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The Plastic-Eating Enzymes Used in Recycling Clothing

Posted on August 5, 2023August 5, 2023 by dishanth

Plastic eating enzymes have interested scientists looking for solutions to increasing plastic waste. Enzymes are important to living things because, as proteins, they allow biochemical reactions to happen faster than they would otherwise. They aid in everything from breathing to digestion. Enzymes are even used in food processing, paper industries, and detergents.

Because enzymes are so diverse in their uses, scientists have engineered a new enzyme to help us with our plastic program. These super plastic eating enzymes can break down plastic in a few days. Scientists believe this is a natural adaptation by the bacteria and might be a response to the increase of plastic in the environment.

The most common type of plastic that plastic eating enzymes can recycle is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is a type of plastic used in many common products, such as bottles, food packaging, and textiles.

Other types of plastic that can be recycled by enzymes include:
High-density polyethylene (HDPE): found in plastic bottles and children’s toys.
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE): found in plastic bags, shrink wrap and food packaging.
Polypropylene (PP): found in disposable medical devices, textiles and auto parts.
Polystyrene/styrofoam (PS): found in takeout food containers, consumer electronics packaging and packing peanuts.

As the enzyme breaks down plastic, the bacteria produce MHETase, by which the enzymes break the pieces down further. After this process, other bacteria can break down the products into CO2 and water. Unlike other recycling methods, they can break down plastic into its original components, which can be reused to create new products. Enzymes require less energy than traditional methods, such as mechanical recycling. But maybe best of all is that they can be used to recycle plastic that is difficult or impossible to recycle using traditional methods such as those mixed with fabric or other dissimilar materials.

These plastic eating enzymes are now making an appearance in the fashion industry. The fashion industry uses tons of plastic-derived fibres in many clothing products. What’s worse is that very few of these materials are recycled today. Fashion brands have been known to turn to mechanical recycling and approaches using solvents to repurpose textiles for reuse. The challenge with these approaches is that they involve virgin plastics and require a lot of energy. Using plastic eating enzymes will break down plastic more efficiently. They will turn the materials into monomers that act like virgin-quality materials.

Athletic apparel company Lulelemon has teamed up with Australian startup Samara Eco to help them break down old textiles so they can be turned into new ones. Samara Eco has optimized plastic eating enzymes found in nature to efficiently recycle PET and polyester plastics at scale so they can be made into new, virgin-grade plastic.

The plastic waste is sourced and prepared for recycling by cold washing. The enzymes revert the plastic waste from its complex state into its original form. The plastics are then separated from any other additives like colourants. The recycled monomers can then be used in the re-manufacturing of brand-new plastics.

Using this technology, Lululemon hopes to spin used nylon and polyester blends from pre-owner, damaged or discarded apparel into a form that can be used in new collections. The partnership is Lululemon’s first-ever minority investment in a recycling company and Samsara’s first partnership with a clothing manufacturer. The recycling company hopes to make breakthroughs into the mainstream fashion industry as well as work with partners in other spaces to meet its goal of recycling 1.5 million tonnes of textiles by 2030.

This partnership is also part of Lululemon’s Be Planet goals and a step toward a circular ecosystem by 2030. Samsara Eco’s infinite recycling helps to close the clothing loop by using apparel waste to create new recycled materials over and over.

The two companies will create new recycled nylon and polyester made from apparel waste. They will be able to show that recycling textiles and repurposing materials is possible and can be done sustainably. This partnership might be the move we need to change the fashion industry for the future of our planet.

Source Happy Eco News

Milk & More to trial doorstep deliveries of refilled Coca-Cola

Posted on June 1, 2023 by dishanth

From next Monday (5 June), Milk & More customers in South London and some parts of the South will be able to buy one-litre bottles of Coke Zero which they will then be instructed to rinse and leave on their doorstep for collection.

The collected bottles will be sent off for washing and refilling; they can be refilled up to 20 times before they need to be recycled.

Milk & More already offers reusable glass bottles for several of its own-brand lines including milk, water, fruit juices and soft drinks. In total, it delivers 80 million refillable bottles each year already.

Milk & More’s chief executive Patrick Muller said: “Our customers want to be more sustainable, but they are busy people and need simple solutions to help them, so we are confident that they will welcome this trial as it offers them exactly the same service as they already have with Milk & More.”

