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Cleaning products that embrace the refill revolution
CategoriesSustainable News

Cleaning products that embrace the refill revolution

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: As plastic waste continues to proliferate around the globe, an increasing number of campaigners and organisations are moving towards reuse as a solution that will ultimately be more effective than recycling in terms of tackling our waste problem. 

One way single-use plastics can be reduced, is to eliminate the need for them through the implementation of refillable products. In the UAE, sustainable cleaning company Kyma has created a tablet-based refill solution that uses a single squirt bottle for all household cleaning needs. 

Customers buy small boxes of refill tablets and drop one in a bottle of warm tap water when a cleaning solution is needed. Kyma’s cleaning tablets are biodegradable and non-toxic and come in four categories: as well as a bathroom and multi-surface cleaner, Kyma also provides a glass-specific cleaner and disinfectant. 

Designed with a healthy home in mind, the products are not tested on animals and are safe to use around children and pets. The refills come in simple paper boxes, making them easy to stack. Using the refill solution frees up general home storage space as cabinet shelves in bathrooms and kitchens no longer need to hold so many bottles of cleaning solutions. 

The three co-founders use the phrase ‘refillution’ to describe the scale of the solution needed to fix the world’s single-use plastic problem. The company currently ships across the UAE and beyond, and with an initial line of household cleaning products already available online, Kyma is also working to develop additional ranges of lifestyle items.  

Springwise’s library includes a number of innovations using the refill and reuse approach to reducing waste, from a zero-waste household goods subscription service to drinks vending machines that work with customers’ own bottles.

Written By: Keely Khoury

Reference

Cleaning up fashion with carbon-negative textiles
CategoriesSustainable News

Cleaning up fashion with carbon-negative textiles

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Every year, the fashion industry is responsible for 10 per cent of global carbon emissions, which is more than the maritime and aviation sectors combined. Because of this, more and more textile brands are looking for innovative ways to cut back on their carbon footprints. Enter Rubi Laboratories, which makes textiles using captured carbon dioxide. 

The US-based startup creates textiles through its patent-pending, cell-free biocatalytic process. First, the company captures CO2 from the waste streams of manufacturing processes using its proprietary enzyme system. The gas is then converted into cellulose pulp, which is used to create viscose-based yarn or fibres to be used in textiles. 

Viscose, also known as Rayon, is normally made from wood pulp, but Rubi Labs’ solution means no trees need to be cut down to produce the popular material. Using its innovative technology, the startup can create fabrics made 100 per cent from carbon emissions, with almost no water or land needed. The process also produces zero waste and, at the end of their usable life, the textiles will naturally biodegrade.

Earlier this year, the biotech startup secured an additional $8.7 million (around €8 million) in seed funding, bringing its total funds to $13.5 million (around €12.5 million). The extra funding has allowed Rubi Labs to enter its next stage of testing, including projects with Ganni, Reformation, and Urban Outfitters.

The textile industry is booming with sustainable alternative options, and Springwise has spotted fully recyclable 3D-printed footwear, plant-based plastic-free alt leather, and baby shoes that will dissolve in water.

Written By: Anam Alam

Reference

A rapid cleaning machine for reusable glasses 
CategoriesSustainable News

A rapid cleaning machine for reusable glasses 

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Europe’s top three coffee-consuming countries drink more than 1,000 cups per person every year. From free reusable crockery on German trains to additional fees charged to customers wanting to use single-use food packaging in the Netherlands, nations around the world are trialling ways to cut down on plastic pollution, particularly in the takeaway food and drink industry. 

Many companies encourage the use and washing of mugs and bowls in the office, and with a goal of reducing the water used to provide such a service, French company Auum has created a new method of cleaning. The Auum-S single glass dishwasher is made from a patented design that disinfects reusable cups in 10 seconds, allowing one washer to clean up to 2,000 glasses per day. The company is building a circular economy with French-made parts and assembly, along with a rental service that ensures that machines are properly maintained, and glasses recycled at the end of their life. 

Auum cups are made from double-walled borosilicate by Swiss glassmakers Bodum and the glasses can be custom branded. The glasses are lightweight and cool to the touch, even after cleaning. The countertop washer cleans a single glass using 140-degree Celsius dry steam and less than a single ounce of water per wash. The high temperature negates the need for chemicals.  

The low rate of water use makes the washer much more economical, both financially and environmentally, than using biodegradable or paper cups or running a traditional dishwasher. In a company with 150 employees, using the Auum-S washer saves up 130,000 litres of water each year and eliminates close to 100,000 disposable cups. 

Countertop appliances are getting smarter and smaller, with Springwise spotting a no-smell compost device as well as a homebrewing solution for plant-based milk.

Written By: Keely Khoury

Reference