23. May 2018
by manu

Plastic everywhere!

© SAGE SZKABARNICKI-STUART

Microplastics have been found everywhere in the ocean that people have looked, from sediments on the deepest seafloor to ice floating in the Arctic—which, as it melts over the next decade, could release more than a trillion bits of plastic into the water, according to one estimate. On some beaches on the Big Island of Hawaii, as much as 15 percent of the sand is actually grains of microplastic.
Source: nationalgeographic.com
→ “We made plastic. We depend on it. Now we’re drowning in it.”
 

More than 40 percent of plastic is used just once, then tossed.
Source: nationalgeographic.com
→ “10 shocking facts about plastic”

21. May 2018
by manu

The Blue Planet – Documentary

A wonderful documentary series moderated by David Attenborough.

In recent years, our knowledge of life beneath the waves has been transformed. Using cutting-edge technology, One Ocean takes us on a journey from the intense heat of the tropics to our planet’s frozen poles to reveal new worlds and extraordinary never-before-seen animal behaviours.
Source: ihavenotv.com

Enjoy it while it’s online:
→ ihavenotv.com

21. May 2018
by manu

Make your own ice cream

© Manuela Ewers

When you make your own ice cream you not only know what’s in it and can switch ingredients to your liking, you can also reduce the amount of plastic packaging a lot!

Here is the recipe for my favourite ice cream!
(5 minutes of work // 2+ hours of freezing)

2 (ripe) Bananas
125ml Yoghurt(also nut milk or similar)
2 EL Cocoa powder
1/2 msp. Vanilla extract
Sugar, Peanut butter and Salt as you like

Thank you to Maike, Sabrina, Boray, Tanja and Boris for this wonderful birthday present!! 🙂

 

20. May 2018
by manu

A 3D-printer made of e-waste

© inhabitat.com

A westafrican inventor has built a 3D-printer out of electronic waste!

The waste problem in Africa is known. Almost everyone has seen pictures of enormous piles of trash with children playing on them and adults on the lookout for some higher value materials to finance their life…

As did Kodjo Afate Gnikou from West-Africa. He built a 3D-printer out of electronic waste, which you can buy for $100.

→ inhabitat.com
→ ulule.com

13. Apr 2018
by manu

What’s chewing gum made of?

© welt.de

Ever wondered what you are chewing on?
Right: petrol-based plastic, which will need hundreds of years to degrade.

“Gum is made from plastic. […] After World War II, chemists learned to make synthetic rubber, which came to replace most natural rubber in chewing gum (e.g., polyethylene and polyvinyl acetate). […]
Where does (plastic) chewing gum go after it’s ABC (already been chewed)? Is it flushed down toilets? Washed down storm drains? Hmm… just one more source of non-biodegradable plastic in our oceans?”
Source: myplasticfreelife.com

In the image above you can see the “Gum Wall” in Seattle. Over a time period of 20 years people stuck over one billion chewing gums on it. (I’m sorry, but I can’t see how that’s cool in any way… it’s just gross!)
In 2015 the city of Seattle has begun to clean the wall, but chewing gums keep showing up:
→ “Seattles zäher Kampf gegen die Kaugummi-Wand” (welt.de in German)

 

Maybe rather chew Bio-Gum or even break the habit?

The “Chicza” chewing gums are 100% bio-degradable, vegan and gluten-free:
→ chiczausa.com