Day 76 – Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I can’t think about St. Patrick’s day without thinking about the color green. So, it made perfect sense to write about green inventions that are improving the environment and the lives of so many.
Cleaning Up the Ocean
In 2013, an 18 year old, dutch engineering student named Boyan Slat, designed the Oceanic Cleanup Array. The design consisted of floating barriers that passively collected trash while anchored to the ocean floor. Today, Boyan Slat is the CEO of The Ocean Cleanup. The mission is simple, “The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit organization developing advanced technologies to rid the oceans of plastic. To achieve this objective, we have to work on a combination of closing the source and cleaning up what has already accumulated in the ocean and doesn’t go away by itself. This goal means we plan to put ourselves out of business – once we have completed this project, our work is done.” Their floating systems are designed to capture plastics ranging from small pieces just millimeters in size, up to large debris, including massive discarded fishing nets. After fleets of systems are deployed into every ocean, combined with source reduction, The Ocean Cleanup projects will be able to remove 90% of ocean plastic by 2040.
Ink Derived from Carbon Emissions
Graviky began as an MIT Media Lab experiment, when they hacked together a tool to capture soot from a burning candle and used the closest available solvents, vodka and vegetable oil, to produce a rough version of what is now AIR–INK®. They have gone on to create a device that attaches to a car’s muffler to trap pollutant particles that normally escape through the tailpipe. This collected residue can then be sent in to be processed into ink to produce a line of “Air Ink” pens, packaging ink and silk screen ink.
Solar Rooftop Cargo Container
Yakima’s new CBX Solar rooftop cargo box is topped with durable Sunflare solar panels. The cargo container is equipped with two USB ports and can power your campsite on an overnight trip or keep your devices charged, without having to use your car battery. You can charge phones, tablets, camping lanterns and action cameras.
A Straw that Changes Dirty Water to Clean Water
It started with an idea back in 1994 of a simple filtering system. By 2005 it became the award winning LifeStraw, which transforms dirty water into safe drinking water. For every product purchased, a child in need receives safe water for an entire year. The LifeStraw has provided clean drinking water to people around the world.
Eco Friendly 6-pack Ring
The E6PR is compostable, biodegradable and can hold cans. It is the first eco-friendly six-pack ring made from fiber by-product and other compostable materials, designed to replace plastic rings. Many beverage companies have joined the movement. So, be on the look out at your local grocery stores.
So, on this St. Patrick’s Day let’s celebrate everything green, not just the shamrocks and leprechauns.
Tomorrow, Zero Waste Boxes to help you on your journey to zero waste living.
365 Ways to Save the Planet 