New Zealand to ban most single-use plastics by 2025
The new measure builds on the country’s 2019 decision to phase-out plastic bags and includes everything from disposable cutlery to ear buds and fruit labels, The Guardian reported.
Circular economy & zero waste
Oregon becomes third state in U.S. to legalize human composting
The bill will legalize what’s known as natural organic reduction, or what some refer to as human composting. The law goes into effect July 1, 2022.
The state of New York prohibits single-use mini toiletry bottles in hotels
The new law means that hotels will be required to switch to larger, refillable dispensers. This will lead to a reduction in plastic bottles and unused liquids that are discarded.
World’s first laundry detergent made from industrial carbon emissions launched by Unilever
Unilever has partnered with LanzaTech and India Glycols to produce a laundry soap made from industrial carbon emissions—instead of from fossil-fuels.
Ugandan startup turns banana waste into eco-friendly products
The company turns banana tree pseudostems into long, leathery fibers that are hung to dry before being processed and turned into environmentally friendly products like carpets, textiles, and biodegradable hair extensions.
World-first printable transistor is fully recyclable with water and sound
Engineers at Duke University have developed the world’s first fully recyclable printed electronics, demonstrated in the form of a transistor that can be reduced to its original building blocks with the help of baths and sound waves.
Scientists create world’s first truly biodegradable single-use plastic
Scientists at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley discovered that water or soil composts converted the enzyme-embedded plastic into its building blocks and eliminated microplastics in a few weeks.
Tesco removed one billion pieces of plastic from across its stores in 2020
Last year, Tesco met with 1,500 suppliers to let them know that the company reserves the right to no longer stock products that use excessive packaging or hard to recycle materials.
Lia is the world’s first flushable, biodegradable pregnancy test
The plastic-free design is made from the same plant fibers used in toilet paper and because it weighs as much as four squares of two-ply toilet paper, it can be safely flushed after use for total privacy.
Japanese knife maker Kai develops the world’s first disposable paper razor
Designed with eco-friendliness in mind, the disposable razor uses paper throughout its body and metal for the blade — reducing plastic by 98 percent compared to conventional razors.