Swimming Against the Waste Stream

INNOVATIONS TO KEEP US FROM

DROWNING IN OUR CRAP

Any substance or object the holder discards, intends to discard or is required to discard.

What is waste?

What is a weed?Any plant that is growing in a place where a human wants a different kind of plant or no plants at all.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in the EU

Packaging Waste 17%Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) 4%

Biodegradables 60%Construction & Demolition Waste 25% (of all waste)

End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) 17 million cars in 2010

WEEE!!!!!!

!!!Iron & Steel 48% Plastic 21%Copper 7%Glass 5%Aluminium 5%Printed Circuit Boards 3%Other Metals 1%Other 11%

MIXED RACE = progressMIXED WASTE = PROBLEMATIC

Recycl ing

Reuse

Recovery

Remanufacturing

Refi ning

R e m e l t i ng

Melting

REDUCTION??

BIOPLASTICS / BIOPOLYMERS

@Brian Smale

MaizeKenaf

HonestyMeadowfoa

mQuinoaCastor

CassavaPotatoes

Maple syrup

Polylactic Acid (PLA) / Polyhydroxyalkanoates

(PHAs)

PROS CONSSubstantial reductions in use of petroleum

Produce methane when decomposing in landfills

Compostable High temps required to activate decomposition

Resource base is renewable

Made from genetically modified crops

Decreases pressure on landfills

Cannot be easily recycled

SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVES TO

ALUMINIUM??

OPP Films

Pouch Packs

Bauxite Ore4 tonnes Alumi

na2

tonnes

Aluminum1 tonne

ALUMINIUM ALTERNATIVES TO HEAVIER METALSAluminum heat

sinks – CONDUCTIVITY

Recycling one tonne of steel cans saves 1.5 tonnes of iron ore , 0.5 tonnes of coal and

40% water usage.

Recycling 1kg of aluminum saves up to 6kg of bauxite, 4kg of chemical products and 14 kWh of

electricity.

www.wasteonline.org.uk

For a package to be truly sustainable, it must provide optimal performance in all its different functions, such as protection,

branding, product safety, recyclability etc. without compromising its environmental effects.

ALTERNATIVES TO POLYSTYRENE (EPS)

acorn@

greensulate@

www.ecovativedesign.com

There’s no home for foam!

www.styrophobia.com

SUGARCANE PLATES CORN & POTATO CUTLERY

PACKAGING MATERIALS

Alternatives to polystyrene

The EcoClamshell

Dissolving Tray @Plantic.com

“It’s the ultimate litter. It’s a product that’s used for 30 seconds and lasts 500 years.” Andrew Basmajian, City of Santa Monica Environmental Outreach Specialist

Strawbale Construction

Some advantages of strawbale buildings

High energy efficiency: approx.75% savings in energy costs over 30

years

Extremely fire resistant

Superior sound insulation

Free of pest damage

“COLTAN”: THE HUMAN COSTS OF UNBRIDLED COMSUMER WASTE

ProductsMobile phonesPlay stations

CamerasVideo recorders

computers

T.I.C. is not a policing body and in any event it is not in a position to prohibit or restrict lawful trade of 'Coltan' originating in Africa.

Use of environmentally friendly materials is a core feature of Deutsche Telekom's procurement policy… we encourage our suppliers to seek alternatives to tantalum and contribute to minimizing the coltan problem in doing so.

GRASSROOTS RECYCLING NETWORK

Principles for the Age of Zero Waste

Prevent rather than manage waste.

Turn discarded resources into jobs instead of trash.

Support an economy that provides for a comfortable society without robbing the future.

Emulates natural systems where everything that wears out or dies becomes food or shelter, however temporarily, for something else, giving rise to a vibrant yet efficient flow of energy and resources.

“Principles have no real force except when one is well-fed.”

Mark Twain

With special thanks to Lia Koblov, HuMuSz Steve Nelson, Ignite

Budapest

Swimming Against the Waste StreamTycho Sierra

Budapest 2009