Page 99 – Green Prophet

Breaking the Habit: Healthier Alternatives to Smoking

Lifestyle

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May 24, 2023

muslim woman smoking — *Smoking can look cool or chic and in the Middle East smoking tastes like fruit in the form of shisha, which can be just as bad as regular cigarettes*

Are you a smoker struggling with the adverse effects of tobacco use? Many smokers recognize how unhealthy it is, yet they cannot escape this toxic habit. Many don’t realize that there are healthier alternatives to smoking cigarettes, which can help reduce one’s dependency on nicotine while decreasing their risk of developing health issues.

In this article, we will discuss helpful tips and methods for breaking your smoking habit in favor of safer options – such as vaping or nicotine gum – that can help improve your overall well-being without sacrificing the pleasure associated with smoking. Read on and learn more about how you could be one step closer to leading a healthier life.

What are the Dangers of Smoking and Why You Should Quit

woman smiling smoking cannabis — *Some people start smoking when they try medical cannabis*

Smoking has become a significant public health issue that devastates individuals and societies worldwide. The dangers of smoking are numerous and far-reaching. From lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema to heart disease, stroke, and premature death, it is evident that smoking can wreak havoc on one’s health. The addictive properties of nicotine make it extremely difficult for smokers to quit. However, quitting smoking remains imperative for smokers looking to improve their health and well-being despite the challenges.

By quitting smoking, individuals can reduce their risk of severe health problems and protect those around them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. Therefore, current smokers must understand the dangers of smoking and take the necessary steps to quit.

How to Kick the Habit for Good

hipster reads book while smoking a joint — *Smoking can go hand in hand with other behaviors. What are your triggers? Going to a party or going to Paris?*

Breaking the smoking habit is a complex process, but it is doable. To kick the habit for good, you must be prepared and willing to take the necessary steps to remain successful. Here are some tips that may help:

Breaking free from the grip of nicotine addiction is a challenging journey that many smokers embark upon in pursuit of a healthier and smoke-free life. While nicotine replacement therapies like patches, gums, and inhalers have been widely used to combat cravings during the quitting process, some individuals prefer to explore non-nicotine alternatives. These alternatives offer a way to transition away from smoking without relying on nicotine as a crutch.

Non-nicotine alternatives provide a range of options that can help individuals manage cravings, alleviate withdrawal symptoms, and break the habitual aspects of smoking. By embracing these alternatives, smokers can experience a healthier and more sustainable approach to quitting, without the continued exposure to nicotine. Here are some effective non-nicotine alternatives that can support you on your journey to a smoke-free life.

Herbal Cigarettes: Herbal cigarettes are nicotine-free and typically made from a blend of herbs. They mimic the ritual of smoking without the addictive nicotine component. While they may not be entirely risk-free, they can serve as a transitional tool in reducing nicotine dependence.
Nicotine-Free Vaping: Vaping devices that contain zero nicotine e-liquids have gained popularity as smoking cessation aids. These devices deliver flavored vapor without nicotine, providing a similar hand-to-mouth action and sensory experience. However, it’s important to note that the long-term effects of vaping are still being studied.
CBD Products: Cannabidiol (CBD) has gained recognition for its potential therapeutic properties. CBD products, such as oils, gummies, or vapes, can help manage stress, anxiety, and cravings associated with quitting smoking.
Mindfulness and Meditation: Mindfulness practices, including meditation and deep breathing exercises, can help reduce stress and promote overall well-being. By focusing on the present moment and observing thoughts and sensations without judgment, you can develop resilience and better cope with cravings.
Physical Activity: Engaging in regular exercise or physical activity can serve as a healthy distraction from cravings. Exercise releases endorphins, which elevate mood and reduce stress. It also helps improve lung function and overall fitness, reinforcing the positive changes you are making by quitting smoking.

Remember, everyone’s journey to quitting smoking is unique, and finding the right non-nicotine alternatives may require some experimentation. It’s essential to consult with healthcare professionals or smoking cessation specialists who can provide personalized guidance and support throughout the process. By exploring these alternatives and adopting a comprehensive approach, you can increase your chances of successfully staying off cigarettes and embracing a healthier, smoke-free lifestyle.

Set realistic goals: This could mean setting smaller goals, such as reducing your daily cigarette consumption or slowly cutting back on other smoking-related activities (e.g., drinking alcohol). Creating achievable targets can motivate you while giving you something concrete to work towards.

Find alternatives: There are numerous alternatives available that provide healthier options than smoking cigarettes; these include nicotine replacement therapy products (such as gums and patches), vape pens, or even prescription medications. These products provide the same nicotine fix as smoking, and may offer fewer adverse side effects. NEAFS has excellent options for smokers switching from cigarettes to alternative products.

Reach out for support: Quitting smoking or shisha can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out to family and friends or join a local support group to help you stay motivated throughout the process.

By following these tips, you should find it easier to break your habit in favor of healthier alternatives that can improve well-being without sacrificing pleasure. With effort and dedication, quitting smoking can help you live healthier and longer.

Identify Your Triggers and Learn to Avoid Them

Smoking can become a habit that is hard to break because of its associated triggers. Identifying and understanding your triggers will help you find ways to avoid them to reduce cravings and remain successful at quitting. Common smoking triggers include:

Stress
Boredom
Social situations
Alcohol consumption
Other smokers in your environment

Once these triggers are identified, you must recognize them before they lead to smoking urges. Replace your negative habits with healthier ones, such as exercising or spending more time outdoors. By avoiding specific situations and replacing them with healthier activities, you can improve your chances of success when transitioning from cigarettes to alternative products.

Healthy Alternatives to Smoking that Can Help You Stay Off Cigarettes

There are numerous alternatives available that can help you stay off cigarettes and still enjoy the pleasures of smoking. These include nicotine replacement therapy products such as gums and patches, vape pens, or prescription medications.

Nicotine replacement therapy products provide a less harmful way to satisfy your cravings while reducing the drawbacks associated with smoking cigarettes. Vape pens also offer a way to enjoy an experience similar to smoking without inhaling the chemicals found in traditional cigarettes. Additionally, various prescription medications can help reduce cravings for nicotine and make it easier for smokers to quit.

Tips for Staying Motivated and Overcoming Cravings

Developing a plan for quitting smoking can help you stay motivated and focused on your goal. Here are some tips to help you stick with your plan:

The main tip is to remind yourself why you are quitting. Keeping your goal in mind and the positive changes that come with it will help you stay on track. Set rewards for yourself along the way. It could be anything from treating yourself to a massage or haircut, indulging in an activity that doesn’t involve smoking, or taking a trip – whatever makes you feel rewarded after meeting goals.

Find activities to do whenever cravings strike. Exercise, deep breathing exercises, walking outdoors, or listening to music can help reduce nicotine cravings and keep your mind off smoking. If all else fails, reach out for support from family and friends or join a local group trying to quit smoking.

Support Resources to Help You Through Tough Times Ahead

Quitting smoking is a journey, and there will be times when you need extra support to stay on track. There are many resources available to help smokers break their habit for good. Online support groups can provide information, advice, and motivation from fellow quitters who understand the struggles and challenges of quitting.

Additionally, local doctors or clinics can provide additional counseling or other assistance. Your health insurance may even cover some of the costs of this type of treatment plan. Some sites provide free informational materials and videos to help answer questions about quitting and find an appropriate alternative product that meets your needs.

The toxicity of recycled plastics

Karin Kloosterman

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May 24, 2023

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plastic soup, boy with plastic heap at sea — *Plastic Soup draws an atlas of plastics and where they are accumulating around the world.*

In advance of the Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations, which are set to resume in Paris at the end of this month, Greenpeace is releasing a new report cataloging the many ways in which recycled plastics are toxic. We’d already reported on the toxicity of recycled plastics where we interviewed Gaia about the toxic effects of recycled plastics. And we know only about 5% of plastics in America are ever recycled.

