PANGEA recycled jackets upcycles trash plastic

PANGEA is a company on a mission. They want to not only clean up the environment, but use trash cleaned up to create recycled products. They have now achieved one important goal: using 100% recycled and reclaimed trash plastic to create their Eco-Jackets.

We’ve written about the PANGEA jacket before, and the company has made big strides since then. With a growing line of products and an impressive list of accomplishments helping clean some of the world’s dirtiest rivers, PANGEA is going places.

Related: PANGEA Movement’s Eco-jacket uses 100% recycled materials

The problem is that 11 million tons of trash ends up in the oceans every single year. It is a growing problem that kills 100 million marine animals, damages coral reefs and contaminates the food chain with toxic chemicals.

As a result, PANGEA’s approach is to tackle the problem at the source: rivers that carry pollution to the ocean. The company uses trash-catching barriers to clean five tons of trash per month out of the world’s dirtiest rivers. So far, they have prevented 60,000 pounds of trash from reaching the ocean.

Then, they pluck the plastic out of that trash to make recycled products. This reduces waste from new plastics and prevents more pollution. PANGEA jackets are now made from 100% recycled plastics, and even include a free microplastic-trapping laundry bag to keep waterways clean.

Every 100 tons of new polyester created for backpacking gear and clothing requires 100 barrels of crude oil to make and generates 2,000 pounds of CO2 emissions. PANGEA is on a mission to create recycled outdoor gear that cleans the environment more than it pollutes. The goal: carbon positive gear. With a growing movement of volunteers harvesting reusable plastics from rivers before they enter the ocean, the circular economy of reusable plastics helps the climate on several fronts.

Furthermore, PANGEA donates 5% of sales to build and deploy new river barriers. This makes the PANGEA Eco-Jacket the first and only jacket that prevents ocean pollution. They are working to reduce the pollution that reaches the oceans from rivers by 80%.

The company has made over $750,000 in revenue with 10,000 customers. Their web store grew 10 times in 2021 alone. For every Eco-Jacket purchased, 68 pounds of trash are pulled from rivers and 68 pounds of carbon dioxide are offset from the environment.

“Purchases from PANGEA do not aim for a neutral impact on the Earth,” the founders say. “We want to improve it.”

+ PANGEA

Images via PANGEA

from INHABITAT https://ift.tt/X8Z54au
via Inhabitat

Giants of the bottled water industry admits to greenwashing

The attorneys for bottled water company BlueTriton admitted that its environmental claims were false. They insisted the greenwashing was non-actionable because the statements were aspirational.

“Many of the statements at issue here constitute non-actionable puffery,” BlueTriton’s attorneys wrote in a motion to dismiss, as reported by The Intercept. “BlueTriton’s representation of itself as ‘a guardian of sustainable resources’ and ‘a company who, at its core, cares about water’ is vague and hyperbolic. Because these statements are ‘couched in aspirational terms,’ they cannot serve as the basis for Plaintiff’s CPPA claim.”

Related: The little pirates saving South Africa from plastic waste

Well, I’ll admit I’m personally relieved. I plan to add “world’s greatest writer, thinker and international molder of opinion” to my email signature. The sky’s the limit when you only have to aspire.

BlueTriton owns Arrowhead, Poland Spring, Pure Life, Ozarka and other notable brands. All that pure and lovely water contributes hundreds of millions of plastic pounds to landfills annually. Of course, none of that plastic trash is featured among the pine trees and happy hikers on BlueTriton’s Instagram page and other marketing materials.

Earth Island Institute got fed up with this cognitive dissonance and sued BlueTriton last August. The environmental group claimed that the bottled water giant’s erroneous sustainability claims violate the Consumer Protection Procedures Act. The local Washington, D.C. law is crafted to stop deceptive trade practices. In other words, BlueTriton is on trial for greenwashing.

Several brands owned by the company have touted the recyclability of their plastic bottles. Earth Island Institute said this is not good enough.

