Are microfiber cleaning products truly green cleaning tools? Overall, does microfiber have a positive impact on the environment or a negative impact? In order to make a proper evaluation on how green microfiber is, we must ask three key questions: Is it made in a green way?
Is it used…
Recover Fiber is working on this. I like the fact that its a family of fibres that work with each other. Got to be the way ahead along with microbiological fibers of the future.
Recover™ transforms textile waste into sustainable recycled fibers and blens, closing the loop on fashion. You might see waste, we see circular solutions.
Nine companies, from fashion brands to work-wear companies and from children’s wear to hotel linen, started an innovative pilot to recover fibres and turn them into new garments.
Not having to visit an auto shop every other time for minor repairs sounds like heaven. Check out this article on car self-healing technology that uses microcapsules that release a healing agent when broken. https://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2004-12/car-repairs-itself/
It’s a shame how easily cars get dented. All it takes is a runaway shopping cart or a reckless jerk pulling into an adjacent parking spot. Why not make them from carbon-fiber composites, which are stronger, stiffer and lighter than steel?
Here is another self-healing car. This one uses a paint protection film that repairs scratches and cracks when exposed to sun or heat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPgXBWAst-A
Sounds out of this world, but the tech is being researched. Lamborghini is designing a car whose body panels are made of carbon nanotubes that store electricity. They can detect any cracks in the structure and self-heal by heating themselves.
Making things from wood has been something people have done for thousands of years. Decorative effects have been carved into wood and used in churches, and to make intricate shapes for models and toys. However, you can now print your own with a 3d printer. How to 3d print wood…
Forust Corporation is a wood technology company that leverages 3D printing to create beautiful and sustainable interior design pieces. The company’s goal is to manufacture with wood but without damaging our planet’s ecosystem. Forust Corp. was created by the founders of…
BUT…. The polymers of the future may not be made from monomers abundantly used today, but the polymers of the future may be degradable through a low energy process.
By Hyungjun Cho, member-at-large for the GCI There is a movement to develop a new type of product life system called ‘the circular economy’ [3]. Part of this movement aims to manufacture products f…
Chemical recycling method breaks down plastics into their original building blocks, potentially allowing them to be recycled repeatedly without losing quality.
Nothing is more frustrating than having your ride interrupted by a puncture. In this article we take a look at the Best Road Bike Tires for Puncture Resistance.
A few years ago I wrote a post about a new initiative in Vancouver: using recycled rubber for a sidewalk, on the south side of the 500 block of East 17th. Here is some of what I wrote at the time: …
After dreaming one night about flexible sidewalks made of rubber and later seeing the interlocking rubber flooring at a health club, Richard Valeriano, who as a public works director in Santa Monica, came up with the idea of rubber sidewalks. But…
Garden Tips: Rubbersidewalks are just the tip of the recycled iceberg
Over 10 years ago I wrote a column about Rubbersidewalks, a new product made from recycled rubber tires. They are an interlocking sidewalk paving system designed to save trees by helping ameliorate the problems that arise when roots of street trees heave and crack sidewalks. Too often city trees are... Read more
Sixty cities in 15 states are taking a playground approach to sidewalk maintenance. They’re testing rubber sidewalks as a way to avoid the costly repairs of concrete walks that have been broken up by tree roots. Officials say the rubber sidewalks as a win-win. But some residents aren’t so sure.
indestructible was once a great thing – now its a curse – “When Ralph Wiley discovered polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) while working in the physicals lab at Dow Chemical in Midland, Michigan, he nicknamed it eonite after a fictional, indestructible material in the comic strip “Little Orphan Annie.”
“Biodegradable” is a bit of a scam – check this out… ““It’s well-intentioned but wrong. A lot of plastics labelled biodegradable, like shopping bags, will only break down in temperatures of 50C and that is not the ocean. They are also not buoyant, so they’re going to sink, so they’re not going to be exposed to UV and break down,”
Biodegradable plastic ‘false solution’ for ocean waste problem
UN’s top environmental scientist warns bottles and bags do not break down easily and sink, as report highlights the ubiquity of plastic debris in oceans
Surely biodegradable is better than dissolvable. no? “Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), of which MonoSol films are comprised, is a colourless, odourless and non-toxic polymer. It is produced by combining and re-arranging the three basic elements – carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. These elements come from ethylene gas – the same gas emitted by fruit and veg as it ripens – and acetic acid (known as household vinegar in its diluted form).”
