Green Technology

Panasonic’s PETEC is looking at  ways to achieve “Zero Waste Recycling” by developing process that can reuse materials from products that are at the end of their life – rather than send them to a landfill.

One interesting example is recycling old CRT type TVs … as old analog style TVs are replaced with newer digital TVs there is the opportunity to recycle this large amount of glass and other valuable raw materials.  The glass is turned into fibers that are used to make insulation panels for new refrigerators.

PETEC looks at ways to more efficiently recover materials as well as work with manufacturing teams to make products easier to recycle.  “ … knowledge gained at the actual recycling site is shared … and this knowledge acts as feedback to design new products.”

Via:  Panasonic  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 07:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

e-Waste is a growing problem - one significant issue is that it is often taken to other nations for handling and improper or unsafe disposal.

The EPA and the United Nations University (UNN) are partnering to reduce pollution and health effects from improperly disposed e-waste.  The EPA gave a 5 year 2.5 million USD grant to the UNN to help develop programs to " ...  help authorities track shipments of North American electronic waste and provide support to nations in both Africa and Asia coping with e-waste imports ..."

" ... improper disposal can threaten the health of local people and the environment ..."

Goals include better tracking of e-waste and better methods for refurbishment and safer disposal.

Via:  EPA  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Check out the  Save Some Green at 2005 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, Pa.v

"ALL of our products are better for the environment ... Recycled, Recyclable, Biodegradable, Compostable, ... Sustainable, ... Less-wasteful, Local – or a combination."

The store fixtures are reused or made from bamboo or recycled cardboard. 

" .... carry products which are reasonably priced ... "

They offer to recycle materials such as # 3 - # 7 plastics and even take food for composting !

Check out their website to learn more about what they do and what they offer LINK

Don't live in Philadelphia - see their Amazon store !

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Sprint is developing a standard for green phones called eco-criteria.  Manufacturers who meet the standards will be able to use the eco-criteria symbol on the phone … scoring “points” for both Sprint and the manufacturer with the green community.

This is a natural extension of their other ongoing “green” initiatives.

The standard sets categories and as total point level required to be green.  The categories are “Reduction of Environmentally Sensitive Materials (ROH), Energy Management, Lifecycle Management, Sustainable Packaging, Eco-Friendly Applications and Innovation.

Points are awared for " ...  RoHS Compliance, low levels of PVC, BFRs, Phthalates, Beryllium ... Energy Star qualification ... High recyclability rate, recycling envelop included in box, standardized connector, recycled plastic or renewably sourced plastic content  ..."

There are 115 available points and 70 or more are required for the eco-criteria logo.

Via:  Sprint LINK

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A "hotel" in Madrid has been built completely from waste materials.

Showing both what can be done to re-purpose items and potentially how dirty beaches are the "... walls of the Beach Garbage Hotel ... made of materials found in landfills, the beaches and even flea markets ..."

" ... created the Beach Garbage Hotel because the oceans of our planet are the biggest garbage dump ... 30-40% of the objects used for the hotel were found on the beaches of Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain ..."

The temporary "hotel" closes soon (Jan 23rd) so book soon if interested!

Via:  Huffington Post LINK

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bluesign® is a standard for the textile industry that provides a framework for all aspects of the textile process.  This standard goes beyond what many companies had developed on their own … and is recognized as the “gold standard” for the textile business.  Many outdoor / sporting goods manufactures are supporting this standard including North Face and REI. 

“ …exclude substances, which are potentially hazardous to the human health or the environment … independent standard … can be applied to the entire production chain and that delivers certainty at all levels … leading the way to a successful and healthy textile future …”

Check out this YouTube Video …

Via:  bluesign  LINK

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Samsung's Evergreen is one GREEN phone.

" ... built with recycled plastics, is hazardous substance free and comes with all sorts of eco-themed apps and tools ...  packaging is green, made 80% of recycled paper and uses soy ink."

Via:  Samsung  LINK

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UPS ' sustainability efforts are well known.  Perhaps you have seen their hybrid delivery trucks - sporting their neat hybrid logo.  I have seen them on the streets of Philadelphia.

UPS is also a leader in recycling.  In addition to paper they recycle batteries and e-waste; which is fast becoming a problem due to the rapid rate of obsolescence of computers and cell phones. e-waste contains significant toxins including lead.

" ... "e-waste" ... a significant global problem. ...  UPS recycled 27,753 pounds of batteries in 2008.  This included nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride, lithium iron,  ... implemented its own e-waste recycling program ...  has recycled more than 24.5 million pounds of electronic equipment."

VIA: UPS  LINK

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Dixon Golf's "GREEN" golf balls are truly green - made with recycled materials and themselves recyclable.

" ...first high-performance eco-friendly golf balls ... all balls manufactured by Dixon Golf are "green" to the core ... 100% recyclable and made from reprocessable materials ... packaging is made from 100% recycled material."

Via: LINK

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MicroPro Computers introduces an environmentally-friendly PC, called iameco, which is developed as a zero-waste personal computer.  The company is striving to become the only PC maker in the world to earn the European Union's prestigious Eco-Label mark, for high-quality consumer products that meet the highest environmental standards.  ...

...   The new range of PCs, designed and assembled in Ireland, are free of many of the harmful materials, such as brominated flame retardants, PVCs and heavy metals like lead, cadium and mercury that have been regularly used in computer manufacture for years. Moreover, this new range of high-specification computers are housed in carefully designed, and beautifully finished cases, which come in several varieties of solid natural woods, including Ash, Maple, Beech and Ebony. iameco PCs also come with matching wood-finish keyboards, mice and flat-screen monitors which double as high-definition TVs.   ...

Via iameco: MicroPro Computers launches Ireland’s first environmentally-friendly PC-iameco™

Posted by Green Tech at 10:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Arrow Electronics leader, Preben Risvang, discusses implications of the RoHS directive, as it comes into force on July 1.  ...

...   "The transition to RoHS compliance is one of the biggest revolutions that the electronics industry has ever experienced. Preparation has been ongoing for the last four years, and there has been a marked increase in activity in the last two years or so as customers, manufacturers and distributors began to see the deadline looming.  The entire manufacturing process, including testing procedures, production control and soldering, has had to be changed. "   ...

ROHS Directive: Compliance Ready?: Via Arrow Electronics Northern Europe: Is the Industry Ready for RoHS?

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