The process of recycling plastic material is poorly regulated, if it happens at all. Today only 9% of plastic is recycled worldwide, according to the UN, and that which is putting people and planet at risk. Recycled plastics usually contain higher levels of chemicals like toxic flame retardants, benzene and other carcinogens, environmental pollutants like brominated and chlorinated dioxins, and numerous endocrine disruptors that can cause changes to the body’s natural hormone levels.

A new report from Greenpeace USA (get the full PDF report here) provides a catalog of peer-reviewed research and international studies concluding that recycling actually increases the toxicity of plastics. It highlights the threat that recycled plastics pose to the health of consumers, frontline communities, and workers in the recycling sector.

Toxic Forever, Greenpeace report on toxic, recycled plastics — *Recycled plastics are Toxic Forever: Greenpeace*

The report outlines that plastics contain more than 13,000 chemicals, with more than 3,200 of them known to be hazardous to human health. Recycled plastics often contain higher levels of chemicals that can poison people and contaminate communities.

“The plastics industry—including fossil fuel, petrochemical, and consumer goods companies—continues to put forward plastic recycling as the solution to the plastic pollution crisis. But this report shows that the toxicity of plastic actually increases with recycling,” says Graham Forbes, Global Plastics Campaign Lead at Greenpeace USA. “Plastics have no place in a circular economy and it’s clear that the only real solution to ending plastic pollution is to massively reduce plastic production.”

Greenpeace at the Paris meetings

At the Paris meetings, formally known as the second Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) meeting for the Global Plastics Treaty, the Greenpeace global network is advocating for an ambitious, legally binding agreement that accelerates a just transition away from a dependence on plastic materials and establishes global controls to regulate toxic chemicals in plastic.

Over 100 scientists and civil society groups issued a letter urging the United Nations to prevent the fossil fuel industry and plastics industry from undermining the negotiations. Jason Momoa, Jane Fonda, and Alec Baldwin and other celebrities call on the Biden Administration to support a legally binding treaty that caps plastic production.

Plastic production, disposal, and incineration facilities are most often located in low-income, marginalized communities across the world, which suffer from higher rates of cancer, lung disease and adverse birth outcomes associated with their exposure to the toxic chemicals. The Treaty should generate opportunities for workers to leave polluting and toxic industries for healthier jobs in a reuse-based economy.

Jo Banner of The Descendants Project, based in the Mississippi River region of Louisiana, said: “Plastics production is inconsistent with healthy, thriving communities, and this report shows that plastics recycling only perpetuates those harms. My region is now known as ‘Cancer Alley’ for the extreme risks of cancer and death due to pollution from plastic producing industries. We are calling on world leaders to negotiate a global plastics treaty that ends plastic production, protects communities like ours and supports a just transition for workers across the plastics supply chain.”

The report highlights three “poisonous pathways” for recycled plastic material to accumulate toxic chemicals:

Direct contamination from toxic chemicals in virgin plastic: When plastics are made with toxic chemicals and then recycled, the toxic chemicals can transfer into the recycled plastics.
Leaching of toxic substances into plastic waste: Numerous studies show that plastics can absorb contaminants through direct contact and through the absorption of volatile compounds.When plastics are tainted by toxins in the waste stream and the environment and are then recycled, they produce recycled plastics that contain a stew of toxic chemicals. For example, plastic containers for pesticides, cleaning solvents, and other toxic chemicals that enter the recycling chain can result in contamination of recycled plastic.
New toxic chemicals created by the recycling process: When plastics are heated in the recycling process, this can generate new toxic chemicals that make their way into the recycled plastics. For example, brominated dioxins are created when plastics containing brominated flame retardants are recycled, and a stabilizer used in plastic recycling can degrade to a highly toxic substance found in recycled plastics. Sorting challenges and the presence of certain packaging components in sorted materials can also lead to toxicity in recycled plastic. Studies have shown that benzene (a carcinogen) can be created by mechanical recycling of PET#1 plastic, even with very low rates of contamination by PVC#3 plastic, resulting in the cancer-causing chemical being found in recycled plastics.

At the Paris talks, Greenpeace is advocating for a seven-point plan that the Global Plastics Treaty should:

Achieve immediate, significant reductions in plastic production, establishing a pathway to end virgin plastic production.
Promote a shift to refill- and reuse-based economies, creating jobs and standards in new reuse industries and supporting established zero-waste practices.
Support a just transition for workers across the plastics supply chain, prioritizing waste pickers who collect approximately 60% of all plastic that is collected for recycling globally.
Promote non-combustion technologies for plastic waste stockpiles and waste disposal.
Institute the “polluter pays” principle for plastic waste management and for addressing the health and environmental costs throughout the plastics life cycle.
Significantly improve regulation, oversight, safety and worker protections for existing recycling facilities.
Require transparency about chemicals in plastics and eliminate all toxic additives and chemicals used in the plastics life cycle.

Deadly Red Sea epidemic wiped out sea urchins

Animals

Karin Kloosterman

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May 23, 2023

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A deadly epidemic is causing mass mortality of black sea urchins in the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Eilat. The entire population of Black Sea urchins in Eilat was wiped out over a couple of months. Thousands of sea urchins living in a site near the northern shore of the Gulf of Eilat died out over the course of a few weeks. The epidemic was so severe, that today no living black sea urchins have remained at the site, only skeletons. The same has happened at other sites in the Gulf of Eilat.

The studies note that such extensive mortality is also occurring in other countries in the region, including Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Greece, and Turkey. The researchers from Tel Aviv University sent us the distressing report that coral reefs, already alarmingly stressed, are at risk:

“Mass mortality of sea urchins in the Mediterranean Sea has spread to the Gulf of Eilat and threatens to destroy the coral reef. Within just two days a healthy sea urchin becomes a skeleton with no tissues,” they report.

Diadema, MME, Levantine basin, tropicalization, alien species, pathogens. — *A dying sea urchin*

The source of the pandemic points to a pathogenic ciliate parasite which in the 1980s eradicated the entire sea urchin population in the Caribbean, damaging the coral reef irreversibly. The current epidemic was first discovered in the Mediterranean but quickly reached the Red Sea, where it is spreading at an unprecedented rate.

Sea urchins in general, and black sea urchins specifically, are considered key species essential for the healthy functioning of coral reefs. Following the studies, an urgent report describing the current situation was submitted to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, and emergency steps for saving the coral reef are now being considered.

The mass mortality reminded the TAU researchers of one of the most famous and devastating events in the history of marine ecology: the disappearance of the sea urchins in the Caribbean. Until 1983 the Caribbean coral reef was a thriving tropical reef, quite similar to the coral reef in the Gulf of Eilat. Once the sea urchins disappeared, the algae multiplied without control, blocked the sunlight from reaching the corals, and the entire reef changed irreversibly – from a coral reef to an algae field.

The studies were led by Dr. Omri Bronstein and PhD students Rotem Zirler, Lisa-Maria Schmidt, Gal Eviatar, and Lachan Roth from the School of Zoology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, and The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History at Tel Aviv University. The papers were published in Frontiers in Marine science and Royal Society Open Science.

9 Significant Benefits of Remote Work

Business

Bhok Thompson

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May 23, 2023

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Van life under the stars — *#Vanlife is a great way to live and work remotely for a year or two. It’s sustainable and good for your soul.*

Now that 58% of Americans are working from home at least one day a week, the business landscape has dramatically changed. Remote work is certainly here to stay, and between 25% and 30% of Americans are estimated to work entirely from home by 2025.

Not only have the business dynamics of companies shifted, but other surprising changes have also occurred as well. From reduced air pollution due to less commuting to an increase in the birth rate, remote work offers numerous benefits across the board.

Environmental Benefits of Remote Work

garden office, seat waiting for you — *A room of one’s own, a tiny house office, pottery studio, or granny flat. Building a tiny home in your garden might be a better eco investment that renting a whole new space.*

From saving paper and reducing plastic usage to cleaner air, remote work has a significant positive environmental impact.

