new clothing. However, startups such as Evrnu, Renewcell, Spinnova, and SuperCircle are developing new business models to tackle the complexity of the fashion recycling problem. Major brands such as Levi's, Adidas, and Zara are also making progress in their attempts to fashion a circular economy.
"Revolutionary Electric Cruise Ships Powered by Solar and Batteries Unveiled"
Norwegian cruise line company Hurtigruten has revealed plans for a zero-emission electric-powered cruise ship, which will feature retractable sails with solar panels to harness energy from the wind and sun while storing it in powerful batteries. The ship will combine 60 MWh battery packs with several industry firsts to harness wind and solar while at sea for a truly zero-emission experience. The company plans to include three retractable, autonomous sails with added solar panels, and the ship will be superpowered by northern Norway’s midnight sun that shines for 24 hours a day.
"Amazon's Sustainable HQ2: Inside Construction, Design, and Local Businesses"
Amazon's new HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia, will run with no operational carbon emissions and be powered by 100% renewable energy from a nearby solar farm. The 2.1 million square feet of space includes clean energy technology and sustainability features such as tinted glass windows for cooling, special cooling technology that saves 7.5 million gallons of water per year, and advanced energy metering systems. The development was designed in consultation with the surrounding community and includes amenities for employees as well as a rooftop vegetable garden that will distribute food to local community organizations. Amazon is committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions across all operations by 2040.
Logitech and iFixit team up to promote self-repair for computer mice.
Logitech has partnered with iFixit to offer repair components and guides for its MX Master and MX Anywhere computer mice, with the aim of reducing electronic waste. The move is part of Logitech's commitment to sustainable design and increasing the lifespan of its products. The repair program will initially offer new batteries, feet and screws for the mice, with other parts to be added later. The partnership comes as French officials investigate Apple over its use of serial number pairing for repair parts, which restricts repairability.
Chris King's ARD44: The Eco-Friendly Aero Wheelset
Chris King has launched the ARD44 all-road wheelset, featuring recyclable thermoplastic rims made from FusionFiber, a nylon-carbon composite material that is fully automated and results in zero waste. The carbon footprint of the rims is 30% lower than standard epoxy-based carbon rims, and the material is quieter, more impact-resistant, and fully recyclable. The wheelset is designed for both road and gravel use, with a hookless bead and a 25mm internal rim width. The ARD44 wheels turn on Chris King R45D hubs and come with a lifetime warranty.
Brooklyn's 1 Java Street to be Largest Geothermal Residential Building in U.S.
Lendlease is building the largest residential apartment complex in the US to be heated by geothermal energy in Brooklyn. The complex will have 834 rental units across 5 buildings, including a 37-story and a 20-story tower. Using geothermal will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 53%, but it will cost about 6% more to build. The project will be entirely net zero when it opens in 2025, meeting New York's new emissions sustainability standards for large buildings.
MLS and Clubs Promote Sustainability and Recycling for Earth Day
Major League Soccer and Adidas have launched the One Planet Kit, made entirely from Parley Ocean plastic, to be worn by all teams on Matchday 9 this weekend. The kit design features a hand-drawn print that pays homage to the ocean floor and includes the repeating wordmark "End Plastic Waste". Adidas intercepts plastics from remote islands, beaches and coastal communities before they reach high-risk ocean environments, and transforms them into performance materials.
Chipotle's Sustainable Restaurant Design Includes Renewable Energy and EV Charging.
Chipotle has unveiled an all-electric restaurant concept that relies entirely on alternative energy to power its stoves, grills, and electric car charging ports. The fast-casual Mexican chain plans to use all-electric equipment and at least some elements of its new design at more than 100 locations it plans to open in 2024. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, from 2019 levels, while offering more vegetarian and vegan menu items and purchasing 36.4 million pounds of local produce this year.