Following the Earth Day celebrations, The Blue Kite, in collaboration with ‘Kayaking at Uddo Beach’, organised a beach clean-up drive in Siolim, Goa. With 20 participants from The Blue Kite team, they collected a total of 170 kg of waste, ranging from microplastics to larger debris. The collected waste was diligently segregated and disposed of responsibly, underscoring their commitment to raising awareness about waterborne waste and its detrimental effects on marine life and human health.

Meanwhile, Vianaar’s Canca and Mapusa offices joined forces to contribute to the Earth Day cause under the theme “Planet vs. Plastics.” Together, they collected 25 kilograms of plastic, paper, and other waste from the surrounding areas. Following the collection, the waste was carefully sorted into recyclable and non-recyclable categories before being handed over to the local panchayat for proper disposal. This initiative reflects Vianaar’s dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices.

Read More: Fish that clean water: WasteShark

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Segment Overview 

This electric car rental market report extensively covers market segmentation by Type (Economy cars, Luxury cars) Distribution Channel (Offline, Online) Geography (Europe, North America, APAC, South America, Middle East and Africa)

Market segmentation by Type

The electric car rental market is experiencing a significant shift towards online rent-a-car services due to the prevailing trend of contactless transactions. Booking engines have become essential tools for consumers to secure their preferred electric vehicles (EVs) with incentives, while ensuring minimal contact. The automotive industry’s transition towards alternative energy vehicles is accelerating, with battery-swapping technology and hot-swappable batteries gaining traction to mitigate range anxiety. OEMs are investing in cost-effective items, such as replacement costs and charging stations, to expand their product lines and engage in strategic activities like new product launches, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, and collaborations. The rising market climate, driven by environmental sustainability and reducing carbon emissions, is compelling travel rental companies to expand their EV rental fleets. Airports, airlines, and electric vehicle manufacturers are collaborating to offer convenient charging infrastructure for EVs. Despite the challenges posed by battery costs and gasoline prices, the internet penetration and emerging countries’ growing interest in EVs are expected to fuel the market’s growth.

Geography Overview

The Electric Car Rental Market in Europe is experiencing significant growth, driven by the tourism industry’s economic contribution and the European Commission’s sustainability initiatives. Fuel-efficient, zero-emission EVs are becoming the preferred transport medium for travelers, with rising fuel prices and environmental concerns fueling the trend. Companies like Zipcar and Carzonrent lead the market, offering online rent-a-car services, booking engines, and in-car infotainment systems. Predictive maintenance and battery-swapping technology address range anxiety, while strategic activities such as new product launches, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, and investments in charging stations ensure convenience and cost-effectiveness. OEMs collaborate to offer hot-swappable batteries and expand product lines, addressing replacement costs and planning for the rising market climate. The automotive industry’s shift toward alternative energy vehicles and environmental sustainability continues, with carbon emissions and fuel emissions at the forefront of concerns.

Insights on the market contribution of various segments including country and region wise, historic (2017 – 2021) and forecast market size-

• The electric car rental market is driven by advancements in battery technology, with silicon anodes set to replace graphite for increased energy density. Rentals cater to various durations and vehicle types, including hybrids and plug-ins. Zero-emission vehicles align with environmental awareness, urbanization, and sustainability initiatives. Innovative pricing models, contactless services, and predictive maintenance are key trends. Key players include Zipcar, Carzonrent, and others in the travel, economic, and tourism sectors.

• The electric vehicle (EV) rental market is expanding, driven by the rise of EV manufacturers and hybrid vehicles. Europe’s 25% EV adoption reduces crude oil consumption by 13 million barrels daily but increases global power demand by 11%. Asia, particularly India and Japan, face power crises, exacerbated by Japan’s 50% share of the global hybrid vehicle market. EV rental firms, like Plug Mobility, offer convenience through online booking, payment, and charging infrastructure. Cost-effective solutions, mergers, and investments in EV technology are crucial in addressing affordability and accessibility challenges.

