Countdown to COP27: Sustainability bites

Humans have made great strides when it comes to sustainability on planet earth. But now, for the first time, this focus is broadening to include deepest, darkest space.

Rising sea levels and increasing temperatures, acidification and greenhouse gas concentrations. Oceans are facing challenges and UN Secretary General, António Guterres, has called for action.

For the first time, the right to a ‘clean, healthy and sustainable environment’ isn’t just a nice thought, it’s a basic human right. The UN has even declared it a ‘turning point for humanity’.

Microplastics are an environmental menace that have spread to even the most remote parts of the world. However, a robot fish could soon provide a solution.

You’ve got to love an electric car. Low running costs, kind to the planet and oh so quiet. But it turns out they have an Achilles heel: poor performance in extreme temperatures.

You don’t tend to find the words ‘Prada’ and ‘sustainable’ in the same sentence. And with an environmental rating of ‘not good enough’ by Good on You, and equally disappointing ESG ratings from Bloomsberg, it’s clear why.

Getting a daily caffeine hit could be about to become a more expensive. Coffee drinkers in Ireland are to be hit with a levy designed to restrict the use of disposable coffee cups.

Concrete is the most widely manufactured material on the planet, and one that plays a central role in much of our modern life. However, it comes with a catastrophic environmental cost. 

Sports fans be warned. The climate crisis is going to cause a few upsets. It’s been predicted that by 2050, around half of former winter Olympic host cities will not have enough snow and ice to play host again.

Businesses need to get serious about their impact on the planet. If they don’t, they risk a customer boycott.

Not all nuclear power is created equal. In fact, some could play a key role in reducing carbon. We’re talking, nuclear fusion.

You go in for a flat-pack bookcase and some meatballs, and come out with… Well, it could be anything, but soon, US shoppers can add solar panels to their list of potential Ikea purchases.

Some boats are made for speed, others for luxury. Very few offer the potential for the future of green energy, but a new hydrofoil sailing catamaran could be doing just that.

The idea of hydrogen-fuelled aircraft has been around since the early days of the Cold War. Over 70 years later, the idea is finally taking flight.

Harnessing one of nature’s mightiest forces, wind turbines need to be well-placed. And by well-placed, what we actually mean is somewhere really, really windy.

When it comes to sustainable aviation, there’s no low-hanging fruit. The path to emission-free aviation fuels is challenging, more sustainable aircraft design and production is still a work in progress, and when it comes to sustainable airport design, architects really have their work cut out.

When it comes to getting from A to B, things have moved on. We’ve gone from horse to automobile. From canal to railway. From steamboat to speed boat. But what about a move from taxicab to taxiplane?

In 1975 it was sea eagles. In 1996 it was ospreys. And in 2002 it was beavers. Over the years, a range of animals have made a comeback across the UK. This year, it was the turn of the bison.

Little plastic bricks, in little plastic bags. It doesn’t exactly scream sustainability. However, Lego is committed to reducing its carbon footprint, and it’s thinking big.

Some call it the ‘Blue Planet effect’, but whatever sparked the change in consumer attitudes to plastic, businesses have had to take note. Greenwashing aside, there are many companies doing what they can to solve our climate woes – many starting with consumer packaging.

The trucking industry hasn’t exactly been hurtling towards electrification. For one, it’s one of the hardest sectors to electrify. And heavy-duty vehicles need heavy-duty solutions.

It’s no secret the fashion industry has a sustainability problem. Fast fashion gets the blame, but high-end brands are just as guilty.

Considering we live in a world obsessed by big data, we know remarkably little about our oceans. Smartfin, a US non-profit, is doing what it can to get the right data to the right people. But for that you need the right data collectors. In this case, surfer dudes.

Keeping food fresher for longer means less food waste, but typically requires some kind of plastic packaging. Doing what’s best for the planet can feel like a minefield. Luckily, there’s innovative solutions are being developed to help us out of these Catch-22s. In this case: sustainable food coatings.

The race to find sustainable leather is on. Mushroom, cactus and pineapple leather are all strong contenders. But there’s a new challenger on the scene: fish leather. And it has some seriously strong eco-credentials.

Do you want the good, bad, or really bad news about electric vehicles (EVs)? 

The next UN climate change conference (COP27) in Sharm El Sheik is a chance for the global community to reassert its commitment to tackling the climate crisis head-on.