Now you see it... Wrapping that dissolves in water
Wouldn't it be great if we could just wash annoying foam packaging away? According to KTM Industries, we can. Their biodegradable foam literally dissolves down the drain. Green Cell Foam is a corn-based foam packaging replacement that KTM says you can compost, dissolve in water, or simply wash down ... Read more
Here’s the link to the site, not sure if you can buy it though. Will add the link to the idea too. It’s bound to be the answer to lots of eco problems faced by big businesses.
Fish skin bags can be made already – when will the shops start using them? That’s a different question, and problem … “From bags to single-use packaging, MarinaTex has a variety of different applications. The transparent film is well suited for packaging and will biodegrade in a soil environment. The organic formula does not leach harmful chemicals and can be consumed, causing no harm to wildlife or humans.”
Local student Lucy Hughes won 30 grand for inventing this recently. Its true, our fetish with plastic is coming to a close, with help from great minds like hers.
Polyester doesn’t sound that old – they still end up in the sea, recycled or not.
…. and there are loads of choices – most are exactly what humans have been using for millennia anyways – obviously.
Exists already – they’re called eco fibres.
use polyamide innit
Not sure but I think you can get the film on Amazon so you can make any window do it. this is revolutionary, I would have it on my car.
These are going to be big one day.
This vid already…
Great idea, and use that Marina Tex stuff or any biodegradable plastic that melts back down into nature when used.
Biodegradable baby shoes
(5 upvotes)Waterproof ‘plastic’ books
(5 upvotes)Pallet wrap that is biodegradable
(1 upvotes)Reusable bags made from vegetable starch
(3 upvotes)Supermarket bucket shopping to reduce packaging
(2 upvotes)Temprature indicator plastic cups
(-1 upvotes)Greenpeace charity shops
(20 upvotes)Already a thing, not sure if you get them for babies though.
Recycled fibers before more microfibers please. Clean up first then plan ahead.
Recover Fiber is working on this. I like the fact that its a family of fibres that work with each other. Got to be the way ahead along with microbiological fibers of the future.
Nine companies, from fashion brands to work-wear companies and from children’s wear to hotel linen, started an innovative pilot to recover fibres and turn them into new garments.
Not having to visit an auto shop every other time for minor repairs sounds like heaven. Check out this article on car self-healing technology that uses microcapsules that release a healing agent when broken. https://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2004-12/car-repairs-itself/
Here is another self-healing car. This one uses a paint protection film that repairs scratches and cracks when exposed to sun or heat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPgXBWAst-A
Sounds out of this world, but the tech is being researched. Lamborghini is designing a car whose body panels are made of carbon nanotubes that store electricity. They can detect any cracks in the structure and self-heal by heating themselves.
Hmm, sounds good but names are deceptive. Wood filament is only 30% wood, the rest is crappy plastic / glue. Read this article https://johnthecomputerman.co.uk/3d-printing-wood/
the applications are going to be endless, this looks lovely for interiors
just googled it and amazing, its a thing. thanks.
Love this idea, there is sooooo much waste wood material to be used for new things. Goodbye plastic I hope.
BUT…. The polymers of the future may not be made from monomers abundantly used today, but the polymers of the future may be degradable through a low energy process.
Come on chemists, its your turn to be the physics heroes of the future. It can be done, just needs to be refined and profitable.
Polymers are amazing things, before life formed they were the pinnacle of what the universe could make.
These tyres fix themselves, no need for super strength.
They exist, but its a bit overkill using Kevlar, especially for bicycles.
The jury is still out on whether this is a good idea or not, see the discussion on Quora. Some say good, some not so good.
Wow, didn’t realise this was a thing rather than just an idea. Here is another cool video, can’t wait till I see this stuff somewhere.
It’s Smartglass no? The image you used is in this video. Looks amazing stuff.
https://liquiglide.com/ might have a coating that could help this. I think it’s for all sorts of surfaces that need to be non-stick.
