The little bird flips down when you have poor air quality

This innovative little device isn’t even available on the market yet and it’s already getting international attention. Canairi is a cool little gadget that monitors indoor air quality with visual representations so you know what you’re breathing.

History fans will recognize the imagery of the bright yellow bird. In decades past, mine workers would take actual canaries with them into tunnels. The birds are sensitive to toxic gases that might be undetectable with the human nose, therefore a great way to text air safety. If the canary came back to the front of the mine, everyone knew it was safe to go inside and dig. If the canary died, this was a clear indication that it was not safe to mine that day. Coal miners used canaries for these tests because the birds are a bright yellow that could be seen even in the dark mine tunnels.

Related: Amazing ATMO device makes sure you breathe in clean air

The Canairi replicates this with no animal cruelty. The device has a CO2 sensor built in that constantly monitors air quality. When the air quality is poor, the bird will droop downward.

Once the CO2 level passes 1.000 ppm, considered the recommended threshold, the monitor will activate the mechanism that makes the bird flop over. It’s an air quality monitor that doesn’t set off alarms or blinking lights, but is self-explanatory when your air quality needs improvements.

Additionally, the little bird is made with recycled plastic and comes with a rechargeable battery that works for up to three months. A USB cable can charge the device up again. Preorder the device through their Kickstarter.

+ Canairi

Images via Canairi

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These weighted blankets are made with recycled materials

Bearaby believes there’s nothing better for stress release than a snuggly nap with a responsibly-designed weighted blanket. So they made it their mission to create cozy cuddlers made from sustainably-sourced materials and focused on the health of the customer as well as the environment. 

Bearably weighted blankets come in a variety of weights. The Travel Napper is meant as a travel blanket at 10 pounds, and comes with its own carrying bag. Cotton Nappers range from 10 pounds to 25 pounds and are available in five color options. Bearaby also has a special six-pound Nappling for children that comes in four colors, while the Tree Napper line is made from tencel to help cool hot sleepers. It comes in three weights and five color options. There’s also a queen-sized Hugger for shared use or as a bed blanket. Finally, the Velvet Napper, made from eco-velvet, is an option with three weights and five colors to choose from. 

Related: Buckwheat pillows offer a good night’s sleep without hurting the environment

Bearaby proudly makes a strong statement for sustainability through material selection and transparency, saying, “With every blanket we produce, every partner we work with, and every decision we make, we put the planet first. By leading change, it’s our goal to make the world a little cleaner, greener and better for everyone.”

For example, TENCEL Lyocell is a product growing in popularity with companies aimed at responsible material sourcing. It’s made from eucalyptus wood pulp that is naturally grown with a reliance on rainfall rather than supplemental water. Therefore, it requires 90% less water than traditional fabrics. 

Additionally, the cotton for the Cotton Napper line is organic, raised with minimal water consumption, and made in green by OEKO-TEX and Fairtrade International Certified. Material for the Velvet Napper comes from recycled water bottles, so it reduces ocean pollution and is Global Recycle Standard (GRS) Certified. Furthermore, as a company, Bearaby earned Forest Stewardship Council Certification and the Global Recycled Standard Certification. 

Bearaby recently released a second product line called the Hugget Collection. It’s a unique type of huggable pillow, shaped as a woven ball. Sticking with the company goals, the Huggets offer tactile reinforcement through a chunky design, yet are squishable to use as a huggable stress ball. They are made from an all-natural and fully biodegradable material called melofoam.

+ Bearaby 

Images via Bearaby

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1300 recycled baskets make up this functional artwork

The lines between art, function, education and public awareness are blurred in the 1300 Recycling Pavilion, a project presented by Architect Hyunje Joo.

The temporary 1300 Recycling Pavilion is located in Suseong-gu, South Korea, with the goal of reorienting what we know about everyday items. While it’s common to find a pavilion in a public space, this one makes a statement unlike the rest. It’s a new perspective on the mundane, drawing attention to the materials that surround us. 

Related: Paperless Pavilion says goodbye to paper waste

The Pavilion is built from recycled baskets — 1300 of them, to be precise. As a temporary installation, it’s a project meant to inspire conscientiousness about the materials in our lives and how they’re used. The structure provides seating, tiered in the form of bleachers like one might find at sporting events. Beneath the bleachers, the Pavilion is open for exploration in a space that provides natural light through the semi-transparent surfaces of the baskets. The connecting hardware is visible, highlighting the man-made component. The filtered light creates a connection between the protected interior area and the surrounding exterior. 

From the outside, especially at night, the lights from inside create a glow across the surface. A variety of colored bulbs reflects an artistic expression, casting a different emphasis on the display. The commonly-found baskets used for the project may also be described as totes or containers. All 1300 of them are set to be recycled again at the end of the installation period. 