Read More: Electric Bike Taxi Service Baayu launched in Assam

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India, being the largest user of groundwater and one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, requires immediate action to preserve this precious resource. Recognising this, Nalco Water and Lindstrom Group have significantly progressed in reducing freshwater usage as a result of the Aquaest project. Within just over a year, Lindstrom has recovered a noteable 74% of water at the Chennai plant and reduced its total freshwater usage in the city by 56%. The impressive results from the Aquaest project translate to potential annual water savings of 330 million litres in our workwear and cleanroom operations. This is equivalent to the drinking water needs of approximately 300,000 people per year.

The collaboration between Nalco Water and Lindstrom Group is a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and environmental responsibility. By leveraging innovative technologies and fostering a culture of collaboration, the Aquaest project has achieved substantial water savings and helped to improve wash quality, reduce operational costs, and extend the lifecycle of garments. Murli Iyer, Head of Light Business at Nalco Water, India, underscores the mutual commitment and shared values between the two companies, “Lindstrom’s steadfast dedication to sustainability, innovation, and the circular economy, coupled with their deeply ingrained ‘We Care’ culture, aligns with Ecolab’s overarching mission to help protect the resources vital to life and our robust sustainability strategy focused on advancing the well-being of people, the planet, and businesses globally, thereby supporting our customers’ success.”

Venkataraj Anantharaman Laguduva, Head of Continuous Service, Asia at Lindstrom, highlighted the significance of the water recycling initiative, stating, “We already have a system for reusing water at our laundries, but we wanted to take it further to recycle the water so that we could reduce the amount of freshwater we use.” Lindstrom Group operates 13 laundries across India, washing thousands of kilograms of uniforms and workwear daily for various industries. With 45% of the company’s water consumption in Asia attributed to workwear and cleanroom services, Lindstrom has long been committed to optimising water usage and caring for wastewater. “The water recycling project promotes the safe reuse of wastewater and water conservation to create a more sustainable water future for everyone. This project is a green solution for grey water pollution,” commented Sabarinathan Muthukumarasamy, Production Manager, Lindstrom Chennai, India Unit.

“Lindstrom is setting the stage for other companies to do the same and be ahead of the times. The regulations for freshwater consumption in India and around the world are becoming increasingly strict, and companies might find themselves in a position where they suddenly need to lower the amount of water they use,” remarked Gowtham Raj, Area Manager – South at Nalco Water India.

Looking ahead, Lindstrom Group plans to further enhance its water recycling capabilities by implementing fully automated systems and expanding the Aquaest project to other laundries across India and Asia. Additionally, the company aims to leverage solutions powered by Nalco Water’s AI-driven analytics platform, ECOLAB3D, to advance performance and achieve even better results in water recycling.

“The wastewater treatment plant, managed by Nalco Water, has effectively recycled the designated percentage of water, thereby significantly decreasing the reliance on freshwater resources. Moreover, the treated water discharged into the environment meets the legal compliance standards of the region, reflecting the commitment to environmental responsibility,” says Nikhil Shirsat, Process Specialist at Lindstrom, Asia.

As the leader in water management and solutions, Nalco Water, an Ecolab company recognises the integral role of businesses in shaping a safer, more prosperous future. The company collaborates closely with its clientele to propel the advancement of a more water-secure tomorrow for future generations. Accelerating change through the power of water is core to Ecolab’s purpose to improve the health of people, the planet, and businesses worldwide. Ecolab shares its expertise in smart water use with customers to help them reduce, reuse, and recycle water in their operations. In addition to supporting effective water use, Ecolab’s solutions help customers use energy more efficiently, reduce waste, and cut greenhouse gas emissions to advance a more sustainable future.

Read More: Water Sustainability Awards at TERI

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The Water Sustainability Awards

Government representatives and experts gathered for the prestigious third edition of Water Sustainability Awards (WSA) organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), on the eve of World Water Day. The emphasis of the event was on the universal importance of water stewardship and the pressing need for collaborative and participatory approach that would create a ripple effect across generations and communities. The event was an occasion to recognise the efforts of the people who have made significant contributions towards advancing the water sustainability initiatives under the umbrella of Sustainable Development Goals, by the United Nations, on the theme, ‘WATER FOR PEACE’.