The business is working with Europe’s largest Coca-Cola bottler, CCEP, on the new trial. It will run for a minimum of eight weeks and the hope is to reach 100,000 customers.

CCEP’s senior sustainability manager Jo Padwick said the trials will allow for the gathering of “valuable insights into how consumers respond to return-based trials in comparison to recycling”.

The Coca-Cola Company, globally, is notably aiming for 25% of its beverage sales to be housed in reusable or returnable packaging by 2030. It announced this target last year.

The Milk & More trials are being touted as the only way, at present, for UK-based customers to receive refillable Coca-Cola to their homes.

Pre-filled reusable Coca-Cola Company products have previously been offered via Tesco and Terracycle, under the Loop scheme. However, Tesco stopped offering Loop services last July.

Source edie

Researchers In Syria Have Discovered Concrete Recycling Method

Posted on May 2, 2023 by dishanth

War is hell. This sentiment has been repeated throughout human history as the devastation and destruction of countries and communities it causes is incalculable. Syria is a prime example of how civil or otherwise war can destroy a society and its infrastructure.

The war began in the context of high youth unemployment, drought, a one-party dictatorship that crushed basic human freedoms and dignity, and extreme wealth inequality. It was a surprise to no one that in 2011, insurgency by oppressed groups in the region began in earnest, spiralling Syria into a conflict that continues to this day with no end in sight. The devastation this war has brought has caused 5.7 million people to flee the country due to the risk that the war has brought to their lives.

The war destroyed 130,000 buildings, many of these the homes of everyday people and their businesses. All this destruction is horrible, and as if they hadn’t experienced enough of it, Syria fell victim to a 7.7 Richter earthquake in February, expanding the damage even further. However, despite all this horrific destruction, serious efforts have been made to expedite the recovery and reconstruction of this battered country. 70% of the 130,000 buildings destroyed were made of reinforced concrete. Scientists have discovered that they can use a significant amount of this rubble to create new concrete, recycling what is there and saving costs compared to importing new concrete.

The study led by Professor Abdulkader Rashwani proved that recycled concrete made from the rubble of old buildings doesn’t significantly impact the mechanical performance of the new concrete. This is the first time recycled concrete has been proven to do this, as other attempts in other countries have been made. Still, due to the disparity in methods of manufacture, mechanical performance hasn’t been guaranteed. When people return, they will want to rebuild the buildings that had been destroyed.

Transportation of raw materials is one of the highest costs, and aggregate being increasingly scarce makes recycling existing materials necessary. This recycled concrete is made by crushing the rubble, removing any steel or textiles, and washing the resulting aggregate. The fine material washed out is sand and cement, and it is also being studied to determine if it can be reused.

The material was then tested for tensile and compressive strength and how much water, co2, and chlorine were absorbed. The concrete passed all of the tests, and now the protocol stands as a model for other war-torn or earthquake-damaged countries to rebuild their cities and communities. In an interview with the Guardian, Professor Rashwani said, “It was our duty to help the people there, a lot of people needed our help, so we went there and forgot about all the bad consequences. We have now started to go to some local councils and help them to put some plans in place for the future. We can at least try to make this region safer and give people some hope.”

The costs of war and conflict between nations and nations between people are often horrendous and often borne by the innocent. Most of the buildings destroyed in the fighting were homes of families and individuals who had nothing to do with the war. Yet still, they are left without homes in their home countries. Having a plan with new methods to guarantee quick reconstruction of these buildings is crucial.

The added benefit of this research is that it is a model that can be applied in other places outside Syria. Syria is simply one country at war right now, and if the path of human history indicates what’s to come, it won’t be the last one either. This research is invaluable for the everyday people ravaged by conflict or disaster, now and in the future.

Source Happy Eco News

Apple aims for 100% recycled cobalt in batteries by 2025

Posted on April 18, 2023April 21, 2023 by dishanth

Apple has unveiled plans to increase the use of recycled materials in its products, with a new target of using 100% recycled cobalt in all Apple-designed batteries by 2025.

The tech giant will also aim to use entirely recycled rare earth elements in magnets for its devices and 100% recycled tin soldering and gold plating in all Apple-designed printed circuit boards by the same year.

