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For over a century, humanity has been filling landfills and oceans with waste that doesn’t decompose and releasing increasing amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Finally, people around the world are realizing that this waste will remain unless serious action is taken.
Some brilliant scientists have created groundbreaking products and devices designed to help us treat our planet with greater respect. Here are 10 lesser-known inventions that, if implemented on a larger scale, could lead to a healthier, more sustainable world.
10. Green Cell Foam—Eco-Friendly Packaging
The ever-growing accumulation of Styrofoam in our landfills is one of the most pressing environmental concerns. KTM Industries might have a solution. They've developed a cornstarch-based material that offers a sustainable alternative for packaging, suitable for nearly any item you wish to ship.
Every day, around 1,369 tons of Styrofoam are buried in U.S. landfills. In terms of volume, Styrofoam takes up 25 to 30 percent of landfill space globally. It takes about seven lifetimes, or 500 years, to decompose fully. In comparison, Green Cell Foam breaks down completely in just four months when placed in any compost heap.
Green Cell Foam doesn't even require recycling. The company provides “disposal options that go beyond recycling.” It can be composted or safely burned on your barbecue. Furthermore, it is entirely water-soluble, meaning it will dissolve completely when it comes into contact with water.
The mounting piles of waste that will persist for centuries is a serious problem, but it has also sparked growing interest in creating sustainable alternatives to the everyday products we often take for granted.
9. Transparent Solar Cells
Transparent solar cells could be the solution to some of our most pressing environmental problems. Researchers have spent over a decade trying to develop fully transparent solar cells, and now, thanks to a groundbreaking discovery by Michigan State University, it's finally becoming a reality.
In their study, researchers employed organic salts that absorb specific invisible light wavelengths, such as ultraviolet light. Once this light is absorbed, the panel’s material moves toward its edges, where specially designed cells convert it into electricity.
This technology has the potential to be applied to portable devices like tablets and mobile phones. Recently, they’ve enhanced the technology to give it a 30-year lifespan and estimated that the production costs will be on par with current solar technologies.
Thanks to these brilliant scientists, a future without fossil fuels is looking increasingly achievable. It's entirely possible that one day, you might drive a car powered entirely by solar energy collected through its sunroof and windows. The applications for transparent solar cells are nearly limitless, so let’s hope that they become so widely available that we’ll never need to charge our phones again!
8. Glass Bottle Recycling Machine
In 2015, DB Breweries introduced Brewtoleum, the world's first biofuel made entirely from beer production byproducts. But they didn’t stop there. In 2017, they launched the “Beer Bottle Sand” project, developing machines that crush beer bottles into fine sand in just five seconds.
The goal is to reduce the world’s reliance on beach-derived sand. The company’s PR and Digital manager explains, “Two-thirds of the world’s beaches are retreating as people across the world use non-renewable beach sand for construction, roading, and other uses.” Whether their introduction of these machines was a clever marketing tactic or a genuine environmental concern, we have to admit it’s a great solution for recycling unused bottles.
These machines can be installed in supermarkets and bars, allowing customers and beer enthusiasts to do their part in reducing environmental impact while enjoying a cold drink. What's not to love? They aim to be the country’s most sustainable beer, and to prove it, they’re cutting plastic use by 45,275 kilograms (99,814 pounds) and reducing ink consumption by 50,000 liters (13,205 gallons). Impressive!
7. Ooho Water—Edible Water Pods
Ooho Water pods, developed by Notpla, are one of the first alternatives to traditional plastic water bottles. Every minute, one million plastic bottles are purchased worldwide, and by the end of the decade, over half a trillion bottles will be sold annually. To make a single plastic bottle, 162 grams (5.7 ounces) of oil and 7 liters (7.39 quarts) of water are needed. This results in 100g of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Each year, between 5 and 13 million tons of plastic enter the oceans, where it is consumed by seabirds, fish, and other marine life. By 2050, research from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation predicts the ocean will contain more plastic by weight than fish. Plastic bottles are a significant part of the problem, but the team at Ooho has created an innovative alternative.
These tiny water pods are wrapped in eco-friendly packaging made from seaweed and plants. This natural material is both fully biodegradable and edible. “It will break down in 4-6 weeks, just like a piece of fruit. Or, you can eat it, making it perfect for convenient, on-the-go hydration!”
Unfortunately, the water pods never gained enough traction to become widely accepted. The company behind Ooho, Notpla, has since shifted focus to producing eco-friendly packaging using the same seaweed-based material. It's an innovative invention that could have addressed multiple environmental issues but didn’t quite take off. Perhaps the world just wasn’t ready for it yet?
6. Vertical Farming: The Future of Large-Scale Agriculture
Agriculture has been practiced for over 10,000 years, and in that time, our methods have evolved significantly, especially in the last decade. Vertical farming, or vertical hydroponics, has been gradually introduced in the past 20 years, ever since Dickson Despommier, a professor at Columbia University in New York, encouraged his students to explore the concept.
Traditional farming depends on several unpredictable external factors, with weather being the most significant. As a result, we rely on things going according to plan to meet the food demands of the population. With the world’s population expected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, having a more consistent, scalable source of produce that can be grown anywhere may offer a more sustainable way to feed the global population.