In his opening remarks, Mr Anshuman, Director, Water Resources Division, TERI, highlighted the challenges in the water sector. Aligning ‘collaboration’ to the theme of ‘water for peace’, he underscored, “Sustainability cannot be achieved until the last mile connectivity is achieved.” He emphasised the need for collaboration and dissemination of technologies, best practices and policies so that critical mass impact can be achieved. Highlighting TERI’s study on “Benchmarking water use efficiency in industrial sector in India”, Mr Anshuman took the audience through the water use practices in different industries like Thermal power plant, Textile, Paper & Pulp and Iron and Steel; and shared the interventions which can be adopted for reducing water consumption in these industries. Citing examples of the measures adopted by these industries, he highlighted the best practices which have helped the industries towards achieving their water sustainability goals.

Importance of water efficiency 

He set the stage for an interesting panel discussion on, ‘Water use-efficiency: Uniting around fair and sustainable use of water’. Dr S K Sarkar, Distinguished Fellow, TERI started the panel discussion on water use efficiency with reference to National Water Mission in India and insights on water neutrality. Mr Manish Gandhi, Senior Vice President, Ion Exchange India Ltd. Shared his views on how one can disseminate and upscale the experiences for the benefit of a larger audience. “India’s water crisis is impacting its ability to generate power, grow crops and is hindering the companies’ ability to operate in the country.” He emphasised ‘water audit’ as an answer to economic stability of the country. ‘Cost benefit analysis’ and ‘Lifecycle cost analysis’ were the key points highlighted by Mr Dilip Singh, National Project Manager, UNDP India. He reinforced the cause of adaptation and mitigation for efficient water management. Mr S S Kacker, ex-General Manager, NTPC said that the need of the hour was water conservation and sustaining water resources below and above the ground. He presented examples of the initiatives which had helped NTPC manage usage of water efficiently. The panel discussion concluded with the unveiling of the Policy Brief ‘Benchmarking Industrial Water Use Efficiency in India – opportunities for Water-Intensive Industries’.

In the context of the launch of the Policy Brief, two MoUs were signed. The MoU for ‘Air to Water’ technology – offering potential to achieve Water for All, was signed with MAITHRI Aquatech Pvt. Ltd.; while the second one with 2M Shan Engineering Solutions Pvt. Ltd. The collaboration with MAITHRI marks a significant step towards advancing universal access to potable water in India, leveraging innovative technologies, notably ‘air to water’, better accessibility to water which is right of mankind.

The tone for the main event of the day was set with the inaugural address by the Chief Guest, Mr Bharat Lal, Secretary General, CEO of the Commission National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). ‘Making water everyone’s business’ was the core message by Mr Lal. He complimented TERI for encouraging people to get into the water sector and do meaningful work. Highlighting the importance of water as a critical instrument for achieving growth and development of individuals and the country at large he said, “Our socio-economic growth is dependent on water.” On the way forward, he laid down water governance, measurement and monitoring available in public domain, design systems for water management, grey water and behavioral change towards use of water as the key steps required to achieve water sustainability and preserve water for future generations.

Dr Shresth Tayal, Head of Water Resources – International Development, DHI (India) Water and Environment Pvt. Ltd., took the audience through the unique quotient of Water Sustainability Awards (WSA). He said that the WSA was initiated by TERI to facilitate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal on Water and Sanitation (UN-SDG 6) by encouragement through recognition of efforts. On behalf of TERI, he extended his gratitude for the support extended by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, UNDP, JWIL Infra Ltd, Delhi Jal Board and Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla. Mr Rishabh Sethi, CEO, JWIL Infra Ltd., unveiled the pledge with the Chief Guest of the occasion on the theme fostering global stability and prosperity. He said, “We all need to be united for this campaign on water.”

The WSA spans diverse categories in the water sector, acknowledging the contributions of numerous stakeholders. These awards aim to inspire individuals, organisations, and entities across various sectors—such as civil society, industries, municipal boards, and community bodies—to champion SDGs through innovative and impactful initiatives. Recognising excellence in diverse areas, the awards celebrate innovative solutions that address SDGs effectively.