“Every day, Apple is innovating to make technology that enriches people’s lives, while protecting the planet we all share,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “From the recycled materials in our products, to the clean energy that powers our operations, our environmental work is integral to everything we make and to who we are. So we’ll keep pressing forward in the belief that great technology should be great for our users, and for the environment.”

Reducing Apple’s carbon footprint

The announcement is part of Apple’s broader efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and become more environmentally friendly.

In 2022, the company significantly expanded its use of recycled metals, with over two-thirds of all aluminium, nearly three-quarters of all rare earth materials, and more than 95% of all tungsten in Apple products sourced from 100% recycled material.

Apple’s rapid progress in this area brings the company closer to its ultimate goal of making all products with only recycled and renewable materials and advances its aim to achieve carbon neutrality for every product by 2030.

“Our ambition to one day use 100% recycled and renewable materials in our products works hand in hand with Apple 2030: our goal to achieve carbon neutral products by 2030,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. “We’re working toward both goals with urgency and advancing innovation across our entire industry in the process.”

If Apple is able to achieve this goal, it will show major steps towards achieving a more sustainable future for the company.

Source Sustainability

Turning Ocean Legacy Plastic into Useful Items

Posted on March 30, 2023March 30, 2023 by dishanth

Plastic has made a significant impact on our lives; almost everything we use on a day-to-day basis is made out of plastic. And while some of these items can be recycled, most cannot due to the nature of many plastics. As a result, they end up in our landfills and our oceans. The rate of plastic entering our oceans is rapid and is predicted to rise 2.6 times by 2040 if it is not adequately monitored.

But what will happen to the legacy ocean plastic already in the oceans? One non-profit, the Ocean Legacy Foundation, has created a solution that uses the plastic that is recovered from ocean and beach cleanups and gives it an economic value that stimulates the plastic circular economy. The organization has created the first commercially available plastic pellet in North America called Ocean Legacy Plastic.

The pellet is made from 100% post-consumer plastics from recovered marine gear, including buoys, fishing ropes, oyster trays and other marine products. The sourced plastic materials are found along the Pacific Coast through Ocean Legacy depots, shoreline cleanups, and ocean recovery expeditions. All the materials collected are cleaned, segregated and processed using their own technology to ensure that the resins are high-quality for direct manufacturing applications.

Ocean Legacy Plastic Foundation has recently partnered with Full Circle Plastics from Nobelford, Alberta, to give these plastic items a new life and value. The plastic pellets are being used in commercial, industrial and residential construction. They are replacing traditional lumber in applications such as planter boxes, agriculture fence posts, outdoor decking construction, and a selection of outdoor furniture. Full Circle Plastics’ products require no maintenance, are waterproof, don’t rot and, importantly, keep plastic out of the environment, landfills and waterways.

The organization has also partnered with Origami Paddler to make paddleboards and kayaks, LUSH to make black product pots and containers, Whistler Performance Lubricants to make bio-based lubricant recyclable containers, and will soon see their plastic in certain models of Tideman Boats. Ocean Legacy Foundation also prides itself on the tracking and traceability of its plastics. Everything can be traced back to their shore cleanups, fishing and aquaculture operations and the ocean-recovered plastic waste.

The Ocean Legacy Plastic Foundation is committed to teaching people about the issues surrounding pollution in the water and helping them develop solutions. They combine their best-practice plastic management strategies with the needs of communities and the planet’s health. They advocate for better programs and practices around the world. They are also committed to helping countries acquire adequate infrastructure to manage waste. And finally, they are committed to action-based engagement, which involves cleaning up the oceans and restoring environments.

This non-profit is taking the necessary steps to help us get ocean legacy plastic out of the oceans and give unwanted items a new life. While the ultimate solution must be to avoid throwing plastic into the oceans, these are important tactics for cleaning up the water and contributing to a plastic circular economy.

Source Happy Eco News

What does the future hold for sustainable packaging?

Posted on February 18, 2022 by dishanth

It was restrictions on shipping furniture to Europe using Styrofoam — a lightweight plastic foam that is notoriously bad for the environment — that inspired Alvin Lim to pivot to sustainable packaging in the mid-2000s.

“It was 2005, a time when outsourcing was sexy. I had multiple businesses, and one of them was producing furniture for the gaming industry. I was told that I couldn’t use Styrofoam to ship to Europe, or there would be tariffs. That led me to explore alternatives,” says the Singaporean entrepreneur, who went on to launch RyPax, a company that makes recyclable, biodegradable moulded fibre packaging from a blend of bamboo and sugarcane.

