12 things you can start doing NOW to save the planet
From time to time we are bombarded with news that warns us that the health of the planet is constantly worsening, that many of the unusual phenomena that occur are due to climate change and that in a few years the world may no longer be the same.
A question will have arisen spontaneously to everyone --- we, in our own small way, what can we do? Many will say "nothing", but perhaps to be at peace with our conscience, it is still worth trying, in all the ways that we can, to give our small contribution to the preservation of the Earth.
These inventions shown here, in addition to being brilliant, also respect the planet. Here are 15 things you can do to start taking care of the planet, now.
Recycle plastic bottles.
There is no corner of the planet that is not contaminated by plastic. Furthermore, this material not only takes centuries to degrade, but it puts the entire ecosystem at risk.
In addition to restricting the purchase of products that make excessive use of plastic (even in packaging), you should recycle everything that is made of plastic!
Eco-friendly 6-can packs.
Did you know that the plastic rings used to make 6-can packs are one of the main causes of animal death caused by pollution?
It would be an act of responsibility to properly recycle the six-pack plastic rings in question, even better would be to avoid buying products that use these rings in their packaging.
Some companies (such as the E6PR) have designed six-pack rings that respect the environment. In fact, they degrade in a short time and do not harm animals in any way.
Food wraps made from beeswax.
How many times have you wrapped up your lunch for school or work using an enormous amount of plastic? Bee's Wrap proposes a material that replaces plastic when it comes to wrapping food. In fact, the sheets created by this company are made from cotton, beeswax, jojoba oil, and natural resin. You can even reuse them, just wash in cool water!
A turbine that extracts water from the air.
Have you heard of WaterSeer? It is a technological device that is able to obtain water starting from the humidity present in the air. This means giving access to water even to populations that do not have access to it. Its energy costs are minimal (150 Watt/hour) and can store up to 9.8 gallons (37 liters) of water a day.
100% compostable containers.
The Indonesian start-up Avani aims to replace every plastic container with other more eco-friendly ones. They offer a line of 100% compostable products (cups, cutlery, straws, boxes, and bags) made of paper and cornstarch. They dissolve within a year and a half!
Shoes created with plastic waste collected from the Earth's oceans.
Parley for the Oceans / Facebook
Adidas has designed a line of sportswear and sports shoes created entirely with plastic waste collected from the Earth's oceans. Buying these products means helping to clean up the oceans!
Waterproof wallets of "banana skins".
Obviously, what is used is not a real banana skin, but rather the material that results from the processing of the waste from banana trees which is very similar to leather. This company has found ways to use the leaves and trunks of banana trees, which were previously left to rot on the ground, to create waterproof wallets and agendas. On each product, a traditional motif of Micronesia is drawn by hand, which is the island where Green Banana Paper was born.
Bottles that start to decompose when they are empty.
The brilliant idea was conceived by a young man named Ari Jónsson. His idea is a bottle, made of water and agar seaweed powder that keeps its shape while it contains liquid but that begins to decompose when it is empty. If you want, you can also eat the bottle (if someone likes the taste of seaweed!).
Edible water bubbles.
This spherical packaging made of seaweed is entirely natural and biodegradable. These edible water bubbles can be filled with water or other liquids and substances and they do not increase plastic waste. The company is called Ohoo! because those who have tried this invention could not help but show their amazement!
Take a shower with 70% less water.
Nebia is a shower head that uses up to 70% less water. This is possible because the shower head converts the jet of water into millions of tiny bubbles. It has been shown that if 20 gallons (76 liters) of water is needed for a normal shower, only 6 gallons (23 liters) are consumed with Nebia.
The cemetery that saves trees.
The Capsula Mundi company deals with two very important topics: death and deforestation. Concerned about the natural green areas that are wiped out every year to make room for urban sprawl, the company has decided to offer the possibility of burying the deceased in an egg-shaped casket (or urn) that is entirely biodegradable which is placed directly under the ground. Then a tree, that has been previously chosen by the deceased, is planted directly above it and cared for by the relatives of the deceased.
In this way, the cemetery would assume a completely different aspect and in addition, the planet would benefit as well.
The smart thermostat.
Nest is the thermostat that we would all like to have at home! It turns off the heating system when all the family members leave the house and can be checked remotely via an app. What distinguishes it from other technological thermostats is the fact that, when it is in operation, Nest detects the preferences of the tenants of the house, proposing a heating plan that optimizes the costs and effectiveness of the system.
