News

Lidl's very own Botticelli inspired Venus comes to Glasgow

If you can't make it to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence to see Botticelli's Venus, there's a green version of the 15th century masterpiece much closer to home - in Glasgow, a city famed for its incredible murals. Lidl chose to collaborate with mural artist Smug and Yardworks to bring a Venus to Glasgow, only this one is made from over 30,000 recycled plastic bottle caps.

Recycled plastic furniture by TYPO

TYPO is a design venture that offers a new business model. With a pre-ordering system, TYPO ensures its products are made in small batches, minimizing waste and guaranteeing quality - an approach that's already gained traction in the fashion industry.

TYPO is also committed to collaboration and community - evident in partnerships with like-minded makers and production specialists. For instance, to celebrate Replica's launch TYPO's collaborated with Colours of Arley to produce a bespoke cushion made from recycled plastic, complementing the stool's design aesthetic.

E-waste: recycle, don't dump

A study by music Magpie visualises the monthly production of e-waste worldwide to demonstrate the true scale of the problem.

Research reveals the UK produces the equivalent of 51 Blackpool Towers of e-waste a month - that’s a staggering 133,141 tonnes of this waste. And it may come a surprise to find nearly 80 per cent of Brits don't know what e-waste is.

Per capita, the countries producing the most e-waste annually are:

Biodiversity-crucial UK insects at risk of extinction

A new report by Buglife has found that half of the UK’s rarest species are at risk of global extinction. 

The report brings together knowledge on 20 invertebrate species endemic to the UK - endemic species being those found only in Britain and which are, therefore, fundamental to our biodiversity.

South Devon College launches sustainability qualifications

South Devon College is offering of three new sustainability qualifications: Access to Higher Education: Global Studies and Sustainability Diploma, a Foundation Degree (FdSc) in Global Change, Social Responsibility and Sustainability, and a Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner apprenticeship. 

Access to HE is a one-year full time programme, starting in September, and it will give students a route into university level study.

Magic mushrooms to combat air pollution

Futuristic fungi-filled wall tiles could devour harmful hydrocarbon air pollution caused by traffic emissions and burning fossil fuels.

That’s the vision Brunel Design student Thomas Sault is close to achieving with these honeycomb tiles made from mushroom mycelium.

Hydrocarbons in the air can cause cancer as well as skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis and even skin cancer.

Skinflint Lighting to become carbon neutral by 2025

£400,000 grant for Marine Biological Association

Dedicated to promoting research into our oceans and the life it supports, the Marine Biological Association provides unparalleled insight into the health of our seas that continues to shape national and international policy on how to combat climate change.

The funding will enable safe new labs to be built for the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey team with essential safety equipment, allow crucial research to continue and ultimately increase the MBA’s capacity for research and academic output.

Microplastics are everywhere

Rare bee found in Kent

The rare Shrill Carder Bee has been found to be flourishing on the Swanscombe Peninsula, one of the UK's most important threatened wildlife sites.

Jamie Robins of the charity Buglife says it's great news: 'We've known for years how important Swanscombe is, with over 2,000 species of invertebrate, including 200 of conservation concern. To find the Shrill Carder Bee here shows that this wildlife site is going from strength to strength - each year we're finding out more about just how essential it is that we protect this species.'

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