“You can’t claim to be a sustainable company while using plastic as your primary packaging,” said Sumona Majumdar, general counsel at the Earth Island Institute, as reported by The Intercept. “Maybe there was a time when, as a company, you might have thought our plastic is getting recycled and getting turned back into plastic. But at this point, everybody knows that’s not true.”

Via The Intercept

Lead image via Amazon

from INHABITAT https://ift.tt/cOzMraE
via Inhabitat

American Express issues a green and social development bond

American Express Co., the country’s leading small business cards provider launched its first-ever environmental and social initiatives bond. The bond will test whether there are potential investors interested in investing in the future of the environment and social affairs. 

Specifically, the bond will target global investors with an interest in environmental investments. The company tasked Bank of America Corp, Morgan Stanley, HSBC Holdings Plc, and Wells Fargo & Co. to arrange and handle the bond. 

Related: Bank on green by investing in the environment

An insider on the matter told Bloomberg that the bond will be made available to all interested parties from across the world. However, it will focus exclusively on environmental, social and governance issues. Additionally, there are possibilities of a dollar-dominated issuance to follow. This may in the future lead to the inaugural sustainability note offering if all goes well.

The proceeds from the bond would go into funding eligible green and social projects. These would include the purchase and fabrication of recycled materials from Amerca Express consumer and business cards. Further, the money will be pumped into waste recycling projects, green buildings and the enhancement of diverse business suppliers and vendors. Furthermore, supporting women and LGBTQ-run vendors.

The move by American Express comes at a time when companies and governments across the world are selling ESG-linked debt at a record speed. These projects have proven vital for providing funds to attain sustainability goals for many companies. Last year, global sales of green, social and sustainability bonds crossed the one trillion dollar ceiling for the first time. It is expected that this year the performance of such bonds will be even much better.

America Express claims to have been carbon neutral since 2018 on its website. The giant card company says 100% of its businesses use renewable energy across the world. Its decision to issue a global green bond just follows in the footsteps of its competitors such as Mastercard and Visa, which have issuers ESG-related bonds.

Via Bloomberg

Lead image via Pexels

from INHABITAT https://ift.tt/N2CZQ0g
via Inhabitat

In Common underwear focuses on the health of the planet

As humans, we have a lot in common, including the planet we live on and the desire for a comfortable and functional wardrobe. Sustainable underwear and clothing company In Common was the result of the frustration of shopping during the pandemic. Founder Allison Bloch explains she and her partner “struggled to find affordable basics that didn’t compromise on either quality, fit or ethics.”

In Common’s mission is to go beyond fast fashion, creating a line of bras, underwear, tanks, joggers, hoodies and more that are long lasting and environmentally-friendly. In fact, the company’s focus goes well beyond making clothing to giving back to the community.

Related: These beautiful textiles are an earthy breath of fresh air

In Common was born out of a desire to build a brand that conscious consumers could feel good about. Therefore, they put the spotlight on the core principles of “better manufacturing processes, sustainable fabrics, fair-wage employment and modern and comfortable design, all at a fair price.”

Sustainable underwear fabrics

In Common’s standout product is the wire-free Zero Bra. The innovative design features natural materials like non-toxic sugarcane pads (with no harmful chemicals).

“The In Common team knows that sustainability is a spectrum and very nuanced,” said the company. “With plans to continue evolving and improving over time, the brand has built a strong foundation [in its material selections].”

One example is TENCE Modal, a plant-based fiber extracted from beechwood. The fibers are produced using low-energy requirements. Additionally, they are certified as compostable and biodegradable so they can complete the circle back into nature at the end of the product life cycle. 

Products also include BCI Cotton, a brand dedicated to supporting cotton farmers and the environment through improving soil health, water management, greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilience. It also addresses inequality, farm working conditions and ensuring fair wages for a higher standard of living. 

Regardless of the fabric being used, it is stitched together with EcoVerde Threads, which is made from 100% recycled premium polyester. The product is built for durability. It’s also both STANDARD 100 and OEKO-TEX Certified.