1. Significantly reduced carbon emissions

The average commuter creates 3.2 tons of carbon dioxide emissions a day, driving an average of 32 miles. For employees, commuting creates 98% of their carbon footprint. Not only is the footprint of a commute reduced with remote work, but companies also use fewer resources to power, cool, heat, and occupy physical office spaces. For example, office space for people would create roughly 234 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, which is almost double the emissions of working from home. This is also improving air quality in big cities and the suburbs.

2. Usage of cleaner technology sources

Companies use lots of different tools, cloud providers, platforms, and software to run their day-to-day operations. Data centers take up a huge chunk of those resources, generating 3% of the US total electricity use. When companies work remotely without a headquarters, they’re able to explore more flexible, sustainable technology options. For example, cloud data storage centers like AWS committed to 100% sustainable servers by 2030. On-site data centers are extremely cost-effective to maintain and gobble up natural resources. With remote working, companies are not constrained to a physical location and can seek out alternative, cleaner technology sources.

3. Less paper and plastic usage

Employees are less likely to print hefty documents or use single-use plastic when they’re working from home. A “paperless” home office can save as much as 14.7 pounds of carbon dioxide. Workers use fewer office supplies in general, and companies can again reduce their physical footprint when they don’t have to physically store tons of files and paperwork.

Cultural Benefits of Remote Work

For both working parents and the general public, remote work offers better work-life balance, increased productivity and flexibility, and more opportunities to focus on wellness.

1. Increased quality of life for working parents

Working parents are often spread thin, but a shift to remote work has led to better work-life balance, a reduction in stress, less time commuting, and more time spent with family and children. Working mothers are 32% less likely to leave their jobs if they’re allowed to work from home, creating more financial stability for their families. Working parents have more flexibility with their schedules when working remotely and feel more balanced than when they’re forced to go into an office every day.

2. Improved mental health

97% of people say that having a more flexible job would improve their quality of life. Remote working means less stress around the daily commute, and in lower socioeconomic areas, workers have the opportunity to seek out a higher-paying job without uprooting their life.

3. Improved physical health

77% of people said that a remote job would help them be physically healthier, giving them time for walks, breaks, and exercise. Remote workers can also make healthier, cheaper meals at home versus spending money on over-processed fast food and snacks. Workers feel less burned out, physically and mentally.

Business Benefits of Remote Work

While remote working is beneficial to employees, it’s also positive for their employers.

1. Reduced costs

Businesses can save up to $11,000 per employee when working remotely, which can add up quickly with hundreds of workers. Companies save on overhead costs and resources and can use smaller office spaces for occasional co-working. Research shows remote work could save US companies $500 billion annually, allowing them to spend that saved money on investments in technology, more skilled employees, better benefits, and more. For example, companies can invest in vanity phone numbers from 800.com over huge call centers.

2. Increased employee retention

Remote workers are also less likely to quit their jobs, reducing hiring and onboarding costs. It costs roughly $4,000 just to hire a new employee, and flexible remote working allows employees to stay in a job longer.

3. Increased focus and productivity

It’s estimated that companies lose $600 billion annually to workplace distractions, and remote workers are often 35% to 40% more productive. There are fewer interruptions, and employees can cultivate their preferred working environment without worrying about office politics.

Remote Work is the Future

Remote working offers a slew of benefits across American society. From positive environmental impacts to improved mental health to tighter-knit families, the opportunities are endless. As more companies explore remote working, we can expect more research to show the long-term impacts of at-home work environments.

Tiny house built from diapers and concrete

Architecture

Karin Kloosterman

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May 23, 2023

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Indonesia house concrete diapers, nappies — *A house in Indonesia is made with a mix of concrete and used diapers.*

A tiny house was built using recycled baby diapers and concrete showing this novel recycled material mix can replace up to 40% of the sand used in concrete without reducing its strength, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Kitakyushu in Japan.

The team published a study in Scientific Reports about their findings and say that it could be used to create low-cost housing for low-income countries.

A small, tiny house was built in Indonesia to demonstrate how the material works, using a concrete mix which diverts 1.7 cubic metres of diaper waste from going to landfill. Plastic bottles, tires, essentially Earthships (how to build one here) made from waste –– are all ways to divert garbage from going to landfill. This latest idea integrates a common household nuisance – diapers.

The downside to the new building material is that diapers decrease compressive strength in the building, so columns and beams would require a smaller proportion of the diaper waste than do architectural elements, such as walls.

diapers cooking in the oven — *Baking the diapers to a new composite material to add to concrete*

As for being a practical solution, unfortunately, “there’s no supporting system in the municipal waste management to separate diapers”, notes civil engineer Siswanti Zuraida, who led the project in Indonesia.

*A Huggies home? Scientists have built a house with old diapers*

Municipalities in countries like Canada have the ability to separate diaper waste from compost and other household waste so trying further pilots in Canada might be worthwhile.

diaper concrete home indonesia — *A diaper concrete home Indonesia*

The Japanese researchers in this study were trying to solve two environmental problems together: disposable diapers used both for babies and an increasing elderly population in countries like Japan are a growing source of non-recyclable waste, and cement production is responsible for almost 7% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, while consuming 50 billion tonnes of sand each year.

The diaper-concrete house in Indonesia demonstrates how this type of waste could be used for building housing in lower and middle-income communities. But better ideas using vernacular building techniques are out there: trailblazers like Bill and Athena Steen in Arizona have shown in an endless number of projects in Mexico that local, vernacular architecture can replace concrete altogether, and provide passive air conditioning and heating. Their solution uses natural strawbale building, adobe and earthen plaster that breathes.

The late and alternative builder Nader Khalili from Iran used superadobe methods (basically sand in bags, skipping concrete altogether), to build homes that nurture the human psyche, with caverns made to be soft and organic (like people), without modern sharp, square edges.

And Egypt’s Hassan Fathy nurtured the vernacular with his development of New Gourna for Egypt’s poor. As we see in Saudi Arabia it wasn’t that long ago when kings lived in mud houses – see the House of Saud’s ancestral mud house.

But modern architects love concrete; they are addicted to it, despite its toll on the planet. Indonesia, home to creative bamboo architects that gave birth to the Bali Green School, can surely come up with a better idea than more concrete.

IBUKA green bamboo Balu, Green School — *Ibuku at the Green School in Bali*

Siswanti Zuraida, a civil engineer at the University of Kitakyushu, began putting the project together while lecturing at the Bandung Science Technology Institute near Jakarta. Populations in Indonesia’s low- and middle-income brackets are growing, along with more babies, more diapers and more demands for low-cost housing.

“It’s all about the resource availability,” says Zuraida. “With the growth of the population, the diaper waste will also grow. It’s challenging, so we thought that this would be a part of our contribution to recycling this waste.”

Single-use diapers are made from wood pulp, cotton and super-absorbent polymers, small amounts of which have been shown to improve the mechanical properties of concrete. With funding from a Jakarta-based waste-management company called Awina, Zuraida set out to determine how much sand could be swapped for shredded nappies to create useful concrete and mortar.

5 Green Renovations to Make to Your Home

Home

Julie Steinbeck

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May 21, 2023

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herbs garden smartest food for your brain — *Start a garden, and improve your life and the value of your home*

Whether you want to reduce your carbon footprint or save money in the long run, there are a number of eco-friendly home improvements you might consider making. Here are five green renovations to make to your home.

Update Outdated Home Appliances

If you’re planning to remain in your home, either as the owner or as a renter through a residential sale leaseback, you might be looking for ways to lower your electric bill. One way you can do this is by updating your home appliances to Energy Star appliances. Some of the appliances you’ll want to consider updating include your refrigerator, dishwasher, oven, washer and dryer, cooling system, and water heater.

Start a Garden or Invest in a Greenhouse

Starting a garden so you can enjoy home grown fruits and vegetables is one of the most budget-friendly eco-renovations you can make to your home. You’ll be able to save money every week on your grocery bill, as well as have a more sustainable food option. Although a greenhouse may be a big upfront investment, it can lead to bundles of savings in the long run.

