February 26, 2021
Moving from a linear business model to a circular takes time, effort and trial and error. But it also has its hidden benefits. "It can help you with some operational efficiencies. It can also position you to be sort of a company of the future, and also, frankly, tackle the environmental challenges that we have of our consumption model," said Tensie Whelan, director at New York University’s
...February 25, 2021
There are, however, many other terms used that are related to net zero but mean something else entirely different. This has led to much confusion to those not familiar with all the nuanced variations and concepts. In this article, we have compiled definitions and meanings of some of the most commonly used sustainability terms. Sustainability terms and their meanings Net zero emissions Net zero
...February 23, 2021
Domingo Morales, winner of the inaugural David Prize and its $200,000 grant, is bringing his compost education initiative to New York City.
February 23, 2021
Teams of Australia and India’s brightest students and most innovative start-ups turned their collective minds to solving global challenges at the inaugural India Australia Circular Economy Hackathon (I-ACE) held this month. The event — hosted by CSIRO and NITI Aayog Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) — saw almost 80 teams target problems such as reducing packaging waste, avoiding waste
...February 22, 2021
A circular economy looks different within each industry, but its broad vision of healing the harm from the industrial economy’s extractive, polluting original sins is appealing more to a variety of businesses. A small number of influential large companies are creating internal funds to support sustainability goals specific to circular economy initiatives, such as designing out waste and recovering
...February 19, 2021
Creating human-made materials from living or biological sources is by no means a new development, yet newly invented bio-based materials are garnering significant hype as of late. From electronic displays made from fish scales to sanitary products made from banana fibers, these inspiring innovations can capture human imagination and evoke an aspirational future free of toxins and litter, amongst other
...February 18, 2021
For more essays by Heather Clancy, sign up for VERGE Weekly, one of our free newsletters. In early January, I covered personal care products company Aveda’s project to trace and verify the provenance of its vanilla supply using blockchain — and to allow consumers to peek into that information by later this year. It’s not the only consumer brand dreaming about that sort of connection or
...February 18, 2021
These days, it’s hard to argue that sustainability is a niche consumer interest. A vast majority of consumers worldwide believe we need to consume less, according to research by GlobeScan. More to the point, 57 percent of consumers in that survey were willing to pay more for sustainable products. But only about a quarter of them actually made any sustainable changes to their lifestyle or consumption. So
...February 16, 2021
Two entrepreneurs are introducing circular business models that could upend the food and apparel industries for the better.
February 13, 2021
To erase its massive climate footprint, Ikea needs to change how it makes its products and how you buy them.