Tag

Circular Economy

All articles tagged with #circular economy

Coffee Grounds Turned into Fire Logs: Bio-bean’s Circular-Burn Venture That Didn’t Last
business1 month ago

Coffee Grounds Turned into Fire Logs: Bio-bean’s Circular-Burn Venture That Didn’t Last

Bio-bean turned used coffee grounds into Coffee Logs, marketing them as burning 20% hotter and longer than kiln-dried wood and claiming ~80% lower emissions vs landfill. Independent testers found moisture around 10% and burn performance generally on par with kiln-dried wood, with the 20% hotter claim appearing marketing-driven. The venture struggled financially after a 2023 plant fire and rising costs, went into administration, and its branded logs stopped production after assets were sold to Envar Composting; remaining stock is aging. Still, the idea of diverting waste coffee grounds into fuel illustrates a circular-economy approach, even if the product didn’t scale.

From Atacama's clothing dumps to building insulation: a small factory wrestles with a global textile spill
environment1 month ago

From Atacama's clothing dumps to building insulation: a small factory wrestles with a global textile spill

In Chile’s Atacama Desert, vast piles of unsold and secondhand clothing dumped from abroad persist because most fabrics are synthetic and non-biodegradable; only about 1% is recycled while fires and toxic smoke from dumps are common. A tiny Alto Hospicio factory, EcoFibra, turns shredded textile waste into insulation panels for affordable housing, recapturing value from waste, but the scale of imports and dumping far exceeds what the plant can process, underscoring the need for upstream changes in how disposal material is shipped and managed.

Local waste, thriving soil: Wales' community composters close the loop
environment2 months ago

Local waste, thriving soil: Wales' community composters close the loop

Machynlleth-based Criw Compostio collects food waste and other waste streams from cafes and local sources, processes it locally into peat-free compost using specialized hot composters, and distributes it back to local growers on a pay-what-you-feel basis within a roughly 20-mile radius. The project supports a circular local food system, reduces transport, runs a composting school to help others start similar schemes, and highlights the social benefits of keeping waste as a valuable resource within the community.

EU ban on destroying unsold goods tightens luxury brands' inventories
business2 months ago

EU ban on destroying unsold goods tightens luxury brands' inventories

From July, EU rules bar the destruction of unsold fashion items, forcing luxury groups to rethink stock and pricing since destruction has been a key scarcity tool. Brands such as Chanel, Prada, LVMH and Inditex face higher inventory costs or expanded discount channels, and must balance donation and repair options with tighter production. The changes could boost real-time inventory planning, drive new resale pathways, and increase demand for smarter stock management while preserving brand value.

From Fallen Trees to Finished Spaces: Kingston Upcycles Timber
design7 months ago

From Fallen Trees to Finished Spaces: Kingston Upcycles Timber

New York Heartwoods founder Megan Offner salvages trees slated for a Kingston townhouse project, milling them into about 8,000 linear feet of boards used as baseboards, built-in shelves and window trim in the new apartments. The upcycled wood costs roughly 25% more than premilled lumber, but the developer plans to market the trees’ story as a sustainability selling point.

Donated clothes reveal a hidden waste crisis and a call to rethink consumption
environment7 months ago

Donated clothes reveal a hidden waste crisis and a call to rethink consumption

Donating clothes may feel virtuous, but charities are overwhelmed, many garments are unsellable or shipped abroad, and global textile waste remains a problem. A Nature Cities study across nine wealthy cities shows oversupply and overconsumption driving tens of millions of tons of waste, worsened by fast-fashion. The piece advocates sufficiency—buying less and using what we own longer—plus city-led reforms for local collection, repair, and reuse, and urges individuals to slow consumption and support thrift stores and clothing swaps.

Sunflower By-Product Elevates Bread Nutrition and Sustainability
science7 months ago

Sunflower By-Product Elevates Bread Nutrition and Sustainability

Researchers found that partially defatted sunflower seed flour, a by-product of sunflower oil production, can replace 10%–60% of wheat flour in bread, significantly raising protein and fiber (up to 27.16% protein) and antioxidant levels, while also inhibiting α-amylase and pancreatic lipase; however, higher substitution can make loaves denser, though using an aqueous extract of the flour helped preserve texture, presenting a promising, cost-effective way to valorize a waste product and support a circular economy.