Consider Going Solar

water ship yacht — *A solar powered floating home*

Solar panels can be one of the most eco-friendly home improvements you ever invest in. Over 30 years, most of us will spend approximately $43,920 on electric bills. If you choose to go solar, you can greatly reduce this cost. Although you may need to spend a little bit of money up front to hire a Tampa FL electrician to help with installation, you’ll make that money back and then some in the long run. Thanks to Biden’s Residential Clean Energy Credit tax credit, you can also save an additional $9,000 through 2032.

Make Sure Your Home is Properly Insulated

Does your home often feel drafty? It might not seem like a significant renovation, but one of the most important sustainable home renovation ideas is to insulate your home.

When our homes aren’t properly insulated, cold or hot air makes its way in — while our heating and cooling solutions make their way out. The end result is a poorly regulated temperature, which can lead to significant cooling and heating costs. If your home feels drafty, it’s a sign that this may be a problem you need to take care of.

You might also want to update windows and doors to make them more energy efficient. Check pre-existing windows and doors for air leaks and caulk and weatherstrip (if needed) to make sure no warm or cool air is getting into your home.

You might also consider investing in dual pane windows, which can reduce energy by 24% in the winter months and 18% in the summer months. The gas-filled space between the panes traps cool air in summer and warm air in winter, reducing your need for additional heating and cooling.

Upgrade Your Thermostat

nest labs google — *A smart thermostat by Nest*

Many of us forget to turn down the thermostat before leaving our homes. Turning your thermostat down just 7-10 degrees for 8 hours per day can lower your heating and cooling costs by 10% per year, according to the US Department of Energy. This is where programmable thermostats can be a lifesaver.

These thermostats allow you to program them to adjust the temperature settings for certain hours during the day. This prevents you from keeping your home too warm while you’re working or away from home. Certain models also give you the option to adjust the temperature from your smartphone, so you don’t have to ever worry about not being able to raise or lower the temperature while you’re away from home. Programmable thermostats help ensure you’re not missing out on long-term savings.

These are just five green renovations to make to your home. From starting your own vegetable garden to investing in a programmable thermostat, there are a number of easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint and save bundles of money in the process. It’s a win-win for the environment and your wallet.

Tips for Starting a Business with Few Resources

Business

Julie Steinbeck

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May 21, 2023

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<strong>Tips for Starting a Business with Few Resources</strong>

*Bootstrapping in business, whether you run a startup or a brewery, means doing everything you can with your own hands and skills before you pay someone else to do it.*

Starting a business and making sure it survives the initial stages is never easy–for anyone. However, it’s become easier. As time goes on, technology and the resources at our fingertips enable all kinds of creative thinkers to come up with an innovative and successful business. Depending on what you want to do in your business, there are a lot of options for getting the business off the ground. When you don’t have much to start with, it can feel difficult. That’s not a good reason to abandon your dreams. Below are a few of the tips for starting a small business with few resources.

Come Up with an Original Idea

Karin Kloosterman, entrepreneur, founder of flux, and Green Prophet — *Let’s say you have a startup that aims to change the world for growing more food, saving water, solving health problems. Start with an original idea and grow with resources at hand.*

The most important thing you can do when you are starting a business with few resources is to make sure that your idea is original. When you have an original idea, you will be able to find the funding and resources to get it started. What kind of business are you starting? What will you focus on? Is there a specific service or product you are trying to push?

When it comes to starting a business these days, you need to make sure it’s original. Not only should you know who a similar business has done before, you should know exactly why your business is better and what you offer that they don’t. If there are no competitors, that’s even better.

Keep Your Overhead Low

With few resources, you can’t waste anything. We all know someone who started a business and expanded too quickly. When you have little to start with, you need to maximize profits in any way. You need to keep the overhead low to keep as much money as possible coming in. Then, once you have some profits you can add to the number of resources you have. What are you working with? What can you do with these things? The number of employees, space, and equipment you are paying for quickly adds up when you don’t start with much.

Use What You Have

In the spirit of keeping your overhead low, you also don’t want anything to sit there unused. You need to utilize what you do have. Think about what you have personally and what you can borrow. What space can you use? Who can help you for cheap or free? A company isn’t defined by its beginnings. It’s defined by its success. When you make the effort to use everything that you have at your disposal, you will be able to feel better about what you are doing. A huge part of this is thinking outside of the box.

Use Google Workspace Products

When you’re on a budget, the costs add up: registering a website domain, setting up a website, setting up email, picking word processing and spreadsheet software, paying for file storage, and so on. That’s why many businesses turn to Google Workspace. It’s like all of the free Google products that many people use–but you pay a small fee to get a professional version.

Google Workspace includes cloud storage, shared calendars, meeting tools, word processing with Docs, spreadsheets with Sheets, presentations with Slides, and even the capability to set up Gmail with a custom domain. In other words–so many of your technical needs can be met at relatively low cost. It’s worth investigating before you shell out money for each of these services from other providers.

Grow Slowly

Finally, few people who start a business want to hear this but it’s true—you need to grow slowly. There are only a couple of types of businesses that can grow very fast sustainably. You should be aiming for long-term wealth, not short-term. Whatever field you are in, you should make sure to grow slowly so that you don’t burn out like a flame. When you grow steadily, it’s a lot safer. When you don’t have much to start a business, you need to consistently add to what you have.

When you are trying to start a business and don’t have much to get it going, you are in a unique position. However, with this position you can utilize what you have, think outside the box, and grow slowly. You should keep your overhead low. As you work towards growth and prosperity, you will be able to overcome challenges and work towards doing something great. When you are trying to be successful, you need to be patient. If your idea is original, you can create something special.

The Authenticity of Sustainability in Modern Commerce

Economy

Julie Steinbeck

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May 21, 2023

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sharing economy slogan — *The sharing economy is an ecological one*

In the vibrant landscape of the 21st-century marketplace, every company is racing to secure its position in the eco-conscious consumers heart. But are they as green as they claim, or is it all just a marketing mirage? This question underlines the importance of discerning between marketing and calculated deception.

As individuals, we often look towards the horizon of a better future, an Earth that isn’t choking on the aftermath of rampant consumerism. Each of us hopes to play a pivotal role in this transformation, frequently through the conduit of our purchasing power. We want to align our spending with our values, and sustainability is key among these values for an ever-growing number of us.

The lure of sustainability is so potent that big and small companies are now integrating it into their core marketing strategies. They know that the modern consumer is discerning, educated, and willing to pay a premium for products that can help them tread lightly on the Earth. However, we must look beyond the surface to ensure that our purchases contribute to sustainability. The rise of reliable marketing, in which companies transparently communicate their sustainability efforts, is a breath of fresh air in the otherwise opaque market dynamics. It promotes trust and loyalty and gives us a sense of personal fulfillment. We, as consumers, can be confident that we’re contributing to a more sustainable future.

Yet, this is only part of the story. Unfortunately, not all that glitter is green. Behind some of these eco-friendly claims lurk deceptively complex marketing tactics. Companies may employ a facade of sustainability while their business practices tell a different story. A veneer of green can easily mislead consumers, making it essential for us to delve deeper into the veracity of these claims.

A study by the Global Ecolabelling Network highlighted the importance of rigorous research before making purchase decisions. The study found that consumers who conducted their research investigating a company’s sustainability practices were less likely to fall prey to deceptive marketing. This underlines the importance of being an informed consumer in the face of potential deception. As we traverse this intricate landscape, it’s critical to understand how companies employ deceptive marketing tactics to sell more products. By doing so, we can make informed decisions that align with our values and truly contribute to a more sustainable future.

