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Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
Pack Smarter, Travel Right: Sustainable Essentials For Summer Getaways
Summer vacation Summer is here! While wanderlust and all the parties and excursions fuel unforgettable memories, it can also leave a lasting mark on the planet. According to the International Air Transport Association, aviation contributes roughly 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions, and when you factor in ground transportation, accommodation, food, and shopping. Furthermore, Sustainable Travel International estimates that tourism accounts for up to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, sustainable travel is about traveling with intention and begins before you even leave your house with how you pack. Sustainable Summer Swaps: Reusables That Outlast Disposables The majority of travel waste stems from single-use plastics and overconsumption. Six million tons end up in our coastlines and rivers annually, much of it from everyday items like shampoo bottles, food packaging, and water bottles. One of the simplest switches is to pack a low-waste travel kit which would include solid shampoo bars, your favorite bar soap, reusable razors, and refillable silicone bottles. Stylish and Sustainable: Summer Sunglasses That Do More Cheerful young couple walking on sidewalk. Sunglasses are a summer staple, but most are made from petroleum-based plastics that can take hundreds of years to degrade. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, only 14% of plastic packaging is collected for recycling globally. This summer, opt for brands like Sunski, which makes frames from recycled plastic. An additional option is Timberland's recycled sunglasses offer a stylish, low-impact option made with at least 35% bio-based content derived from renewable sources like castor oil plants. Smarter Summer Packing Lighter Impact Happy young tourists with suitcases Your travel gear could be negatively affecting the planet. According to a UNEP report, over 90 million tons of textiles are discarded globally each year, and yes that would include textiles from discarded luggage and travel gear. Brands like Paravel offer carbon-neutral luggage made from recycled polycarbonate, while Solgaard's Carry-On Closet is crafted from ocean-bound plastic and comes with a built-in shelving system, making sustainable organization stylish. For additional gear that performs and protects the planet, consider the Mission Workshop Control EPX Pack, a weatherproof backpack made in the USA with 100% recycled ECOPAK™ fabric and it also offers 5 times more UV resistance than standard materials hence extending product life. Greener Summer Road Trips: Lower-Impact Miles, Higher Intentions Let's face it not everyone is catching flights. If you are hitting the road this summer, you are in good company, especially in North America. According to projections from AAA, an estimated 61.6 million people in North America will travel by car, marking a 2.2% increase over last year and setting a new record for road trip volume. The Independence Day holiday period alone is expected to see 1.3 million more drivers on the road compared to 2024, underscoring the continued rise in vehicle-based travel. Carpool when possible, especially for family or friend group trips especially because shared rides reduce per-person emissions. If you are renting vehicles, opt for hybrid or electric vehicles, increasingly available through major agencies. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, EVs produce fewer emissions over their lifetime compared to gasoline vehicles. For your road trips, when possible, pack light to reduce fuel consumption and map out charging or refill stations to avoid unnecessary detours. Stock the car with reusable containers, snack bags, and a travel mug, since single-use water bottles are one of the biggest culprits in travel waste. Swap them out especially since road trips are notorious for convenience store stops and the resultant waste, but a little preparation goes a long way. Additionally, travel tech doesn't have to be energy-intensive. Solar-powered gadgets like Reveal Solar Bluetooth Speaker let you stay charged without finding an outlet. Smart plugs and fridge timers also help you track and reduce electricity use when you're home or away. Close up of a young family packing up for a road trip So whether you are jetting off to a tropical escape like Aruba or cruising the coastline with your windows down, what you pack matters, not just for your experience but for the planet. From recycled luggage to refillable beauty to solar-powered tech, every small shift in your suitcase or backpack is a statement about the kind of traveler you want to be. This summer, pack smarter and be the kind of traveler who moves the world forward, one trip at a time.
