tag > Upcycling
-
ODYM - An open software framework for studying dynamic material systems: Principles, implementation, and data structures - by Stefan Pauliuk & Niko Heeren (2019) (Code)
The ODYM model framework is a software library for dynamic material flow analysis (MFA) for modeling biophysical stock-flow relations in socioeconomic metabolism.
-
Reflow - Co-creating circular and regenerative resource flows in cities.
REFLOW is an EU H2020 funded project, from 2019 to 2022, that seeks to understand and transform urban material flows and to co-create and test circular and regenerative solutions at business, gov and citizen levels.
Who creates the circular economy? - by Sally Bourdon from @REFLOW_project
One piece of inspiration comes from Alexander Lemille who advocates for not Circular economy but a ‘Circular Humanosphere,’ a Circular Economy 2.0 which emphasises the need for intergenerational and interspatial decision-making. That’s what we’re doing with REFLOW: bringing together representatives from a variety of organisations, initiatives, lines of thought and work to co-create the holistic definition of the circular economy – in short, society.
-
China moves to phase out single-use plastics (reuters)
China is stepping up restrictions on the production, sale and use of single-use plastic products, the state planner said on Sunday, as it seeks to tackle one of the country’s biggest environmental problems. The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, which issued the new policy, said plastic bags will be banned in all of China’s major cities by the end of 2020 and banned in all cities and towns in 2022. Markets selling fresh produce will be exempt from the ban until 2025. By end of 2020, the restaurant industry will be banned from using single-use straws. By 2025, towns and cities across China must reduce the consumption of single-use plastic items in the restaurant industry by 30%.
China starts 10-year fishing ban on Yangtze River (xinhuanet)
Starting from this year, the ban will be observed in 332 conservation areas in the Yangtze River basin, which will also be expanded to all natural waterways of the river and its major tributaries from no later than Jan. 1, 2021. Fishing will also be prohibited on natural waterways of large lakes connected to the Yangtze such as the Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake for 10 years starting from no later than Jan. 1, 2021.
-
The Circular Economy: Breakthrough or Distraction? - By Stefan Pauliuk (2017)
-
On the doorstep - by Kyla Fisher
"E-commerce packaging has already disrupted the materials recovery system, but the seismic shopping shift is still in its early stages. Here's how the recycling industry can start planning for more changes to be delivered soon."
-
Details on India’s mixed paper import crackdown (Resource Recycling, 2020)
India has grown as a downstream market for U.S. mixed paper in recent years. "India, the largest overseas market for U.S. mixed paper, has tightened quality standards & reduced its recycled fiber import volume. Imported mixed paper will be allowed a maximum of 1% contamination and will face more rigorous inspections. The move threatens to close a major outlet for U.S. mixed paper: From January through November 2019, India imported 1 million short tons of mixed paper from the U.S., or 41% of all U.S. mixed paper exports."
“The new Indian implementation is potentially catastrophic for the U.K.,” said Simon Ellin, CEO of the U.K.-based Recycling Association. After China, India is the second-largest export market for U.K. recovered packaging, Ellin said, and the country bought more than 400,000 metric tons of U.K. fiber in 2019, most of which was mixed paper. “If they implement a 1% tolerance on non-fiber content, then it is an extremely brave person who would continue to export mixed papers there – source separated or co-mingled,” Ellin said.
-
"Disruptors: How Circular Start-ups Can Accelerate the Circular Economy Transition" - Whitepaper by Thomas Bauwens et.al, Utrecht University (2020)
-
Apple AirPods Make More Money Than Spotify, Twitter, Snapchat & Shopify Combined
#Comment: Given that Apple's Airpods are an absolute environmental disaster (very short lifespan & many components are un-recyclable), this story is a wonderful illustration of the mechanics of late capitalism: the bigger the pollution, the bigger the profits. Future historians will come to see Apple & co as deeply regressive entities, ridding the tail-end of collapsing mass-consumerism culture.
-
Waste Not, Earn More - "Anaerobic Digesters Turn Waste into Fuel, Fertilizer and Income"
-
EnAlgae - sustainable technologies for algal biomass production
EnAlgae brings together 19 partners and 14 observers across seven EU Member States. It aims to reduce CO2 emissions and dependency on unsustainable energy sources in North West Europe.The project is developing sustainable technologies for algal biomass production, bioenergy and greenhouse gas mitigation, taking them from pilot facilities through to market-place products and services.