The Resurgence of Vintage Audio: Why Old Tech is New Again
technology1 year ago

The Resurgence of Vintage Audio: Why Old Tech is New Again

Vintage audio equipment is experiencing a resurgence as people seek alternatives to digital music, driven by nostalgia and a desire for a more personal experience. Shops like Mars Tapes in Manchester are thriving, selling cassette tapes and players to a predominantly young audience. The trend is part of a broader movement towards repairing and restoring old audio gear, with a significant increase in demand for repair services. This shift supports a circular economy by keeping products in use longer, as seen in the growing market for refurbished tech and repair services.

"Eggshell Waste: A New Source for Rare Earth Element Recovery in Green Energy"
science-and-technology2 years ago

"Eggshell Waste: A New Source for Rare Earth Element Recovery in Green Energy"

Researchers from Trinity College Dublin and iCRAG have discovered that eggshell waste can be used to recover rare earth elements (REEs) from water, offering an eco-friendly and low-cost method for extracting these critical materials needed for green energy technologies. The study, published in ACS Omega, highlights how calcium carbonate in eggshells can absorb and separate REEs, potentially transforming waste into a valuable resource and supporting sustainable practices.

"Sunlight and Copper Catalysts Transform CO2 into Sustainable Fuel"
science-and-technology2 years ago

"Sunlight and Copper Catalysts Transform CO2 into Sustainable Fuel"

Scientists have developed a method using copper atoms to convert CO2 into sustainable fuel, such as methanol, which can replace fossil fuels. This approach aims to address the build-up of CO2 in the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming and climate change, by creating a circular economy around carbon-based fuels.

Revolutionary Recycling Method Eliminates Polyethylene Waste
environment-science2 years ago

Revolutionary Recycling Method Eliminates Polyethylene Waste

Researchers at the University of Adelaide have developed a method to convert polyethylene waste into valuable chemicals using light-driven photocatalysis and solar energy, offering a sustainable solution to plastic pollution and contributing to a circular economy. The process upcycles polyethylene plastic waste into ethylene and propionic acid with high selectivity using atomically dispersed metal catalysts, harnessing renewable solar energy and addressing contemporary environmental and energy challenges. This innovative approach could revolutionize waste management and chemical manufacturing while reducing plastic pollution.

"Republic Services Unveils Revolutionary $75M Plastics Recycling Facility in Las Vegas"
environment2 years ago

"Republic Services Unveils Revolutionary $75M Plastics Recycling Facility in Las Vegas"

Republic Services has opened a unique $75 million recycling plastics facility in Las Vegas, aiming to reduce plastic waste in landfills. The facility, called the Polymer Center, will convert water bottles into flakes and use them to create new plastic bottles, extending their lifecycle. It is expected to produce over 100 million pounds of recycled plastics annually and will be the first of its kind in North America. The plant is set to be operational by January 2024 and will have a significant economic impact on the northeast valley of Las Vegas. Coca-Cola will be the facility's first customer, committed to using 50% recycled plastics in its packaging by 2030.

"Fruit Peel Transformed: Italian Designers Craft Furniture Masterpieces"
environment2 years ago

"Fruit Peel Transformed: Italian Designers Craft Furniture Masterpieces"

Milan-based company Krill Design is creating furniture products made from a patented plastic-like biomaterial named Rekrill, which is fully organic, biodegradable, and can be reused and recycled. Using fruit peel, orange seeds, and coffee ground waste collected from businesses in Italy, Krill's designs include bookends, stools, clocks, bowls, and lamps. The company aims to reduce waste and carbon emissions by repurposing food waste that would otherwise be incinerated or dumped in landfills. While Rekrill is more expensive than common plastic, Krill hopes that as awareness of the environmental impact of unsustainable plastics grows, the material will become more widely used.