LEGO runs into stumbling blocks on its path to greener bricks

LEGO wants to make everything awesome for the planet. In 2015 , the Danish toy-maker pledged to spend $150 million and hire more than than 100 extra staffers to research and develop sustainable alternatives to the petrochemical-based plastics it uses to make its signature building blocks. The goal, the company said then, was to transition to either a bio-based version of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, its current primary raw material, or a polymer with a lower environmental footprint by 2030. Finding a suitable replacement, however, has proven thornier than anticipated. “We want any bio-based material to be capable of being precisely molded, or to mold to just a few microns,” Tim Brooks, vice president of environmental responsibility for the LEGO Group, told Quartz . “And we want it to be shiny.” Manifesting that gleam has proven to be a stumbling, well, block . Next to a traditional plastic brick, a prototype brick made from wheat sugar appears dull and matte. Related: BIG’s LEGO House tops out with opening date in September Not that LEGO is going to give up, of course. Climate change is real, and the world’s leading companies will have to rein in their fossil-fuel use if the human race wants a fighting chance at survival. “We know that making bricks has an impact on the planet, and we want it to be a positive one,” Brooks said. + LEGO [Via Quartz ]

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LEGO runs into stumbling blocks on its path to greener bricks

The emergence of natural capital consciousness

Why — and how — the corporate pioneers of the 21st century will account for natural resource scarcity and plan for their impact on the climate.

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The emergence of natural capital consciousness

How (And Why) H&M Is Trying On Clothing Recycling

The fast fashion industry has been under increased scrutiny in recent years, and rightly so. Some environmentalists claim that the clothing industry is the second largest polluter in the world — trailing only oil in its impact on the environment….

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How (And Why) H&M Is Trying On Clothing Recycling

5 Simple Earth Day Crafts Your Kids Will Love

Earth Day is right around the corner. Every year on April 22, earth-conscious people around the world celebrate the planet we live on through special events and actions. During these events, many others are made aware of their impact on the Earth,…

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5 Simple Earth Day Crafts Your Kids Will Love

Heifer International’s Pierre Ferrari on sustaining small farms

Bolstering the financial security of global smallholder farmers could make a major impact on the world’s food supply.

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Heifer International’s Pierre Ferrari on sustaining small farms

How coastal cities can learn resiliency tactics from nature

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges the world has ever faced. Flooding, storm surge, and sea level rise are serious threats to natural resources, infrastructure, and human communities in coastal areas. In effort to adapt to these changing conditions, planners and policymakers should consider nature’s strategies when developing coastal resiliency plans to protect communities from increasing coastal erosion and flooding due to rising sea levels.

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How coastal cities can learn resiliency tactics from nature

Eco Friendly Product Labels: Your Guide To Better Understanding

As we become more aware of our impact on the environment and as consumers we try to do our part to make the best choices, the array of eco friendly product labeling seems to grow more complex and confusing. What do all those labels really mean and…

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Eco Friendly Product Labels: Your Guide To Better Understanding

American Ecovillages? They Exist And Here’s 5 Exciting Examples

Have you ever thought about getting away from it all and moving to an ecovillage? What’s an ecovillage you ask? Ecovillages are communities whose inhabitants seek to live according to ecological principles, causing as little impact on the…

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American Ecovillages? They Exist And Here’s 5 Exciting Examples

How To Build A Tiny Home On A Tiny Budget

You aren’t alone if you are dreaming about a tiny home. One part of the attraction is living a more minimalist lifestyle that has less impact on the environment. But an even bigger allure for some is the affordability factor. At the end of 2015,…

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How To Build A Tiny Home On A Tiny Budget

‘Artificial leaf’ technology can cleanly produce hydrogen fuel

Researchers Peidong Yang, Bin Liu and colleagues may have found a way to mimic plants’ ability to produce hydrogen from sunlight . Yang’s team has used a process borrowed from the paper industry to create a flat mesh from light-absorbing semiconductor nanowires. When it contacts sunlight and water, it produces hydrogen gas—and apparently cheaply enough that the process could be quickly scaled. The technology also wouldn’t require any extra wires or devices—making it low-impact on the environment. Related: Artificial Leaf Can Make Oxygen in Space with Water and Light Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Read the rest of ‘Artificial leaf’ technology can cleanly produce hydrogen fuel Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: “clean energy” , artificial leaf , green energy , hydrogen fuel cell vehicle , hydrogen power , inorganic semiconductor nanowire mesh , nanowires

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‘Artificial leaf’ technology can cleanly produce hydrogen fuel

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