His first big move was to convert the Napa Valley wine industry from Styrofoam to moulded fibre in the United States. At the height of the wine club craze, RyPax shipped 67 40-feet high containers of wine shippers to wine producers. “The wine industry wanted to get out of Styrofoam — they never liked it. We gave them a classy, environmentally-friendly alternative,” says Lim.

The real breakthrough for his business came at Pack Expo, a packaging convention in Las Vegas. “We attracted a lot of interest, but there was one gentleman who spent 15 minutes at our booth inspecting our products. I was busy with another customer, so he slid his card on our desk, said ‘call me next week’ and walked away,” recalls Lim.

That interested customer would ultimately become RyPax’s flagship client.

A large, well-known consumer electronics brand known for its sleek design and intuitive products became a mirror image of RyPax’s own culture and approach to sustainability. Just as RyPax helped the client move out of plastic and into moulded fibre, the client inspired RyPax to switch to renewable energy to power its operations. As well as investing US$5 million to put solar panels on the roofs of its factories, RyPax has invested US$1 million in a wastewater system.

In this interview, Lim talks about innovation in packaging design, the weak links in the circular economy in Asia, and what will persuade consumers to pay more for sustainable packaging.

Which innovations in sustainable packaging design excite you the most at the moment?

A good example is a moulded fibre sleeve for bottles. Our strategic partner, James Cropper, produces a luxurious champagne bottle sleeve that is 100 per cent sustainable. The design reduces the carbon footprint of the packaging; you save on space, it’s lighter, you use less material, and you don’t need an expensive exterior box.

A moulded fibre champagne bottle cover by James Cropper. it’s lighter and uses less material. Image: James Cropper

Another example is the paper drinking bottle. A competitor has produced one using two pieces of paper stuck together with a lot of hot glue (so it’s really hard to separate) over a plastic lining.

There are challenges with paper bottles too. Is it commercially viable and ready for mass production? RyPax has taken up the challenge to address these issues. We have broken it down in phases. Firstly, we are working on a bladder system which uses either an aluminum or a thin plastic bottle that can be easily removed. We know that this is a not a viable long-term option, and so the next step that we are taking is to create a mono-material for the bottle body with a sustainable coating to hold the liquid in. Lastly, our company is working towards a goal of eliminating plastics completely, which spurred us to innovate a moulded fibre screw-top option that would be revolutionary.

There are good ideas emerging in the industry, but a key issue is shared knowledge. Yes, corporate profits and competitor advantage are important, but the sooner good ideas can be shared the better. We need to look at the bigger picture. Once paper bottles a feasible at scale, a huge amount of plastic can be removed from the system.

Will sustainable packaging always be more expensive than single-use plastic packaging?

There is an inherent difference in properties between plastics and sustainable materials harvested from nature. As such, in certain applications, sustainable materials are still more expensive than plastics. However, technology and advancement in machinery are fast evolving, resulting in cost efficiencies for mass-produced sustainable materials and packaging.

Furthermore, governments across the globe are introducing tariffs on plastic use, which in turn will spur more companies to convert to a more sustainable approach, that may result in an overall cost reductions.

Most sustainable materials are harvested from nature, and do not have the properties of plastics or metals. As such, in certain applications, sustainable materials are still more expensive than plastic. But technology is fast evolving, and may result in cost reductions for mass-produced sustainable materials. And if tariffs are placed on plastic, as a way to control plastic pollution, that could result in companies switching to more sustainable materials.

Recycled plastic is always going to be more expensive than virgin plastic, because of the cost of retrieving, processing and recycling it. In some applications, recycled paper may be more expensive than recycled plastic. Price parity may come when sustainable materials can scale, or when customers are willing to accept changes in design, because it’s more environmentally friendly.

What will persuade people to pay more for sustainable packaging?

It starts with education. If consumers are more aware of the damage that plastics cause the planet, they would be more inclined to help pay the cost of creating a circular economy.

Do you think that consumers are getting over the taboo of buying products made of recycled materials?