Glass windows that clean themselves
(5 upvotes)Spacecraft and aircraft coatings that prevent ice build-up
(1 upvotes)Phone cases that float
(3 upvotes)Waterfall road signs
(6 upvotes)Liquid medicine containers that leave no residual medicine
(3 upvotes)Non-stick ketchup bottles
(4 upvotes)Toy balls that bounce on water
(1 upvotes)Still working well in Vancouver. Come on the rest of the world, catch up.
After dreaming one night about flexible sidewalks made of rubber and later seeing the interlocking rubber flooring at a health club, Richard Valeriano, who as a public works director in Santa Monica, came up with the idea of rubber sidewalks. But…
Great idea and this was a thing years ago, why then never caught on I don’t know. maybe they pollute or break easily?
indestructible was once a great thing – now its a curse – “When Ralph Wiley discovered polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) while working in the physicals lab at Dow Chemical in Midland, Michigan, he nicknamed it eonite after a fictional, indestructible material in the comic strip “Little Orphan Annie.”
Yet another application for the plastic made of fish skin that biodegrades.
Biodegradable baby shoes
(5 upvotes)Waterproof ‘plastic’ books
(5 upvotes)Pallet wrap that is biodegradable
(1 upvotes)Reusable bags made from vegetable starch
(3 upvotes)Supermarket bucket shopping to reduce packaging
(2 upvotes)Temprature indicator plastic cups
(-1 upvotes)Greenpeace charity shops
(20 upvotes)“Biodegradable” is a bit of a scam – check this out… ““It’s well-intentioned but wrong. A lot of plastics labelled biodegradable, like shopping bags, will only break down in temperatures of 50C and that is not the ocean. They are also not buoyant, so they’re going to sink, so they’re not going to be exposed to UV and break down,”
Surely biodegradable is better than dissolvable. no? “Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), of which MonoSol films are comprised, is a colourless, odourless and non-toxic polymer. It is produced by combining and re-arranging the three basic elements – carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. These elements come from ethylene gas – the same gas emitted by fruit and veg as it ripens – and acetic acid (known as household vinegar in its diluted form).”
Dissolving packing wrap
(4 upvotes)Dissolvable Food Packaging
(2 upvotes)This foam does it – but does it turn back into crappy foam stuff when it dries out again? Not sure if this is a good idea or not tbh.
Here’s the link to the site, not sure if you can buy it though. Will add the link to the idea too. It’s bound to be the answer to lots of eco problems faced by big businesses.
Biodegradable baby shoes
(5 upvotes)Waterproof ‘plastic’ books
(5 upvotes)Pallet wrap that is biodegradable
(1 upvotes)Reusable bags made from vegetable starch
(3 upvotes)Supermarket bucket shopping to reduce packaging
(2 upvotes)Temprature indicator plastic cups
(-1 upvotes)Greenpeace charity shops
(20 upvotes)Fish skin bags can be made already – when will the shops start using them? That’s a different question, and problem … “From bags to single-use packaging, MarinaTex has a variety of different applications. The transparent film is well suited for packaging and will biodegrade in a soil environment. The organic formula does not leach harmful chemicals and can be consumed, causing no harm to wildlife or humans.”
Biodegradable baby shoes
(5 upvotes)Waterproof ‘plastic’ books
(5 upvotes)Pallet wrap that is biodegradable
(1 upvotes)Reusable bags made from vegetable starch
(3 upvotes)Supermarket bucket shopping to reduce packaging
(2 upvotes)Temprature indicator plastic cups
(-1 upvotes)Greenpeace charity shops
(20 upvotes)I think these are coming soon. Check this out…
Glass windows that clean themselves
(5 upvotes)Spacecraft and aircraft coatings that prevent ice build-up
(1 upvotes)Phone cases that float
(3 upvotes)Waterfall road signs
(6 upvotes)Liquid medicine containers that leave no residual medicine
(3 upvotes)Non-stick ketchup bottles
(4 upvotes)Toy balls that bounce on water
(1 upvotes)Amazing, she deserves a knighthood for this. Where can corporations buy this stuff? Please add the link.
Local student Lucy Hughes won 30 grand for inventing this recently. Its true, our fetish with plastic is coming to a close, with help from great minds like hers.
Go fund this guys, its the future for placcy bags.
Saw these online, should be a thing already.
Waterproof anything with this stuff…