The Art of Deceptive Marketing

Although universally frowned upon, Deceptive marketing has found its way into the mainstream of our fiercely competitive market. It is a tactic that, unfortunately, many companies resort to, leveraging their marketing prowess to manipulate consumer perception and behavior subtly and often undetectably. These strategies are not straightforward; they are intricately crafted and cleverly disguised to appear legitimate. The foremost objective is to control the narrative surrounding a product or a brand. Companies may exaggerate their products’ benefits, presenting them in an incredibly favorable light that outshines the competition. Glossy advertising, persuasive language, and compelling visuals often aid in creating this illusion of superiority.

Simultaneously, they conveniently mask the shortcomings, the less appealing aspects of their products, or their business practices. These could include harmful environmental impacts, unfair labor practices, or low-quality materials. The art of deception lies in the deft concealment of these negatives, ensuring that they remain unseen, unspoken, and irrelevant in the consumer’s decision-making process.

Furthermore, companies might make bold, unfounded claims that sound impressive but lack substance or factual backing. These could be vague assertions of sustainability, ethical sourcing, or exceptional quality. The intention is to create a perception of value and responsibility, appealing to the modern consumer’s desire for superior, sustainable products.

It’s a complex web of half-truths and embellishments designed to lure, convince, and convert potential buyers. The ultimate goal is to sell more, even if it means blurring the lines between ethical marketing and deception. The responsibility thus falls on us, the consumers, to unravel this web and see the truth behind the veil of claims and assurances. Our ability to do so directly influences our potential to contribute to genuine sustainability.

A Silent Predator – Greenwashing

A term that cleverly combines ‘green’ and ‘whitewashing’ is an insidious predator in sustainability. This marketing tactic paints a facade of environmental responsibility, often obscuring the less flattering reality of a company’s practices. Greenwashing involves companies investing more resources into marketing themselves as environmentally friendly rather than implementing business practices that mitigate environmental harm.

It’s a deception designed to tap into the consumer’s growing preference for green products without the commitment to true sustainability.

By presenting an eco-conscious image, these companies capitalize on consumers’ good intentions. The green label, whether in earthy packaging, eco-friendly buzzwords, or sustainability pledges, is often enough to sway purchasing decisions. Yet, beneath this veneer of environmental responsibility, their practices may be anything but sustainable.

The extensive use of natural imagery, the deliberate choice of ‘green’ language, and the vague and often misleading use of terms like ‘eco-friendly,’ ‘natural,’ and ‘organic’ all contribute to this illusion. Furthermore, companies may exaggerate the significance of one small, genuinely green aspect of their product while ignoring the larger harmful impacts of their overall operations. This is a classic case of the ‘forest for the trees’ deception, where the focus is intentionally shifted to obscure the bigger picture. Greenwashing is not just a marketing strategy; it’s a predatory tactic that exploits consumer trust and hampers genuine progress toward a sustainable market. As consumers, we must learn to distinguish between genuine sustainability and greenwashed deception.

Strategies to Counter Deceptive Tactics

composting cups greenwash — *Be aware that “compostable cups” is often misleading as they cups can only be chemically recycled at an industrial facility, not in your backyard*

We can handle deceptive marketing tactics with the right knowledge and tools. We become empowered consumers, capable of dissecting the complex narratives spun around products. We can discern reality and the mirage, genuine commitment to sustainability, and green veneers. Our power goes beyond just protecting our interests. We push companies to be more accountable whenever we question, probe, and demand transparency. We encourage them to shift from empty claims to tangible actions. Our choices can drive the market towards genuine sustainability.

Moreover, our informed decisions can create a ripple effect, inspiring others in our circles to become conscious consumers. This collective action can create a significant impact, pushing the market dynamics from profit-centered to planet-centered. Thus, by countering deceptive marketing, we are safeguarding our interests and contributing to a larger movement toward true sustainability.

The task of preserving our planet is immense, yet it begins with small, individual actions. By committing to being informed and discerning consumers, we can steer markets toward genuine sustainability and inspire a future that respects and nurtures our planet.

Meet Israel’s Eco-Rabbi David Pearlman Paran

Karin Kloosterman

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May 18, 2023

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Meet Israel’s Eco-Rabbi David Pearlman Paran

eco rabbi David Pearlman Paran — *Eco Rabbi David Pearman Paran*

The Jewish faith points to a number of sources that lead us to understand how to marvel in creation starting at Genesis with the Creation story. But it is also a living religion full of day-to-day practical tips for helping us save resources, protect public space, and letting nature rest. But how these “ideas” go into practice among secular and religious Jews in modern times leaves a lot of room for debate and guidance.

Rabbis function in Israel as spiritual guides but they mainly deal with the very practical application of the Jewish mitzvas more than anything. How do you celebrate holidays or simchas “happy events”; how do you cook in a kosher way, or how should the relationship look between husband and wife, friends and your community.

It’s not usual for any rabbi to have a specific skillset on environment issues, however. Same is true in Islam and Christianity although the times are changing. We know of one eco-rabbi in Jerusalem (Yonatan Neril – who wrote the Eco Bible) and no doubt there are many we haven’t met, but I was excited to hear that eco-activist David Pearlman Paran had taken the path, and we speak with him in the interview below about that path and what it means for Israel.

I’d met David about 20 years ago when he was working for the Heschel Center, an environmental advocacy group in Tel Aviv that teachers influencers from all walks of life how to walk the green walk at work. I was impressed not only by David’s passion and knowledge but enjoyed the philosophical questions has asked us as we toured a “sustainable Tel Aviv.”

He pointed out public and private spaces and made us listen and look to our city, wondering if it’s reasonable that the city allows us to be bombarded with advertisements and noise. He didn’t offer answers to the questions he asked, and that may be how the best teachers operate, asking you to search inside for the answer.

A little background: David immigrated to Israel in 1994 from Sydney, Australia and early on was a leader and educator at the Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership. He uses his theatre background when teaching environmental awareness to his students. Today he is also very involved in Israel’s Green Party and has served in various positions and is one of the leaders of Pardes Hanna’s Masorti Congregation: Darchei Noam. His wife is Yael Cohen Paran, a former Member of the Knesset from the Zionist Union party. She was a Knesset member from 2015-2019.

David was ordained an eco-rabbi by the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary in the Masorti/Conservative movement in Judaism, in December, 2022 in Jerusalem. Overseeing the seminary and education is Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch who explains to Green Prophet about our responsibility to protect the environment.

“It is a religious obligation to protect the environment and the world’s creations,” he says. “One reason is the basic obligation put on Adam, the first person, to ‘work and protect’ the world. Another reason is our responsibility to other human beings living today and in future generations.

“This responsibility is repeated in various commandments and in the Biblical emphasis to maintain every human being.”

“Thus, every single negative thing that we do in the world God created for us certainly has a negative impact on other people and is inappropriate and against what the Torah commands us,” adds Novis-Deutsch.

Reach out to David here.

Israel opens first hydrogen fuel station

Transportation

Brian Nitz

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May 17, 2023

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Israel opens first hydrogen fuel station

sonol hydrogen truck — *A hydrogen truck at a Sonol station*

Sonol, a company that operates regular petroleum-based fuel stations in Israel, has opened the country’s first hydrogen fuel station in the Haifa Bay. The world is seeing more and more hydrogen energy breakthroughs and countries nearby like Saudi Arabia are investing in hydrogen fuel.

Sonol is Israel’s third largest gas station chain. Israel’s Ministry of Energy identified a fuel port near Haifa as one of its economic development projects in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Sonol won this tender and worked with Germany’s H2 Mobility on this project. Sonol has also collaborated with Bazam petrochemical refining and the vehicle dealer Colmobile to bring hydrogen powered trucks to this port city.

The Hydrogen station is built close to northern Israel’s Kibbutz Yagur, six miles from the Bazan oil refineries at Haifa Bay. The same Sonol station offers regular fuel pumps and recharging stations for electric cars. It will soon start producing solar energy on the roof to be self-sufficient for its maintenance needs.

The estimated $3.3 million hydrogen project is a partnership between Sonol, Bazan, a hydrogen manufacturer and and car importer Colmobil, which has supplied the first three hydrogen trucks.

