This Indian city is using discarded wood and cargo packaging to beautify public parks
Noida, an industrial city right next to the Indian capital New Delhi, produces a lot of packaging waste and wooden pallets that are usually discarded and dumped. The government garbage collectors segregate discarded wooden packaging from other unusable items and sell it to small businesses to be reused or burned. However, thanks to the sustainable initiatives of the Noida authorities, this discarded material is...
Read More
Earth is greener than 20 years ago, thanks to China and India
According to data from NASA satellites, Earth is greener today than it was about two decades ago, and the two countries that have made this possible are ironically also the worst polluters in the world – China and India. This surprising new study shows that the two emerging countries with the world’s biggest populations are leading the improvement in greening on land. The effect stems mainly from ambitious...
Read More
Here are ‘vegan’ sneakers that are plant-based and biodegradable
Ever since Veja, a French shoe brand, was founded fourteen years ago, it has been trying to make shoe production more ethical and environment-friendly. And the company’s latest offering, the Campo sneaker, is an impressive proof of that. After working relentlessly for the past five years, Veja finally introduced these ‘vegan’ sneakers that are made of waxed canvas and are fully biodegradable....
Read More
This biomass power plant in UK starts CO2 capturing
The Drax biomass power plant in North Yorkshire, UK, is capturing carbon dioxide produced from wood burning for the first time ever and is even looking at ways to store and use the captured carbon. Officials say the scheme would capture about a tonne of CO2 each day. “This innovative technology has the potential to make huge strides in our efforts to tackle climate change while kick-starting an entirely...
Read More
Key West will ban coral-damaging sunscreen
Last year, environmentalists rejoiced when the state of Hawaii announced that it would ban the sale and use of sunscreens containing chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate – both of which are known to be harmful for coral reefs. Now Key West, Florida is following suit with a similar kind of ban. The measure was approved this week by the City Commission in a 6-to-1 vote, and will ban sales of sunscreens...
Read More
This Mexican company is putting discarded avocado pit to good use
A Mexican start up Biofase has come up with an interesting way to use vast quantities of avocado pits that are usually discarded by households and producers. The company transforms dense avocado seeds into disposable straws and cutlery that are totally biodegradable. The company’s founder, biochemical engineer Scott Munguia, figured out how to extract a molecular compound from a pit to obtain a biopolymer...
Read More
In another decade, Florida might become a world leader in production of solar power
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is one of the world’s largest producers of wind and solar energy and the company recently announced its ambitious ’30 by 30′ plan under which it aims to install more than 30 million solar panels in Florida by 2030, making it a world leader in the production of solar power. In addition to embarking upon one of the largest solar expansions in the country...
Read More
This small Indian shop has no shopkeeper, and the reason will melt your heart
In India, if someone told you that there is this shopkeeper-less shop where you can buy stuff and just drop the amount due in a box at the counter, you’d perhaps not believe them. However, such an establishment actually exists in the coastal village of Azhikode, Kerala. Opened on January 1, this ‘self-service’ shop is a pioneering initiative spearheaded by the Janashakti Charitable Trust, an NGO engaged in...
Read More
An unnamed hero comes to the rescue of homeless in Chicago by paying for their hotel rooms
As polar vortex hits the US midwest, the plummeting temperatures have particularly been a cause of concern for the homeless. In Chicago, the officials advised the homeless to stay in proper shelters and warming centers. However, a group of rough sleepers in the South Side stayed in their tented encampment, using propane tanks for heating. One of the tanks exploded after sitting too close to a space heater and...
Read More
This Indian village had a high suicide rate – until this teacher came along
In Needamangalam, a tiny village in Tiruvarur district of the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, an alarmingly high suicide rate had become a matter of grave concern. In fact, in a span of 15 years (from 1995 to 2011), 83 of the 92 deaths in the village were suicides. That is when Anand Thiyagarajan, a teacher at the local school, decided to do something about it. When Anand noticed the perpetually low parent...
Read More
