A modern design for a sustainable, zero-waste kitchen

If you’ve been wondering how to maintain a kitchen that produces no waste whatsoever, take a look at this project. Designed by Austria-based furniture designer Ivana Steiner, this modern zero-waste kitchen incorporates unique features to be as environmentally conscious as any room of the home could ever hope to be.

Steiner put in the work to develop this zero-waste kitchen concept. She conducted field research, put together a zero-waste focus group and spoke with local shopkeepers and customers in Vienna.

Related: How to replace single-use and plastic items in the kitchen

The design uses recycled materials such as stainless steel and glass and is built around a large table that can be used for cooking, food prep and eating. The kitchen itself has everything you need to create an environmentally friendly space. There’s a worm box, baskets for fruits and vegetables and glass containers to store all sorts of other foodstuffs.There are linen storage bags, and there’s a vertical herb garden that produces fresh herbs. The worm box can be used to keep the soil healthy and organic. The worm box also works as a compost container where kitchen and lawn scraps break down and become nutrient-rich, dark soil.

A water jug collects excess water that is used when waiting for the faucet to heat up, for example. This can also be used to water the herb garden. This is a truly circular and self-sustaining design.

Minimalism often goes hand-in-hand with the zero-waste lifestyle, so this kitchen doesn’t have wall cabinets. There’s also no dishwasher, but there is a double sink.

This kitchen design isn’t made for a specific home; it’s made for any home. The design was created to work anywhere. There’s even an apartment version that’s more compact. Building a better tomorrow begins with better design. Rooms like this zero-waste kitchen are a great start.

+ Ivana Steiner

Images via Ivana Steiner

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XpreSole Panto waterproof boots are made from coffee grounds

Footwear is a major source of post-consumer waste. With around 7.8 billion people in the world, many of whom own multiple pairs of shoes, landfills are full of discarded, petroleum-based footwear. Another daily-use product, coffee, also contributes to environmental waste to the tune of around 25 billion kilograms annually. Scientists recognize that while coffee grounds seem harmless, when in the landfill they actually release methane gas, which has a greenhouse effect 28 times higher than carbon dioxide. With this in mind, sustainable shoe brand Ccilu has developed a line of waterproof boots, called XpreSole Panto, made with recycled coffee grounds and other eco-friendly materials.

Called XpreSole Panto, the boots are available in high-top or low-top options made with upcycled coffee grounds collected from local coffee shops in Taiwan. The technology developed by the company results in a patented, high-tech footwear material that is used to make the certified vegan boots. The process minimizes coffee waste by diverting it from the waste stream, and it reduces carbon dioxide and methane emissions.

Related: Repurposed coffee grounds provide sustainable clothing pigment alternative

XpreSole materials

On a broader scale, the innovation carries the potential to make a substantial impact, considering each pair recycles 15 cups’ worth of spent coffee, which is dehumidified and ground, then pelletized using the patented XpreSole technology. The material is then turned into fabric used in the lining and insole of the boots. Using injection molding technology, the pelletized coffee is also used in the shell and outsole. In all, around one-third of each shoe is made up of discarded coffee grounds.

To round out the environmentally friendly theme, the company carefully selects the additional materials. For example, the insole incorporates Ortholite foam made from recycled rubber, and the laces are made from recycled plastic bottles.

Stylish versatility

The boots are produced with sustainability, durability and versatility in mind. The styles meet the needs of many uses, from camping to nights out on the town or days in the office. They are rain boots, so they are waterproof and highly dirt- and mud-resistant. The XpreSole Panto boots keep feet dry from the outside in, but the liner is also moisture-wicking and odor-resistant. These boots are also machine-washable, and the company reports they can “sustain in excess of 100 wash cycles.” 

“Our business has been creating sustainable footwear for a decade, and in creating the XpreSole® Panto, we wanted to address a type of waste that’s frequently overlooked, but one that has a significant environmental impact,” said Wilson Hsu, president and CEO of Ccilu. “At the same time, we wanted to create a piece of footwear that’s eminently wearable, and suitable for any number of occasions — whether commuting across town, hitting a hiking trail, or as part of a smart-casual outfit for a night out. The XpreSole® Panto isn’t just a boot — it’s a commitment to reimagining how the industry produces footwear.”

An award-winning rain boot

Ccilu’s XpreSole Panto recently wrapped up a successful Kickstarter campaign and has already attracted attention for the innovative design. It was awarded Red Dot’s ‘Best of the Best’, iF Design’s Gold Award and A’Design’s Silver Award. The product also received an honor from the Taipei International Design Awards at the end of 2020. These accolades add to the total of 12 awards for the company’s products since 2017.

