To break the cycle of poverty and ensure food security for villagers, Joséphine Nakakande and NGO Eco-Agric Uganda developed a simple yet innovative idea: use small spaces and locally available materials to create low-cost sustainable vegetable gardens. At least 20 % of women in southwest Uganda livRead more
To break the cycle of poverty and ensure food security for villagers, Joséphine Nakakande and NGO Eco-Agric Uganda developed a simple yet innovative idea: use small spaces and locally available materials to create low-cost sustainable vegetable gardens. At least 20 % of women in southwest Uganda live in extreme poverty. Agricultural practices are rudimentary with often negative impacts on crop productivity, the soil and human health. Having identified the challenges during a Participatory Rural Appraisal in 2018, NGO Eco-Agric Uganda launched a training programme to promote sustainable vegetable growing, particularly mushrooms, to improve subsistence for these communities and generate revenues. This will make it easier and faster for vulnerable populations in Uganda and across Africa to grow vegetables using low-cost materials available locally. In turn, this will improve the economic situation and nutrition of these fragile rural families, while increasing fresh vegetable supply for a growing market in Uganda and further afield. At the same time, the project supports environmental conservation by reducing negative environmental impacts. Sustainable vegetable gardens will promote sustainable agriculture and reduce food transportation costs and water runoff. The fruit trees planted will clean the air and water, create shade for birds and humans, enrich the soil and provide food.
CloudFisher is an innovation that convert’s fog into drinking water. Despite initial skepticism, fog water has proven an efficient way to provide rural communities – who previously travelled miles every day to collect water. Created by Aqualonis, CloudFisher could allow people living in coastal orRead more
CloudFisher is an innovation that convert’s fog into drinking water. Despite initial skepticism, fog water has proven an efficient way to provide rural communities – who previously travelled miles every day to collect water.
Created by Aqualonis, CloudFisher could allow people living in coastal or mountainous areas to convert fog into safe drinking water. This water can also be used to irrigate crops or for forestry efforts
It’s made from a 3D mesh that can withstand high wind speeds, while still retaining water. It comes in a variety of sizes to suit individual needs or the needs of an entire village. The green innovation example is already being used to help people around the world.
TexFad, a Ugandan company, is turning this waste banana pseudo stems and other waste materials into high-quality, sustainable textile products. The startup, founded by Kimani Muturi, extracts the fiber from parts of the banana tree’s trunks that can be used to produce environmentally friendly producRead more
TexFad, a Ugandan company, is turning this waste banana pseudo stems and other waste materials into high-quality, sustainable textile products. The startup, founded by Kimani Muturi, extracts the fiber from parts of the banana tree’s trunks that can be used to produce environmentally friendly products such as textiles, carpets, biodegradable hair extensions.
The banana tree trunks are first split in half with machetes and fed into a cutting machine. The machine then transforms these trunks into long, leathery fibers that are hung on lines to dry before being processed and used to make high-quality eco-friendly products.
TexFad isn’t the only company to use banana waste to develop eco-friendly products. Researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia, have developed a novel method to turn banana plantation waste into biodegradable and recyclable packaging material.
Water hyacinth, scientifically known as Eicchronia carssipes, is a weed from the Amazon basin in South America. The plant species has become a nuisance in water bodies, the fast-growing plant is invasive and negatively impacts the aquatic flora and fauna, thus the environment at large. However, toRead more
Water hyacinth, scientifically known as Eicchronia carssipes, is a weed from the Amazon basin in South America. The plant species has become a nuisance in water bodies, the fast-growing plant is invasive and negatively impacts the aquatic flora and fauna, thus the environment at large.
However, to solve the issues of the water hyacinth, a group of young women in Assam have converted the organic waste into an opportunity by turning them into environment-friendly, biodegradable yoga mats. Since February 2021, six women have been working to make it a source of livelihood and revive the lake to its old glory.
Their experiments, while exploring multiple options, is what led them to make yoga mats. The mats are made by removing the water hyacinth from the water body and sun-drying them. About 12 kilos of water hyacinth shrink to 2-3 kilos. Once they are dried, their stems are used to weave between cotton threads to make these mats.
Since October 2018, the enterprise is supporting the women in the region through initiatives like creating fiber out of water hyacinth further recycling the invasive aquatic plant.