Packaging the underwear

In Common material selection also rolls into the packaging and shipping department with the use of plant-based poly bags. Each product is packaged in corn-based bags, which are 100% biodegradable. Then, they are shipped in compostable mailers to avoid the use of petroleum-based plastic. 

Community focus

Furthermore, the company encourages community involvement and enrichment. With this in mind, the company has hosted an assortment of “successful pop-ups and community meet-ups (beach clean-ups, etc.) in Los Angeles, Austin and up next, NYC.” 

Review of In Common Zero Bra

When the company offered to send me a product sample, I accepted delivery of the flagship Zero Bra. If you wear bras, you’ll understand my general hatred for bra shopping and regular discomfort in having them as part of my wearable wardrobe. Let’s be honest, bras are problematic on many levels. They either dig into your skin or leave you looking like you have a “uni-boob” while squished into a sports bra. 

Traditionally, the idea of “lift and separate” included underwires to help the bra maintain its shape while providing support. However, anyone who’s spent any time wearing an underwire has also experienced the jab once the wire inevitably busts out of the fabric and into your skin. 

Rant over and onto the review. My Zero Bra arrived quickly and packaged in plant-based, plastic-free packaging as promised. 

I requested a very neutral almond color, because I’m practical like that. The bra is available in six colors and a wide range of sizes. I ordered a size on the smaller end of the sizing recommendations because, in past experiences, the material stretches over time. The goal is, therefore, to start on the largest setting and have additional hooks to move to as the bra relaxes. This bra offers four sets of hook options to grow with the lifespan of the product. 

The first time I put the bra on, it felt a little snug around the ribcage, but within a few hours I was no longer uncomfortable. The material is very soft and pliable, so it moves with me rather than being rigid. The stitching is close together and appears durable. The hooks and straps are made of quality materials as well. 

All in all, the Zero Bra provides great support without an underwire. I appreciate the strap around the ribcage doesn’t roll or tuck beneath the breasts, but stays in place as it’s supposed to do. Since it’s a common issue, it’s also worth mentioning the straps didn’t dig into my skin anywhere. Overall, it’s a bra that performs like you’d expect a bra to perform, without the plastic, wires, inferior construction and environmental damage we can all do without. 

+ In Common

Images via Brad Ogbonna

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

from INHABITAT https://ift.tt/zRrZJ30
via Inhabitat

Winners of the 2022 Design Educates Awards

Each year, the Design Educates Awards highlight international design projects that tackle context-specific concerns and educate users about sustainability. The awards were set up by the Laka Foundation and were inspired by Dr. Peter Kuczia’s research, Educating Buildings (Bildende Bauten).

The awards transcend beyond aesthetic value and seek to recognize projects that educate by inspiring change. These changes can be subtle, but the projects play an important role in adopting social, environmental and economic sustainability. In doing so, the winning projects have meaningful impacts on users and the community at large.

Related: eVolo’s 2021 Skyscraper Competition winners focus on sustainable urban design

The Design Educates Awards span over four design categories, namely architectural, product, universal and responsive design. Additional awards include the Emerging Designer Award for a student design project, as well as the Solarlux Choice Award, selected by Solarlux representatives. The project criteria ranges from feasibility to the potential for educational influence.

This year, there were 400 entries from 30 countries, with 43 winners and honorable mentions. The 2022 jury included 15 international experts in various design disciplines, including Professor Toyo Itō, Jette Cathrin Hopp, Professor Mark L. Gardner, Professor Masayo Ave, Senior Professor Ranjana Dani, Aidin Ardjomandi and Dr. Peter Kuczia, among others.

The following is a list of the 2022 Design Educates Awards winners by category.

Architectural Design

Winner 2022: Timber Bridge in Gulao Waterfront by LUO Studio

The project is located in the town of Gulao, China, a small farming and fishing village. Since many abandon the town to seek an urban lifestyle, the bridge provides a balance between rural and urban by constructing a modern structure that uses traditional construction techniques.