With the Kickstarter complete, the XpreSole Panto will be available in four neutral color options for both high- and low-top models. They can be found online, in select retail stores or in Ccilu stores worldwide.

Review of XpreSole Panto Boots

The company offered to send a sample pair of boots for review. Sometimes, it’s unnerving to agree to write a review when I’m not sure how the product will work out. Especially when it comes to something personal like shoes. There was no reason to worry here.

My order arrived in reasonable time, packaged in 100% recyclable materials. I had selected one of the two black high-top options. After opening the box, my first impression was that the shoes looked stylish. I can see wearing them with leggings, jeans or hiking pants. I instantly had visions of trudging through the mud to select a holiday tree or running the dogs when the wet days return. Equally though, I can see wearing them out for dinner in town or next to the campfire.

The next test was in the fit. I have narrow feet with a high arch. When I slid my feet in, I was concerned. One foot felt too restrictive, and there didn’t seem to be enough support up the center. So I wore them around the house for a few minutes and quickly noticed a change. A friend stopped by, and I wore them outside to help load her car. We walked around the property quite a bit, and it wasn’t until after she left that I realized I still had the boots on. They honestly felt like that reliable favorite pair of shoes you don’t have to debate whether you can tolerate for the day.

That’s the long way of saying the XpreSole Panto boots exceeded every expectation. They are form-fitting, yet breathable (it was a warm summer day). With a tall inner liner in addition to the rubber outer, they offer exceptional protection without compromising softness and flexibility. They also do their job as a rubber boot, completely repelling liquid even when standing directly in a bucket of water. Even after wearing them several times, they still look brand new with zero dirt or scuffs to mark my adventures thus far. I’ll sip my coffee to that!

+ XpreSole

Images via Ccilu and Dawn Hammon/Inhabitat

Editor’s Note: This product review is not sponsored by Ccilu. All opinions on the products and company are the author’s own.

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New Oakville North additions put pedestrians first

Most master-planned communities take into account things like location to central services and inclusion of a gym, but North Oak at Oakvillage, a multiphase condominium development in Oakville, Canada, builds housing units while incorporating sustainable building practices, too. 

Oakvillage is a pedestrian-first community with a focus on connecting to the nearby natural elements of the area. A scenic, 1.5 kilometer multipurpose trail is woven throughout the community. Moreover, onsite trails lead to 300 kilometers of additional trails as well as pristine forests and meadows surrounding Oakvillage. Residents can hit the Sixteen Mile Creek, Bronte Creek Natural Park and Lions Valley Park. In the future, the complex will connect to a planned restaurant and retail complex via a pedestrian-only trail. The master plan presented four phases of construction. With the first three phrases well received and sold out, Minto Communities, the building company behind the project, has launched North Oak Phase 4. 

Related: A sustainable campus is built from 22 recycled shipping containers

The project is exploring ways to build human and environmental health considerations into a multi-unit complex. This initial tower will debut the developer’s first multi-residential geoexchange energy system. Geoexchange is an energy-efficient way of tapping into Earth’s naturally stable underground temperatures. While it’s not new technology, in Canada and other areas, it has mostly been used for single-family residences. With a geoexchange system, there’s no need for extreme variations in order to heat or cool the air because it’s already temperature-controlled year-round. These systems have been shown to reduce carbon emissions as much as 70%, a particularly big environmental win for a multi-family space.

“We’re thrilled to launch North Oak’s second tower, 4B, after the tremendous success of our launch of tower 4A earlier this year. North Oak is our first project to offer community energy through a geoexchange system and the response from purchasers so far has been positive,” said Roya Khaleeli, Director of Sustainability and Innovation for Minto Communities GTA. “Not only will residents benefit from this leading-edge technology, we know they’ll also benefit greatly from the wellness-inspired approach that’s seen through every touch point — from the walking paths and pedestrian prioritization to the beautiful gardens with native plantings and the bright interiors with natural materials and biophilic design incorporated throughout.”

With the recent pandemic fresh in the minds of developers, they created a concept they call the “Neighbourhood Nest,” which is a centralized space with eye-catching architecture that will connect North Oak to the future tower next door. This area is designed for social gatherings and also serves as an emergency response center with back-up power, a communications system and refrigeration.

Large glass walls provide natural light and further encourage the connection between inside and outside. At the lobby entrance, an expansive planter filled with native species greets residents. Just outside the building, green spaces and a pond are nestled into the landscape. Suites at North Oak are offered in one-bedroom, loft, two-bedroom and two-bedroom plus den options, with suites starting in the mid-$400s.