The use of advanced technologies like LED grow lights and computer-controlled systems, which can automatically adjust pH, nutrient levels, and temperature, makes vertical farming highly efficient for year-round crop production—far surpassing the productivity of traditional farming methods.
Experts believe that the widespread adoption of vertical farming could have a major positive effect on climate change. Growing food indoors presents an opportunity to return land to its natural ecological function. This farming method drastically reduces land use (by 10 to 20 times), freeing up space for reforestation.
5. Plastic-Eating Caterpillars
Plastic-eating caterpillars are more of a discovery than a man-made invention. However, these tiny creatures deserve an honorable mention for their potential impact.
With over 350 million tons of plastic produced globally every year, finding a solution for its disposal is becoming increasingly urgent. Since 1950, over seven billion tons of plastic have been created, which amounts to more than one ton for every person alive today.
Scientists believe they may have found a solution to the overwhelming amount of biodegradable plastic waste: the plastic-eating caterpillar. To date, over 50 species of microorganisms have been identified that can transform plastic into energy.
In 2016, scientists in Japan discovered a particular bacterium, Ideonella sakaiensis, outside a plastic recycling factory. Normally, bacteria feed on dead organic matter, but Ideonella sakaiensis has adapted to consume a type of plastic known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). These bacteria produce two enzymes that, when they come in contact with PET, break down the long molecular chains into shorter segments, which are then processed to release energy for bacterial growth.
At present, the rate at which these microorganisms degrade plastics isn’t fast enough to make a significant impact on the plastic pollution crisis. However, researchers are studying how they process plastics and hope to one day replicate or bioengineer these bacteria to help solve the global issue of plastic waste once and for all.
4. Avani Eco Shopping Bags
Avani has developed a completely biodegradable shopping bag made from environmentally friendly materials. It’s estimated that globally, one trillion plastic shopping bags are used each year, totaling over half a million tons of plastic. Despite efforts by companies to reduce and recycle plastic, only 9% of the 5.8 million tons of plastic waste produced since 1950 has been recycled.
Paper bags are also not an ideal solution; they require four times the energy to produce compared to plastic bags and involve the use of harmful chemicals in their manufacturing. Therefore, the introduction of fully biodegradable products that can replace plastic alternatives is certainly a welcome move. The Avani Bio-Cassava bag stands out as an exemplary innovation that utilizes only biodegradable materials.
These shopping bags are made from starch derived from the cassava root, and they can fully biodegrade in 180 days. Avani’s eco-friendly alternative to the standard grocery bag is non-GMO, contains no petroleum, and uses entirely eco-friendly ink for printing.
3. Liter of Light—Recycled Solar Lights
This organization presents itself as a “global, grassroots movement dedicated to providing affordable, sustainable solar lighting to those with limited or no access to electricity.”
They have created an inexpensive light tube that refracts sunlight during the day to provide lighting without the need for electricity. Their mission is to offer free lighting to the one billion people globally who suffer from energy poverty. The light works by filling a two-liter bottle with water and a small amount of bleach to prevent algae growth.
This open-source technology is easy to assemble using materials that are readily available. It has gained recognition from the UN and has successfully installed over 350,000 bottle lights in 15 countries. What's truly remarkable about Liter of Light is their global partnerships, which allow them to send volunteers to teach marginalized communities how to utilize easily accessible materials to brighten their streets and homes.
In essence, this invention—and the grassroots movement it has sparked—is a brilliant way to reduce our reliance on electricity, encourage the repurposing of 'single-use' plastics, and, most importantly, bring much-needed lighting to underserved communities.
2. Sieve for Drinkable Seawater
Next, we have a solution to a long-standing issue: a graphene sieve that makes seawater potable. A 2017 UNICEF study revealed that 884 million people lacked access to safe drinking water.
This groundbreaking innovation was conceived by scientists at the University of Manchester, led by Dr. Rahul Nair. Explaining how the sieve works, he shared, “Water molecules can pass through individually, but sodium chloride cannot. It requires the assistance of water molecules, and the size of the shell of water around the salt is larger than the channel size, so it cannot pass through.” According to the researchers, their water purification method is simple, scalable, and effectively removes 97% of sodium chloride (salt).
This graphene sieve presents an opportunity not only to address the global clean water crisis, but also to tackle the escalating problem of microplastics. Researchers have found that microplastics significantly contribute to plastic pollution, permeating the environment, and even entering humans and animals. Ultimately, this ingenious graphene sieve could be a transformative solution in many aspects.
1. HomeBioGas 2.0
HomeBioGas 2.0 was introduced as an innovative way for consumers to help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. A successful Kickstarter campaign in 2020 helped it exceed its original funding goal by over 600%.
The Biodigester is capable of processing 6.8 liters (1.5 gallons) of organic waste daily, producing up to two hours of cooking gas. This remarkable product enables individuals to contribute meaningfully to sustainability and self-sufficiency. When used to its full capacity, it prevents six tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere each year, which is more than the global average carbon emissions of four tons per person annually.
