Interesting stats on EVs and energy use in the US, developments in wind and tidal power, a plastic recycling microfactory, and an "unprecedented collapse" in EU fossil fuel generation.
Researchers at Michigan State University say they've discovered a way to use table salt (sodium chloride) to make plastic recycling more effective and affordable.
They say that sodium chloride has been proven to outperform much more expensive materials as a catalyst for breaking down not only polystyrene but also polyolefins – polymers that account for 60% of plastic waste – into valuable reusable carbon compounds.
On top of that, the salt can be recovered and reused, cutting down on the materials required in the recycling process.
Obviously, it would be best if the world stopped making and using so much plastic. In the meantime, stories like this give me hope that we are getting closer to a workable solution for getting rid of the unfathomable amount of plastic that already exists on the planet and is getting bigger everyday.
A new study suggests that switching to a reusable packaging paradigm can reduce greenhouse emissions from plastic by up to 69% – AND use up to 70% less water.