The transportation sector is responsible for about 20% of Israel’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Advantages of hydrogen fuel

As transport fuel, hydrogen has several advantages compared to traditional fossil fuels and electric batteries. Its mass energy density is extremely high which is why it is used to power fuel cells in spacecraft. When it is burned, it produces only water vapor with virtually no harmful air pollution and no carbon dioxide. It can be produced from water using green energy sources or found in natural geological deposits. This makes it an excellent fuel to combat climate change.

Filling is faster than charging: The time required to fill fuel tanks for Hydrogen fuel cells is much shorter than the time required to charge batteries

Hydrogen’s volume density is relatively low which means it needs a large fuel tank compared to gasoline or diesel fuel. This is why some of the earliest adoption of hydrogen as a transport fuel will be in large commercial vehicles such as the Hyundai Xcient trucks which will be fuelled at the Haifa port. This Hydrogen station will help Israel keep up with other nations in the adoption of this promising new fuel.

Hyundai enters the hydrogen market in the Middle East

Hyundai is bringing its hydrogen fuel cell truck Xcient to Israel, its first market in the Middle East. The aim is to form a hydrogen value chain in Israel. Hyundai’s plan align with Israel’s target to slash national greenhouse gas emissions by 27 per cent by 2030 and by 85 per cent by 2050, relative to 2015 emission levels.

“We are thrilled to support the Israel government’s strong commitment to building a sustainable future,” said Mark Freymueller, a VP at Hyundai. “Establishing the first hydrogen infrastructure in Israel in close collaboration with the country’s key players marks a significant milestone in our efforts to build a sustainable hydrogen value chain around the world.”

Haifa Bay is notoriously polluted. Israel energy and chemical infrastructure for industry operates in this area side-by-side with a growing residential city. We met recently with Ecoocean’s Andreas Weil, who founded Israel’s most influential marine protection NGO. He wonders why in most developed nations such ports are kept far from cities but in Israel they sit side-by-side. Development in more ecological areas is good but maybe it’s time to start moving fuel operations further away from city centers.

Karin Kloosterman contributed to this report

Have an energy innovation to share with us? Email [email protected]

Swimmer finds ancient Roman treasure off Israel’s coast

Karin Kloosterman

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May 16, 2023

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ancient marble treasure under the sea — *Ancient marble treasure found under the sea closes questions about how Roman structures were built in the Near East. They are being studied by marine archeologists.*

Thousands of years ago there was an active route of ships sailing between Europe and the Holy Land on the Mediterranean Sea. Here are there sea storms wiped out ships along with their contents before they reached shore. Treasure seekers still find surprising troves of ancient goods deep down under the sea.

In Beit Yanai, a small coastal village north of Netanya, a swimmer uncovered an enormous and rare cargo that sank in the sea. The 1800-year old marble columns were transported on a merchant ship from the Roman era and didn’t make.

This is the first cargo shipment of its kind known in the Eastern Mediterranean and included 44 tons of Corinthian capitals adorned with plant motifs; partially carved capitals, and marble columns up to 6 meters long never made to Israel’s shores. These valuable architectural pieces were meant for a temple or a theatre but a storm stopped the shipment.

The treasure was only about 200 meters from the seashore and was found by a man named Gideon Harris, while swimming out in the sea.

The Israel Antiquity Authorities announced that they’d known about the cargo for some time but had lost track of its exact location. Then they sent marine archeologists: “The recent storms must have exposed the cargo, and thanks to Gideon’s important report, we have been able to register its location, and carry out preliminary archaeological investigations, which will lead to a more in-depth research project,” says Koby Sharvit, Director of the underwater archaeology unit at the Israel Antiquities Authority.

From the position the site formation and angle of the cargo on the seabed, it is evident that the ship bearing the cargo was wrecked after the ship’s crew encountered a storm in the shallow waters, and dropped anchor in a desperate effort to prevent the ship from grounding: “Such storms often blow up suddenly along the country’s coast,” says Sharvit, “and due to the ships’ limited manoeuvring potential, they are often dragged into the shallow waters and shipwrecked.”

“From the size of the architectural elements, we can calculate the dimensions of the ship; we are talking about a merchant ship that could bear a cargo of at least 200 tons,” he adds. “These fine pieces are characteristic of large-scale, majestic public buildings. Even in Roman Caesarea, such architectural elements were made of local stone covered with white plaster to appear like marble.

“Here we are talking about genuine marble.”

The marble marble cargo likely came from the Aegean or Black Sea region, in Turkey or Greece, and since it was discovered south of the port of Caesarea, it seems that it was destined for one of the ports along the southern Levantine coast, Ashkelon or Gaza, or possibly even Alexandria in Egypt, the Authority body reports.

The finding resolves some old questions: Land and Sea archaeologists have long argued whether the Roman period imported architectural elements were completely worked in their lands of origin, or whether they were transported in a partially carved form, and were carved and fashioned at their site of destination.

The find of this cargo resolves the issue, as it is evident that the architectural elements left the quarry as basic raw material or partially worked artifacts and that they were fashioned and finished on the construction site, either by local artists and artisans or by artists who were brought to the site from other countries, similarly to specialist mosaic artists who traveled from site to site following commissioned projects.

The dirt on chemical recycling in plastics

Karin Kloosterman

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May 16, 2023

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The dirt on chemical recycling in plastics

woman choking on a plastic bag — Choking on plastic bags. Turns out 100 companies are leading greenwashing recycling in the plastics industry. Their so-called “sustainable” approach to reusing plastics is much much worse than you can imagine.

Company A produces millions of plastic cola bottles a day. Water bottles too, and plastic wrap to hold a six-pack of these cola and water bottles together. Company A is told by consumer watchdogs and eco-organizations that enough is enough – the planet can’t hold cheap plastic waste any longer. Landfills can’t carry plastic; plastics are degrading our health and ecosystems badly, and what is consumed in a few minutes lasts hundreds and thousands of years in landfill, or at the bottom of the sea. See flip-flops in the Seychelles.

Company A decides to find a way a great solution and a way to rebrand its bad reputation and goes to companies like McKinsey to help them persuade governments and consumers that plastics aren’t so bad because they are being “recycled, you, know… chemically.” While it sounds good on paper, chemical recycling in plastics, says environmental watchdog group Gaia a terrible idea: “Our position isn’t that one is worse than the other, they’re both equally bad!”

GAIA (or the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives), based in Berkeley says “the Emperor has no clothes: chemical recycling has long been touted by industry as a miracle solution, but when one looks closely these claims simply do not hold up,” says Neil Tangri, Science and Policy Director at GAIA.

“Thanks to the rigorous efforts of the scientific community and thorough investigations by media and environmental groups, the tide is turning.”

Why is chemical recycling so bad?

*Why is chemical recycling in plastics so bad? Break Free from Plastics provides an overview.*

We reached out to GAIA to understand the problem with plastics recycling today in the United States, and the world. Consider that 2 from the 5 worst companies are ExxonMobil and Dow, American companies. And Claire Arkin from GAIA clarifies, “What industry calls ‘chemical recycling’ is largely incineration of plastics, the “recycling” word is misleading,” she says.

Arkin explains to Green Prophet: “The force at play here that is most dangerous is the fact that the plastics industry is ramping up plastic production exponentially in the coming years, which our planet simply cannot support without spiralling into climate catastrophe and exceeding planetary boundaries for toxic chemicals.

“Chemical recycling not only enables further plastic production, but it causes significant climate and toxic emissions.”

Is chemical recycling in plastics worse than producing new plastics? “We are definitely not saying that it’s worse than producing virgin plastic, but that one begets the other– industry is claiming that chemical “recycling” is a silver bullet solution to plastic waste, which enables them to continue with business-as-usual of ramping up plastic production,” Arkin tells Green Prophet.

