From organic cotton to hemp and bamboo, a brief list highlights some of the differences between sustainable and conventional textile production methods.
designed to eventually cut carbon dioxide emissions by 250,000 tons per year,
save the equivalent of the annual energy consumption of 750,000 households, and
slash the country’s overall energy bill by 200 million Euros ($266
million).
“reduce the print of artificial lighting on the nocturnal environment
lighting in many parts of the world is endangering our health and the health of
the ecosystems on which we
The good news is that light pollution is readily within our grasp to
control.rely
ecological light pollution, warning that disrupting these natural patterns of
light and dark, and thus the structures and functions of ecosystems, is having
profound impacts
China, India, Brazil, and numerous other countries are becoming increasingly
affluent and urbanized
glowing white
Connecticut and California — have enacted regulations to reduce light pollution,
but most nations and cities still do little to dial down the excessive use of
light
LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, can improve our ability to reduce and better
regulate lighting
“blue-rich
disruptive to circadian rhythms.
reducing
or Loss of Night
30 percent of vertebrates and more than 60 percent of invertebrates are
nocturnal
bright lights
All are potentially impacted by our burgeoning use of artificial light
We have levels of light hundreds and thousands of time higher than the natural
level during the night
computer-generated maps that dramatically depict the extent of light pollution
across the globe
Every flip of a light switch contributes to altering ancient patterns of mating,
migration, feeding, and pollination, with no time for species to adapt
2012 study of leatherback turtles
“artificial lighting of the nesting beaches is the biggest threat
to survival of hatchlings and a major factor in declining leatherback turtle
populations.”
eflected light of the stars and moon from the beach to the ocean
follow the light of hotels and streetlights
drawn off-course by artificial light
between 100 million and 1 billion, we don’t really know — killed each year by
collision with human-made structures
our outdoor lights are irresistible flames, killing countless moths and other
insects, with ripple effects throughout the food chain
natural pest control
for bats
artificial light disrupts patterns of travel and feeding since many bat species
avoid illuminated areas.
that street lighting influences the migratory pattern of Atlantic
salmon,
studies on light pollution, ranging from research into the socio-political
challenges of cutting light pollution in the Berlin metropolitan area to the
effects of light pollution on nocturnal mammals
composition of entire communities of insects and other invertebrates.
blue wavelength light tells our brain that night is over,
consequences of excessive exposure to light at night include an increased risk
for obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease
American Medical Association
“risks and benefits of occupational and environmental exposure to light-at-night
“new lighting technologies at home and at work that minimize circadian
disruption
are concerned about the impact of some new lighting
make LEDs a
these lights may actually make things significantly worse
often brighter than the old lights they are replacing
LEDs could “exacerbate known and possible unknown effects of light pollution on
human health (and the) environment” by more than five times.
preventing areas
recommends limits for the amount of light in five different zones of lighting
intensity
banning unshielded lighting in all zones.
researchers have identified numerous practical steps to reduce light
pollution:
spectral composition of lighting (
limiting the duration of lighting
altering the intensity
the Model
Lighting Ordinance
simple act of shielding our lights — installing or retrofitting lamp fixtures
that direct light downward to its intended target — represents our best chance
to control light pollution
lines of shielded lighting fixtures
light equals safety, and darkness danger
with little compelling evidence to support common assumptions.
The objection
For example, ever-brighter lights can actually diminish security by casting
glare that impedes our vision and creates shadows where criminals can
hide.
As evidence mounts that excessive use of light is harming wildlife and adversely affecting human health, new initiatives in France and elsewhere are seeking to turn down the lights that flood an ever-growing part of the planet
mounts that excessive use of light is harming wildlife and adversely affecting human health, new initiatives in France and elsewhere are seeking to turn down the lights that flood an ever-growing part of the planet.
Patagonia will use 100 percent traceable down across its entire collection of down-insulated products starting in the Fall 2014 season, the outdoor apparel company says.
CEH filed lawsuits against four personal care product manufacturers after it found evidence of a toxic substance, cocamide Diethanolamine (cocamide DEA) in their shampoos, soaps and other personal care products. The nonprofit firm also sent letters to approximately 100 firms whose products also tested positive.
BMW, Ford, GM, Honda and 10 other leading automakers have agreed a set of expectations for suppliers, relating to the environment, working conditions, human rights and business ethics.
Brands including Target, Levi's and Gap are teaming up with the Natural Resources Defense Council to make their suppliers' factories in China more sustainable. A pilot project involving 33 factories has already seen coal consumption reduced by 61,000 tons and chemical consumption by 400 tons, and saved the factories a total of $14.7 million.