The WSA recognises the individual and collective efforts being made to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on water, and the Water Champion awards were given to Dr Sonam Wangchuk in individual capacity, while Paani Foundation was awarded the Water Champion at the Institution level. Dr Sonam Wangchuk expressed his gratitude through a video message. “If you want water, we need to get people together” was the message from the CEO of Paani Foundation. Winners in the multiple categories are: Belgium Embassy (Promoting Water Cooperation), POSCO Maharashtra Steel Pvt Ltd (Wastewater Treatment and Safe Reuse), Coca-Cola India Pvt. Ltd. (Water for All), NTPC Unchahar (Excellence in Water Use Efficiency – Industrial Sector), KL College of Engineering (Excellence in Water Use Efficiency – Domestic Sector), Centre for Environment Concerns (Excellence in Water Use Efficiency – Agricultural Sector), PHD Rural Development Foundation (Excellence in Participatory Water Management), Aga Khan Agency for Habitat India (Protect and Restore Community Water Resources) and Chitkara University (Innovation in Water Technology).

The third edition of the Water Sustainability Awards hosted by TERI in association with the Ministry of Jal Shakti and UNDP India, showcased the remarkable efforts of stakeholders towards achieving water sustainability. Through collaborative endeavours and innovative solutions, these champions are driving transformative change in water management, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals. Their dedication and initiatives underscore the collective commitment required to ensure water security for present and future generations.

About TERI

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), based in India, is an independent, multi-dimensional research organisation with capabilities in policy research, technology development, and implementation. An innovator and agent of change in the energy, environment, climate change and sustainability space, TERI has pioneered conversations and action in these areas for nearly five decades. Headquartered in New Delhi, it has centres in six Indian cities, and is supported by a multi-disciplinary team of scientists, sociologists, economists, engineers, administrative professional and state-of-the-art infrastructure.

Read More: 1.5°C- aligned menu at COP 28 in Expo City, Dubai

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“The use of SAF is a critical pathway for the decarbonisation of aviation and is expected to contribute around 65% of the carbon emission reduction needed to achieve net zero by 2050,” the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), which developed the plan in consultation with industry and other stakeholders, said in a statement.

Renewable sources

SAF can be made either through a synthetic process or from biological materials, like used cooking oil or wood chips. SAF currently accounts for 0.2% of the jet fuel market. The aviation industry says this will rise to 65% by 2050 as part of a plan to reach “net zero” emissions by then, though that will require an estimated $1.45 trillion to $3.2 trillion of capital spending.

SAF producers complain that they lack certainty about whether fuel they produce will be bought, while airlines say there is not enough supply at the right price. SAF currently costs up to five times more than traditional jet fuel. CAAS plans to introduce a SAF levy for the purchase of SAF to provide cost certainty to airlines and travellers, it said. The levy will be set at a fixed quantum, based on the SAF target and projected SAF price at that point in time.

It will vary based on factors such as distance travelled and class of travel. For example, the levy to support a 1% SAF uplift in 2026 could increase ticket price for an economy class passenger on a direct flight from Singapore to Bangkok, Tokyo and London by an estimated amount of around S$3 ($2.23), S$6 and S$16 respectively.

Read More: Woodgeek Store: Touch wood!

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A Visionary Response to Plastic Pollution

Founded by the UK-based underwater photographer Zena Holloway, Rootfull emerged as a groundbreaking response to the escalating problem of plastic waste in our oceans. Holloway recognized the inadequacy of traditional methods in addressing this environmental crisis, leading her to envision a world where materials are grown, not made.

The genesis of Rootfull traces back to a transformative encounter with the tangled root system of a willow tree in Holloway’s local river. This encounter inspired her to embark on an innovative journey, exploring the potential of cultivating clothes from seeds as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fashion.

Cultivating Fashion from Nature

Zena Holloway’s revolutionary method involves cultivating wheatgrass inside beeswax templates. In just twelve days, the roots intertwine to form a naturally woven structure, while the shoots gracefully reach a height of 20 cm. This unique approach not only addresses the issue of plastic pollution but also harnesses the regenerative power of nature to create wearable, eco-friendly garments.

An essential aspect of Rootfull’s commitment to sustainability lies in the use of only organic and locally sourced ingredients. The process incorporates water recycling through runoff utilisation, and any remaining seeds or shoots are repurposed as feed for animals, contributing to a closed-loop and waste-free system.

Beyond Fashion: Nourishing the Body and the Earth

Wheatgrass roots cultivated through the Rootfull method extend beyond the realm of fashion, doubling as a nutrient-dense superfood. Rich in essential nutrients and beneficial for gut health, these roots exemplify the versatility and multi-dimensional benefits of sustainable practices. Rootfull is actively exploring the promising field of root-grown textiles, offering products that are as unique as every element of nature. The initiative underscores the renewability of plants, showcasing how tapping into the wonders of nature can contribute to healing what’s broken in our environment.

