Tag: #76

A portable turbine powers cell phones. Front yards feed communities. And now a Canadian startup is using containers (assuming they aren’t already hotels) to cultivate mushrooms. 14 different strains are available, including exotic varieties such as oyster, lion’s mane or shiitake mushrooms. Straight from the container to the kitchen, minus the delivery routes and exhaust fumes. In future, local...

This lab allows older women to stay healthy. An all-female BIPOC team from a Californian not-for-profit organisation has developed an app to help Black and Indigenous women navigate breast cancer, with comprehensive digital support available post diagnosis. Support includes introductory information about the illness and treatment methods, as well as costs and associated side effects. In addition, there is...

Gin leftovers and sawdust can be used to make furniture. Should it, or other flammable liquids or gases catch fire, a new patented, certified and sustainable solution from a Canadian startup is on hand to douse the flames. Instead of foams made from polymer or PFAS containing respiratory irritants or cancerous substances (tip: the film Dark Waters) the fire...

They can be used to manufacture dye, animal feed and vegan seafood. Microbes. Now a Canadian startup is using them to produce an environmentally-friendly cleaning agent. Surfactants are extracted using bacterial cultures in a sustainable process.These disperse oil by enveloping oil particles and separating them, making it easy to remove dirt. Both harmless and biodegradable, surfactants can be used...

Wood can be turned into window panes. Now, a US-based startup has developed a transparent coating that allows glass windows to generate electricity by harvesting sunlight. The patented, nanometre-thin coating is applied to new windows using physical vapour deposition and, like colour pigments, consists of non-hazardous, naturally-occurring materials. Delicate, hidden wires ensure that only ultraviolet and infrared rays are...

Team spirit can be strengthened through volunteer work. A company’s attitude to sustainability is increasingly important for prospective employees. Now, using a platform created by an American startup, small- and medium-sized companies can analyse their carbon footprint with a view to making improvements. First, accounting data is uploaded. This gives information on purchases, expenditures and other transactions. Using additional...