Latest news with #ecofriendly
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Science
- RNZ News
Are spiders an untapped resource for horticulture pest-control?
Put down the insecticide... the spider will take care of that. Photo: Claire Concannon, It's estimated that spiders consume up to 800 million tons of insects globally every year. But a new paper by Plant and Food Research says there's been very little analysis on the role that spiders play in managing pests on horticultural farms in Aotearoa New Zealand Researchers behind the paper are calling for more funding to study how spiders can be used for more eco-friendly pest control practises in our horticultural sector. Lead author Nicola Sullivan joins Kathryn to discuss.
Globe and Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Green Clean Organics Launches High Rise Residential Building Hallway Carpet Cleaning Services for Portland, Oregon, Area
Clients in Portland, Oregon, and Lake Oswego, Oregon, can now take advantage of Green Clean Organic's eco-friendly high rise hallway carpet cleaning service BEND, OREGON - JUNE 24, 2025 - Family-owned and operated Green Clean Organics has expanded one of their newest service offerings into the Portland, Oregon, and Lake Oswego, Oregon, regions. Now, clients in these areas can book Green Clean Organics for all their high rise residential building hallway carpet cleaning needs. There's nothing quite like a freshly cleaned space, but the chemicals that are often used to do professional cleaning are becoming less favored by residential and commercial clients. These chemicals can be irritating to the skin and respiratory system, and some can even lead to cancer. Moreover, these chemicals can cause negative impacts on the environment. Clients who are seeking a eco-friendly alternative to traditional cleaning chemicals can turn to Green Clean Organics, a Bend, Oregon, based cleaning service that offers environmentally safe and effective cleaning products. Green Clean Organics provides carpet cleaning, rug cleaning, and upholstery cleaning for its clients in and around Bend, Oregon, featuring its proprietary cleaning product. Green Clean Organics Stain and Odor Eliminator offers the same level of quality cleaning power as other products but without the harsh chemicals. Green Clean Organics offers an encapsulation cleaning service that simply provides the most thorough, safe, and effective cleaning on the market. Its encapsulation formula binds to soil, grease, and stains; the Green Clean Organics hydrogen peroxide booster sanitizes and cleans; and the Stain and Odor Eliminator contains live enzymes that break down organic waste for a brilliant, natural clean. Green Clean Organics Stain and Odor Eliminator can even be purchased by anyone who wants to try this exquisite cleaning product on their own, making it possible for people everywhere to discover the power of Green Clean Organics. Now, prospective and existing clients in Portland, Oregon, and Lake Oswego, Oregon, can take advantage of the Green Clean Organics high rise residential building hallway carpet cleaning service. This service was recently added to the company's service menu and was previously available in Bend, Oregon. Now, the company has announced the expansion of this service to reach even more clients seeking out an environmentally friendly way to clean their residential highrise hallway carpets. With Green Clean Organics, these clients can ensure that tenants and visitors feel at home and enjoy the benefits of a truly clean carpeted hallway. Currently, Green Clean Organics is accepting new clients for its high rise residential building hallway carpet cleaning and other services. Further information, including convenient online scheduling, can be found now by visiting Green Clean Organics is a Bend, Oregon, family-owned and operated cleaning business using environmentally safe, effective products. Media Contact Company Name: Green Clean Organics Contact Person: Ian Schaefer Email: Send Email Phone: 541-419-8999 City: Bend State: Oregon Country: United States Website:
Forbes
20-06-2025
- Forbes
Pack Smarter, Travel Right: Sustainable Essentials For Summer Getaways
Summer vacation Summer is here! While wanderlust and all the parties and excursions fuel unforgettable memories, it can also leave a lasting mark on the planet. According to the International Air Transport Association, aviation contributes roughly 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions, and when you factor in ground transportation, accommodation, food, and shopping. Furthermore, Sustainable Travel International estimates that tourism accounts for up to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, sustainable travel is about traveling with intention and begins before you even leave your house with how you pack. Sustainable Summer Swaps: Reusables That Outlast Disposables The majority of travel waste stems from single-use plastics and overconsumption. Six million tons end up in our coastlines and rivers annually, much of it from everyday items like shampoo bottles, food packaging, and water bottles. One of the simplest switches is to pack a low-waste travel kit which would include solid shampoo bars, your favorite bar soap, reusable razors, and refillable silicone bottles. Stylish and Sustainable: Summer Sunglasses That Do More Cheerful young couple walking on sidewalk. Sunglasses are a summer staple, but most are made from petroleum-based plastics that can take hundreds of years to degrade. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, only 14% of plastic packaging is collected for recycling globally. This summer, opt for brands like Sunski, which makes frames from recycled plastic. An additional option is Timberland's recycled sunglasses offer a stylish, low-impact option made with at least 35% bio-based content derived from renewable sources like castor oil plants. Smarter Summer Packing Lighter Impact Happy young tourists with suitcases Your travel gear could be negatively affecting the planet. According to a UNEP report, over 90 million tons of textiles are discarded globally each year, and yes that would include textiles from discarded luggage and travel gear. Brands like Paravel offer carbon-neutral luggage made from recycled polycarbonate, while Solgaard's Carry-On Closet is crafted from ocean-bound plastic and comes with a built-in shelving system, making sustainable organization stylish. For additional gear that performs and protects the planet, consider the Mission Workshop Control EPX Pack, a weatherproof backpack made in the USA with 100% recycled ECOPAK™ fabric and it also offers 5 times more UV resistance than standard materials hence extending product life. Greener Summer Road Trips: Lower-Impact Miles, Higher Intentions Let's face it not everyone is catching flights. If you are hitting the road this summer, you are in good company, especially in North America. According to projections from AAA, an estimated 61.6 million people in North America will travel by car, marking a 2.2% increase over last year and setting a new record for road trip volume. The Independence Day holiday period alone is expected to see 1.3 million more drivers on the road compared to 2024, underscoring the continued rise in vehicle-based travel. Carpool when possible, especially for family or friend group trips especially because shared rides reduce per-person emissions. If you are renting vehicles, opt for hybrid or electric vehicles, increasingly available through major agencies. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, EVs produce fewer emissions over their lifetime compared to gasoline vehicles. For your road trips, when possible, pack light to reduce fuel consumption and map out charging or refill stations to avoid unnecessary detours. Stock the car with reusable containers, snack bags, and a travel mug, since single-use water bottles are one of the biggest culprits in travel waste. Swap them out especially since road trips are notorious for convenience store stops and the resultant waste, but a little preparation goes a long way. Additionally, travel tech doesn't have to be energy-intensive. Solar-powered gadgets like Reveal Solar Bluetooth Speaker let you stay charged without finding an outlet. Smart plugs and fridge timers also help you track and reduce electricity use when you're home or away. Close up of a young family packing up for a road trip So whether you are jetting off to a tropical escape like Aruba or cruising the coastline with your windows down, what you pack matters, not just for your experience but for the planet. From recycled luggage to refillable beauty to solar-powered tech, every small shift in your suitcase or backpack is a statement about the kind of traveler you want to be. This summer, pack smarter and be the kind of traveler who moves the world forward, one trip at a time.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists develop tiny aquatic drones with mind-blowing features: 'A world of opportunities'
Small eco-friendly drones have been developed to monitor water quality, and when their mission is done, they can serve as fish food. A team of scientists at Switzerland's École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne designed these 5-centimeter-long, motorboat-shaped craft to glide across the surface powered by nontoxic chemical reactions, according to Interesting Engineering. Not only do they collect data on water quality, but they're also safe for fish to eat once the job is done. They're constructed from ground-up fish feed pellets, which are freeze-dried into shape. Inside this edible hull, a small chamber contains a harmless mix of citric acid and baking soda that generates carbon dioxide as water slowly seeps in through a semipermeable gel plug. That reaction then pushes out a stored supply of nontoxic propylene glycol, which helps propel the drone swiftly through the water at a rate of up to three times its body length per second. The report explained that expelled glycol helps drive the craft forward through a process called the Marangoni effect. This alters the surface tension of the water and is commonly used by insects such as the water strider. Underwater drones have already been deployed in some areas to help people manage fish populations and prevent overfishing. However, those are controlled remotely and must be collected after scanning the area. A previous project from EPFL researchers involved a tiny aquatic robot that was inspired by marine flatworms to help explore marine environments without disturbing them. This new development aims to send out these tiny biodegradable drones for data-gathering missions, and when equipped with sensors, they could measure things such as water temperature, pH levels, and pollutant concentrations and transmit the data back wirelessly. With 4 billion people on the planet lacking access to potable water, eco-friendly research on water quality is critical for human health. The key here is that when the job is done, the drones will absorb water, soften, and eventually sink, leaving behind a small feast that's safe for fish to eat. Would you want to live in a home made from recycled trash? Heck yeah Sure Depends on the material No thanks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The development of biodegradable sensors for ecological monitoring has yet to be resolved, although there has been promising research in the field. In 2022, the world generated over 68 million tons of electronic waste, and that number is rapidly increasing. At the current rate, it's on track to rise another 32% to 90 million tons annually by 2030. Only about 9% of that e-waste is being recycled, with most of it ending up in landfills. Not only are billions of dollars' worth of resources being squandered, but toxic materials can leach into waterways and soil, causing health issues and ecological damage. "The replacement of electronic waste with biodegradable materials is the subject of intensive study, but edible materials with targeted nutritional profiles and function have barely been considered, and open up a world of opportunities for human and animal health," said professor Dario Floreano, who led the EPFL study, per Interesting Engineering. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Garden Furniture Strengthens Commitment to Sustainability with New Premium Product Range Featuring Recycled and Weatherproof Materials
Knaresborough, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - June 13, 2025) - Garden Furniture, a trusted name in British outdoor living for over 25 years, has announced a new, eco-conscious product line focused on sustainable garden furniture - combining durability, style, and environmental responsibility. Logo To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: As UK homeowners continue to invest in their gardens as extensions of the home, the demand for long-lasting and environmentally friendly options is growing. Garden Furniture is responding with a curated collection of eco-friendly garden furniture made from responsibly sourced materials, including FSC-certified wood and recycled plastics. The newly added Lifestyle Garden range offers a fresh approach to outdoor comfort and design. Whether it's a compact balcony set or a spacious dining arrangement for large patios, the collection features weatherproof garden and patio sets designed to withstand the UK's unpredictable weather - without compromising on style or sustainability. "We're proud to be expanding our offering with Lifestyle Garden's premium, sustainable furniture," said the owner of Garden Furniture, Andrew Griffith. "Our customers care about quality and the planet. This partnership allows us to deliver on both - offering sustainable garden furniture that lasts for years and makes a positive environmental impact." Garden Furniture To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: From sleek aluminium frames to recycled seating materials and durable, all-weather fabrics, each item in the Lifestyle Garden collection reflects modern garden living with a green conscience. These sets are ideal for eco-aware consumers seeking reliable outdoor solutions without sacrificing aesthetics. The launch of this collection also aligns with broader mission to reduce its environmental footprint. The retailer has gradually introduced sustainable packaging practices and is working toward making more of its full range recyclable or made from renewable sources by 2026. To view the new collection and learn more about eco-friendly garden furniture options, visit Media Contact Garden FurnitureMoorlands Nurseries, Forest Moor RoadKnaresborough, HG5 8JY01423 863620help@ To view the source version of this press release, please visit Sign in to access your portfolio
