This hydroponic garden is entirely recyclable

Thousands of conflicts in human history have been spawned by a quest for land. It has started wars and has caused pain across the centuries. But here’s a secret about land: it’s just dirt. And this incredible garden by Kettal and Tectum Garden proves that, actually, you don’t need dirt to grow delicious food.

Everything in this garden is grown without soil. It is also drip watered and 30% of the excess water is reused. Further, all the materials used to build it are 75% recycled and 100% recyclable. The design is compact, simple and it can be put literally anywhere you want to put it, whether it’s indoors or out. You have the option to put it near windows or far from natural light.

Related: An urban vertical planter is an easy and affordable garden

The implications of such a garden are clear. Growing edible plants without a need for soil, using drip watering techniques, harvesting food from plants in small spaces both indoors and outdoors — the possibilities are stunning. This garden then whispers of a world where food shortage is only a memory.

Meanwhile, a team of environmentalists, architects, designers, engineers, agronomists and scientists came together to create this garden. It took a lot of people because there are a lot of goals this project hopes to accomplish: improving quality of life in cities, transforming work environments, addressing and mitigating climate change, and helping foster a circular, green economy.

The simple, minimalistic design doesn’t take up much space but it does provide space for many different types of edible plants. Lettuce, cabbage, greens, onions, herbs, the list of edible plants you can grow here goes on and on. The list of applications for such a garden goes on and on, too.

This compact, practical design is perfect for apartments, workspaces, businesses and homes of all kinds. This hydroponic garden could be one step toward changing the way food is grown around the world.

+ Kettal, Tectum Garden

Images via Kettal; header image, final image via Pexels

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California is installing solar panels over canals

Officials in California have embarked on a $20 million pilot project to install solar panels over sections of important water sources. These sources include canals and sections of rivers among others that were deemed necessary. The project seeks to deal with the persistent droughts that have been hitting the state in recent years.

The panels will be installed over Turlock Irrigation District (TID) by the end of 2023. They are expected not only to generate green energy to support the state achieve its net-zero targets, but also to reduce water loss through evaporation. Solar panels can provide shade for water bodies such as canals consequently reducing water loss, especially during a hot day.

Related: Is recycled wastewater the answer to California’s drought?

The project is only a pilot phase meant to prove the viability of the concept. If the concept is found to be working, California and other states may choose to invest in it. The officials behind the project have cited a 2021 study that suggested that shading just 4000 miles of water could save up to 63 billion gallons of water per year.

California has been hit by a series of severe droughts in recent years. Such devastating events have often left the state struggling to manage its scarce resources. In a bid to find a lasting solution, several concepts have been proposed, including wastewater recycling and desalination of seawater. While all these methods are still being considered, the TID project could help the state save water and also cater to green energy deficits.

Last week, officials in California announced that the state will receive $310 million from the federal government to help deal with the historic droughts. The sum will go into 25 projects that seek to address the droughts on both long-term and short-term basis. The sum is part of the goodies delivered by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden last year.

“Water is essential to everything we do, and it will take all of us working together to address the significant drought impacts we are seeing across the west,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland in a statement last week.

Via The Byte

Lead image via Pexels

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Check out these vegan high-top sneakers bringing the fire

I’ve always liked red shoes and high-tops. This year, the fashion stars have aligned and both color and height are in style. Beauty and fashion writer Julia Marzovilla recently wrote about sneakers in Marie Claire, noting both that “brightly hued picks are trending” and “high-top sneakers are officially all the rage this year.” Best of all, there are at least two excellent vegan options for red high-tops. I tried out a pair made by Fuego Shoes, and one by Grounded People.

Meet the Fuegos

Kevin Weschler launched Fuego Shoes during the pandemic. They look like nice, shiny, red leather high-tops, but are actually made of all vegan materials. And they have an even bigger secret: a patented outsole made for dancing. Dual pivot points — one in the heel, one in the ball of the foot — let you spin without torqueing your knees. This is really cool if you want to break into dance anywhere, like in a real-life musical. Except my friends were underwhelmed when I demonstrated at the art museum. But they were probably just envious. Or embarrassed.