Gold Prize: Terra Cotta Studio by Tropical Space

The Terra Cotta Studio in Vietnam is a space for potters to work in and be inspired to create. The patterned brick facade creates various interplays of light and shadow inside. The perforations in the building shell also allow for interactions between the artists and nature, while sheltering from the elements.

Silver Prize: Wiki World Natural Camp by Wiki World

Located on the outskirts of Wuhan, Wiki World put together an education-based campsite. The site consists of prefabricated wooden cabins, public classrooms and space to build architecture using natural materials. This way, the space becomes a place dedicated to education and fosters interaction amongst rural communities and students in collaborative construction.

Bronze Prize: House of Dreams by Insitu Project

The House of Dreams transforms an abandoned cave settlement in China into a rural development training center. The project aims to recover the surrounding caves, revive traditions and skills of the community and materialize collective memories.

Product Design

Winner 2022: Deployable Emergency Shelter by Henry Glogau Studio

Since sub-zero temperature environments often present hostile conditions, the project proposes a tent-like shelter that harnesses these environmental factors. The Deployable Emergency Shelter is a lightweight structure with an aerodynamic form that disperses strong winds. Inspired by snow caves and igloos, snow gathers in the tent’s mylar pockets and creates a form of insulation, maintaining interior temperatures of up to 37 degrees Celsius warmer than the external conditions.

Gold Prize: Looop by Cheuk Laam Wong and Central Saint Martins

Often overlooked, period poverty is a major concern for women in refugee camps. To combat this, Looop is a cleaning kit for reusable menstruation pads that uses less than 500 milliliter of water. The kit uses recycled steel cans and polypropylene washing parts. The reusable pads are made from bamboo and polyurethane laminate (PUL) fabrics.

Silver Prize: SeeTang Collection by Jana-Aimée Wiesenberger

SeeTang is a zero-waste bioplastic made from algae, dyed with natural colorants including onion skin, hibiscus, coffee and saffron. Used for various types of food packaging, the internal packing material is edible, while the outer packaging is either reusable or compostable.

Bronze Prize: Canairi by Canairi

Canairi is a CO2 monitor used to measure air quality in interior spaces. When air quality drops, the monitor notifies the user to ventilate the space and re-establish appropriate air quality. This lowers the risk of poor air quality-induced ailments, including headaches and sleep disorders.

Responsive Design

Winner 2022: Solar Desalination Skylight by Henry Glogau Studio

The Solar Desalination Skylight is a multi-functional element that harnesses sunlight and seawater, while flooding interiors with natural light. It produces drinking water and a brine solution, used to make salt batteries. The salt batteries can power LED lights at night and can be charged using solar energy from a mini photovoltaic panel.

Gold Prize: Portable Solar Distiller by Henry Glogau Studio

The Portable Solar Distiller uses sunlight to distill between 12 to 18 liters of polluted seawater in 12 hours. The system uses easily-available materials such as plastic tarps and bamboo/timber and can also serve as a rainwater catchment system.

Silver Prize: Coastalock by ECOncrete Tech Ltd

Approximately 70% of all marine infrastructure uses concrete, which is highly toxic for sea creatures. Coastalock uses a patented healthy concrete mixture to create interlocking units that form wave breakers and simultaneously foster marine ecosystems. The units have customizable orientations to suit the ecosystem needs of local sea creatures.

Bronze Prize: 1300 Recycling Pavilion by Hyunjejoo_Baukunst

The project features 1300 semi-transparent baskets that form the pavilion’s structure. By using standard, commercially-available baskets, the pavilion encourages mindfulness of how we use everyday objects and how architecture can adapt to environmental needs by repurposing non-traditional materials.

Universal Design

Winner 2022: BetaPort – Circular Building Technology On-Demand by Urban Beta UG

BetaPort is a system that uses modular building blocks, which can react to design requirements such as user capacity and function. The BetaPort configurator is the digital tool that efficiently plans the construction of each space based on its needs. Furthermore, all construction materials are renewable or upcycled to create sustainable, carbon-sink buildings.