As the brand pioneers the path towards sustainable fashion and lifestyle choices, it emphasises the magic inherent in the natural world. Zena Holloway’s initiative encourages individuals to become wonderers, tapping into the enchantment of nature and contributing to a collective effort to heal our planet. In a world grappling with environmental challenges, Rootfull stands as a testament to the transformative power of visionary thinking, proving that sustainable solutions can be woven seamlessly into our lives, just like the naturally cultivated garments it produces.

Read More: 1.5°C- aligned menu at COP 28 in Expo City, Dubai

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In a unique move in the history of COPs, the 28th Conference of the Parties at Expo City Dubai will offer the first 1.5° C-aligned menu as part of its objective of making the conference carbon-neutral. The venue hosted many food outlets that provide food services to participants in a sustainable and climate and environmentally-responsible manner. More than 90 food and beverage outlets will showcase a diverse range of cuisines, including a unique 100 per cent vegan food truck park and Alkebulan, the world’s first African dining hall. The COP28 Catering Team has been working with Nutritics to support FB vendors by providing access to its platform to enable vendors to calculate the carbon and water intensity of menu items. Caterers have been asked to ensure that at least 50 per cent of food served falls within sustainable limits for carbon and water intensity, as well as aligning with UAE guidelines on macronutrients

These outlets attracted a huge turnout of visitors, who emphasised the importance of this initiative in raising awareness, especially among young generations, of adopting sustainable practices in everyday life. Climate change is now an existential issue for all members of society, and everyone must fulfill their responsibilities in protecting planet Earth. To ensure menus are climate-conscious and sustainable, COP28 mandates caterers to minimise waste, use sustainable packaging, provide training, and recycle where possible. COP28 is working with Expo City Dubai, Dubai World Trade Centre and Erth to ensure FB vendors are supported as much as possible in achieving the challenging Sustainable Catering Strategy. Several families, who made sure to visit Expo City Dubai to learn about the COP events, expressed their happiness with the experience of sustainable food, which also received great acclaim among children and young people, noting that this initiative is an outstanding initiative that should be adopted as a daily practice by the community.

From November 30 to December 12, world leaders, policymakers, activists, and corporations will gather in Dubai for the twenty-eighth annual United Nations Conference of Parties (COP28). The centerpiece of COP28 promises to be the Global Stocktake (GST), an assessment process designed to evaluate global progress towards achieving the climate goals established by the 2015 Paris Agreement that concludes at COP28. The global stocktake must be a catalyst for greater ambition in meeting the Paris Agreement’s goals as nations prepare to submit revised national climate action plans by 2025. It lays out actions on how to accelerate emissions cuts, strengthen resilience to climate impacts, and provide the support and finance needed for the transformation.

“Over 160 world leaders are headed to Dubai, because only cooperation between nations can get humanity back in this race. But COP28 cannot be just a photo-op. Leaders must deliver – the message is clear,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell. “And as leaders leave Dubai after the opening summit, their message to their negotiators must be equally clear: don’t come home without a deal that will make a real difference.” Progress on climate finance at COP28 will be crucial to build trust in other negotiation areas and to lay the groundwork for an even more ambitious “New Collective Quantified Goal” for climate finance, which must be in place next year. It will also set the stage for a just and inclusive transition to renewable energy and the phasing out of fossil fuels.

Read More: Studio Kathryn Larsen: Colours, light, and resilience

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The key objectives of the CBO are to stimulate demand for CBG in CGD sector, import substitution for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), saving in Forex, promoting circular economy and to assist in achieving the target of net zero emission etc. Highlighting the key outcomes of the CBO, Shri Puri Said that it will encourage investment of around Rs. 37500 crores and facilitate establishment of 750 CBG projects by 2028-29.

It was, inter-alia, decided that:

• CBO will be voluntary till FY 2024-2025 and mandatory blending obligation would start from FY 2025-26.
• CBO shall be kept as 1%, 3% and 4% of total CNG/PNG consumption for FY 2025-26, 2026- 27 and 2027-28 respectively. From 2028-29 onwards CBO will be 5%.
• A Central Repository Body (CRB) shall monitor and implement the blending mandate based on the operational guidelines approved by Minister, PNG.