Related: These shoes are made in the world’s only entirely vegan factory

Weschler first started dancing after snagging a Groupon deal at a local Brooklyn dance studio. He immediately loved it. But his knees didn’t, thanks to his attempt to dance in his ordinary street sneakers. He tried to find the right shoes, but they didn’t seem to exist.

“I couldn’t find a brand in the dance world that really resonated with me,” Weschler lamented on the Fuego website. “A brand that sat at the intersection of dance and streetwear.”

Since he was a graduate student studying business and entrepreneurship, the obvious thing to do was to start a shoe company.

So far, Fuego has three types of shoes: high-tops, low-tops and split soles, which have a flexible neoprene arch-hugging midsection that “refines your style and supports your flow.” Colors are pretty basic — black, white, red, brown tones and pink in split soles. Fuegos allegedly dance on just about any surface, from concrete to carpet to grass, and range in price from $110 to $130.

Grounded People

Canadian brand Grounded People prides itself on 100% vegan and cruelty-free production. Founder Max Justus was inspired to start Grounded People after he saw first-hand the waste and exploitation of the fashion industry while he was traveling abroad. A few of his innovations: using recycled materials from yarn to rubber soles, no dyeing or other chemical processes, no animal byproducts, fair wages and paper packaging is plantable and filled with wildflower seeds.

You might have already heard of Grounded People. Inhabitat covered the brand in January of this year. But back then, the shoes were only available in brown and off white, for a kind of hempy self-denial look. Much more attractive colors are available now, including red, pink and dark blue.

Grounded People’s LACES (Learn to Achieve and Create Everlasting Sustainability) program allows shoppers to choose a contrasting pair of laces, with each color benefiting a different charity. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, this brand also released its first collection during the pandemic. Low-tops are currently priced at $139.99, and high tops at $149.99.

Testing out the high tops

Both the Fuego and the Grounded People shoes are cute, comfortable and very red, from the laces to the stitching to the soles. The Fuego red is a bit deeper and the laces are flat and thick. There’s no ornamentation around the lace holes, keeping the design simple. I think they look a bit 80s, with a tiny bit of gold on the lace tips and, my favorite part, a wee gold flame (Fuego means fire, after all) on the heel.

They fit a little more snugly through the toes than the Grounded People pair, so I prefer lightweight socks or tights with them. And, of course, you can spin much more easily in the Fuegos. At nine ounces, this is a lightweight shoe.

On the other hand, the Grounded People pair are cloth, more of a Converse feel as far as material. The laces are thin and round, with visible plastic rings to weave through, making the lacing more of a focal point of this shoe. A patterned texture around the toes give the shoe added visual interest. And a silver, dollar-sized medallion on the side depicts the brand’s logo, a darling meerkat.

As Founder Justus points out, meerkats are highly cooperative critters who work together in teams, reminding us that cooperation can get the job done better than focusing on selfish motivations. This pair was a bit roomier through the toes and the red is a little lighter and the cloth material cooler than the Fuegos.

Both these brands have produced some cute vegan red high tops. If you’re in the market for a pair, it mostly comes down to aesthetics, and how likely you are to spontaneously bust out dance moves.

+ Fuego

Photography by Teresa Bergen

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

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A skincare line relies on volcanic minerals for healthy skin

Armed with a team of experienced industry professionals, Fortify+ is using all of their resources to protect the environment while producing clean skincare products. The assortment of facial mists, serums, cleansers, wipes, masks, eye pads, moisturizers and eye creams are responsibly developed, produced and distributed, using natural ingredients and attention to healthy skin.