+ Minto Communities GTA

Images via Minto Communities GTA

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ARCspace's prefab homes are a quick and sustainable housing solution

The construction industry is responsible for considerable pollution and waste. Builders are leaning into innovative designs and material development to curb the environmental impact through sustainable architecture. ARCspace, a modular building developer, is one such business offering a solution for wasteful traditional construction, while introducing a host of other benefits.

ARCspace is a division of Sustainable Building Council Ltd., located in the Los Angeles Cleantech Corridor. As a parent company, the goal of Sustainable Building Council Ltd. is to bring together experts in construction, architectural design, engineering, building, environmentalism and innovative technology who are all invested in addressing housing needs around the world, starting with the crisis in their own backyard, Los Angeles.

Related: These prefabricated tiny homes are earthquake- and fire-resistant

Prefabricated construction

As part of this larger mission, ARCspace partnered with a variety of public and private interests to develop proprietary modular and prefabricated steel building systems. The mission is to work together to create efficient, affordable and long-lasting housing for a variety of needs that range from serving underprivileged communities to providing temporary housing. What began as a pilot program as a potential solution to the extreme homelessness crisis in L.A. has grown into several accommodation options ranging from 160 to 10,000 square feet. These units have been developed for residential and commercial use and as accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

The structures are prefabricated for highly efficient and quick builds. The process also minimizes waste. In fact, the company reports the buildings are “spec-built from the ground up in 40-60% less time and cost than traditional construction.”

Building materials

In alignment with another Sustainable Building Council Ltd. goal to focus on sustainable architecture, ARCspace relies on high-grade steel as its primary material. Steel is a strong choice for durability, so the ARCspace units are built to meet and exceed California seismic safety requirements for protection against earthquake damage. The steel also makes them resilient in high winds and highly fire-resistant. In addition, steel won’t succumb to damage-causing bugs such as termites, and it’s a material that can be reused or recycled.

Customizable tiny homes

During development, the team at ARCspace collaborated with top innovators in the housing industry in order to follow the guidance of leading GreenTech companies. As a result, ARCspace units come with a variety of options customers can select during the customization process. This includes fun interior design elements like flooring, countertops, fixtures and paint. It also means optional elements that provide off-grid power and water. For example, some homes feature self-contained atmospheric water generators called Hydropanels that are grid-independent and pull a few liters of drinking water out of the air each day. Affordable solar panels are another add-on option. However, the primary supply still comes from onsite plumbing and electrical systems.

The finished product provides all the comforts of home and the convenience of upsizing or downsizing with the addition or subtraction of units. Units can be linked end to end or stacked up to four units high with stairways connecting each unit.

Avoiding toxins

Although they look a bit like shipping containers, ARCspace pointed out critical differences. “We do not utilize or work with any form of used containers, not even 1-trip containers (those only used one time),” the company explained. “Shipping containers are manufactured with materials known to cause cancer such as LED paint, DDT wood flooring, and often have insecticide coatings, etc.”

In addition to avoiding toxins in construction, ARCspace puts a focus on smart home features that are energy-efficient and healthy. The company employs a variety of sustainable technologies such as environmentally friendly, vegetable-based spray foam insulation and specialized window coatings that keep excessive heat out while allowing natural light in. It also uses recycled materials throughout, including for decking and outer cladding.

Temporary shelters and emergency housing

For temporary work sites or emergency housing needs, impermanent foundations mean the units can be relocated with minimal site impact. They can also be set up in as little as 24 hours once onsite with a small team using cranes to stack modules then following up with window installations.

The company said, “Last year, ARCspace collaborated with Habitat for Humanity to create an Emergency Shelter Project in the San Francisco Bay area using America’s first prefabricated foundation and worked with local trade schools to help prepare a new workforce with an understanding of emerging sustainable building technology.” This quick-build housing showed the potential for ARCspace to provide affordable housing but also served as inspiration for those considering a career in green design.

The ARCspace project was recently selected as a finalist in Fast Company’s 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards, a competition that recognizes “Buildings, landscapes, urban designs, and policies that make cities and living in them cleaner, more efficient, more beautiful, and more equitable for their citizens.”

+ ARCspace

Images via ARCspace

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This vineyard suite is tucked into a Tuscan UNESCO world heritage site

Recently unveiled in the Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco in Val d’Orcia, Italy, part of a UNESCO world heritage site, the first unit of a luxury vineyard suite project was recently unveiled to the public. Known as Casa Ojalá, the guest suite has a few whimsical features like retractable beds, hidden furnishings, a merry-go-round terrace, roof portholes and a series of pulleys, gears and ropes.