Discussions also took place for promoting production of ethanol from maize with all stake holders especially with Department of Agriculture and Department Food and Public distribution (DFPD) to make it a prominent feedstock in coming years. It was discussed that the last few years there is increase in Maize cultivation area, yield per hectare and production. Work has been initiated by this ministry in consultation with Department of Agriculture and DFPD to further develop high starch yielding varieties, improve quality of maize DDGS (Dried Distillers Grain Solids) by removing aflatoxins, faster registration of new seed varieties with high starch. To further promote maize training program for distillers with seed companies has also been initiated.

Yesterday, another important announcement was made for promoting biofuels in the country. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF/Bio- ATF) initial indicative blending percentage targets were set by the committee. Based on the comments received from the stakeholders, like MoCA, Niti Aayog, OMCs, etc., the capacities of Sustainable Aviation Fuel plants coming up in the country and projected ATF sales, the following initial indicative blending percentages of SAF in ATF are approved:

• 1% SAF indicative blending target in 2027 ( Initially for International flights)
• 2% SAF blending target in 2028 (Initially for International flights )

Read More: Ved Van: Delhi’s new green lung

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The ‘Butt’ Story

There is a general awareness in society about the ill effects of cigarette smoking, but little is known about the ‘butt’ of the cigarette which is doing more harm to the environment than people imagine. Cigarette butts or filters are a new-age addition to cigarettes that came into use to reduce the possibility of lung cancer in smokers. Though, later many researchers considered it a false claim and realised that it was a marketing tool to control the fear and promote cigarette sales. While a lot of emphasis is put on quitting smoking, little or no effort is put into creating awareness and resolving the problem caused due to cigarette waste in the form of cigarette butts. These cigarette butts are made up of non-biodegradable plastic called cellulose acetate which take almost 15 years to break down and further cause numerous damages to soil and oceans. Cigarette butts have been categorised as the largest form of plastic pollution in the world. Discarded cigarette waste also leaks toxic chemicals into our waterways. Several researchers and environmentalists have reportedly found lethal cigarette waste in dead fish, sea turtles, whales, dolphins, etc. It is also one of the most found forms of waste on beaches and shores. Cigarette waste also adds nicotine, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals into our ecosystem.

Process 

Code Effort offers systematic collection, cleaning, processing, and recycling of all cigarette waste into 100% toxin-free lifestyle essentials such as pillows, keychains, mosquito repellents, and even air purifiers. Its pan-India operations are led out of Delhi-NCR, Noida, and Gurugram. Naman explains, “We collect cigarette waste and incentivise our sources by paying per kilogram, for the amount of waste sent to us.” The procured cigarette butts are first separated manually & broken down into their sub-parts- Cellulose Acetate fibre (derived from the cigarette filters), paper covering (the outer cigarette wrapping paper made of flax/linen), and the leftover tobacco. The cigarette fibers are recycled using biodegradable and organic chemical compositions, the paper coverings are converted into A5 Sheets and then into mosquito repellents, and the tobacco or any other leftovers are turned into compost through a treatment process. The materials then undergo a quality and lab-testing process before further application. The closed-loop recycling process ensures 100% utilisation of the materials, NET ZERO carbon footprints, and fosters a circular economy. The recycling process is ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, and GRS certified – followed by regular quality checks.

Health And Safety 

Code Effort understands and takes care of the fact that both cigarettes and cigarette waste are toxic. Hence, they take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of their workers. They call their workers ‘waste warriors’ and make them follow a strict mask and gloves protocol. Every worker is trained thoroughly and geared with the necessary equipment before they begin to work. While, the entire recycling process has almost no side effects, yet, to ensure the safety of the ‘waste warriors’ Code Effort always keep first-aid and medical assistance on site.