All products in the lineup are vegan, cruelty free, alcohol free and made with 95% natural ingredients. The flagship ingredient is zeolite, a volcanic mineral that naturally fights germs and other pathogens with innate antimicrobial properties. When combined with nourishing probiotics, the resulting products perform a balancing act with the skin’s microbiome without the drying effects of commonly-used alcohol.  Additionally, the products include ingredients like aloe, hyaluronic acid and collagen.

Related: I-N Beauty relies on science and plants for hair and skincare solutions

“Everyone deserves to feel good about themselves,” said the company. “Whether you like to keep your care simple or are looking for something more in depth, Fortify+ offers you more solutions in every step for truly healthy skin.”

The products are available at many retailers, including Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, and Amazon. They are also available through the Fortify+ website where they offer value sets at a lower per-product price, alongside individual products. Moreover, they earned certifications through the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Global Recycled Standard, Leaping Bunny and the Control Union. 

Lastly, the company puts an emphasis on packaging with recyclable materials, both for products and for shipping. Many of their products are packaged in glass, while others are primarily contained in paper. The company has a goal to achieve 30% post-consumer recycled content for the few plastic vessels they do still use. Packaging is sourced from FSC-certified paper and plant-based inks. 

+ Fortify+

Images via Fortify+

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Beauty brand IsFrom keeps your skin and mind at ease

Sometimes all we need is a little bit of skin refreshment to get through the day. The goal of IsFrom is to make products that boost your skin’s vitality as well as your mood. 

IsFrom’s line of skin oils and mists is intended to moisturize and create glowing skin. It primarily sells two types of products. 

Related: School of medicine beautifully blends health and nature

The first is a three-blend oil. It is available in four vibrant colors, each with its own scent. First, Bright Rosy is red with a rose scent. Then, Coooly is a cool blue color with a lavender scent. Next, Golden is a rich yellow with strong notes of neroli. And lastly, Greenery offers a bold green tone with a scent of bergamot.

These oils are applied following washing and toning of the skin. To use, place a few drops of oil on your palm. Then lightly rub your hands together and inhale the aroma before lightly tapping your hands to your face. Each product is available in a 1.01-ounce bottle, as well as a combo pack of mini bottles. 

The second primary product is the Trap Water mister. Any of the four three-blend oils can be combined with water, creating a fine, refreshing facial mist that can be used any time of day. 

All IsFrom products are also made without artificial colors or scents. The company is very transparent with a full listing of ingredients on each product. Some of the natural plant ingredients include extracts from turmeric, prickly pear, eggplant, cauliflower, and dog rose. Many oils are also on the list, with the primary base coming from Oryza Sativa (Rice) bran oil.

Further, IsFrom products are vegan and cruelty-free. As the company says, they are “against unethical animal testing” and rely on a “vegan formula in place of animal-related components. Keeping your skin and mind at ease.”

In addition to the goal of balancing the skin, IsFrom aims to stabilize the mind through calming aromas.

The company also prioritizes clean packaging, relying on recycled paper and shipping boxes.

+ IsFrom

Images via IsFrom 

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New 3D-printed upcycling hub shows future of manufacturing

A new upcycling facility in Singapore, the DB Schenker’s Upcycling Hub by Airlab SUTD, explores new production methods needed for a sustainable manufacturing future. “This project demonstrates how materials deemed useless and destined for landfills can be repurposed into functional and beautiful design objects,” the designers explain.

The project started in 2018 to raise awareness of circularity in the logistics and supply industry. The idea: develop an entire facility from waste materials and present ways to respond to the climate crisis. It started as a design brief for the DB Schenker employee lunchroom, but Airlab’s goal expanded.

Related: A home that incorporates recycled materials from the jobsite

The new space helps visitors conceptualize how waste can be used through all stages of a supply chain from design to production to consumption. Meanwhile, 3D printing technology is at the fore, using the tech to create novel shapes for furniture and light shades through the space.

