Anyone else get burnt to a crisp or flooded out of it this summer? Earlier in July on LinkedIn I shared an article with the title ‘this year we’re going to get a taste of what life beyond 1.5 degrees is like’, and boy was it spot on!
Thanks to El Nino we’re seeing the havoc that can be caused by an increase in average global temperatures. This is worrying enough until you realise that the human species has blown any chance of limiting global warming to 1.5.
According to IPCC report in 2021 we’re likely to see temp increases of up to 5.7 degrees by the end of the century, unless we halve our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reduce them to zero by 2050.
Is your company on track to achieve that?
To find out how others are doing their bit, including me, read on!
Construction
The Royal Institute of British Architects launch an architectural prize to encourage refurbishment over demolition
A very useful article on the carbon footprint of the most common construction materials
Mogu Acoustic modules are made from soft, foam-like mycelium materials and of upcycled textile residues.
The Polyfloss Factory provides support and advice on setting up a factory that recycles local plastic into insulation.
Albotherm develop glass coatings that reduce solar gain by changing from transparent to white (and back again)
Transport
Paris, Grenoble and Lyon are all introducing higher parking costs for bigger cars, incentivising residents to drive smaller and lighter vehicles.
Northern Railways have added a website calculator that compares train and car journeys on time, cost and carbon emissions.
Japanese firm believes it could make a solid-state battery with a range of 745 miles that charges in 10 minutes
Recent research finds that shipping emissions could be halved without damaging trade
Toyota Motor Europe has announced a new focus on Circular Economy
Ziggy is a robotic EV chargers that come to your parking spot
Go Eve is is a patent-pending technology for charging a fleet of electric vehicles easily, originally invented by the team at University College Dublin and Imperial College London.
Energy
Denmark’s largest offshore wind farm, due for completion in 2026, will be the first wind farm to feature recyclable wind turbine blades, and a new steel tower design that reduced emissions by 63%.
Scientists are hoping to turn humid air into renewable power. Might be ideal for Ireland!
China is on course to hit wind and solar power target five years ahead of time
Miraisolar’s mini solar panels provide sun shading while generating energy.
Clothing
Using automated, localized, and made-to-order production the apparel manufacturing system by Vega™ reduces production lead times from 9 months to 2 days
Of the 82 largest cotton-sourcing companies in the world, only 9 companies were found to be sourcing 99% or all of their cotton from certified sources.
76% of clothes given to fashion brands’ take-back schemes are lost, destroyed or shipped to Africa, finds our major new investigation into the fashion industry.
New developments in fabric production see viscose made from discarded cotton and coconut water!
Saltyco in the UK are trialling using bullrushes as down in jackets instead of feathers.
Japan Airlines have launched a trial clothing rental service, ‘Any Wear, Anywhere’, to help passengers cut down on baggage. Their idea is that by travelling light, customers can help to reduce fuel used and therefore CO2 emissions.
Materials
Hamburg-based startup Cirplus is a digital marketplace to connect plastic recyclers with plastic converters.
Congrats to one of my Modos mentees, Peter of Green Bubble, for getting his used bubble wrap in An Post and Supervalu stores!
Well done to Irish company The Upcycle Movement and Literary Balms for releasing a circular product – The Constant Candle, made from recycled candle wax that can remade into new candles over and over again.
Legislation & Funding
Transition to circular fashion has virtually come to a standstill despite European billions
New report shows Africa stands to lose US$25 billion every year when Carbon Border Tax is introduced
Senator Lynn Boylan is proposing a bill that would fine corporations found guilty of disposing of brand-new items, and instead make it mandatory for them to donate any unsold or returned items to charities and second-hand shops.
New Zealand has announced it is drafting a new law to crack down on modern slavery.
Leisure
Coldplay becomes the first band to release a sustainability report for their latest world tour.
The UK hotel Birch Selsdon park rewilds it’s former 18 hole golf course
Decathlon launches tent return and reuse service ahead of the festival season
Food & Drink
Wicklow Wolf and Brennans Bread have teamed up to offer a beer partially made from surplus bread
South Korea developed a policy to keeps 90% of food waste out of landfill, turning it into animal feed, fertiliser and fuel.
How farming under solar panels is helping farmers in Italy save an ancient fruit
Killarney has become the first Irish town to ban single use coffee cups
Heinz is to roll out a 100% recyclable cap for its Heinz Tomato Ketchup squeezy bottles across Ireland this summer
The German discounter PENNY ran a campaign where nine products were sold at their true environmental cost for a week.
Climate Impact
None of the world’s top industries would be profitable if they paid for the natural capital they use
Earth reaches Plastic Overshoot Day – the date when the amount of plastic produced worldwide surpasses all combined international efforts to manage it effectively.
Furniture
Excellent article on carbon footprints of furniture
Wales based furniture maker Orangebox have just launched a remanufactured range (see top image)
Interesting review by US furniture maker Mebl on greener designs at Milan furniture fair this year.
Resources
This is a very clear comprehensive explanation of what are greenhouse gases
Earlier this month I was delighted to give a talk on the Circular Economy at the first open evening at the Fablab in the R&D hub Creative Spark in Dundalk.
I’ve spent the summer updated the free resources page on our website, so check it out.
If you’d like to discuss any of these issues feel free to get in touch via our contact page.
Elaine
Circular Design Institute 