Forbes
11-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Campaigners Welcome ‘Wake-Up Call' For Global Plastics Treaty
Campaigners have welcomed a joint declaration from more than 90 governments around the world for an 'effective and ambitious' global plastic pollution treaty. The declaration, entitled 'the Nice wake up call for an ambitious plastics treaty' was issued at the UN Ocean Conference in France yesterday (9 June) and warns an effective plastics treaty is urgently needed. Negotiations around a global treaty to curb plastic pollution have been going on for several years and are due to resume again later this summer, in Geneva. The new declaration calls for a legally binding obligation to phase out the most problematic plastic products and chemicals of concern in plastic products and another to improve the design of plastic products. 'We call for an effective and ambitious treaty that can evolve over time and is responsive to changes in emerging evidence and knowledge,' the declaration states. 'To this end, the treaty should provide for the possibility of decision-making, through regular UN procedures if all efforts to reach consensus have been exhausted.' It also warns a treaty which relies on voluntary measures or does not address the full lifecycle of plastics will not be effective to deal with the challenge of plastic pollution. Erin Simon, vice president, plastic waste & business at the World Wildlife Fund said the statement sends a positive signal that there is strong support to secure a legally binding treaty, in a statement. Simon added with just two months before the next round of negotiations get underway, it is essential countries come to the negotiation table ready to get to work on a treaty that both people and planet deserve. 'Millions of people around the world have called for a solution to the plastic pollution crisis and while today is a step in the right direction we must continue to push toward advancing a meaningful and enduring agreement in Geneva,' said Simon. Rob Opsomer, executive lead for plastics and finance at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said the statement demonstrates significant ambition in global efforts to end plastic pollution, and reinstates the urgent need to shift to a circular economy, in a statement. Opsomer added the inclusion of 'product design', amongst the points key to reach an agreement, is especially impactful. 'Design is indeed critical to addressing plastic pollution, and it's encouraging to see it rightly recognised by a majority of countries as a key lever for achieving meaningful and lasting impact to end plastic pollution,' he added. 'We call on governments to agree on a treaty in Geneva that turns the tide on plastic pollution, enables a circular economy and delivers strong positive social and economic impact.' The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty also welcomed the widespread support for a strong treaty in a statement. It added it builds on momentum seen at previous conferences and reflects strong alignment between countries, businesses and civil society on the need for a comprehensive legally binding global agreement that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics. 'Besides harmonisation on key areas, there is also a need for a globally harmonised approach for national extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, with key principles and minimum requirements,' the statement said. And Jodie Roussell, global public affairs lead - packaging and sustainability at Nestlé and co-chair of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, said the declaration also sends a strong signal that governments are ready to commit to harmonised regulation.
Daily Maverick
05-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Maverick
Ending plastic pollution is a human and planetary health imperative
An estimated 11 million tonnes of plastics leak into aquatic ecosystems each year, while around 13 million tonnes of plastics accumulate in the soil annually. When you woke up this morning, you did not breakfast on a plate of plastics, and rightly so. Your body is likely to have plastic in it anyway – microplastics, which have been found in the arteries, lungs, brains, placenta and breast milk of people across the world. We still do not know exactly what these microplastics do to our bodies, although new research is emerging all the time. We do know that we did not choose to ingest them. We do know that they do not belong there. And we do know that only ending plastic pollution will stop such plastics from accumulating inside of us. Plastics bring many benefits to humanity – in healthcare, in clean energy technology and much more. Plastic is a useful, durable material that has a role to play in societies and economies, including as we transition to a greener, safer world. The problem is that the way we produce, use and discard many plastics – particularly single-use and short-lived products used for convenience, not necessity – has swamped the world in pollution. An estimated 11 million tonnes of plastics leak into aquatic ecosystems each year, while around 13 million tonnes of plastics accumulate in the soil annually. This pollution gets everywhere – from the Mariana Trench, the deepest ocean point, to Mount Everest, the highest mountain peak – and breaks down into ever smaller particles, which sneak into our bodies through food, water and even air. The harm caused by plastic pollution on species, ecosystems and economies is well documented. The costs of plastic pollution could rise as high as a cumulative $281-trillion between 2016 and 2040. We are talking