New technologies in additive manufacturing and digital design were used to create design pieces out of waste that is not only functional but quite beautiful and thought-provoking to look at. The waste used for the upcycling hub included more than 30,000 plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, foam packaging and wood pallets. Additionally, computer numerical control cutting helped shape the pieces into furniture and design elements for the space.

Then, there is a red wall where designs are explained using axonometric drawings to show the complexity of the fabrication process. The white band on the window side of the room features open views and natural light that fall on a long table lit by 3D-printed biopolymer pendant lights. In the center of the room, social activities take place under a recycled PETG chandelier. Also, pallets make up the tables, cardboard for the coffee tables and foam was used to make chairs.

The hub is therefore the first interior design in Singapore to implement such technologies and materials together, the designers say. They also hope the space shows the way to a new method of creating ornamental design and furniture from waste.

The Gathering Chandelier is about 13 feet in diameter and shaped like a dome out of 16 robotically printed pieces. Further, its design can be produced with single continuous extrusion. The research team developed the fabrication process for creating this piece, assembling it with a large ABB robotic arm and an extruder fed 441 pounds of recycled PET pellets.

Four other Dining Chandeliers also tested a large-scale architecture fixture using conventional FDM 3D printers and recycled PET filament. Each domed chandelier has 450 pieces that are designed to be printable with a standard FDM printer, making design at scale accessible with standard technologies. Each tile was based on a minimal Schwarz D “Diamond” surface and designed to be printable without supports, which creates zero waste during fabrication. The project recovered 132 pounds of plastic.

Users of the space were asked what waste they wished to be used and what furniture they thought should be used in the space. Employees helped conceptualize the project, source waste and helped with assembly, which was intended to create a sense of ownership and make the process accessible.

“The project sets a platform to challenge our value systems and traditional understanding of waste material, redefining our relationship with waste by creating beautiful furniture with discarded plastic and wood through digital design and sustainable manufacturing methods,” Airlab says.

+ Airlab SUTD

Images via Fabian Ong

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Ocean Sole cleans up flip-flop waste and turns it into art

Marine waste and unemployment are two significant concerns in Kenya. A non-profit organization called Ocean Sole is on a mission to address them both.

Flip-flops litter the beaches throughout the region, adding stress to marine animals and detracting from the beauty of the beach. After the founder of Ocean Sole, Julie Church, witnessed children making toys out of flip-flop material, she encouraged them to continue and to get parents involved. As villagers began to wash, sort, cut and create, they found a viable side income by turning flip-flop waste into art they then sold at the local market.

Related: Divers remove nearly 50 tons of debris from coral reefs

This year, the non-profit plans to recycle over one million flip-flops. Moreover, Ocean Sole’s plan is in alignment with its mission to lessen the rampant pollution on Kenya’s shores.

In addition to progressively helping the environment, the company is community focused, with a goal of decreasing the nearly 40% unemployment rate. Local residents are also paid for the flip-flop collection. Artisans and organizational workers are employed as well. In all, the company estimates it supports around 1,000 people.

The sculptures and other products made from the recycled materials facilitate the conversation about pollution and waste while benefiting the economy, planet, and community.

Further, Ocean Sole defines itself as a social enterprise, lifting up everyone involved in the process. It also sees environmental cleanup as a social cause. Inasmuch it not only aims to reuse one million flip-flops, but also forecasts recycling over one ton of plastic foam each month. By replacing wood with recycled waste materials, the company estimates it’s saving over five hundred trees per year.

Acting as a voice for the environment, Ocean Sole donates over 10% of revenue to educational programs, conservation efforts, and beach cleanups.

It also employs over 100 workers from low-income families, provides bonuses, and supports continuing education for employees and their families. “People are the heart of our organization. We support equality & are passionate about community impact. We provide meals, healthcare, fair wages, and career advancement & educational opportunities, for not only our employees but their families as well.”

+ Ocean Sole

Images via Ocean Sole

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