Silver Prize: The Inxect Suit by Pavels Liepins-Hedström

The Inxect Suit is a wearable plastic waste management and protein harvesting system. Mealworms live in a habitat inside the suit that uses heat and humidity from the suit-wearer to maintain an ideal colony environment. These worms eat plastic waste, which is not toxic for them, and expand the colony. Thus, the growing colony provides the suit-wearer with valuable protein for consumption.

Bronze Prize: Voxel Cloud by Julian Edelmann

The Voxel Cloud explores complex geometries generated by algorithms to try and blend nature and technology. Machines used data-scapes to create a complex scaffold-like structure. Currently, the installation is located in a park in Austria where it will blend into the environment over time.

Additional Awards

Solarlux Choice: GO! Campus Zottegem by Rosan Bosch Studio

The GO! Campus Zottegem is a public school in Belgium, designed to maximize student learning through play. The school has various learning landscapes that encourage exploration and curiosity.

+ Design Educates Awards

Images courtesy of Jin Weiqi, Hiroyuki Oki, Insitu Project, Wu Ting, Henry Glogau Studio, Larry Turner, SeeTang Collection, ECOncrete Tech Ltd, Urban Beta, Studio Naaro, Pavels Liepins-Hedström, and Kim Wendt

from INHABITAT https://ift.tt/BIMdTQt
via Inhabitat

The little pirates saving South Africa from plastic waste

Since 2018, more than 20 schools in South Africa and the Netherlands have spread the lore of Captain Fanplastic, a pirate who wants to rid the ocean of plastic waste. The primary school program of the same name is turning school children into ocean justice warriors.

Cape Town-based Soapbox is behind the anti-plastic superhero. This behavioral design agency tries to positively impact Africa in the healthcare, education, sustainability and financial inclusion fields.

Related: Make your own ethical fashion from recycled plastic nets

Here’s how Captain Fanplastic works. Trained facilitators share The Legend of Captain Fanplastic with children. While the book and audiobook are only available in Africa, we have found out the general plot. Captain Fanplastic and his friend Fin the turtle set out on a quest to find out why Fin is sick. A whale and a seagull help them discover the answer, which is (spoiler alert) plastic waste.

After kids hear the story, they participate in a Q&A about plastic and its effects on marine life. They learn that plastic is not all bad when they get the chance to repurpose old plastic by making eye patches and their own renditions of Fin the Turtle. The program uses the hashtag #NoTrashButTreasure to encourage people to think of how they can reuse stuff in useful ways, rather than adding to the landfill.

The most exciting part for most kids is a field trip to a nearby beach, park or river. The kids participate in a cleanup framed as a treasure hunt. A treasure map explains different types of liter they’ll find. The kids who pick up the most trash win prizes.

After the field trip, the program matches schools with recycling partners to help them build strong recycling habits and environmental awareness. “We’re able to take this [initiative] into schools to show little pirates in primary schools, in particular to the ages of seven to 12 years old, that they can ‘Rrrr’ so that they can refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle plastic,” said Captain Fanplastic Facilitator Yanga Gceya, as reported by Euro News. “Our audacious goal is to reach 175,000 kids around the world.”

Sub-Saharan Africa generates more than 17 million tons of waste annually. Only 12% of plastic waste recycled, with much of it entering oceans.

The little pirates want to stop this. As Linako, a student at Intshayelelo Primary in Cape Town put it, “We became pirates and we saved animals from eating plastic.”

Via EuroNews, Captain Fanplastic

Lead image via Captain Fanplastic

from INHABITAT https://ift.tt/L2ijMpo
via Inhabitat

Rice Love gives rice to families in need with each purchase

Rice Love strives to help end world hunger, increase education about poverty and recycle readily-available materials into beautiful and usable statement pieces. 

Rice Love makes bags, backpacks, clothing and accessories. For each purchase, the company delivers one kilo (2.2 pounds) of rice to a family in India, the primary food in the country. 