“The passage of time is more actively sensed from both inside and outside, as these light effects stimulate our senses,” said Hyunje Joo. “The project is not about the ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ ways of using objects, but rather about highlighting their affordances or meanings. We say the intent is to create an economical, flexible, light and recyclable flexible element. These small but attractive and functional structures reveal the potential in the world of architecture to adapt to environmental needs.”

+ Hyunje Joo

Images via Hyunjejoo_Baukunst

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The wine that is "100% enjoyment without compromise"

When we think of the perpetrators of environmental sabotage, winemaking probably doesn’t come to mind. In fairness, wine making isn’t a highly polluting business compared to fast fashion or the construction industry. But that didn’t stop online wine merchant Laithwaites from partnering with an established winemaker with a goal to lighten the footprint of the W/O Frappato: Terre Siciliane IGT. 

Like many companies, Laithwaites took a critical look at its carbon contribution. Running the numbers, they found that 68% of their carbon footprint came from transportation emissions and the production of the glass bottles the wine is stored in. It was a measurement significantly higher than that of growing the grapes (15%) and making the wine (17%). The company vowed to halve its carbon footprint by 2030. The result is the U.K.’s first 100% recycled glass wine bottle. 

Related: Proud Pour wines and cider benefit bees, oceans and coral reefs

Laithwaites achieved the goal in partnership with winemaker Dino Tashcetti, who runs a co-operative winery. The resulting bottle is made from recycled materials, and, of course, is recyclable after use too. The look of the bottle is somewhat vintage, with slight variations between one bottle and another as a result of the production process. Specifically, the minimalist label was designed to make recycling easier. 

The Frappato is even packaged without any foil or plastic. Instead, the cork is exposed rather than covered with unnecessary waste. The label is fully biodegradable too. 

In fact, the name of the wine reflects this idea in the shorthand for “without” (W/O) proudly displayed on the label. The idea is the production of the wine and packaging honors the environment without the need for unnecessary raw materials.

“We happen to have found [packaging] that is also really beautiful. Because it essentially gives old glass a new life, every bottle is unique and a little ‘wild’ — with a slightly varied hue, little shimmers and even tiny bubbles,” said Michael Johnson, innovation director at Laithwaites.

On the other hand, the W/O Frappato wine is a Sicilian red that was also created with the “without” mindset. It’s an organic wine. Inasmuch, the grapes were grown without fertilizers, insecticides and other toxins. 

“Third-generation winemaker Dino Taschetta named it W/O (without), because it’s crafted from the belief that you should be able to enjoy great wine knowing it’s been made as naturally and sustainably as possible. Or, as they like to say: 100% enjoyment, without compromise,” stated in a press release.

Frappato is a grape indigenous to Sicily and rarely seen in the U.S. The grapes for the Terre Siciliane IGT were grown in an organic and sustainably-managed vineyard. After consciously sourcing the grapes, Dino used them in a wine that meets vegan standards. Many people don’t realize wines are commonly filtered with the use of animal products in a process called fining. However, this Frappato goes without. 

Review of W/O Frappato Terre Siciliane IGT wine

When a wine company offers to send me a sample, my hand is in the air with acceptance. Sometimes I just love my job. Look, someone’s gotta do it. And it’s even better when I deeply enjoy the product, which is the case with this delicious wine. 

Delicious isn’t a term I typically use when describing wine. The joy of this bottle of Frappato, though, is that it’s tasty. It features bright notes of berry on both the front and backend, which equates to a mouthful of smooth drinkability. That doesn’t mean it lacks depth or complexity though. It has both, with a strikingly pleasant linger of tannins on the tongue. 

Three of us sampled the bottle, all of which basically came to the same conclusions for the tasting notes. This is not a dry wine, but those tannins do linger. I place it in the mid-range for acidity. Although it’s not quite semi-sweet, the flood of red berries is reminiscent of old vine depth and sweetness without the jamminess. This Frappato toes the line between the lightness of a Pinot Noir and the gratifying ability of a big red. 

The W/O Frappato is available for less than $20 on their website.

+ Laithwaites

Images via Laithwaites and Dawn Hammon

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These sunglasses are made out of bacteria

Typically, when someone mentions bacteria, it conjures up scary images of infection. But we forget bacteria can be very, very good! As an example, Italian Biodesign Researcher Cinzia Ferrari, eternally curious and armed with a degree in design, used her biodesign knowledge and skills to turn bacteria into sunglasses frames. 

Called CyanoFabbrica, the project is based on the intrinsic characteristics of cyanobacteria.

Related: Scientists are cleaning art with bacteria

“I chose to make sunglasses frames as the output for my project, which combines my interest in transparency of design communications and innovation practices,” Ferrari said. “The sunglasses sector is a field where greenwashing is common and undetected. It is also a market that is expected to grow, due to increasing concerns against UV rays and the growing popularity of glasses as a fashion item.”

The resulting sunglass frames speak against wasteful processes with the ability to constantly grow more material. Plus, the sunglasses pieces can be recycled at the end of their life, when the components of the CyanoFabbrica products can be broken down and used as a basis for new enzyme growth. 