Food waste is a critical issue affecting the world. Tackling the food waste problem is a major part of the UN’s sustainable development goals. Not only can reducing global food waste help to eliminate food insecurity and malnutrition, but reducing food waste, a major greenhouse gas contributor, canRead more
Food waste is a critical issue affecting the world. Tackling the food waste problem
is a major part of the UN’s sustainable development goals. Not only can reducing global food waste help to eliminate food insecurity and malnutrition, but reducing food waste, a major greenhouse gas contributor, can also help make a significant impact in slowing climate change.
With DEMETRA, Green Code is tackling the issue of food waste in the fruits and vegetables chain, along with its carbon footprint and social impact. At the same time, it makes the storage process of these goods more sustainable and affordable. Half of the world harvest is wasted every year, as plants and fruits are highly susceptible to pathogens and difficult to store.
DEMETRA is a natural, post-harvest treatment for fruit preservation, to prevent food waste and extend the shelf life of fresh products. It inhibits fruit ripening, enhancing the fruit’s innate resistance against pathogens and stresses. It directly prevents food waste, while enhancing the quality of the fruits and mitigating the carbon footprint and energetic costs of cold storage.
Inspired by nature, the formulation of DEMETRA is 100% composed of plant extracts, and allows it to control the fruit in the same way that plants do. All its ingredients are safe for humans and the environment, and are also compatible with organic agriculture.
Mark Herrema and his partner Kenton Kimmel founded Newlight Technologies in California in 2003. A solution to replace standard plastic with a new material - AirCarbon - manufactured from methane using an innovative, less expensive and more environmentally friendly production process. AirCarbon was dRead more
Mark Herrema and his partner Kenton Kimmel founded Newlight Technologies in California in 2003. A solution to replace standard plastic with a new material – AirCarbon – manufactured from methane using an innovative, less expensive and more environmentally friendly production process.
AirCarbon was developed by Newlight Technologies and has already won many awards for its innovative sustainability. It’s made from carbon emissions that would otherwise be released into the air and can have a multitude of uses. It’s a verified carbon-negative material, meaning every step of its production and use is fully green and sustainable. Because it is not made from oil like other plastics, it is also a cost-effective alternative to other synthetic materials.
Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn introduced in-store herb gardens in 2017, to combat waste and give customers the freshest possible produce. Customers can then cut as many sprigs of the herbs as they need, without buying pre-packaged sprigs. It's a simple and effective way to cut down on plasticRead more
Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn introduced in-store herb gardens in 2017, to combat waste and give customers the freshest possible produce. Customers can then cut as many sprigs of the herbs as they need, without buying pre-packaged sprigs. It’s a simple and effective way to cut down on plastic packaging. Projects like this are examples of simple sustainable innovations with far-reaching positive implications.
In-store farming displays grow a variety of different herbs. This ensures that the herbs are as fresh as possible for consumers, while the store is able to capitalize on the popularity of urban planting.
The Groasis Waterboxx is one of the solutions, it is an inexpensive, easy-to-use device for planting trees, helping renovate degraded land and fight desertification from Spain to Ecuador. And the Waterboxx does it without constant irrigation. The Waterboxx device is an incubator for one to three treRead more
The Groasis Waterboxx is one of the solutions, it is an inexpensive, easy-to-use device for planting trees, helping renovate degraded land and fight desertification from Spain to Ecuador. And the Waterboxx does it without constant irrigation. The Waterboxx device is an incubator for one to three tree saplings, trapping and reusing scarce water resources for long enough to allow the saplings to set down long roots and grow strong.
It is a double-lidded bucket with a shaft that leads from the bottom through to the top where the saplings can grow. Water is added once at planting. After that, the top lid traps rain and nighttime condensation, trickles it down into the second lid, which prevents evaporation and keeps the sapling’s roots irrigated by means of a wick.
With the Waterboxx, the young saplings are protected from wind and sun by the walls and floor of the bucket. Once the saplings are strong enough, the tree incubator can be removed and reused.
It basically is an “intelligent bucket” made from recycled paper, which can germinate seeds, incubate saplings, and water plants and requires 90% less water than traditional growing methods and can be used in some of the most extreme climates on Earth.
Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde has released his latest Smog Free Project that clears carbon particles polluting the air and transforms them into fine jewelry. The Smog Free Tower produces smog-free bubbles of public space, allowing people to breathe and experience clean air for free. The Smog FreeRead more
Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde has released his latest Smog Free Project that clears carbon particles polluting the air and transforms them into fine jewelry. The Smog Free Tower produces smog-free bubbles of public space, allowing people to breathe and experience clean air for free.