Contribution

Code Effort in their journey to make the earth a cleaner and better place has touched and impacted society in many ways:

1. Environment:

• Recycled above 2.5 billion cigarette butts procured from PAN India, saved 50 billion usable water from contamination and toxic leachate,
• Mitigated millions of marine species from life-threatening situations (caused by ingestion), and
• Helped offset 96 billion grams of CO2 from the environment

1. Society:

• Provided 100,000+ cigarette waste disposal receptacles (VBins) across India to foster segregation at source,
• Bringing behaviour change among millions of consumers, and
• Helping people quit smoking one butt at a time

1. Economy:

• Income source for 2000+ BPL, marginalised, and unemployed citizens,
• Income source for 100+ women and local artisans, and
• A reservoir of opportunities through affiliation, collaboration, employment, and purpose-driven projects with the youth of India

Plans Ahead

The journey of Code Effort started with a lot of research and study. Being the first mover in the Indian market they had to take up studies on after life of cigarette waste and delve deep into finding out possible solutions to the problem. “Every idea looks great on paper, but a proactive response makes the idea successful,” says Naman. He further added that Code Effort plans to expand its procurement and recycling capacity from 30 to 300 tonnes per month by 2025. Cigarette butts (as a raw material) have immense properties and applications. In the coming three years the B2B and ESG/EPR/CSR initiatives will form 75% of the revenues. Code effort is also planning to attract environment-loving generation Y/Z through its D2C brand. It may diversify into the utilisation of other waste items after it reaches the set milestones.

The government bodies are taking steps to address the issue of cigarette waste management. However, a greater change will be possible when a change of attitude at the individual, institutional, and societal levels take place. It requires big tobacco organisations, corporate companies, government bodies, and local authorities to join hands in managing and recycling cigarette butts. Naman strongly feels that “If you want to lead a sustainable and clean lifestyle, you must run this marathon and cross the finish line even though it takes more time than expected. My message to all enterprises is: To Conserve Our Depleting Environment, EFFORT is the KEY!”

Also read Van Plestik: Recycling Plastic

The post Code Effort – Decoding the harmful ‘Butt’ appeared first on The Organic Magazine.

Home in a home

The Bee Bricks are just like the regular components of construction. As the name suggests, these structures are bricks made for the habitation of solitary bees. Depending on the area, a Bee Brick can be included in larger structures like walls, and can also be placed in gardens or a wild patch in singular numbers. Their turning into a home for the bee does not undermine its utility in any building. They do not need any special maintenance, and instead become a sustainable alternative to regular bricks as they are made of china clay waste. It would benefit from being low-cost and made from recycled materials. Bee Bricks first emerged as joint effort of Kate and Gavin Christman, founders of Green&Blue, designing beautiful, stylish products that help wildlife thrive. 

‘The Bee Brick: building habitat for solitary bees’, Int. J. Sustainable Design provides an informative exposition about the product. The team of co-authors consisting of Christman, K., Shaw, R. and Hodsdon, L. says, “The Bee Brick provides a nesting site for solitary bees, adapting and rethinking how existing building components are used. Made using locally sourced recycled materials, it offers the dual function of being a construction material that also promotes biodiversity.” The nesting site protects the eggs and larvae of solitary bees from predators and harsh weather conditions, ensuring their survival.

Creators of the Bee Brick

Based out of UK, Green&Blue has an easy access to china clay waste found in abundance in Cornwall, making it the perfect material of choice, the Christmans suggest. Add some granite aggregate and cement as a binder, and the team had the right recipe for their Bee Brick. Each Bee Brick has 18 cavities moulded part-way into the otherwise solid structure. There is the potential to have different colours to fit more aesthetically with a given construction project or even to highlight the presence of the Bee Bricks in a site. At present, these solid nests for bees are available in white, charcoal, red, and yellow colours. As the solitary bees are excellent pollinators, placing the Bee Brick near pollen and nectar heavy plants is ideal. Apart from gardens, this can also be done in Beepots, another variant of the Bee Brick offered by Green&Blue. They are a combination of the Bee Brick and a pot made of the same materials, that can be placed in any corner of a house near windows.

The Bee Brick is a revolutionary invention for the ones with a bee-loving heart. A part of that population, Kate and Gavin Christman continue to #GiveNatureAHome with the available resources, their reach, and their understanding of Nature. Bee Pillars, Bee Blocks, and Bee Cells are a testament to their endeavour to make the modern world more and more bee-friendly.

Also read Studio Kathryn Larsen: Colours, light, and resilience

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