“For example, the American Chemistry Council says it will invest over $4 billion in “advanced recycling.” Meanwhile, the ACC is also investing over 35 times that–$164 billion– in new infrastructure to make more plastic. It’s a bit of a bait and switch. What the world really needs is a significant decrease in virgin plastic production, not the promotion of these false technologies under the guise of “recycling.”

Why chemical recycling in plastics is so bad

Recent independent investigations have found:

Processing 1kg of plastic using chemical “recycling” requires nearly 7x the amount of fossil fuels needed to make a kg of virgin plastic. Read about Exxon’s chemical recycling initiatives here.
If a refinery turned waste into a fuel (what most “chemical recycling” facilities actually do) the air emissions would be so toxic that 1 out of 4 people exposed to it over a lifetime could get cancer. And what’s considered “bio” in biofuels is simply not true. It’s plastic.
According to US government research, “chemical recycling” requires a significant amount of energy and emits greenhouse gasses and chemicals like benzene.
According to Dow Chemical’s very own study, “chemical recycling” caused more climate emissions than landfilling or burning plastic.
Shell, Unilever, and Dow Chemical all have documented “chemical recycling” failures.

The top 5 plastics producing companies in the world

Rank	Polymer Producer	No. of assets	Production of in-scope polymers	Flexible format contribution to SUP waste	Rigid format contribution to SUP waste	Location
1	ExxonMobil	55	11.2	4.7	1.2	Texas, United States
2	Sinopec	81	11.5	4.3	1.3	Nanjing, China
3	Dow	54	9.3	4.7	0.9	Michigan, United States
4	Indorama Ventures	26	5.1	0.2	4.5	Bangkok, Thailand
5	Saudi Aramco	56	9.5	3.2	1.1	Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

According to the NGO, No Plastic Waste, there are 100 companies producing 90 per cent of all single-use plastic waste generated globally. You can get the whole list here. But who tops the list? America’s ExonMobil, Dow, and China’s Sinopec, Thailand’s Indorama Ventures, and Saudi Arabia’s Saudi Aramco. If your parents or grandparents work for these companies, it’s time to start a conversation.

Of approximately 300 polymer producers operating globally, this small fraction hold the fate of the world’s plastic crisis in their hands. Among these companies located in the region we report on in the Middle East is Saudi Arabia’s Saudi Aramco, one of the world’s richest companies now building NEOM with billions of oil and plastics dollars.

The Line, Zero Gravity, Saudi Arabia — *Saudi Aramco is building a mile-long “sustainable” city built from billions of plastics and oil money. Isn’t the irony clear?*

What’s happening globally to stop chemical recycling?

On May 12 an international meeting took place to handle guidelines for plastic waste. The Parties to the Basel Convention adopted most of the text of updated technical guidelines for environmentally-sound plastic waste management. Despite intensive lobbying from the petrochemicals industry in the four years of negotiations to recognize what they call “chemical” or “advanced” “recycling,” as a solution to the plastics crisis, all that was obtained in the guidelines was mostly lip service, reports GAIA.

Advanced chemical recycling, GAIA reiterates, create more hazardous waste and pollution, massive carbon emissions, and enable further exponential plastic production, breaching our planetary boundaries. The petrochemicals industry needs to be told this is nowhere near a silver bullet solution. Business models based on cheap plastics need to adapt. The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was created to protect against abusive trade and mismanagement of hazardous waste.

Its technical guidelines are intended to assist Parties manage wastes in an environmentally-sound manner, taking all practical steps to protect human health and the environment. Virtually all of the guidelines text on chemical recycling was moved to an appendix after countries failed to find evidence that chemical recycling is environmentally sound.

The updated guidelines also include a new section on prevention, in a much-needed shift from the previous outdated version. “Four years of petrochemical industry lobbying and all they could get was half-baked, flimsy, bracketed, appended and fundamentally non-approved text on so-called ‘chemical recycling’. I say ‘so-called’ because it is really a mismatched bundle of dubious and dirty technologies marketed as a solution to justify continued overproduction of plastics,” says Sirine Rached, GAIA plastics policy coordinator.

“But governments are finally awakening to the reality that these technologies are neither innovative nor safe, and that more toxic and carbon emissions are the last thing we need when it comes to dealing with plastic waste,” she added.

Upcoming UN-endorsed plastics treaty negotiations will take place May 29 to June 2 in Paris, where industry groups like CEFLEX (links to PDF and an industry group representing petrochemical majors like Dow, Chevron, and BASF), and the Plastics Industry Association and the US Chamber of Commerce have all provided written submissions endorsing chemical recycling.

Some governments around the world have even called for an outright ban on “chemical recycling” in the future plastics treaty, as referenced in an official document outlining options for future treaty obligations and control measures, prepared by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Secretariat ahead of the Paris negotiations.

Gaia notes that “private consulting firms like McKinsey have continued to tout chemical “recycling” in reports [even highlighting opportunities!] provided to Member States to influence their decision-making, and there is reason to believe that such efforts will intensify in upcoming plastics treaty negotiations,” they write.“We’re not out of the woods yet,” said Tangri, “but the fact that chemical ‘recycling’ was relegated to an insignificant bracket in Geneva is a promising start.”

More about GAIA

GAIA is a worldwide alliance of more than 1,000 grassroots groups, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in over 90 countries aiming to catalyze a global shift towards environmental justice by strengthening grassroots social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution.

They envision a just, zero waste world built on respect for ecological limits and community rights, where people are free from the burden of toxic pollution, and resources are sustainably conserved, not burned or dumped. Consider jumping on board with them if you want to take action locally.

How you can act locally

Endorse and visit Zero Waste shops that promote the circular economy.
Avoid buying single use plastics and one-time use plastic products.
Hold cities and governments responsible for plastic tax.
Join eco groups and lobby alongside GAIA so the world has a better future.
Have a talk with mom or dad or a family member who works with a plastics producer

US irrigation giant Reinke invests again in CropX

Water

Karin Kloosterman

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May 15, 2023

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US irrigation giant Reinke invests again in CropX

Cropx irrigation — *A CropX irrigation hardware controller in the field*

Reinke Irrigation, a US irrigation company that manufactures pivoting irrigation systems for conventional farming, participates in a $30 million Series C financing round for CropX Technologies. The CropX system is a farm management tool that helps growers monitor when and how much water to apply before crops show signs of stress, as well as continuously monitor salinity and nitrogen leaching to maximize nitrogen use.

The CropX system, developed in Israel, also allows growers to turn animal waste into an asset for growing their pasture and crops, while minimizing runoff and drainage. The grower knows exactly what the crops need and when.

*CropX dashboard to examine stress in the fields*

Israeli entrepreneurs invented, developed and advanced drip irrigation decades ago and turned this into a company called Netafim. The company turned it into a science and new companies on the block like CropX pick up the spaces that Netafim cannot fill.

The Reinke-CropX operations are controlled from the powerful yet simple CropX app, which is now accessible via Reinke’s ReinCloud app. The investment will be used to continue developing the innovative capabilities of the CropX agronomic farm management system.

Reinke is based in Nebraska, farmland central in the United States. Chris Roth, Reinke President stated, “Reinke is expanding the offerings to meet the increased demand of the customers. Using Reinke precision irrigation and the CropX agronomic farm management system, operations can be streamlined and monitored from anywhere.”

It is important to Reinke and CropX, to globally find ways for efficient water usage. Reinke dealers, like Israel’s leading irrigation company Netafim, are located around the world.

Today, about 70% of freshwater is used for food production. Reinke and CropX are committed to increasing agriculture production, while saving costs for the grower.

How CropX works:

The CropX platform synthesizes data from the earth and sky to offer advanced soil and crop intelligence and a suite of digital decision and planning tools, all on an easy-to-use app capable of tracking multiple farms and fields.

CropX is backed by the world’s leading agribusinesses and VCs, who recognize that CropX’s precision-agriculture technologies set new standards of best practices for environmental sustainability and greater farm productivity.

In the other direction, many large farms are losing ground and people are turning their backs on industrial operations opting for more manageable regenerative farm businesses.

