How did this city achieve Zero Waste success?
How did this city achieve Zero Waste success?
Hint: It went round and round
Today’s eco snapshot👇🏽
Kiel: A zero-waste success
Startup of the week: Le Fourgon
5 brands that sustainably stand out
Some good news from around the world
3 ways I can help you on your sustainability journey
🌱 Kiel: A zero-waste success
Kiel in Germany recently became the first city in the country to be certified as a Zero Waste City.
It got the Zero Waste City Certification which is a great way for European municipalities to certify their zero waste journey.
The certificate is awarded to cities that are moving away from the traditional take-make-waste model where we take resources from the planet, convert them into products using energy and labor, and throw them at the end of their lives.
These cities are moving to a circular model where the emphasis is on waste reduction and management.
Kiel has taken proactive steps to reduce plastic waste by distributing free cotton fruit and vegetable bags at events, redistributing surplus food from city events to the Foodsharing nonprofit, exchanging excavated soil for reuse in construction projects, developing a guide for sustainable events, and expanding waste bins to include separate bins for glass during Kiel Week 2022.
Similar to Kiel, Pune in India, Kamikatsu in Japan, and Tilos in Greece are some of the other cities that are working towards becoming zero waste.
Apart from businesses, municipalities, and cities play a key role in bringing a systemic change. Hope to see more cities joining the list in 2024!
Time for the quiz of the week ⌛
Answer at the end of the newsletter. No one (including me) can see your response so feel free to vote 😉
✨ Startup of the week: Le Fourgon
Bottling Regret…Decades ago, liquids were sold in glass bottles that could be returned for a refund. But with the introduction of plastic packaging, convenience became the priority. Customers could simply throw away the bottles, hoping they would be recycled. This transition harmed the planet, as the recycling process couldn't keep up with plastic production, leading to plastic ending up in landfills and oceans.
Glassful Solutions…French startup Le Fourgon is reintroducing a reuse system that is both convenient and environmentally friendly. The company stocks products from local producers in reusable glass bottles.
Customers can go to Le Fourgon’s website or app and order at least one box with 12 large products (75cl or 1L) or 20 small products (20cl or 33cl).
These products could range from water and milk to beer, wine, and household products like dishwashing and cleaning liquids.
The entire crate is then delivered to the customer’s doorstep using an electric vehicle.
Clean Cycle…The delivery person also collects the previous crate of empty bottles. These bottles are then taken to washing partners for cleaning. Producers refill these cleaned bottles with their products, which are then sent to Le Fourgon. And the cycle continues.
✅ Brands that sustainably stand out
🇳🇱 TILER- wirelessly charge your e-bike, just like your phone
🇫🇷 Toopi Organics- recycles urine into agricultural fertilizer
🇨🇦 Pela- phone cases that can be composted at the end of their life
🇮🇳 Saathi Pads: biodegradable menstrual pads made from banana and bamboo fiber
🇳🇱 Mud Jeans: lease your jeans for a small monthly fee
Engage with hundreds of sustainable brands like these by upgrading to a paid subscription. It comes with access to a database of planet-friendly brands from across the world.
😹 Some Good News
🛒 Supermarkets Join Forces with M2030 to "Check Out" Emissions Reduction
Ten major UK supermarkets have teamed up with M2030, a software platform for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting, to support their suppliers in reducing emissions through access to best practice projects, learning tools, and one-to-one support services.
Solar power has surpassed a tipping point, with improving costs, usage, and availability. By 2050, the sun could be the main source of our planet's energy. Challenges include grid resilience, financing, supply chains, and politics. Continued study of climate "tipping points" will guide our path forward towards a cleaner future.
🚦Green Light for Traffic Optimization!
Google's Project Green Light, which uses AI to optimize traffic lights, is expanding to more cities. The system reduces stops by 30% and pollution by 10% at intersections.
🌎 3 ways I can help you
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Enjoy your holidays, and see you next week year😊