Related: This backpack is made from locally sourced cork and recycled materials

The company was born out of a passion to do good for people and the environment. Founders Coney and Corbin came from strikingly different backgrounds, yet found a common desire after meeting in 2013. Coney was born into an extremely poor family in an area of India with few opportunities. After his father managed to send him to America for school, Coney felt an unquestionable draw to help his native countrymen upon his return to India. 

On the other hand, Corbin was born in California. After some travel and work with the poor in South America, he ended up in Hawaii. From his home on the islands, he is passionate about helping those less fortunate. Now living in separate parts of the world, Coney and Corbin run their business on a global level. Meanwhile, each purchase provides a positive impact for families and workers in India. 

Furthermore, the company organizes trips that include tours of India. There is an opportunity to meet the families and deliver the rice personally. Even without catching a flight, customers can connect with the families who benefit from their purchase. Each bag is adorned with an identifying tag. Thereby, customers enter the tag number on the website to see pictures and find out more about the family who received the rice. Providing this staple allows families in India to divert money away from food for things like medical care or education.

In addition, Rice Love prioritizes Fair Trade material selections and employee treatment. For the bags, they buy burlap rice bags locally from India. The material is then recycled into unique handmade bags, each different from the next. The bags in the Recycled Collection are made from plant-based fibers, biodegradable and eco-friendly.

“We have given over 50,000 kilos of rice,” Rice Love said. “There are an equal number of wanderers wearing our bags and sharing our story around the world. Our goal is to give 1 million kilos of rice by the end of 2024. We invite you to join the movement. Buy a bag. Feed a family.”

+ Rice Love 

Images via Rice Love

from INHABITAT https://ift.tt/9LPOtMc
via Inhabitat

High-rise tower will provide affordable housing in Germany

UNStudio and OKRA Landscape Architects won the International Architectural Competition for a mixed-use, high-rise. The Belsenpark Tower is designed to be a sustainable building that fits the style of the surrounding communities.

Included on the ground floor will be an open park area and pedestrian and cyclist walkway. Additionally, there will be restaurants and sports and wellness programs. The space is meant to connect to the surrounding developments and community.

Related: Solar helps make this cool Austin tower net energy neutral

Moreover, Belsenpark Tower will house offices on lower levels with apartments above. Two low-rise buildings on either side of a higher tower will be comprised of rent-controlled housing. It will fill the need for affordable housing in the area, which is experiencing densification.

On the other hand, is is designed as sustainable as possible. Prefabricated components will be used in construction of a modular design to the supporting structure. Also, the designers’ aim to significantly reduce CO2 emissions during construction and operation of the building. They will use upcycled materials to help avoid additional waste.

Additionally, wood will be used for load-bearing components of the low-rise buildings. However, the tower will be made of reinforced prefab recycled concrete and CO2-reduced cement. Local aggregates will be used in the mix to minimize transport of concrete to the site.

Furthermore, geometric patterns on the building facades are used to create seating areas outside. At the intersection of the two cycling and pedestrian paths, a sustainable water feature creates an outdoor meeting place to enjoy the sun.

Besides, a green-blue water management system buffers rainwater. The rainwater is captured on the green roofs via a water retention layer and the overflow is directed to the plantings in the park. The system also serves as a detention basin during extreme flooding, thus creating a strategy for a circular water system.

Likewise, Belsenpark is located in one of Dusseldorf’s east-west green corridors. These landscape corridors extend farther west and build on the city’s greenery and biodiversity. The location of the project solidifies a link within this network of green spaces. In the same way, the wellness of residents was thought of in the design. The facades are designed to dampen noise pollution, maximize views and optimize natural light throughout the day.

Co-working office space included here create an interesting option for people who might want to live and work in the same building. The building lends itself to “cell structures” for a blended-use office environment. The co-working space also acts as a sound barrier for the inner courtyard and residential apartments behind it.

+ UNStudio

Images via Flying Architecture

from INHABITAT https://ift.tt/f2a0A1r
via Inhabitat