News

New children's book published on paper made from recycled cups

Blending imagination with innovation, Little Coffee Cup and the Big Surprise is a heartwarming tale that introduces young readers to Little Coffee Cup, a spirited character who leaves the comfort of a café to discover the big, wide world. But beneath the playful storyline lies a bigger purpose: to spark conversations about waste, reuse and the circular economy, one cup at a time. With the planet heating up at prodigious rates and plastic waste finding its way to every corner of the globe, it is never too early to get children to realise the importance of protecting the planet.

Lewis Pugh Martha's Vineyard swim for sharks

'I’m frightened of sharks,' Pugh readily admits. 'But I’m more terrified of a world without them, and that’s what we’re looking at if we don’t act now. Without sharks to keep them in balance, marine ecosystems are unravelling at frightening speed. We need a new narrative about these magnificent animals because the one we’ve been hearing for the past 50 years threatens our oceans.'

Captn Preet Chandi MBE joins Clean Planet Foundation

Capt Chandi says she's thrilled to be joining the peninsula project: 'The polar regions have taught me so much and I can’t wait to help others experience the incredible power of these environments while making a real contribution to science.'

Major award for UK's Gill Instruments

Gill Instruments is one of just 197 organisations nationwide to receive this year’s honour, recognising the company’s exceptional contribution to international trade in its field.
 

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:

Book review: Planet Aqua by Jeremy Rifkin

What would happen if we suddenly realized that the planet we live on appeared eerily alien, as if we’d been teleported to some other distant world? That frightening prospect is now. Our planetary hydrosphere, which animates life on Earth, is rebelling in the wake of a globally warming climate; it's unleashing blockbuster winter snows, biblical spring floods, devastating summer droughts, heatwaves and wildfires and deadly autumn hurricanes. These weather extremes wreak havoc on ecosystems, infrastructure, and society.

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.

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.

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