What Does it Take to Bring a Product From Prototype to Market?

Green Tech and Gadgets

Bhok Thompson

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May 15, 2023

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Getting your product – whatever it is – from its initial prototype to store shelves is a very involved process. If you look around online you can find plenty of articles on the cycle of product development, so right now we’re going to skip the first few steps and assume you’ve already passed through Idea generation, product scope, and prototyping.

After Prototyping – Initial Design

So, you’ve made a prototype of your product. Right now it’s just a mockup, something to show people the idea you’ve got and demonstrate its function, but it’s not quite complete yet. Now you’ve got to get it into that more complete format. Now you need to make it look like something that could be on a product shelf. So, the first thing you need to do is get everything you need to make your product, and actually make it!

Depending on how developed your prototype is this may take more or less effort, but in many ways, this is the first real stress test of your product. You’ll probably find yourself making changes to the product itself – maybe using cheaper materials, or altering the order in which things are put together – and this is where you’ll have to actually start paying people for their time. Artists, designers, materials, all of these things cost money and if you’ve got stakeholders this is the time you’ll need to convince them that your product is worth investing in.

Throughout this process, you should keep up constant contact with your shareholders and the people who have an investment in your product. Not only do you need to keep them invested, but if you need people to test or experience your product these are probably going to be the first people to do it – and soliciting their feedback is going to be important for maintaining their interest in the long term.

electric car oman, mats motors — *Prototype from Mays Motors, the first electric car of the Middle East Starts production in 2023. It looks wow!*

Depending on your product and industry, your priorities and decisions in this stage may vary, but the most important step is maintaining investor interest. Without those investors, you will get nowhere – especially if the only investor is yourself – and having someone to report progress to is a great stimulus for actually making progress. Finally, if you don’t have any investors, this is definitely the time to start getting some because you’re going to want them for the next phase…

Product Testing

This is possibly the most important phase in the process of getting a product to the shelf. With enough money, connections and support, any product can get on the shelf, but quality can only be obtained through repeated and rigorous testing. Let’s face it, if your product relies in any way on consumer opinion, maintaining an acceptable level of quality is going to be critical.

By now you should already have gotten some initial feedback on your product – even if it’s just from the concept or initial design stages. Review this feedback and make sure that what you’ve made is meeting or addressing those queries and concerns. Then, find someone within your group to try the product out. Be open about it, tell them what it’s supposed to do and supposed to achieve and let them tell you if it does that. If those initial tests are successful, then you’re ready to start releasing it to wider audiences.

*Design a store that carries products that support the circular economy. Test them out in pop up shops for consumer feedback.*

The field of Quality Assurance Testing is a field in its own right, but in short, you need to give as little input as possible, find people who are as close to your target audience as possible, but also give them clear guidelines on what sort of tests you want them to do and what sort of feedback you are looking for. Tests like this need to be done in every function of the product, possibly including the supply line and even should be a part of market research. How many tests you’ll have to do will vary based on the product, but the most important thing is to get enough tests for consistent feedback, which usually requires at least twenty or so tests for numbers to start getting meaningful.

Now we hit the final stage.

Commercialisation

This is it. The final step is before your product gets on the shelf. You’ve got the product, you’ve tested it, and now you’ve got to make it accessible.

At this stage, you should be working on producing the product and making deals to get it on shelves. If your business is entirely online, this is when you should start marketing your product, releasing websites and preparing everything for the actual launch. If you haven’t already done so, this is where you’ll need to be in touch with fast-moving consumer goods industry (FMCG) branding agencies or similar to get your product from the supply line and into the hands of consumers. Think you don’t need them? Well maybe not, but there’s a lot to cover in the commercialisation phase. Not only do you need to have pleased your investors, but this is the stage where you need to have found your target audience, completed your market research, gotten clear benchmarks for the cost of production, set up the supply lines, set up advertising, set up any and all automation, contact all the companies you may need to work with and strike deals with all of them. And all of this may be happening while you may still be working on product testing. This is potentially the most intensive part of the process, negotiating between a range of staff and companies, and every part of it needs to be done right. You only get one launch day and that launch needs to make an impact.

Once this step is finished, you should be days away from your launch date. Congratulate yourself on making it this far. You’ve successfully launched your prototype.

Kadıköy’s zero waste shop Dukkan features the circular economy in Istanbul

Karin Kloosterman

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May 15, 2023

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Hang out in a hip neighbourhood of Montreal and zero-waste shops are as common as a fruit stand. But zero-waste shops that expect customers to refill and reuse packaging to remove plastic from landfill, aren’t easy to come by in the Middle East. Stuff a single apple or cola can in a bag, please. Plastic is too cheap and it’s too easy a habit to break. But entrepreneurs in Istanbul are showing how it can be done in culturally relevant ways.

The Dukkan Waste Free Shop initiated by the Kadıköy Municipality of Istanbul on World Environment Day a few years ago, is commended for being one of the best projects according to the ICLEI Europe, the European Council of International Local Environmental Initiatives.

Turkey is eager to join the European Union but still hasn’t made the grade according to European directives. But to ICLEI Europe, of which Kadıköy Municipality is a member, this may be one in a string of projects that can show the EU how local government practice can help the public kick the plastic addiction.

The Kadıköy Dukkan shop offers unpackaged, bulk, and ecological products instead of disposable products, with all this supporting the circular economy. The concept shop also brings together the consumer with local products and producers allowing for a larger number of cottage businesses to thrive. Packaging costs are also absorb by the producers so finding new ways to bring products into people’s homes is desirable.

Kadıköy's Waste Free Shop is on the European agenda! — *Kadıköy waste free shop called Dukkan*

Cleaning, living, food, kitchenware and personal care are the range of items sold in the shop and I love seeing the Middle East’s favorite nature scrub, the luffa, appear in such prominence. You can find luffas at street corner shops because some people just can’t live without them.

Customers are also invited to bring their own reusables to the shop, and women entrepreneurs are given a special boost when it comes to featuring their products. Shop second in Istanbul for some great clothing finds.

But when a local named A (who doesn’t want her name published) went to visit the shop she found their sustainability policies a little out of sync with reality. She tells Green Prophet: “You can buy a local version of liquid Castile soap there but the thing that annoyed me is that they forced me to buy a plastic bottle to fill; I couldn’t use my own container. So I actually increased plastic use by going there.”

This is the first such initiative in Turkey, making the Waste-Free Shop a good practice example for others seeking to provide access to durable, sustainable and ecological products, which support a circular economy as an alternative to single-use plastics.

Due to increasing environmental pollution and resulting health problems, consumers have been in search for and demanding more natural, chemical-free and non-toxic products. On the other hand, small scale local producers in Kadikoy providing ecological and natural products need markets for their goods, and have been so far trying to reach consumers through women’s or farmers’ cooperatives. The Waste-Free Shop fills this gap, bridging these two parties without intermediaries.

Other nearby countries like Israel are slow to catch on, but that said there is still a thriving market culture in Israel and other Middle East countries like Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Syria. People love shopping for spices from bulk and fresh vegetables and fruit harvested that morning. The success of the Middle East diet is that the food is fresh, and buying it at a local market means you can’t get fresher than that. If you are looking to shop local and fresh, get our In Season Guides for each month of the year. Vegetables and fruits bought and eaten in season, locally, are the best for you and the planet.

Among the examples of good practice by ICLEI Europe; In the Dukkan shop where local producers, women’s and farmer cooperatives meet with consumers without intermediaries, there are healthy foods produced from local seeds and available in season, as well as long-lasting and ecological products such as daily life, cleaning, personal care and kitchenware. Products sold unpackaged or in recyclable packaging are offered to the consumer in glass jars, cloth bags or containers to be brought from home.

Getting to it?

::Dukkan

Gazi Muhtar Paşa Sokak No 57/1 Feneryolu, Kadikoy

The climate in Turkey regarding social media posts is fraught with risk (you can be detained for things posted online) so people we spoke with in this article do not want to be named.

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