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.Category Archives: living/restorative design
are carbon emissions a new source material?
plastic from carbon emissions…might be spun, molded, and more
Is it possible to take the carbon molecules in greenhouse gasses (methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide) and convert them into long carbon chains like plastic?
This question is at the heart of a new area of sustainable materials engineering. AirCarbon is one company that’s taken this process commerical and currently supplies it emission-engineered plastic to 30 companies, according to this Guardian article. The company calls itself “carbon negative.”
As a substitute for fossil fuel-based plastics, it can be extruded, made into film, spun as fiber, injection molded and more. Some of it is even biodegradable. Why didn’t anyone think of this before? The company’s biggest problem is keeping up with demand.
What’s your favorite new material technology? share in the comments.
What can you do with mushroom materials?
Ecovative is a biomaterials company making its name in mushrooms — their material is grown, not manufactured. I feel myself wanting to add: shaken, not stirred…or stir fried! Ecovative’s “grow factories” produce mushroom mycelium, a natural, self-assembling glue. The mushrooms digest crop waste “to produce cost-competitive and environmentally responsible materials that perform.” The company is… Continue Reading
Green Infrastructure Competition
The EPA has launched its 2nd annual Campus RainWorks Challenge for college and university students. Student teams design an innovative green infrastructure project for their campus showing how managing stormwater at its source can benefit the campus community and the environment. Although this competition is for US entrants, as always, consider using the format to… Continue Reading
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