In the impoverished neighborhoods in and around Manila, Philippines, millions of people live in darkness in their homes—even in the daytime. Electricity is often too expensive, and windows are a building expense that many cannot afford. To change this, a local social entrepreneur has created a program called A Liter of Light that illuminates the…
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You probably know that recycling a plastic beverage bottle recaptures its value and keeps it out of the local landfill. You may also know that the bottle can live a second life in a container, carpeting, and even clothing. But have you ever wondered exactly how the plastic bottle that you toss in the recycling…
Read More…While we humans can choose from many products made with recycled plastics that help us close the recycling loop, what about our furry, four-legged friends? How can they help recycle? No worries, Max and Maggie. Whether at meals, play or rest, there now is a wide range of pet products made with recycled plastics. At…
Read More…April 22 is Earth Day – the perfect time to think about how we can make a difference to help our Mother Earth. Recycling plastic bottles and bags is one thing that everyone can do to help make a difference, not just because it keeps valuable materials out of landfills, but because the plastic bottles…
Read More…What happens to household garbage that is not recycled? More than half of household garbage in the U.S. is buried in landfills. However, some communities convert much of their garbage into energy that then is supplied to the electricity grid, powering homes and businesses. These communities have embraced energy recovery as a way to save…
Read More…As a graduate student in the early 70’s I needed to work to pay the bills, so I channeled my enthusiasm for the environment, along with a little business sense, into starting my own company – Resource Recycling. What started as a simple recycling company grew quickly into a recycling consulting and publishing firm.
Read More…Road trip? Plastics Make it PossibleSM has compiled a list of tips to help everyone recycle plastics away from home—at concerts, sporting events, festivals, beaches, camp sites … Plan it for the planet: Do some quick research (heard of Google?) on the venue to find out what plastics and other recycling is available on site.…
Read More…Many homeowners are looking for do-it-yourself (DIY) projects that help increase energy efficiency and save money. Installing a programmable thermostat and switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs can help, but homeowners interested in even more energy and money savings should start with the windows. Here are a few ways that plastics can help: Stop the…
Read More…We all know that wearing white or “cooler” colors during sunny summer days can help keep us cool because light colors reflect the sun’s rays rather than absorbing them like dark colors. Scientists today are applying this phenomenon to new technologies in building and construction, using white and light-colored roofing materials to create “cool roofs”…
Read More…In today’s cost-conscious economy, consumers are making choices to help them stretch every dollar. In the kitchen, this can mean cutting down on dining out, eating smaller portions, reusing leftovers or buying in bulk and making more of an effort to reduce food waste. Nearly two-thirds of Americans have changed their food consumption patterns because…
Read More…What made this show unique was its focus on sustainability and mentorship of fashion designers who were involved.
Read More…Written by Mary Fraser, BASF, ACC, Plastics Division Automotive Team and originally published on October 1st, 2009 in Gas 2.0. Photo Credit:BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Despite all of the challenges facing the automotive industry today, this is a time of great innovation. Electric vehicles are just months away from entering the U.S. market and evolving engine…
Read More…Creating and maintaining an energy efficient home can help you save on heating and cooling costs. It also allows you to feel good about your contribution to the environment by reducing energy output. According to ENERGY STAR, an average-size household spends about $1,500 a year on energy bills, spending the most in the colder winter months and the heat of mid-summer.
Read More…From residential homes to commercial buildings, hospitals and schools, architects and designers rely on plastics to help maximize durability and improve energy efficiency and performance. Properly installed plastic building products can help reduce energy and maintenance costs and potentially reduce a homeowner’s carbon footprint. In fact, a one-year study found that the use of plastic building materials saved 467.2 trillion Btu of energy over alternative construction materials. That’s enough energy saved over the course of a year to meet the average energy needs of 4.6 million U.S. households!
Read More…Plastics are already widely recycled to create new products ranging from playgrounds to carpets and clothes, but the latest recycling trend is to turn plastic waste into synthetic crude oil. How can plastic become oil? People often forget that in the United States most plastic is derived from natural gas. Plastics, natural gas, and petroleum…
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