Read the full story at Fast Company.
Some shipping containers are single-use, making just one trip across the ocean filled with goods. Modpools gives them a second life as swimming pools.
Category: Circular economy
CaPao taps into growing upcycled foods movement with cacaofruit snacks
Read the full story at Food Navigator.
CaPao is introducing consumers to an underused part of the cocoa plant, the cacao fruit (the raw, white pulp surrounding the cocoa beans), with its range of ‘cacaofruit’ bites and quinoa squares.
Retro collectors are uncovering hoards of old data
Read the full story in Wired.
Much like baking and crocheting, interest in retrocomputing soared during the pandemic, as the tedium of lockdown forced people to channel their frustrations into creative pursuits. Sales of vintage machines proliferated during the period, and many of these collectors have unsuspectingly amassed vast troves of sensitive personal and information. This presents a challenge, not just for the corporations affected, but for those forced to determine what to do with them.
ThredUp: Supply chain challenges could push shoppers to thrift this season
Read the full story at Retail Dive.
Amid supply chain woes that threatened to limit available inventory, almost half of shoppers are considering thrift instead of traditional retailers this year, according to a ThredUp survey. More than half (52%) said they’re worried about their desired items becoming more expensive this year and a third said they think limited inventory will also make it harder to find gifts.
The ThredUp survey also found that close to two-thirds (62%) of respondents believe buying secondhand gifts is more socially acceptable than five years ago. Consumers are turning to used items to save money (56%), shop more sustainably (54%) and find unique items (34%), per the survey emailed to Retail Dive.
The report also noted that two-thirds (66%) of survey respondents are fine with receiving a used item as a gift. Among Gen Z shoppers, 72% said they are OK with receiving used items as gifts.
Bausch + Lomb launches Biotrue Eye Care Recycling Program in collaboration with TerraCycle
Read the company news release.
Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health business of Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) (“Bausch Health”), today announced the launch of the Biotrue® Eye Care Recycling program, the first and only eye care recycling program in the United States. The new program will allow consumers who participate in the program to properly recycle all brands of their eye drop single dose units, lens cases and lens solution caps*, as well as Biotrue® Hydration Boost Lubricant Eye Drops multi-dose bottles through a collaboration with TerraCycle, a world leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste.
To toss, repair, or recycle? How human behavior affects the fate of aging solar panels
Read the full story from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
NREL analysts applied a new approach to understand consumer decisions about aging modules and identify secondary markets to move toward a circular economy for solar PV modules.
CaPao Quinoa Squares to carry on-pack upcycled food certification
Read the company news release.
CaPao, a mission-based brand created by Mondelēz International’s SnackFutures innovation and venture hub, today announced the launch of its new Quinoa Squares, which is also one of the first products on the market to carry the Upcycled Food Association’s (UFA) Upcycled Certified™ mark on its packaging.
Recycling Economic Information (REI) Report and Methodology
U.S. EPA’s Recycling Economic Information (REI) Report aims to increase the understanding of the economic implications of material reuse and recycling. The report provides updated information about the number of recycling jobs, wages and tax revenues in the United States. The 2020 report is now available.
Recovery plant creates new materials from C&D fines
Read the full story in Construction & Demolition Recycling.
Consisting of primarily soil, wood, concrete, gypsum and other miscellaneous material particles, fines have received increased scrutiny due to their association with hydrogen sulfide (H2S)—a colorless gas that generates toxic emissions, odors and a risk for fires even in low concentrations.
In addition to H2S, concerns over toxic compounds polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have left recyclers stumped on how to utilize fines in a safe and environmentally friendly way.
EPA’s 2030 recycling strategy turns focus to circular economy and environmental justice
Read the full story at Waste Dive.
The long-awaited master plan focuses on steps to achieve a 50% recycling rate by 2030, but regulators promise it’s just “part one” of a larger effort to tackle climate change on a higher level.
Environmental News Bits 