Developed from prior research, Ferrari advanced the technology of Cyanobacteria biomineralization to create the composites. Biomineralization is the result of a scientific reaction when carbon dioxide is absorbed during photosynthesis, changing the chemical makeup of the water around the bacteria. The resulting mineral precipitation bonds with sediments and polymers to form composites. 

As a raw material, cyanobacteria is ubiquitous and tenacious, having survived through five known mass extinctions. They are found in every type of habitat and are the birth parents of the process of releasing oxygen through photosynthesis, long before plants capitalized on the process. As a result, the final design for the sunglasses was inspired by patterns viewed within the cyanobacteria strains. 

Ferrari hopes her work serves as a basis for further research on the possible uses for cyanobacteria and the process of biomineral precipitation.   

+ Cinzia Ferrari

Images via Cinzia Ferrari

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Plastic pollution is highlighted in unique art installation

Part-artist and part-activist, Canadian Benjamin Von Wong launched a campaign to bring attention to the plastic pollution problem. The result is a three-story installation of plastic pouring from a spout, with a message of #TurnOffThePlasticTap. 

Von Wong highlighted plastic pollution before, taking on different individual projects with materials including 168,000 plastic straws, 18,000 plastic cups and 10,000 plastic bottles. However, he realized the plastic pollution isn’t about any single type of plastic, but rather the overall production, use and disposal of it. Turn Off the Plastic Tap is a campaign to illuminate the issue through visuals. 

Related: This artist created a stunning art installation made from 168,000 plastic straws to encourage people to use less

To draw attention to plastic waste, Von Wong, along with dozens of volunteers, built the massive installation. Then, they coordinated several photo shoots to capture a range of messages pertaining to the problem. Von Wong wanted to send the message about how big the problem is. He achieved this through photos that amplify the height of the art piece. Additionally, he draws attention to the devastating consequences of plastic for the next generation by using babies in the photo shoot. 

All parts of the project came from recycled materials. The spout is made from a ventilation duct Von Wong was able to salvage from a building shortly before it was torn down. The plastic is all post-consumer waste, and the various tubs and containers of plastic were threaded together by volunteers using rope made from plastic waste. 

Forming the Giant Plastic Tap and organizing the photo shoots was a comprehensive task. As a result, Von Wong partnered with the Embassy of Canada in France. Until June 8, 2022 the installation is on display at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. 

The project hopes to draw attention to the fact that less than 10% of the plastic ever produced is actually recycled. Considering the amount of plastic produced throughout history, it carries a combined weight of more than the combined weight of all animals on land and in the ocean. Thought of another way, we increase plastic waste by 300 million tons annually. The pandemic amplified this problem with single-use plastic consumption jumping around 250%.

Von Wong sees the Giant Plastic Tap as much more than an art installation. He views it as an invitation for every citizen to #TurnOffThePlasticTap. 

+ Benjamin Von Wong

Images via Von Wong Production #TurnOffThePlasticTap

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Le Botaniste is the only carbon-neutral restaurant in NYC

Le Botaniste, an organic, plant-based restaurant is now the only carbon-neutral restaurant in New York City. This is the result of a partnership since 2016 with environmental consulting agency CO2logic. They helped Le Botaniste reduce energy use to a minimum and offset greenhouse gas emissions, as well as friendly to the planet in the foods they serve.

To become certified carbon neutral requires a lot of research. CO2logic first calculated the greenhouse gas emissions generated not just by the restaurant but by each recipe. The organization used data from a French environmental organization to determine the carbon footprint of each of Le Botaniste’s organic vegetables, grains and other ingredients they use in their dishes.

Related: Ovolo is the world’s first hotel group to go vegetarian

Then, they calculated electricity consumption and the carbon footprint of paper goods and other supplies used in the restaurants to give an overall look at the environmental impact of the entire supply chain. This means local and global impact, from sustainable farming for sourcing their foods to the compostable containers they use for takeout.

You can even see the carbon calculations on display online. They are updated every year. They also offset by financing a climate project in Ghana for distributing efficient cookstoves that is Gold Standard Certified.

This is a very detailed take on the idea of becoming a carbon-neutral business. Other businesses who don’t want to go through the process of certification could still take some ideas from this process and apply them more generally. For example, any business can try to source as much of its electricity from clean energy sources through the utility company as possible, install solar panels or rent from a building that is as environmentally efficient as possible. In addition, choosing suppliers that help them use recycled paper products, reduce waste or finance environmental programs to offset carbon used like tree planting programs.

Le Botaniste took eco-friendly to the next level. It’ll be interesting to see how this level of detail raises new questions about a business’ ability to reduce its carbon footprint.

Soon, every business from restaurants to tech companies will have the resources for making a positive one overall. One that is greener and healthier for all.

+ Le Botaniste

Images via Le Botaniste

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