Blanket for ice cover? Scientists wraps Swiss glacier with sheep’s wool to protect it from melting; early tests found it protected the ice about as well as plastic sheetsA Swiss glacier experiment is testing sheep’s wool as a natural alternative to plastic covers used to slow glacier melting. Researchers fou...
In 2025, Washington State researchers recycled wind-turbine blade waste into plastic; up to 70% of recovered GFRP was reused, while 83.5% of the resin matrix was degradedInnovative researchers have unveiled a groundbreaking chemical technique to recycle decommissioned wind turbine blades. This process effect...
At 18, this Irish student invented plant-based plastic that doesn't just biodegrade; it is designed to break down microplastics tooA creative solution emerges from Ireland, where a student has pioneered Eco Purge, a biodegradable substance that emits enzymes aimed at de...
Putting a plastic bottle filled with water on your roof: 30+ countries use this unusual trick; here’s what it does and how to use it correctlyPutting a plastic bottle filled with water on your roof: The Moser lamp is a simple invention that uses sunlight to brighten dark indoor sp...
In 2023, Virginia Tech researchers turned plastic bags and food containers into soap-making surfactants; the products could be worth about $3,550 a ton in a lab-scale processScientists at Virginia Tech have pioneered an innovative method to convert plastic waste into valuable soap compounds. By breaking down eve...
A Nigerian engineer built his first model house with 14,800 sand-filled plastic bottles; the experiment later grew into 15 houses, including a five-bedroom duplexNigerian engineer Yahaya Ahmed is building homes using thousands of discarded plastic bottles. His initiative has constructed up to fifteen...
In 2023, Rice researchers flashed mixed waste plastic for about 4 seconds at 3,100 K; the process recovered up to 68% of its hydrogen at purities reaching 94% and produced grapheneA group of researchers has pioneered a groundbreaking technique that transforms landfill plastic into hydrogen gas, a valuable energy sourc...
In 2026, Texas engineers mixed 4.5 tons of waste plastic into nearly a mile of road; the recycled material replaced 8% to 10% of petroleum-based bitumenInnovative researchers are pioneering the use of recycled plastic to improve the durability of asphalt roads. By substituting a portion of ...
In 2022, Duke students shredded and melted plastics 1, 2, 4 and 5 into bricks; a $248.84 setup produced blocks holding over 5,000 N in compression testsStudents at Duke University embarked on an innovative project, transforming everyday household plastic waste into strong building bricks. T...
Accelerating Plastics Circularity: Turning Ambition into Scalable Action | Industry RoundtableIndustry experts convened to emphasize the need for advancing plastics circularity throughout India and the Asia Pacific region. They ident...
In 2022, Hawaii used 195,000 plastic bottles to rebuild a road. Engineers found an alternative use for recycling plastic waste, but there's a catchHawaii's officials have embarked on an innovative experiment to blend recycled plastic into road asphalt, effectively repurposing nearly 20...
In 2024, South Dakota State University researchers turned banana peels into biodegradable film; it reached 31.3 MPa tensile strength and lost more than half its weight in moist soil within three weeksScientists at South Dakota State University have transformed banana peels into a plastic-like film that is biodegradable and breaks down in...
In 2023, researchers oxidized orange-peel waste for 1 hour and recovered 55% of its sugars; engineered E. coli produced up to 393 mg of PHBResearchers have developed a method to convert orange peel waste into plastic. This process extracts sugar from peels, which then feeds bac...
In 2025, Petgas in Boca del Río reportedly processed 1.5 tons of plastic each week without oxygen; its pyrolysis system produced about 356 gallons of fuelA Mexican company, Petgas, converts plastic waste into fuel using a process called pyrolysis. This innovative machine processes significant...
These sustainable houses built from waste cost under $300: 2 tonnes of discarded plastic can become a home in just 7 daysA Mexican entrepreneur is turning discarded plastic into affordable, sustainable homes that cost under $300. Each house uses around 2 tonne...
What looks like a normal Canadian home is actually made from 612,000 plastic bottlesTwo Canadian brothers have turned an astonishing 612,000 discarded plastic bottles into a concept home in Meteghan, Nova Scotia. Their comp...
Two Canadian builders turned 612,000 plastic bottles into 2,000-sq-ft home in Nova Scotia; its panels were so strong they withstood sustained winds of 326 mph, twice the strength of Category 5 hurricaneCanadian builders transformed more than 600,000 plastic bottles into a house. The recycled PET was processed into foam and used to make str...