The quest to keep plastic out of landfills and simultaneously satisfy the needs of the food industry is filled with obstacles. The quest to keep plastic out of landfills and simultaneously satisfy the needs of the food industry is filled with obstacles. A biodegradable replacement for petroleum-based products has to meet all sorts of standards and, so far, attempts at viable replacements from renewable sources have faced limited success due to processing and economic constraints. Among the obstacles, products to date have been too brittle for food packaging. But new research from The Ohio State University has shown that combining natural rubber with bioplastic in a novel way results in a much stronger replacement for plastic, one that is already capturing the interest of companies looking to shrink their environmental footprints. Almost all plastics – about 90 percent – are petroleum-based and are not biodegradable, a major environmental concern. Source: Ohio State University Women of Green is TURNING UP THE VOLUME of the feminine voice on the planet in order to create the world we know is possible
Continue reading... →The world is at risk of losing many species on the verge of extension, with dwindling numbers and no end to the process in sight. A journal article by 13 scientists from eight different countries says the world is now in the sixth mass extinction of plants and animals. Other scientists, however, feel that calling the current age a mass extension is a bit dramatic. While scientists agree humans damage the earth and changes should occur to protect species on the edge of extinction and our natural environment, the situation may not be as dire as predicted. As with most things, the truth likely lies somewhere in the middle. One thing everyone agrees on is that some species are in danger of no longer existing. The list grows and changes from year to year, but here are five animals currently on the verge of extinction that might surprise you. 1. Giraffes In 2016, giraffes moved onto the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s “Red List of Threatened Species” report into the vulnerable category. In the 1980s, there were 155,000 giraffes in Africa. Today, the number is under 100,000 — a reduction of around 40 percent. Some ways to protect this […]
Continue reading... →The beauty and cosmetics industry is one of the biggest in the county. By 2023, it is expected to reach more than $805 billion. Such a big industry is constantly in the eyes of consumers, and those consumers are starting to demand more transparency from their beauty products.
Continue reading... →Floating trash collector will try to scoop up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Continue reading... →In this exclusive interview, Angie Chang reflects on her journey to become one of Silicon Valley’s most persuasive and powerful voices. She shares the early decisions that built her influence brick-by-brick, techniques to use a strong personal brand to fuel a cause or a company, and her go-to tactics for rallying individuals around something bigger than themselves.
Continue reading... →Starbucks announced on Monday it plans to eliminate plastic straws from its 28,000 stores worldwide by 2020.
Continue reading... →California will require that new homes include their own solar panels beginning in 2020, state officials announced Wednesday in the latest step to position the state as the leader in clean energy.
Continue reading... →What does it mean to do something “like a girl”?
A popular ad from Always tried to answer that question by asking subjects to demonstrate running, fighting, and throwing “like a girl.” Older subjects put on a weak performance, but when young girls were given the same instructions, they ran, threw, and fought as hard as they could. The ad asked, “When did doing something ‘like a girl’ become an insult?”
Continue reading... →It’s no secret we affect the world around us in both positive and negative ways. One thing a lot of people don’t think about is soil erosion — the tendency of soil to wash away or eroded by water. How do human activities contribute to soil erosion and what can we do to reduce our impact?
Continue reading... →We know. Global warming is daunting. So here’s a place to start: 17 often-asked questions with some straightforward answers.
Continue reading... →