Robots Dropped in Ocean to Detect and Clean Oil!

When you think of the millions spent on the BP oil spill (largest oil spill  in U.S. history and second-largest in world history) just two years ago, and the millions of marine life and 11 people killed, you can't help but wonder if anything is happening to prevent this from ever occurring again. 

Credit: GreenPeace/http://www.danielbeltra.com/

Fear not! Scientists have recently developed both a robotic fish that can detect pollution in the ocean and a robot that can be dropped from a helicopter to clean up the pollution/oil spills.

The robotic fish was developed by European scientists to improve pollution monitoring, with the goal of reducing the time it takes for detection of a pollutant from weeks to seconds. Note that this robotic fish could also be used for under water national security, aquariums, diver monitoring and search or rescue efforts.

The robotics are designed in the shape of fish, 1.5 meters (5 feet) long and cost a staggering $31,600 (20,000 pounds) each and are made to sim like real fish would. Indeed, the fish swim independently, can co-ordinate with each other and transmit their readings back to a shore station up to a 1 km away!!  Although the cost is very high, when you consider the dollars spent on relief efforts for cleaning up so many horrific oil spills over in the past, not to mention the millions given to families who lost jobs, it seems like pennies. Note that these robotic fish are also fitted with sensors to pick up pollutants leaking from ships or undersea pipelines. 

Yanko Robots Designed to Clean up Oil and Filter Water Back into Ocean
Source: http://www.yankodesign.com/2012/05/21/sea-cleaning-drone/

Now that we have sorted out how to find the pollutant, how do we clean it up? There is a very neat concept by Yanko Design that just came out which consists of a small robot that can swim/propel itself and has a   built in pump to separate out water from oil. It also has a compartment with bacteria that can degrade oil! The cleverest part is an "acoustic wave device" that emits high-frequency sound waves designed to keep animals at bay, so they don't join the ranks of the oil-soaked creatures that rarely survive.

source: http://www.yankodesign.com/2012/05/21/sea-cleaning-drone/

Starbucks Talks Sustainability

When you go to Starbucks, do you recycle the lid or cup? I didn't think so. 

Despite a somewhat unmatchable brand loyalty in the coffee space, Starbucks still takes heat due to the potential negative environmental impact of its disposable cups. 

Starbucks is now rising up and taking action to become more sustainable. Recently, they rolled out plastic cups for cold beverages that are produced with polypropylene cups and lids, and launching new lightweight plastic cups to reduce resin consumption. In addition, Starbucks has a goal of making 100% of its cups reusable or recyclable by 2015.

In an attempt to find a solution to this recycling issue, Starbucks has launched an in-store recycling program at selected stores.While the program has hit some hiccups along the way, the company said it is committed to eventually offering in-store recycling on a wide scale.

Currently, Starbucks is working with ConAgra Foods to make their coffee cups recyclable. What is preventing this from happening is the non-recylcable polymer adhered onto the inside of their cups to prevent leak. 

Conagra Foods are different in that they use post-industrial recycled polylactic acid and convert it into shrink film packaging materials (i.e. the inside lining of Starbucks coffee cups). The company's PLA shrink film contains more than 50% post-industrial recycled material, and it uses this material for tamper-evident seals on some of ConAgra Foods' table spreads. However, the CEO of Conagra Foods still recognizes the limitation of PLA based bio-plastics and their researchers are working hard to make sure no plastic/contamination occurs within the cups with PLA shrink film adhered to them (i.e. increased thermal stability). Below is a quote that expresses the CEO's concerns more thoroughly...

 "We know there are challenges with PLA and how it can impact the bottle-to-bottle recycling strategy," she said. "But we have strict restrictions on PLA and we make sure it doesn't stay with the package because we don't want potential contamination."

By collaborating with its suppliers, Conagra has been able to convert 260,000 pounds of resin from non-renewable resources (PVC and PET g) to PLA (plastic derived from starch). It will be exciting to learn more about what Conagra can do for food companies to reduce their environmental waste and make their materials more sustainable.

Packaging Being Grown!

Just when you think you have seen it all, you may have to guess again. A company named Ecovative has just come out with a packaging material made from mushrooms...yes, mushrooms.

Source: http://www.ecovativedesign.com

According to their website, they don’t manufacture these materials, we grow them. Indeed, Ecovative claims to "grow the plastic from agricultural byproducts and mycelium- a fungal network of threadlike cells. It’s like the “roots” of mushrooms. In 5 – 7 days, in the dark, with no watering, and no petrochemical inputs, the mycelium digests the agricultural byproducts, binding them into a beautiful structural material. The mycelium acts like a natural, self assembling glue." This seems like an interesting concept, but I am not sure how sustainable it is (i.e. how many mushrooms are required for one packaging material?). What I do like though is that little energy is required for the system's (i.e. produced in the dark). However, more information is necessary (i.e. life cycle analysis) for a sound opinion on the material. For instance, often mushrooms are grown in faecal matter and have to be cleaned prior to shipping/use, and I am sure the mycelium extraction process is no different

Mycelium inside Biocomposite (i.e. plastic foaming agent)
Source: http://www.ecovativedesign.com/about-our-materials/core-tech/

So how do they differ from traditional bio-plastics? Well, "he mycelium is able to grow on agricultural byproducts like plant stalks and seed husks. Ecovative says that they can use a broad range of feedstocks as well to create diverse material properties, and tune the specifications for the application... "We can tweak the density, strength, texture, appearance and more to deliver exactly the performance you need to protect your product."  ...I must say that the "tweak" seems more qualitative and solid quantitative scientific studies.

All in all, I say "good for Ecoverte for thinking outside the box and trying to develop more sustainable packaging materials." 

PUMA to Launch Compostable Clothing

When you think of the mega-successful apparel company “Puma”, the last thing that comes to mind is “compostable clothing”. Well, you better believe it because Puma has been making some serious changes to its sustainability initiatives and has come out as a front-runner in many areas.

Recently, when Puma was asked by Reuters if the company would end its business relationship with Yonguor Textile of China, they didn’t hesitate to take action. Indeed, the question was raised after Greenpeace published a report profiling the problem of toxic water pollution resulting from the release of hazardous chemicals by textile factories in China such as Yongour. Puma didn’t completely end its relationship with Yongour, but they did decide to take responsibility. In fact, in a statement Puma released on July 26^th, 2011 the company said it recognizes the urgent need for reducing and eliminating industrial releases of all hazardous chemicals and is committed to “eliminating the discharges of all hazardous chemicals from the whole lifecycle and all production procedures that are associated with the making and using of PUMA products by 2020.”

Last year, Puma even launched its Clever Little Bag, a reusable bag to replace shoeboxes made from 65% less paper and energy. Now, It’s leading the way in materials technology and trying to tackle what will happen to their goods once people no longer want to use them.

Instead of taking the approach for customers to “buy less”, Puma wants their clothes to be compostable!  This will close their lifecycle loop and allow them to hopefully reduce their impact on the environment. Puma is confident that compostable clothes and sneakers will be the future. 

Compostable clothing may be something of the future, but if you follow industry closely, you will realize that it is not that bizarre. In fact, Anke Domask, who is a German fashion designer and mircobiologist, recently developed a clothing line from milk fibers. She has come up with an easy and environmentally friendly way to extract fibres from milk and her designs are proving very successful. Additionally, Linda Loudermilk, at Miami Swim Week this wear debuted a completely compostable swimsuit!

Compostable clothing certainly is an innovative idea and if promoted by a major brand like Puma, could soon become mainstream. Finally, a company is eager to reduce their environmental footprint …and go about it in the right way!