A few basic (and often profitable) changes in a factory's manufacturing process can go a long way in cutting down pollution. That's the takeaway from Clean by Design, a new alliance between NRDC, major clothing brands-including Target, Levi's, Gap, and H&M-and Chinese textile manufacturing experts.
Millions upon millions of games, dolls, trinkets and other baubles are churned out for the entertainment of children around the world.
As the titans that make them start considering their complete environmental footprints, they are making big strides in protecting the planet's natural resources, albeit by disparate approaches.
by 2020 Hasbro plans to reduce waste to landfill by 50 percent, energy consumption by 25 percent, GHG emissions by 20 percent and water consumption by 15 percent.
Between 2008 and 2012, the company says, it reduced non-hazardous waste by 40 percent, energy consumption by 19 percent, GHG emissions by 32 percent and water consumption by 31 percent.
Hasbro is also working to reduce its packaging material, eliminate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from packaging, increase recycled content and source paper responsibly.
This year the company eliminated PVC from new product packaging and says it's on track to nix it from all packaging by the end of this year.
It also exceeded its 2011 goal to derive at least 75 percent of paper and board packaging from recycled material or from sources that practice sustainable forest management. By 2015, Hasbro plans to increase that number to 90 percent.
it also did away with the plastic bags in which game instructions were wrapped, removing 800,000 pounds of material worldwide from its waste stream.
Lego has worked for decades to eliminate PVC as well as phthalates from its toys, all of which no longer contain these substances.
Next year the cardboard used in the new boxes will carry FSC certification
Over the next few years Lego's parent company, Kirkbi, is investing $547 million to build a wind farm off the coast of Germany.
By 2020, the company will contribute to the world at least the same amount of sustainable energy as the company consumes.
"Today we recycle about 90 percent of our waste, and with zero waste as our long-term ambition we will continue to make progress on this agenda,
in 2010, Mattel's Hot Wheels factory in Malaysia began using local sources and 100 percent compostable residual sugar cane fiber as an alternative packaging material for the plastic insert tray of the Hot Wheels 9- and 10-pack car assortments.
Mattel established a sustainability target to improve our packaging material efficiency by 5 percent by 2015.
the company has reduced its energy consumption by 33 percent, CO2 emissions by 38 percent, water consumption by 54 percent, volatile organic compound emissions by nearly 70 percent, non-hazardous waste generation by 30 percent and hazardous waste generation by 16 percent.
Mattel canceled its contracts with Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), who were complicit in rainforest destruction, and instructed its suppliers to avoid wood fiber from controversial sources, including companies 'that are known to be involved in deforestation
The Fashion Footprint app can scan clothing tags and provide ratings information on everything from factory safety to worker health. Fashion Footprint lets shoppers connect directly with the makers of clothes through an interactive, audio-visual experience, and learn how their purchase decisions affect the lives of people around the world.
The most recent corporation to join the growing movement toward deforestation-free palm oil sourcing is ConAgra, whose brands, the company stated, can be found in 99 percent of American households.
Walmart launched its Sustainability Leaders shop, an online shopping portal that enables customers to identify and purchase products from suppliers that have integrated organizational changes to manufacture goods in a manner that surpasses the efforts of their competitors.
President Obama will issue an Executive Order to cut the Federal Government's GHG emissions by 40% and increase its consumption of electricity from renewable sources by 30% over the next decade, compared to 2008 levels. The plan is projected to save taxpayers up to $18 billion in avoided energy costs.
The Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops partnered with The Sustainability Consortium to align the measurement and reporting of on-farm sustainability associated with specialty crops including fruits, nuts, and vegetables.
new undercover video shot by a Mercy for Animals (MFA) investigator at Tosh Farms, a JBS pork supplier based in Franklin, Kentucky, exposes what the animal rights group calls the "malicious and systemic abuse of mother pigs and piglets."
Hershey Co. is spending $500 million in the hopes of producing its iconic chocolate Kisses from more sustainable cocoa. Through its so-called Cocoa for Good program, the company will invest the funds through 2030 to support four key areas: nourishing children, empowering youth, building prosperous communities and preserving natural ecosystems.
By the fall of 2020, REI will sever its business relationships with any of its 1,000-plus suppliers that don't meet stringent new requirements in areas including environmental impact, chemical usage, animal welfare, and labor safety and fairness. The move is among the most comprehensive efforts to advance sustainability in the retail sector. The outdoors-equipment retailer has already supplied to its vendors a 12-page document detailing the new sustainability standards. Some go into effect immediately, while others are more ambitious and aspirational and won't be mandatory for a couple of years.