about lost income from tourism, beaches that need to be cleaned up, contaminated rivers, communities flooding as plastic waste clogs drains, fishing communities that are increasingly catching little more than plastic bottles and bags, and more. Ending plastic pollution is clearly a human health, planetary health, economic health and business health imperative. This is why, on World Environment Day, the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) and the host nation, the Republic of Korea, are mobilising communities across the globe to #BeatPlasticPollution. Make no mistake: the world is moving to end plastic pollution. More than 90 countries have put in place some form of restriction on single-use plastic bags. Circular economy An initiative by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Unep has committed more than 500 businesses, governments and organisations to creating a circular economy, in which plastics never become pollution. In 2022, at the UN Environment Assembly, the nations of the world kick-started negotiations on an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. Negotiators are now working hard to deliver a deal at the next round of negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, this August. But if we are to turn this global movement into a future free of plastic pollution, we need to apply a circular approach across the full lifecycle of plastics – ensuring that plastic stays in the economy, where it belongs, not in our oceans, our soils or our bodies. Recycling alone will not be enough. Only 21% of plastic today is economically recyclable, defined as when the value of recycled material is high enough to cover the cost of collecting, sorting and processing it. This is part of the reason why only nine percent of plastics are being recycled. We need a complete rethink of how we design, make, use and reuse plastics. Products should be designed to be used more than once and to be recycled at the end of their life. We need to think about shifting to refill systems, and more. The transition must be just: to protect the livelihoods of waste pickers and affected communities, and to find affordable alternatives for poor communities living day-to-day – people who can afford to purchase only small quantities of a particular product or rely on clean drinking water available in plastic sachets. There is work to do, but the rewards of ending plastic pollution will be plentiful: cleaner oceans and lands, healthier people and ecosystems, greater climate resilience, new job opportunities and stronger economies. Governments and businesses have a key leadership role to play, through investment and innovation in new approaches. But every one of us can make a difference. The choices we make can shape industries, shift markets and redefine our collective future. On World Environment Day, do whatever you can, wherever you can, to reduce plastic pollution and help carry everyone towards a cleaner, safer and more prosperous world. DM Inger Andersen is Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep).
Hindustan Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
How India can turn trash into GDP
This World Environment Day gives us pause to reflect not just on the environmental challenges we face, but also on the untapped potential that lies within them. This year's theme of Combating Plastic Pollution highlights an urgent global priority that resonates strongly with India's own mounting waste crisis. The country generates over 62 million tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and this figure is expected to reach 165 million tonnes by 2030 if current trends persist. Of this, only about 70% is collected, and less than 20% is treated. The rest ends up in over 3,000 legacy dumpsites, many of which have become hazardous and unmanageable. Take India's Capital, New Delhi for instance- it sends tonnes of waste per day to just three landfills, all of which have long exceeded their capacity. These massive waste mountains are not just eyesores, they emit harmful gases like methane, pose severe health risks to nearby communities, and consume valuable urban land that could otherwise be used productively. Yet, hidden within this looming crisis is a powerful opportunity: the circular economy. If approached with intent and innovation, India can turn this trash into treasure, converting an environmental liability into a key driver of GDP. At its core, the circular economy is about rethinking how we produce, consume, and manage waste. Unlike the traditional linear model of take-make-dispose, the circular model is regenerative by design. It emphasises resource efficiency, reuse, recycling, and recovery, thereby minimising waste and extracting maximum value from every material. India, with its demographic dividend and fast-growing urban population, is uniquely positioned to lead in this transition. Forging development through the circular economy path could bring India annual benefits of up to $ 624 billion in 2050 as per Ellen MacArthur Foundation's report on Circular Economy in India: Rethinking growth for long-term prosperity. This shift not only boosts GDP but also supports climate goals, reduces dependency on imports, and creates millions of green jobs. There are practical pathways to realising the circular vision: As we observe World Environment Day, let us not merely raise awareness but commit to action. The circular economy is not a distant ideal, it is a viable, scalable solution waiting to be embraced. It's time India turns its trash into triumph and waste into wealth. This article is authored by Dhruv Luthra, managing director, Luthra Group.
