Plastics delivery of the week: New technologies help protect the environment by “trampling” industrial waste gas and making vodka out of “air”

#1

"Step on" industrial waste gas: Carbon emissions are converted into foam soles

On Running, a Swiss sports running shoe brand that went public in September, has released a new high-performance foam material for running shoes made from carbon emissions. The brand realized that if it wanted to achieve its aggressive net-zero goals, it needed to rethink the materials used to make shoes. The company's vision is that all of its sole foam materials will move away from petroleum-based resources and use captured carbon as a raw material. On Running hopes to launch the first pair of shoes made entirely from carbon waste next year.

Swiss sports shoe brand On Running has released a new high-performance foam material for running shoes, made from carbon emissions. Pictured is the production process.

Figure丨On Running official website

#2

Making vodka from thin air: removing one pound of CO2 from one liter of alcohol

Founded in 2017, New York-based startup Air Company sells vodka and perfume made with CO2, and also produced hand sanitizer during the epidemic. It uses water and solar power generation equipment to convert captured CO2 into ethanol to produce the world's first "negative carbon vodka." Traditional vodka is made by fermenting starch-rich grains such as wheat or potatoes, a process that produces about 13 pounds of greenhouse gases. Negative carbon vodka is made only of water and CO2, and its production process actually removes CO2 from the air, that is, its carbon footprint is negative. It is understood that 1 liter of vodka can remove 1 pound of CO2.

Using a patented distillation system, Air Company converts atmospheric CO2 into ethanol to produce vodka.

Figure 丨 Related reports on the British Guardian website

#3

CO2 "transforms" into food: air protein reduces carbon emissions

The slogan of the American company Air Protein is "Meat made from air". It uses a fermentation process to convert elements in the air into nutrients. The production process does not require the use of arable land and has no requirements for the climate. Edible protein can be made using only air.

Deep Branch, a startup founded in the UK, is focused on developing low-carbon animal feed. Their technology converts CO2 emitted by industry into high-value chemicals. Through a proprietary gas fermentation process using hydrogen as an energy source, CO2 is converted into single-cell protein for animal feed.

Deep Branch's ProtonTM single-cell protein made from recycled CO2

Figure 丨 Related reports on the British Guardian website

#4

SF Express's new reusable express boxes are put into use in Hangzhou

Recently, a new type of express box "π-box" with magic tape has appeared in SF Express's business outlets in Hangzhou. Through 2 steps of folding and 4 steps of sealing, a box can be put into use in less than 10 seconds. According to SF Express staff, "π-box" is an upgraded version of the first generation of express recycling box "Feng·box" independently developed by SF Express, which was launched in September this year and was first piloted in Hangzhou, Shanghai and other places. According to laboratory tests, "π-box" can be recycled more than 70 times, and 96% of the materials in the whole box are recyclable.

Compared with the first generation of recycling boxes, "π-box" uses a single material PP honeycomb sheet that is easier to recycle, easy to clean, and has a 100% higher puncture resistance, which greatly protects the express items. "π-box" uses a simple and easy-to-operate self-locking bottom folding structure and a full-box magic adhesive mode, eliminating the use of consumable materials such as tape and zippers. At present, "π-box" has launched a total of 6 specifications. Senders can choose the corresponding model according to their own needs and the actual size of the items. The price is consistent with the previous carton charges.

SF Express couriers are using π-box

Figure丨Network

#5

SF Express's "Box" Companion Program turns express cartons into treasure

For many online shoppers, throwing away express cartons as garbage is not environmentally friendly, and keeping them takes up space. Recently, a Ms. Wu received a special express package. The inner side of the express carton was designed with schematic lines. According to the prompts, the express box was disassembled and laid flat, and cut along the schematic lines, and a shelf was quickly made. This express carton comes from SF Express. This special carton is one of the initiatives of the "Box Companion Plan" launched by SF Express. It is reported that SF Express has put hundreds of thousands of limited edition creative cartons in large and medium-sized cities across the country to inspire users to transform old cartons and convey the environmental protection concept of turning "waste" into treasure.

In 2021, SF Express's "Box" Companion Plan was upgraded from case demonstration to implementation in cities. Starting from the end of October, SF Express launched hundreds of thousands of limited edition SF Express creative cartons in cities such as Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. After receiving the express delivery and unpacking it, users can open the used express boxes and lay them flat, cut and splice them along the schematic lines, so that the carton resources can be utilized and waste can be turned into treasure, turning them into practical things in life (three-piece set of storage rack, pen holder, and electronic equipment stand).

Practical things made from SF Express boxes

Photo: SF Express

#6

my country's annual express delivery volume exceeds 100 billion pieces for the first time

On December 8, real-time monitoring data from the State Post Bureau's express delivery big data platform showed that my country's express delivery business volume reached 100 billion pieces in 2021, marking a new step in the development of my country's postal express industry. Chen Kai, deputy director of the State Post Bureau, pointed out at a press conference that standing at a new historical starting point, the postal express industry will continue to enrich the connotation and core essence of development, adhere to the principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability and excellence while making progress, fully implement the industry's mission, and strive to achieve higher-quality development.

Figure丨China Post Express Newspaper

#7

Hubei offers a maximum reward of 200,000 yuan for reporting environmental violations

Recently, the Hubei Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment and the Hubei Provincial Department of Finance jointly issued the "Hubei Provincial Ecological and Environmental Violation Reporting Reward Measures", which will come into effect on January 1, 2022. It is the first comprehensive illegal behavior reporting reward measure in Hubei's ecological and environmental protection field. The "Reward Measures for Reporting" clearly states that once the public's report clues are verified, the maximum one-time reward amount is 100,000 yuan, and the cumulative amount does not exceed 200,000 yuan.

Reporters can submit reports in a variety of ways, including telephone reports: 12369, 12345; online reports: "12369 Environmental Protection Reporting" public account and the portal websites of ecological and environmental authorities at all levels; letters and visits: letters and visits reception departments of ecological and environmental departments at all levels; and other reporting channels announced by ecological and environmental authorities.

Figure: Hubei Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment

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