With over $1 billion worth of development expected by 2025, the hotel will embrace the surrounding nature and ensure eco-friendly, sustainable architecture in its design. Some of the environmentally-focused features include sustainable wood selection, fabrics made from recycled plastic and the inclusion of handmade Italian ceramic pieces created by local artisans.

Related: Latvian wellness resort honors traditional spa rituals

The resort will also include a bio garden with over 180 plant species inside, and the entire property will be plastic-free. Future plans include using photovoltaic panels, a rainwater recovery system and a black water depuration advanced biological plant.

“We are proud to launch, starting in Italy in synergy with Castiglion del Bosco, to offer its guests of exception an absolutely unique chance of enjoying and discovering the wonders of the resort,” said Italian architect Beatrice Bonzanigo, President of Casa Ojalá. “I consider the Luxury of the Casa that I invented, a form of happiness for the guests of the best Hotels around the world. A sort of revival of handcraft as the root of evolution. Beyond the automatism of travel and living of our times, based on virtuality and hyper technology.”

Once completed, the resort will offer 42 suites, 11 villas, two restaurants, a spa and a cooking school. At 5,000 acres in total, the estate will also encompass the historic Brunello di Montalcino organic winery and a private member’s golf club.

+ Casa Ojalá

Images courtesy of Casa Ojalá

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Those Olympic anti-sex beds? Theyre actually for recycling.

Among all the news about the Tokyo Olympics, you might have heard one particularly wild story about the beds in the Olympic Village. These beds got an unforeseen amount of press coverage when American runner Paul Chelimo joked that the cardboard material was used to discourage “intimacy among athletes.” While the idea of an ‘anti-sex’ bed design captured peoples’ interest, this story is merely a joke gone wild. But there’s still a good reason to talk about these cardboard beds — they’re recyclable. 

Many outlets, from the New York Post to Sports Illustrated, have covered the Olympic ‘anti-sex’ beds. Beyond this myth, the truth behind the design raises poignant concerns about the Olympics and the environment. Designed for easy recycling, the beds represent an attempt to make the notoriously eco-unfriendly Olympics more sustainable.

Related: Tokyo’s Olympic medals will be made from recycled phones

From displacing communities to using immense amounts of resources to construct facilities that will rarely be used outside of the games, the Olympics aren’t known for being sustainable — no matter how hard the International Olympic Committee (IOC) tries to prove itself. While recyclable cardboard beds and green buildings seem like strong, eco-conscious efforts, it can be difficult to judge how useful these attempts are in minimizing the Olympics’ environmental impact.

To address this issue, a 2021 publication in Nature detailed a nine-indicator model researchers developed to determine how sustainable past Olympic Games were and to make predictions for the Tokyo Olympics. As the study explained, “The Olympic Games claim to be exemplars of sustainability, aiming to inspire sustainable futures around the world. Yet no systematic evaluation of their sustainability exists.”

The nine indicators fall into three categories: ecological, economic and social. A few key measures within these categories include new construction, visitor footprint, event size and long-term viability. According to this model, the study found “that the overall sustainability of the Olympic Games is medium and that it has declined over time.”

While the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics ranked as most sustainable, both Sochi 2014 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 earned low scores. Even more troubling is that no Olympic Games scored in the model’s top category. These results seem to suggest that despite the IOC’s efforts, cardboard beds included, Olympic sustainability efforts simply aren’t winning the gold.

Via Sports Illustrated

Lead image via Pixabay

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KADA's sustainable clothing line is designed to empower women

“Sustainability is our north star,” said KADA, a clothing company leading the charge in corporate responsibility and change within the notoriously wasteful fashion industry. The company’s products are designed by women, for women with a commitment to conservation.

KADA is a Boston-based company, and every decision it makes revolves around waste reduction. The manufacturing process starts, in part, by collecting other manufacturers’ waste in the form of salvaged fabrics. From there, fabric selection relies mainly on Cupro, a silk-like material made from recycled cotton manufacturing waste. Cupro is biodegradable and made in a closed-loop factory that continuously recycles water and required chemicals.

Related: Luxury vegan silk startup sets high bar for sustainable fashion

KADA also strives to work with mills and factories that honor the sustainable mindset. One such factory is well-known for its innovative production of organic materials while recycling 100% of textile waste and using a greenhouse gas-capturing system.

During the design process, owner Kassia Davis and the team work to minimize the number of seams in each piece, which in turn minimizes waste offcuts. They then develop prototypes that are tested (with real women) to ensure proper fit, feel and function. This is to avoid mass-production of product lines that may be ill-received and discarded. 

