Waste and recycling

Military green investments could hit $10B by 2030

It's no secret to anyone following green tech that the Department of Defense has taken a particular interest in advanced biofuels, vehicle fuel efficiency, renewable energy, and building efficiency. But many may not realize to what extent the DOD has changed its policy, or the large impact this shift is going to have on the economy, according to a report released yesterday afternoon by the Pew Charitable Trusts.

The report (PDF) asserts that the DOD is one of the world's largest institutional consumers of fossil fuels, consuming 300,000 barrels of oil a day in 2009. The DOD's energy cost for 2010 was $15.2 billion (PDF) … Read more

Raincatch concept coat for intentional water gain

We have these things in New Mexico called rain barrels. They're big plastic tanks that catch rain water running off your roof for later use in your garden.

The Raincatch coat concept is like a personal rain barrel or a do-it-yourself CamelBak. Instead of filling up a water bottle and taking it with you, you just catch your drinking water as it falls from the sky.

Hyeona Yang and Joseph Noble, students at Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design, hatched the Raincatch idea and fashioned a prototype from an existing rain coat.

The coat's collar flares out like a particularly dramatic Dracula cloak. Rain is captured, runs down the back of the coat, flits through charcoal filters, and then zips through a chemical purification process.

The rain is stored in a hidden reservoir around the hips, though I'm not sure how many ladies will be keen to carry extra water around there. The resulting potable water is drinkable through a straw whenever you're feeling a bit thirsty.… Read more

Patagonia encourages selling its used gear on eBay

Unlike many companies that discourage the repair and reselling of items, outdoor gear retailer Patagonia has decided to not only tolerate, but even sanction the practice.

Patagonia announced today it's partnering with eBay to open a marketplace for the company's used products as part of its sustainability plan.

The online eBay store is called the Common Threads Initiative. It's open to any eBay sellers wishing to sell genuine Patagonia products. By signing on to a pledge, community sellers will be given a badge on their post and included under the store's umbrella, as well as promoted … Read more

TerraCycle launches waste-to-profit Facebook game

Could TerraCycle and Guerillapps have hit upon the next FarmVille?

The Trash Tycoon Facebook game that launched yesterday challenges players to find and recycle trash that can be used to make eco-friendly products that translate into game money and points. Its sponsors include TreeHugger and the CarbonFund.org, as well as TerraCycle.

The game, developed by Guerillapps, was a finalist at VentureBeat's GamesBeat 2011 startup contest, and you can see why. The game provides a clever introduction to the lucrative possibilities of upcycling, the use of recyclable elements to make new products. (One nit: the horrible music. I had to mute it.)

Trash Tycoon has players collecting glass, organic, plastic, architectural elements, paper, and jewelry. By using other tools like worms for composting, players are shown the kinds of useful products that can be made from recyclable goods.

The game mimics TerraCycle's real-world business model.

The New Jersey-based company is known for its recycling "brigades" in which anyone can mail in recyclable items needed by TerraCycle in exchange for two cents per item being sent to their charity of choice. Shipping for the items is paid for by TerraCycle. Using any box, participants simply print out a label for it, and mail in their items.

Using this method, TerraCycle has made the Garbage Garbage can, a garbage can made from old chip bags and the rubber elastic left over from the production of baby diapers. Other products includes bicycle chain picture frames, Capri Sun drink bag totes, pencil cases from cookie wrappers, circuit board coasters, Clif Bar duffel bags, and Kashi place mats, to name a few from its hundreds of quirky-looking products.

The game has a real-world component as well.

People who contribute recyclable waste to TerraCycle's real-life brigades and facilities will earn game points.

Just like TerraCycle's real-world product placement advertising in which it utilizes wrapper logos to contribute to product design as with its Skittles Eco Kite and Target ReTote, the Facebook game will also feature sponsorship by showing trash wrappers with various brand logos, according to Guerillapps. … Read more

High-speed rail to get $336 million more from feds

Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Wednesday announced his office is dispersing an additional $336.2 million in funds toward the massive U.S. high-speed rail public works project underway.

This time, the money is going for the trains themselves.

Including this latest release, $782 million has been dispersed for purchasing 33 locomotives and 120 bi-level train cars for California, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, and Washington.

The federal government has now allocated a total of $10.1 billion, set aside via the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, for the introduction of high-speed rail as well as updates … Read more

EnviroKats replaces kitty litter with recycled tires

Talk to a cat owner, and you'll hear all about the joys of Miss Tinkytoes' charming company, her tricks with string, her iPad art creations, and her intelligence. You won't likely hear about the stinky side of cat ownership: the litter box.

The American Society for Prevention to Cruelty to Animals estimates that the average cat uses $165 worth of cat litter in a year. That makes for a whole lot of used cat litter in landfills.

EnviroKats is tackling a couple of environmental issues at once by recycling old tires into reusable cat litter. The system looks … Read more

Toyota, 3M, Siemens top green brands in survey

Interbrand released a report today ranking the world's most green brands in terms of both perception and performance.

The companies on their list are not just using green initiatives as a way of creating a positive image with consumers. They are also making money from them.

Toyota ranked first, not only due to the financial success of its hybrid-electric Prius and its partnership on the all-electric Tesla. But since 1992 the auto manufacturer has also made large strides reducing energy use, water consumption, waste, and toxic emissions, according to Interbrand.

Among the 50 top green brands, Toyota is followed … Read more

Compostable swimsuits make a splash in Miami

When your swimsuit goes out of style, you may tuck it away in the closet, toss it in the trash, or donate it to Goodwill. Or, if you have one of designer Linda Loudermilk's new compostable swimsuits, you could just bury it in the garden.

The eco-conscious swimsuits debuted at the Haute Natured sustainable-swimwear show during Fashion Week in Miami this month. The show featured swimming outfits from various designers made from repurposed parachutes, recycled plastic bottles, and wood pulp.

Loudermilk's swimwear is made from plant starch. "Not only can we produce sex appeal from compostable materials, but also classic suits in all sizes in affordable volume with Luxury Eco style," Loudermilk said about her collection.

Related links • Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition goes 3D • R2-D2 swimsuit gets a friend: Threepio

It can take up to 180 days for the bikinis to break down, once buried underground. That means you should have no fears about your suit melting away into the pool in the middle of a refreshing swim.

Finally, someone is creating swimwear with both bikini models and little old lady gardeners in mind.… Read more

Green carpet maker Flor opens fifth retail store

Flor, the green carpet manufacturer, announced Thursday that it's opened a fifth brick-and-mortar store, this one in Dallas.

Like its other retail stores in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, and Santa Monica, the Dallas Flor store will offer a recycling drop-off for customers to return worn Flor items.

Flor sells carpets that are made from either wool or mostly renewable and recycled content, with an end goal of eventually making all its carpets entirely from sustainable materials.

In an age when most carpeting comes with a high amount of unhealthy VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), FLOR carpets also either meet or … Read more