Capturing and representing knowledge from the EnAlgae project - Developing Decision Support Tools - presentation by Lynsey Melville
EnAlgae Decision Support Tool and Interactive Algal Growth Model
The Decision Support Toolset is a unique set of intuitive tools to inform and guide investors, technology developers, businesses, policy makers and researchers on micro and macro algae cultivation, featuring:
- Maps of algae stakeholders, potential production sites and algae cultivation in North West Europe
- A growth modelling tool based on real algae physiology data
- An economic model for various cultivation & downstream processing methods including biofuel production
- A 3D walkthrough demonstration of the algal cultivation process
- Country reports containing policy & regulatory information supporting new algae investment initiatives
- Best practice guides and standard operating procedures on algae cultivation
EnAlgae Documentary: Panning for Green Gold
EnAlgae has been about finding sustainable pathways for algal biomass. Initially the focus was all about energy, specifically as a biofuel. But our journey over the past four years shows that there's likely to be a different future ahead for using algae - as energy in food for one thing, and much more. Watch our half hour film to find out more.
The Algal Information Network (AIN)
The AIN role will be to develop productive and active initiatives which are able to contribute to the algae sector scale up in Europe. Among the wide set of information, news and documents available, this website hosts the first public databases of European actors in the algae market, from research centres to industrial end-users, associations and consultancy companies. In addition, the AIN website presents the Decision Support Tool, designed by EnAlgae: one of the most advanced IT Tools, able to provide precise concept studies for a preliminary investigation on the potential benefits of new algae facilities in the NWE region.
-
The ‘Amazon effect’ is flooding a struggling recycling system with cardboard.
"This holiday season, the popularity of online shopping collides with upheaval in cardboard recycling. China’s 2017 decision to turn away America’s trash has left the recycling industry reeling as it figures out what to do with all the packaging online shoppers leave behind.
Some municipal recycling programs have closed. Even the ones that haven’t still have headaches: specifically, filthy recyclables. All of that leads to more cardboard in landfills. The rise in curbside cardboard waste coming from packaging is “the Amazon effect”. Last year, Cyber Monday was the biggest shopping day for Amazon in the history of the company. The trend extends beyond the holidays: US Postal deliveries have doubled to 6.2 billion in 2018, from 3.1 billion in 2009."
"There’s been a more than 50% decline in the price of recovered cardboard in the US since China’s decision. Coupland believes there’s actually been as much as an 80 to 100% devaluation in some markets. That’s a big reason why cities across the country are scaling back or completely dumping their recycling programs."
-
Recology adds robotics to produce cleaner plastics
"A West Coast operator installed four artificial intelligence units at its high-tech San Francisco MRF. A company manager explained how the machinery is working in conjunction with optical sorters to boost recovery and reduce contamination."
"I don’t get sick. I don’t need breaks, lunches or days off. I work harder, longer and better than anyone else. I’m more accurate and more efficient than anyone could be. Thanks to my intelligent neural network, I’m capable of learning on the job so I can adapt to changing conditions and variables. Lowering costs & improving productivity"
-
"Deutschland kriegt das Problem nicht in den Griff: Es ist nicht nur so, dass der Abwärtstrend ausbleibt. Es gibt sogar wieder mehr Müll."
"E-Mobile ähneln inzwischen der Situation bei einem Kernkraftwerk, wenn es um die Entsorgung von Havaristen geht" #Regenerative #Upcycling #Circular
-
A new bioeconomy for a sustainable Europe: https://ec.europa.eu/research/bioeconomy/
The European Commission has put forward an action plan to develop a sustainable and circular bioeconomy that serves Europe’s society, environment and economy.
Bioeconomy – The next phase of economic development: http://makingoftomorrow.com/
-
Upcycle, the startup that turns biowaste into food: https://openresource.suez.com/-/upcycle-the-startup-that-turns-biowaste-into-food
-
https://www.bio-bean.com "The world’s largest recycler of coffee grounds"