The final clothing designs are intended to be multifunctional capsule pieces that cater to both casual and dressy occasions. The debut collection from KADA includes the Cami Bralette, Classic Cami, Cami Midi Dress, Classic Tee, Tee Maxi Dress, Tee Mini Dress and the Pant. The goal is to focus on high-quality production with durable fabrics to keep consumers loving and wearing the items in their wardrobe rather than discarding and replacing them. The staple pieces are designed for all body types in alignment with one of the company’s goals to empower women.

“My mission with KADA is to make clothing that is inclusive and can be worn by all women. We’re celebrating the concept of evolution — inward, outward, and systemic — and setting a new standard for sustainable production along the way,” Davis said. “Behind the KADA brand is a team of incredibly talented women who all want to build pieces that every one of us can feel comfortable and confident wearing. These inspiring, empowering pieces are designed to help you meet the moment — no matter where life takes you.”

KADA is partnering with GreenPrint to become the first sustainably made clothing brand in Massachusetts.

+ KADA

Images via KADA

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Osokoa produces fun, playful organic children's clothing

The year 2020 stands out as the year of the pandemic, and inasmuch, many people took advantage of opportunities to follow their dreams. Barcelona brand Osokoa stands as an example of how passion and determination gave birth to a longstanding vision of producing a premium, organic clothing line for children.

The company describes itself as an “emotion brand”, a label it proudly wears in its gender-neutral clothing made from certified organic cotton. “Emotions and hopes go hand in hand. We make dreams in cotton, design smiles from the heart and bring together concepts in a way of dressing. Comfortable, quality, original, respectable, environmentally friendly and with a message!”

Related: Mightly kids clothing is GOTS- and Fair Trade-certified

That message is positivity, and it’s a theme woven throughout the product messaging. Osokoa explained, “Our collections ‘Self Esteem’ and ‘Hope’ were inspired by vitality, good energies and changes in the world, with big plans and positivity for the future.” The company’s mission is to take pride in the products it sells, with attention to a selection of natural materials, sustainable manufacturing and long-lasting garments. “We try with all our heart to give the best of ourselves and for that reason we have the invaluable help of smiles, joy and enthusiasm!”

Let’s face it, the fashion world ranks near the top of the most damaging industries for the planet. Osokoa breaks away from the bad habits of fast fashion by starting with locally sourced, 100% organic, GOTS-certified cotton. It then relies on local, chemical-free manufacturing in the well-developed textile region in Barcelona. This minimizes transportation-related pollution and provides fair-trade jobs within the community. Osokoa also invests in ways to use minimal water and electricity in the process.

Each decision along the process leans into choices that are best for the environment, right down to careful selection of the cardboard and other packaging the company uses. Almost all the materials used by Osokoa are recycled and can be reused.

+ Osokoa

Photography by Gabitorohh Gabito via Osokoa

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Meejee sets sustainable goals for skincare with less plastic

The plastic crisis starts with petroleum-based products, is facilitated by consumer consumption and expands to pollution of the land and water. Plastic never completely goes away, and microplastics are now found in nearly every animal and plant on the planet. The beauty industry is a major contributor to this issue, thanks to excessive plastic packaging for deodorant, makeup, skincare and more, not to mention many of these products can only be used for a short period of time. Meejee, a skincare company that acknowledges the problem, aims to be part of the solution.

Meejee reported, “Within the beauty industry, there have been 76.8 billion units of plastic packaging in 2017 alone and a majority of those units end up in landfills and our oceans, a problem polluting the Earth’s terrestrial and marine ecosystems.”

Related: Haeckels delivers zero-waste skincare with Bio Restore Membrane

To counter the issue, the company has designed a facial cleansing massager with a handle made from recycled plastic. The body is made from silicone, a material made from a natural chemical element, silica, found in sand. Silicone is widely seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic, namely because it’s not made from petroleum. In addition, silicone is extremely durable, meaning it offers an impressively long lifespan. That durability keeps it from degrading into microparticles in the same way plastic does. Plus, silicone is gentle and non-abrasive as a skincare material. It’s also antimicrobial, because bacteria and skincare just don’t mix.

Meejee contains an internal battery that can last up to a full year without a recharge. When it is time to power up, the most difficult part might be remembering where you put the USB charger. There are no wasteful replacement brush heads, either, so it might be the last face-cleaning massager you ever need.

Staying true to its commitment “to close the plastic loop and create a sustainable future,” Meejee partnered with PlasticBank, an organization dedicated to reversing the trend of increasing ocean plastic. Each Meejee purchased equates to nearly 100 plastic bottles kept from entering the ocean.

+ Meejee

Images via Meejee

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