Plastic waste is a growing concern worldwide, and researchers have been working hard to find solutions to this critical issue. Recently, some potentially promising news has emerged from a study that discovered microbes capable of breaking down plastic without requiring high temperatures. These microbes were found in the polar regions of the Arctic and the Swiss Alps. Although this is just the beginning of the research, these findings could have a significant impact on how we deal with industrial plastic waste in landfills, which causes massive ecological damage.

Degrading Plastic with heat is far from Carbon-Neutral

The traditional approach to harnessing plastic-degrading microorganisms has been hindered by their requirement for high temperatures. However, the microbes discovered in this study have rewritten the rules by showcasing their remarkable plastic-digesting abilities at low to moderate temperatures. Previous attempts to employ plastic-eating microorganisms at an industrial scale proved challenging due to the need for costly heating processes that were far from carbon-neutral. However, the newfound cold-adapted bacteria and fungi have the potential to revolutionize the field by providing an efficient and environmentally friendly solution.

Among the various microorganisms tested, two fungal strains, Neodevriesia and Lachnellula, emerged as the unsung heroes of plastic degradation. These extraordinary fungi exhibited the ability to break down almost all types of plastics tested, with the exception of polyethylene (PE), which remains a formidable challenge for current methods. Nonetheless, their success in decomposing biodegradable plastics, such as polyester-polyurethane (PUR), and commercially available mixtures of polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA), offers significant hope for a more sustainable future.

the researchers believe that these microbes’ ability to break down plastics may have been influenced by their natural adaptation to break down cutin, a protective layer found in plants that shares similarities with plastic polymers. This fortuitous connection between the microorganisms and the plant polymer cutin has paved the way for their enzymes to target plastic polymers, providing a starting point for further exploration and innovation in plastic waste management.

Although this discovery is merely the tip of the iceberg, it signifies a significant milestone in our quest to combat plastic pollution. Further research and development are essential to optimize the efficiency of plastic degradation and scale up these solutions for industrial applications. By prioritizing innovative approaches to plastic waste management, we can envision a future where plastic pollution becomes a relic of the past, safeguarding the health of our planet for generations to come.

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Apple has apparently vowed to become carbon neutral entirely by 2030. The Cupertino based giant has announced its plans for the move, which will be universal across its entire business to achieve the goal in the next 10 years.

According to Apple, “zero climate impact” is the end goal. The company will work with suppliers to reach complete carbon neutrality by 2030. In other words, the company’s operations will have no impact on Earth’s climate. The 10 year long roadmap is based on a series of innovations that Apple is going adopt across its product design, supplier operations, and materials processing.

Meaning, it will also have its supply chain commit to a certain standard of eco friendliness. The company made the announcement in the 2020 Environmental Progress Report earlier today (22nd July 2020). Apple plans on reducing its emissions by 75 percent in the next 10 years, while also developing new carbon removal techniques for the remaining 25 percent of its carbon footprint.

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At the moment, the company reduces its carbon impact primarily by recycling. Apple said that its latest recycling innovation came with “Dave,” a robot that disassembles iPhones to collect rare earth materials. Dave is the newer generation, which arrives after the company previously introduced “Daisy” for the same task.

Furthermore, Apple also announced that it will be investing 100 million US Dollars into its supply chain, which includes its new US-China Green Fund partnership. This sizeable sum of funds will go towards strengthening the energy efficiency efforts for its suppliers. Apple claims that over 70 suppliers have pledged to use 100 percent renewable energy for the production of Apple product’s components.

Apple CEO, Tim Cook, stated that “the innovations powering our environmental journey are not only good for the planet — they’ve helped us make our products more energy efficient and bring new sources of clean energy online around the world. Climate action can be the foundation for a new era of innovative potential, job creation, and durable economic growth. With our commitment to carbon neutrality, we hope to be a ripple in the pond that creates a much larger change.”

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Samsung Electronics, a known brand in the tech industry, is developing a reusable packaging box. This is likely a move to reduce the waste generated from packaging during the sale of electronics products.

The South Korean tech giant applied for a patent under the title ‘reusable packaging box,’ which features a packaging that combines an inner cushion and an outer protective layer. Generally, a large electronic product like a refrigerator ais shipped in a large cardboard box with styrofoam on the inside to act as shock absorbing material. However, once the product is installed, it is unlikely that it is kept for future use and is typically disposed of immediately.

This creates additional waste and has been known to pollute the environment in the long run, especially styrofoam since its a non-biodegradable material. To tackle this, the new reusable packaging box has been designed with a focus of being used multiple times rather than simply disposing it after one use. Furthermore, the integrated cushion material and outer cover simplify the packaging process while also reduces the number of waste products.

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Samsung has been influenced by many factors, one of which includes an upcoming Government regulation on waste in its home country, South Korea. Environmental protection and reduction in pollution caused by large corporations, especially within the electronics industry, has been a big debate for decades. If implemented, the new reusable packaging box could reduce disposable products and reduce its impact on the environment.

Notably, the development of the reusable packaging box from Samsung will have a great impact in terms of cost and environmental protection. This is due to packaging waste being a major polluting concern and the company has a big role since it is one of the biggest sellers in the industry. The new method of packaging is also a part of Samsung’s cyclical economy based around sourcing its supplies for its products from used and recyclable materials to fully optimize and reduce wastage during assembly.

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With the immense growth of e-commerce on a global scale, an awful lot of inventory and packaging are sent on one way trips. This results in a large amount of waste being gathered and resources being drained. But now, a startup by the name of LivingPackets has developed a reusable box that might replace the conventional cardboard boxes we see being used every day.

THE BOX

Interestingly, the reusable form of packaging has been dubbed THE BOX. And apart from its reusability, it also arrives with an integrated E Ink display, which seeks to replace traditional shipping labels. One of THE BOX’s main highlight feature is the fact that it can be used up to 1,000 times before needing a replacement.

To make THE BOX viable, LivingPackets also included the E Ink display which only consumes power when the label changes. Thus, it is also energy efficient, whilst also featuring environmental sensor to measure the temperature, humidity, and shocks. It can also connect to the internet allowing THE BOX to be tracked via an app.

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Viability

According to LivingPackets, the production cost of the reusable box is around 100 times more than a conventional cardboard box. However, the company further added that it could actually savs customers (major e-commerce firms and rather any company with inventory) money in the longer run. Additionally, THE BOX even helps reduce CO2 emissions (Carbon Dioxide) and other wastes if it is reused properly.

LivingPackets with THE BOX is planning on developing an ecosystem through which it charges its customers for its services, not the reusable box itself. Customers can also send packages using a smartphone app by selecting a carrier and method of delivery. Thus, it would even enable delivery brands to save money with the reusable form of packaging.

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