CNBC
19-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Meet the sustainable fashion startup backed by H&M and Amazon
When Gilberto Loureiro spent summers working in a textile factory as a teenager growing up in Portugal, he discovered that he felt "hate and love" for how clothes were produced. The work was tough: Loureiro's job was to spend long days standing and watching for flaws in woven fabric as it ran through machines at a rate of about 15 to 20 meters per minute. "I really love the textile industry and problem solving, but I hate this … inspection working and inefficiencies and the waste. It's really one of the most difficult jobs in the world," Loureiro told CNBC via video call. In the decade since he undertook his first shift on the factory floor, Loureiro's mindset shifted. After taking a master's degree in physics, he co-founded of Smartex, a tech company that uses cameras, vision software and artificial intelligence to spot defects in textiles during their production, and therefore reduce the proportion of fabric going to waste. Loureiro claims the technology has prevented 1 million kilograms of fabric from going to waste in the past three years. Fashion has a big waste problem, with about a truckload of clothes thrown away and buried or burned every second, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a nonprofit. Smartex claims that its defect-spotting technology means 0.37% more garments can be produced per kilogram of finished fabric — which adds up, if you consider that fashion giant Inditex (owner of Zara) used 678,596 tonnes of raw materials in its products in 2024, per its annual report. On top of that, fashion is an industry that's yet to fully embrace digitalization, Loureiro said, partly because it's seen as hard to do. Making clothes is complicated because supply chains can be long and fragmented, from growing and processing raw materials such as cotton, to weaving and dyeing textiles, designing patterns and sewing fabric into garments. At the same time, it's a fast-moving and unpredictable industry. "If this is the largest industry that is still untouched by [the] internet and is one of the largest pollutants in the world, and nobody is working on this in terms of technology [then] there is a massive gap here," Loureiro said. About 20% of water pollution globally is caused by dyeing and finishing during textile production, according to the EU. This lack of technology in apparel production and the potential for the industry to become more efficient has made Smartex appealing to investors, Loureiro said. H&M Group invested in Smartex in 2022, while Tony Fadell — inventor of the iPod and the Nest thermostat — led a $24.7 million investment round with Lightspeed Venture Partners in the same year. Smartex has raised more than $40 million to date, according to Loureiro, but given the industry's complexity and operations in multiple countries, he said, investors are "brave" to back it. "There is a huge value to capture. So that's a big risk, being reward," he added, given the size of the industry, which is estimated to be worth more than $1.8 trillion in 2025. Smartex and its high-profile investors caught the eye of Amazon, which has also put money into the company via its AWS Compute for Climate Fellowship, an initiative that backs tech startups in areas like food security, conservation and climate resilience. Lisbeth Kaufman, head of climate tech business development, startups and venture capital at AWS, launched the fellowship in 2023, with four companies winning a place on the program. "Climate tech startups, they have so much R&D [research and development] that they need to do ... maybe even more than ... standard tech companies, they have to invent new science or new technology, as well as new business models," Kaufman told CNBC via video call. Companies in the fellowship are given access to AWS experts as well as advanced computing services, and 20 firms will be selected to take part this year with a total investment of $4 million. Smartex uses AWS technology to train its machine learning models to identify flaws in fabric, which can vary significantly. Loureiro spends much of his time visiting textile factories, mostly in Asian countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam, where he finds factory owners keen to understand how quickly an investment in Smartex will pay back. "If in 30 seconds he's not convinced about the ROI [return on investment] payback, in less than one year, for example, you are out of the game ... We need to prove to them that they will save in materials, in yarn or in electricity," Loureiro said. Most of the factory owners who sign up spend "a few hundreds of thousands of dollars" on Smartex. "We need to make sure the savings are much, much bigger than the cost," Loureiro said. The average payback period for an investment in Smartex is nine to 18 months, according to the Apparel Impact Institute. The goal of Smartex is to become an "operating system" for factories in the whole fashion supply chain so that brands can track information such as where garments are coming from, where they are in the production process and how much water is used to produce items. "These are basic questions that are very difficult or impossible to answer by most fashion brands," Loureiro said. Fadell has likened the potential of Smartex to Apple's software ecosystem, Loureiro said. "It's not about the computer, the Mac or the iPhone or the AirPods, it's about what they can do all together, creates an ecosystem, a layer on top that becomes much more valuable."