The Smog Free Tower measures almost 23 feet high (7 meters) and sucks in polluted air, cleaning it through a process of ionization before releasing it again. At its peak performance, the tower cleans 30,000 m3 of air per hour.
We can even wear rings made from the compressed smog particles collected from the tower. By buying and wearing a Smog Free Ring, you’re contributing to over 10,700 square feet (1000 square meters) of clean air. The project has garnered a lot of attention since its inception, winning multiple awards. Recent tower campaigns have been launched in South Korea, China, the Netherlands, Mexico, and Poland.
A Mexico-based company has discovered a unique way to recycle avocado pits. Biofase, a startup founded in Michoacan, Mexico, is using discarded waste from the fruit to create biodegradable cutlery and straws in a bigger fight against single-use plastics and food waste. The company uses a technique tRead more
A Mexico-based company has discovered a unique way to recycle avocado pits. Biofase, a startup founded in Michoacan, Mexico, is using discarded waste from the fruit to create biodegradable cutlery and straws in a bigger fight against single-use plastics and food waste.
The company uses a technique that transforms avocado waste into bioplastics, which are then used to form materials. All of the products the company creates from the pits are fully biodegradable and decompose within 240 days. The organization processes around 15 metric tons of avocado waste every day. Not only is the operation proving profitable, but it is also good for the environment. Apart from the biodegradable utensils and straws, Biofase is preventing a significant amount of agricultural waste from ending up in Mexico’s landfills and surrounding bodies of water.
It even claims that its bioplastic food products have a lower carbon footprint than any other comparable material – even paper.
How can we break the cycle of poverty and ensure food security for villagers?
To break the cycle of poverty and ensure food security for villagers, Joséphine Nakakande and NGO Eco-Agric Uganda developed a simple yet innovative idea: use small spaces and locally available materials to create low-cost sustainable vegetable gardens. At least 20 % of women in southwest Uganda livRead more
To break the cycle of poverty and ensure food security for villagers, Joséphine Nakakande and NGO Eco-Agric Uganda developed a simple yet innovative idea: use small spaces and locally available materials to create low-cost sustainable vegetable gardens. At least 20 % of women in southwest Uganda live in extreme poverty. Agricultural practices are rudimentary with often negative impacts on crop productivity, the soil and human health. Having identified the challenges during a Participatory Rural Appraisal in 2018, NGO Eco-Agric Uganda launched a training programme to promote sustainable vegetable growing, particularly mushrooms, to improve subsistence for these communities and generate revenues. This will make it easier and faster for vulnerable populations in Uganda and across Africa to grow vegetables using low-cost materials available locally. In turn, this will improve the economic situation and nutrition of these fragile rural families, while increasing fresh vegetable supply for a growing market in Uganda and further afield. At the same time, the project supports environmental conservation by reducing negative environmental impacts. Sustainable vegetable gardens will promote sustainable agriculture and reduce food transportation costs and water runoff. The fruit trees planted will clean the air and water, create shade for birds and humans, enrich the soil and provide food.
See lessMany places in the world without access to safe drinking water experience foggy weather. How can we provide them with high-quality drinking water, as well as water for agriculture and forestry?
CloudFisher is an innovation that convert’s fog into drinking water. Despite initial skepticism, fog water has proven an efficient way to provide rural communities – who previously travelled miles every day to collect water. Created by Aqualonis, CloudFisher could allow people living in coastal orRead more
CloudFisher is an innovation that convert’s fog into drinking water. Despite initial skepticism, fog water has proven an efficient way to provide rural communities – who previously travelled miles every day to collect water.
Created by Aqualonis, CloudFisher could allow people living in coastal or mountainous areas to convert fog into safe drinking water. This water can also be used to irrigate crops or for forestry efforts
It’s made from a 3D mesh that can withstand high wind speeds, while still retaining water. It comes in a variety of sizes to suit individual needs or the needs of an entire village. The green innovation example is already being used to help people around the world.
See lessBesides fruit, banana plants also produce giant stems. These stems wind up making up a huge portion of the billion tons of waste agriculture produces each year. How can we turn Banana stems into something useful?
TexFad, a Ugandan company, is turning this waste banana pseudo stems and other waste materials into high-quality, sustainable textile products. The startup, founded by Kimani Muturi, extracts the fiber from parts of the banana tree’s trunks that can be used to produce environmentally friendly producRead more
TexFad, a Ugandan company, is turning this waste banana pseudo stems and other waste materials into high-quality, sustainable textile products. The startup, founded by Kimani Muturi, extracts the fiber from parts of the banana tree’s trunks that can be used to produce environmentally friendly products such as textiles, carpets, biodegradable hair extensions.
