The EU’s Plan to Combat Plastic Waste

The European Parliament voted for a complete ban on a range of single-use plastic waste across the union in a bid to stop pollution of the oceans. The proposal also called for a reduction in single-use plastic waste for food and drink containers, including plastic cups.

The European Parliament voted for a complete ban on a range of single-use plastic waste across the union in a bid to stop pollution of the oceans. The proposal also called for a reduction in single-use plastic waste for food and drink containers, including plastic cups. The new law, overwhelmingly backed by the European Parliament asserts 10 single-use plastic products with readily available alternatives will be banned by 2021. The EU states and all residing within them are now obligated...
Read more
   

Recycling’s Uncertain Future: China’s Ban On Waste I...

China has long been treated as our planet’s repository for plastic waste. The nation has accepted 45% of the world's total plastic recycling since reporting to the United Nations Comtrade Database began in 1992.

China has long been treated as our planet’s repository for plastic waste. The nation has accepted 45% of the world’s total plastic recycling since reporting to the United Nations Comtrade Database began in 1992. But alongside a new push to protect the environment, China no longer wants to be the world’s trash can, or even its recycle bin. China passed their “National Sword” policy banning plastic waste from being imported beginning in January 2018, signaling to the rest of the...
Read more
   

California Plastic Laws: What You Need To Know

Even before plastic straw bans grew trendy, California was at the forefront of using less plastic and promoting more sustainable living. California pioneered a statewide ban on plastics beginning in 2016, when the state became the first in the U.S. to ban most stores from providing customers with single-use plastic bags, following a successful referendum. [...]

Even before plastic straw bans grew trendy, California was at the forefront of using less plastic and promoting more sustainable living. California pioneered a statewide ban on plastics beginning in 2016, when the state became the first in the U.S. to ban most stores from providing customers with single-use plastic bags, following a successful referendum. But the statewide straw ban is the first-of-its-kind. Though cities across the country—and the world—have adopted plastic straw bans, California is the first U.S. state...
Read more
   

Helping Honey: The Logistics of Saving Bees

Everyone needs food. When getting it is as simple as a short drive down to the supermarket, it’s easy to forget that starvation is a very real problem in the world, and it won’t take much to bring it to our doorstep. Enter bees. With their integral role in agriculture, we need to take an [...]

Everyone needs food. When getting it is as simple as a short drive down to the supermarket, it’s easy to forget that starvation is a very real problem in the world, and it won’t take much to bring it to our doorstep. Enter bees. With their integral role in agriculture, we need to take an active role in their survival, because it is inextricably tied to ours. The value of the honey bee to agriculture can’t be overstated. According to...
Read more
   

Could Upgrading Our Railroads Help Solve Climate Cha...

America’s iconic transcontinental railroad system is symbolic of our hard work and innovation. Since its inception, it brought settlement to the frontier and enabled us to transport goods and passengers between our coasts with unheard of speed. Today, it presents another opportunity to revolutionize American transportation. As we search for ways to take large trucks off [...]

America’s iconic transcontinental railroad system is symbolic of our hard work and innovation. Since its inception, it brought settlement to the frontier and enabled us to transport goods and passengers between our coasts with unheard of speed. Today, it presents another opportunity to revolutionize American transportation. As we search for ways to take large trucks off the road and reduce our carbon emissions, electrifying our railways and renewing our commitment to shipping by train might be just the ticket. According to the...
Read more
   

Water-Gen Wicks Clean Drinking Water Straight from t...

Dehumidifiers have been around for years, sucking excess moisture from the air and leaving it to collect in bins we all too often dump out. Water-Gen, an Israeli water tech company, is adapting that same principle for practice use, wicking ambient moisture and condensing it into pure drinking water for those who need it most. [...]

Dehumidifiers have been around for years, sucking excess moisture from the air and leaving it to collect in bins we all too often dump out. Water-Gen, an Israeli water tech company, is adapting that same principle for practice use, wicking ambient moisture and condensing it into pure drinking water for those who need it most. Even in the 21st century, water insecurity (that is, access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation services) is still a major issue. According to...
Read more
   

Manufacturing Enzymes to Save World from Climate Change

Trying to stop climate change is a tough challenge to overcome. With carbon dioxide levels running amok since the Industrial Revolution almost two centuries ago, it’ll be difficult to undo that damage in a shorter amount of time. Luckily, humanity has been gifted with intelligence and adaptability where our scientists seek to solve these problems [...]

Trying to stop climate change is a tough challenge to overcome. With carbon dioxide levels running amok since the Industrial Revolution almost two centuries ago, it’ll be difficult to undo that damage in a shorter amount of time. Luckily, humanity has been gifted with intelligence and adaptability where our scientists seek to solve these problems — artificial or otherwise. One such solution is a rather new one: finding enzymes that’ll speed up the photosynthetic process in plants beyond their natural...
Read more
   

The Truth Behind Sweden’s Recycling Program

Since Huffington Post ran an article two years ago on Sweden’s 99 percent efficient recycling program, many environmentalists and green energy advocates have used them as an example of sound energy and waste management. While the country boasts that it needs to import garbage from its neighbors in order to keep its own plants running, [...]

Since Huffington Post ran an article two years ago on Sweden’s 99 percent efficient recycling program, many environmentalists and green energy advocates have used them as an example of sound energy and waste management. While the country boasts that it needs to import garbage from its neighbors in order to keep its own plants running, things aren’t always as great as they’re made out to be. Before delving deeper into this analysis of Sweden’s recycling program, it’s important to note...
Read more