I think the big brands like Nike and Adidas are forcing the issue by using recycled material in their packaging and products. The intention is for it to look recycled with its mashed up designs speckled in various colours. Our partner, James Cropper, is upcycling takeaway coffee cups into luxury packaging, recycled bags and greetings cards. Now, there’s a big push for ocean plastic. Logitech has just announced an ocean plastic optical computer mouse. Once companies go down that route and recycled content becomes more accepted, then it’s just a matter of aesthetics. Some companies want a rough, unfinished, more natural look, some want a more premium look and feel. There is an increase in consumer demand for sustainable packaging or products and they are willing to pay for it.

Which plastic products can be replaced with moulded fibre?

Another product that needs a design overhaul is clothes hangers. Why must they be made of plastic? RyPax is working on a moulded fibre clothes hanger to further eliminate single use plastics. Another is cosmetics, which are a major cause of single-use plastic pollution. Some components of lipsticks, such as the twist mechanism may need to remain plastic, but why can’t the rest be moulded fibre?

Clothes hangers made from moulded fibre. Image: RyPax

The packaging industry is growing rapidly, but is the waste management instructure in Asia developed enough to cope with this growth and bring about a circular economy?

No. It’s a big problem, which was laid bare when China stopped accepting waste material imports [in 2017]. That sent the price of raw materials through the roof. Recycled material prices shot up too. Economies of a certain size and maturity were able to cope, because they had recycled waste streams already in place. But most countries were unprepared, and they needed to look to other countries to process their waste. Take Singapore, for example. It lacks the infrastructure and industry to process recycled materials. So it was exported to countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia. These countries are not set up to process extra waste.

What is holding back the circular economy in Asia?

Infrastructure needs to change, and that will take time, investment and regulatory support. For example, for Singapore to develop a circular economy, it needs consumer buy-in, corporate willingness, and government support for industries that are moving towards more sustainable solutions.

Source Eco Business

Panasonic will begin using recycled battery components from Redwood materials this year

Posted on January 14, 2022 by dishanth

Panasonic will begin using copper from recycled batteries supplied by Redwood Materials to manufacture new lithium-ion batteries at its factory in Nevada later this year. According to TechCrunch, the first recycled material from Redwood will be copper foil, a vital component of the anode side of a battery cell. The anode is typically made of copper foil coated with graphite. Redwood will begin producing the copper foil in the first half of 2022 and Panasonic will start using it to make new lithium-ion cells by the end of the year.

Last September, Redwood Materials announced plans to produce critical battery materials in the United States. It is building a $2 billion factory that will produce cathodes and anode foils with a projected annual volume of 100 gigawatt-hours worth of materials by 2025. That’s enough batteries made from recycled materials to power 1,000,000 electric cars.

“Our work together to establish a domestic circular supply chain for batteries is an important step in realizing the full opportunity that EVs have to shape a much more sustainable world,” said Allan Swan, president of Panasonic Energy of North America during last September’s presentation.

The announcement marks Panasonic’s push to use more recycled materials, which in turn helps it reduce the amount of newly mined raw materials it must rely on. It also shows how Redwood continues to grow its business.

Redwood Materials was founded by former Tesla CTO JB Straubel in 2017 with the mission of creating a circular supply chain. Have you ever heard of a similar effort to take old infernal combustion engines, melting them down, and using recycled iron, steel, and aluminum to make new engine blocks, camshafts, crankshafts, pistons, cylinders, and connecting rods? No, you bet your sweet bippy you haven’t.

Redwood Materials recycles scrap from battery cell production as well as batteries from cellphones, laptop computers, power tools, power banks, scooters, and electric bicycles. It extracts materials like cobalt, nickel, and lithium, which it supplies back to Panasonic and other customers to make new cells. Redwood says it is also working with Amazon and AESC Envision in Tennessee. The objective is to create a closed loop system that will ultimately help reduce the cost of batteries and offset the need for mining.

Anti-EV advocates like to scream at the top of their lungs that making batteries for electric vehicles will create lots of pollution, conveniently ignoring the massive pollution caused for the past 100+ years by the fossil fuel industry. Hopefully, news of successful battery recycling operations like Redwood Materials and Li-Cycle will stop their constant yapping.

Stanford researchers are working on ways to inject new life into the lithium used in today’s batteries. The truth of the matter is that electric cars are sparking a whole new interest in a circular economy, something that was never possible when gasoline and diesel engines ruled the roads. That is excellent news for any humans who think it would be nice to keep the Earth habitable for future generations.

Source CleanTechnica