Environmental innovations which are very fascinatingby Prayash Pathak (Chalise) | 13-02-2019 14:28 |
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1) A bacteria that breaks down PET plastic We all know that plastic waste is a huge problem — about 32 million tons of the stuff enter our landfills each year. Plastic is also polluting our oceans. Most of this plastic is not biodegradable. In a breakthrough that may help us make huge strides towards remedying the world¡¯s plastic problem, a team of researchers at Kyoto University has isolated a bacteria that feeds on polyethylene terephthalate (PET).While such fingi have been previously discovered, these fungi can be difficult to grow. The bacteria, on the other hand, named Ideonella sakaensis, is easy to grow. This bacteria can live on the PET, and ¡°eat¡± it in its entirety. Furthermore, the Kyoto University research team identified and isolated the enzyme in Ideonella sakaensisthat breaks down the PET, and manufactured it. 2) Uruguay¡¯s big shift towards renewable energy During the recent climate summit in Paris, the nation of Uruguay announced that a whopping 94.5 percent of its electricity now comes from renewable sources. What¡¯s especially encouraging is that Uruguay accomplished this transition without price hikes for consumers, and without the use of government subsidies. Much of Uruguay¡¯s electricity now comes from wind farms. 3) We Food: a supermarket for expired food A new supermarket in Copenhagen, Denmark, which opened in February, is revolutionizing how consumers look at ¡°past prime¡± food. WeFood takes a variety of products that are past their expiration date and sells them at a reduced price, cutting the cost for consumers by 30 to 50 percent. The food, which includes dairy, meats, frozen foods, breads, vegetables and fruits, comes from partnerships with other Danish grocery stores, as well as manufacturers and crowdfunding efforts. The food is still good to eat, but past its marked expiry date. Household items with slight flaws in packaging are also sold at the store. |
