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Yes, a 100% sustainable plastics industry is possible
Lots of recycling, combined with the use of CO2 from the air and biomass, could make a completely sustainable plastics industry a reality, according to a new study. Changing plastic’s image could also...
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Team makes paper bags stronger, even when wet
A process to make paper bags stronger—especially when they get wet—could make them a more viable alternative to single-use plastic bags, a new study shows. The study suggests a way to create paper bags...
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30 x 30 conservation goal won’t save us, say researchers
To meet international goals for maintaining food, clean water, and air, 50% of Earth’s non-Antarctic land surface must remain vegetated, research shows. April Reside of the University of Queensland’s...
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New zinc batteries are safer, sustainable, powerful
A new strategy brings key advances to the development of water-based zinc batteries, making them more powerful, safer, and more environmentally friendly. The world needs cheap and powerful batteries...
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Nixing rapeseed’s bitter taste could lead to new protein source
Researchers have gotten closer to removing rapeseed’s bitter substances, which could pave the way for a new protein source to support the green transition away from meat. Half of plant proteins in the...
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Uber and Lyft going electric to have ‘modest’ benefit
Switching Uber and Lyft vehicles from gas to electric won’t have much benefit, findings suggest. Both Uber and Lyft ride-hailing services have pledged to fully electrify their vehicle fleets by 2030 in...
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Effects of global irrigation are a mixed bag
A new study shows how irrigation affects regional climates and environments around the world, illuminating how and where the practice is both untenable and beneficial. The analysis also points to ways...
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New bioplastic degrades as fast as a banana peel
Researchers have developed new bioplastics that degrade on the same timescale as a banana peel in a backyard compost bin. We use plastics in almost every aspect of our lives. These materials are cheap...
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Use these tips to save energy during summer heat
There are simple ways people can embrace the essence of the summer while also lowering their energy consumption, advise experts. Katherine Stockton, an assistant teaching professor, and Michael...
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CRISPR breeds greener poplar trees
Researchers used a CRISPR gene-editing system to breed poplar trees with reduced levels of lignin, the major barrier to sustainable production of wood fibers, while improving their wood properties. The...
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Getting your groceries uses less energy than delivery
Grocery delivery is less energy efficient than people shopping for themselves, a study finds. Researchers examined the effects of grocery delivery on energy use, emissions, and traffic congestion, and...
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Starch could reduce plastic waste
Researchers have developed a way to make a promising, sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics more biodegradable and reduce plastic waste. The bio-based polymer blend is compostable in both...
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Method turns plastic waste into material for detergents
Thanks to an improved catalytic method, plastic waste can be used as raw material for detergents, researchers report. We’ve managed to accumulate so much plastic trash that it’s daunting to think about...
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Sawdust and 3D printing combine for reusable building material
Researchers have developed a fully biodegradable, reusable, and recyclable material to replace the wasteful concrete formwork traditionally used across the construction industry. The base of this...
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Table salt is really good at recycling plastic
Sodium chloride—table salt—can outperform much more expensive materials being explored to help recycle plastics, a new study shows. “This is really exciting,” says Muhammad Rabnawaz, an associate...
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Fermentation gets us closer to tasty plant-based cheese
New research shows the potential of fermentation for producing plant-based cheese that people want to eat. Increasing pressure on Earth’s resources and climate change call for our food system to turn...
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Team finds sustainable alternative to air conditioning
Researchers have found an inexpensive, sustainable alternative to mechanical cooling with refrigerants in hot and arid climates, and a way to mitigate dangerous heat waves during electricity blackouts....
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Chicken feathers can pave way for cleaner energy
Researchers have figured out how to use chicken feathers to create an environmentally friendly and cost-effective membrane for fuel cells. The food industry generates enormous amounts of waste and...
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Small diet swaps are good for your health and the planet’s
Making a few simple swaps in your diet can improve your health and curb carbon emissions to improve the health of the planet, too. As reported in the journal Nature Food, making simple substitutions...
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Time to get dietary fats from factories instead of farms?
Agriculture is one of the hardest human activities to decarbonize, but researchers are evaluating a potential solution to the problem that eliminates farms altogether: synthesizing dietary fats. In a...
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