The banana tree trunks are first split in half with machetes and fed into a cutting machine. The machine then transforms these trunks into long, leathery fibers that are hung on lines to dry before being processed and used to make high-quality eco-friendly products.
TexFad isn’t the only company to use banana waste to develop eco-friendly products. Researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia, have developed a novel method to turn banana plantation waste into biodegradable and recyclable packaging material.
https://youtu.be/Ust6Bh1D3GY
See lessWater hyacinth and water moss have been choking many water bodies in the country, causing serious ecological and economic problems. How can we solve the issues of the water hyacinth?
Water hyacinth, scientifically known as Eicchronia carssipes, is a weed from the Amazon basin in South America. The plant species has become a nuisance in water bodies, the fast-growing plant is invasive and negatively impacts the aquatic flora and fauna, thus the environment at large. However, toRead more
Water hyacinth, scientifically known as Eicchronia carssipes, is a weed from the Amazon basin in South America. The plant species has become a nuisance in water bodies, the fast-growing plant is invasive and negatively impacts the aquatic flora and fauna, thus the environment at large.
However, to solve the issues of the water hyacinth, a group of young women in Assam have converted the organic waste into an opportunity by turning them into environment-friendly, biodegradable yoga mats. Since February 2021, six women have been working to make it a source of livelihood and revive the lake to its old glory.
Their experiments, while exploring multiple options, is what led them to make yoga mats. The mats are made by removing the water hyacinth from the water body and sun-drying them. About 12 kilos of water hyacinth shrink to 2-3 kilos. Once they are dried, their stems are used to weave between cotton threads to make these mats.
Since October 2018, the enterprise is supporting the women in the region through initiatives like creating fiber out of water hyacinth further recycling the invasive aquatic plant.
One-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally, which amounts to about 1.3 billion tonnes per year. How can we solve the problem of food wastage?
Food waste is a critical issue affecting the world. Tackling the food waste problem is a major part of the UN’s sustainable development goals. Not only can reducing global food waste help to eliminate food insecurity and malnutrition, but reducing food waste, a major greenhouse gas contributor, canRead more
Food waste is a critical issue affecting the world. Tackling the food waste problem
is a major part of the UN’s sustainable development goals. Not only can reducing global food waste help to eliminate food insecurity and malnutrition, but reducing food waste, a major greenhouse gas contributor, can also help make a significant impact in slowing climate change.
With DEMETRA, Green Code is tackling the issue of food waste in the fruits and vegetables chain, along with its carbon footprint and social impact. At the same time, it makes the storage process of these goods more sustainable and affordable. Half of the world harvest is wasted every year, as plants and fruits are highly susceptible to pathogens and difficult to store.
DEMETRA is a natural, post-harvest treatment for fruit preservation, to prevent food waste and extend the shelf life of fresh products. It inhibits fruit ripening, enhancing the fruit’s innate resistance against pathogens and stresses. It directly prevents food waste, while enhancing the quality of the fruits and mitigating the carbon footprint and energetic costs of cold storage.
Inspired by nature, the formulation of DEMETRA is 100% composed of plant extracts, and allows it to control the fruit in the same way that plants do. All its ingredients are safe for humans and the environment, and are also compatible with organic agriculture.
See lessHow can we replace standard plastic with something that is less expensive and has a more environmentally friendly production process?
Mark Herrema and his partner Kenton Kimmel founded Newlight Technologies in California in 2003. A solution to replace standard plastic with a new material - AirCarbon - manufactured from methane using an innovative, less expensive and more environmentally friendly production process. AirCarbon was dRead more
Mark Herrema and his partner Kenton Kimmel founded Newlight Technologies in California in 2003. A solution to replace standard plastic with a new material – AirCarbon – manufactured from methane using an innovative, less expensive and more environmentally friendly production process.
AirCarbon was developed by Newlight Technologies and has already won many awards for its innovative sustainability. It’s made from carbon emissions that would otherwise be released into the air and can have a multitude of uses. It’s a verified carbon-negative material, meaning every step of its production and use is fully green and sustainable. Because it is not made from oil like other plastics, it is also a cost-effective alternative to other synthetic materials.
See lessSupermarkets contain herbs which are packed in plastic and contain pesticides too. How can we get fresh, on-demand access to herbs while also reducing wastage?
Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn introduced in-store herb gardens in 2017, to combat waste and give customers the freshest possible produce. Customers can then cut as many sprigs of the herbs as they need, without buying pre-packaged sprigs. It's a simple and effective way to cut down on plasticRead more
Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn introduced in-store herb gardens in 2017, to combat waste and give customers the freshest possible produce. Customers can then cut as many sprigs of the herbs as they need, without buying pre-packaged sprigs. It’s a simple and effective way to cut down on plastic packaging. Projects like this are examples of simple sustainable innovations with far-reaching positive implications.
In-store farming displays grow a variety of different herbs. This ensures that the herbs are as fresh as possible for consumers, while the store is able to capitalize on the popularity of urban planting.
See lessAt this moment we are using around 70 to 80% of the fresh water for agricultural purposes. Besides the water shortages in the world, the world population is increasing. Will there be enough water to produce enough food in the future?
The Groasis Waterboxx is one of the solutions, it is an inexpensive, easy-to-use device for planting trees, helping renovate degraded land and fight desertification from Spain to Ecuador. And the Waterboxx does it without constant irrigation. The Waterboxx device is an incubator for one to three treRead more
The Groasis Waterboxx is one of the solutions, it is an inexpensive, easy-to-use device for planting trees, helping renovate degraded land and fight desertification from Spain to Ecuador. And the Waterboxx does it without constant irrigation. The Waterboxx device is an incubator for one to three tree saplings, trapping and reusing scarce water resources for long enough to allow the saplings to set down long roots and grow strong.
It is a double-lidded bucket with a shaft that leads from the bottom through to the top where the saplings can grow. Water is added once at planting. After that, the top lid traps rain and nighttime condensation, trickles it down into the second lid, which prevents evaporation and keeps the sapling’s roots irrigated by means of a wick.
With the Waterboxx, the young saplings are protected from wind and sun by the walls and floor of the bucket. Once the saplings are strong enough, the tree incubator can be removed and reused.
It basically is an “intelligent bucket” made from recycled paper, which can germinate seeds, incubate saplings, and water plants and requires 90% less water than traditional growing methods and can be used in some of the most extreme climates on Earth.
See lessAir pollution not only contributes to climate change but is also exacerbated by it. How can we reduce air pollution and provide an inspirational experience of a clean future?
Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde has released his latest Smog Free Project that clears carbon particles polluting the air and transforms them into fine jewelry. The Smog Free Tower produces smog-free bubbles of public space, allowing people to breathe and experience clean air for free. The Smog FreeRead more
Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde has released his latest Smog Free Project that clears carbon particles polluting the air and transforms them into fine jewelry. The Smog Free Tower produces smog-free bubbles of public space, allowing people to breathe and experience clean air for free.
The Smog Free Tower measures almost 23 feet high (7 meters) and sucks in polluted air, cleaning it through a process of ionization before releasing it again. At its peak performance, the tower cleans 30,000 m3 of air per hour.
We can even wear rings made from the compressed smog particles collected from the tower. By buying and wearing a Smog Free Ring, you’re contributing to over 10,700 square feet (1000 square meters) of clean air. The project has garnered a lot of attention since its inception, winning multiple awards. Recent tower campaigns have been launched in South Korea, China, the Netherlands, Mexico, and Poland.
https://youtu.be/OFfn7kzzccI
See lessAvocados have become the latest trend in the Western World’s diet, leaving behind mounds of inedible pits. How can we sustainably manage the discarded waste from the fruit?
A Mexico-based company has discovered a unique way to recycle avocado pits. Biofase, a startup founded in Michoacan, Mexico, is using discarded waste from the fruit to create biodegradable cutlery and straws in a bigger fight against single-use plastics and food waste. The company uses a technique tRead more
A Mexico-based company has discovered a unique way to recycle avocado pits. Biofase, a startup founded in Michoacan, Mexico, is using discarded waste from the fruit to create biodegradable cutlery and straws in a bigger fight against single-use plastics and food waste.
The company uses a technique that transforms avocado waste into bioplastics, which are then used to form materials. All of the products the company creates from the pits are fully biodegradable and decompose within 240 days. The organization processes around 15 metric tons of avocado waste every day. Not only is the operation proving profitable, but it is also good for the environment. Apart from the biodegradable utensils and straws, Biofase is preventing a significant amount of agricultural waste from ending up in Mexico’s landfills and surrounding bodies of water.
It even claims that its bioplastic food products have a lower carbon footprint than any other comparable material – even paper.
https://youtu.be/uJY2A-HaQRY
See less