Read the full story Fashion United.
Gap Inc. has committed to using only 100 percent sustainably-sourced cotton by 2025 across its brands Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta.
Day: January 7, 2021
$3 billion Energos project to build largest carbon-neutral industrial park in US near Reno
Read the full story at the Reno Gazette Journal.
An ambitious green technology project in Nevada’s high desert aims to build the largest carbon-neutral industrial park powered by locally generated renewable energy in the United States.
VTT creates recyclable plastic bottles from citrus peel
Read the full story at Dairy Reporter.
New technology developed at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland enables the use of pectin-containing agricultural waste, such as citrus peel and sugar beet pulp, as raw material for bio-based polyethylene furanoate (PEF) plastics for replacing fossil-based polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
How Food Companies are Achieving Sustainable Energy
Few companies depend more on reliable energy sources than those in the food industry. And with a growing world population and the food industry continuing to boom, the need has only increased. Couple that with the food industry’s desire to become more sustainable and traditional energy sources no longer a viable option, and you’ve got a recipe for change.
Energy as a Service microgrids offer an alternative for the food industry – reliable, resilient and cost-effective sources of energy. In this white paper, we look at the five factors to consider when looking at Energy as a Service (EaaS) microgrids.
Green buildings ‘unheralded hero’ in emissions fight, experts say
Read the full story at Smart Cities Dive.
President-elect Joe Biden’s plan to upgrade the buildings sector and make it more energy efficient could be critical to help fight the effects of climate change, elected officials said Wednesday during a webinar hosted by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Biden’s Clean Energy Plan says it would create 1 million jobs to upgrade 4 million buildings across the United States and weatherize 2 million homes, all within four years. Such energy efficient upgrades is something that should receive bipartisan support as it saves money in the long run and creates jobs, while also bringing down emissions, Rep. Peter Welch, D-VT, said during the webinar.
A strong federal partner will also be needed in a national building strategy, with cities and states having led the way previously, speakers said. The federal government can play a leading role in strengthening building codes, streamlining the permitting process and pushing through approvals, with financial incentives and technical support as two key ways for national leaders to help, Rep. Kathy Castor, D-FL, said.
Amazon Adds 3.4GW of Renewables, Overtakes Google as Top Corporate Clean Power Buyer
Read the full story at GreenTech Media.
Amazon has added 3.4 gigawatts of new renewable power to its portfolio, taking its total capacity to 6.5 GW.
The company claims that it has now overtaken Google as the largest corporate user of renewables. Amazon’s new wind and solar projects are distributed globally from Australia and South Africa to Sweden and the U.K.
The retail giant is aiming to power all its operations, from its offices and fulfillment centers to the data centers of its Amazon Web Services business, with renewables by 2030. It claims to be on track to hit that milestone by 2025, and it wants to hit the target of being net-zero carbon by 2040.
With mega-emitters closed, coal’s ‘cleaner fleet’ persists
Read the full story at E&E News.
At first glance, 2020 looks to be another big year for coal retirements. The 9.4 gigawatts of coal capacity shut down this year is the fourth-highest annual total since 2009, federal figures show.
But dig a little deeper, and it becomes apparent that the 36 retirees this year were relatively small emitters. The 385 million tons of carbon dioxide generated between 2010 and 2019 by units retiring this year is the smallest such figure since 2017, according to an E&E News review of federal data.
Total coal emissions will still be down this year. American coal plants were already running less, and the COVID-19 pandemic pushed even more to the sidelines.
Yet coal generation could rebound in 2021, when the economy is expected to recover and an anticipated uptick in gas prices could prompt power companies to switch on their old coal stations.
The dynamic highlights the role gas prices play in determining American coal consumption and carbon dioxide output. It also points to the role coal retirements have played in greening the U.S. economy in recent years. American coal capacity fell 25% between 2010 and 2019, with emissions from coal plants declining by 46%.
The World’s First Naturally Biodegradable Plastic Alternative
Read the full story at Azo Cleantech.
An environmentally friendly alternative to plastics that breaks down naturally and does not represent a threat to wildlife or human health is needed. UK-based biotechnology and materials company Toraphene believes it has the answer – a biodegradable and compostable material, also named Toraphene.
Nestlé USA to convert Coffee mate portfolio to fully recyclable bottles
Read the full story in Dairy Foods.
The move is part of the company’s larger plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Chemicals management: What’s at stake
The European Commission has published its vision for what the EU’s strategy should be over the course of the coming years. It aims to eliminate toxic substances, while respecting the bloc’s climate and digital transitions. But the issue is an extremely complex one.
Environmental News Bits 