The best ideas, innovations and positive news from around the web this month in sustainability.
ADVERTISEMENTAs Europe weathers an incredible heatwave that experts are linking to climate change, the ongoing climate emergency has been difficult to forget this month. In an effort to help soothe your panic for a short while we bring you more good news! Continuing on from May's positive stories we bring you a selection of inspirational articles for June.
From prawns to Potter, we fifteen environmental advances and initiatives that have inspired us this month.
1. Majority want their next home to be built with sustainable materials
A survey by window manufacturers, Eurocell, has revealed that over half of 25-40-year-olds see sustainable materials as an important factor when considering their future homes. Hopefully this will encourage more sustainable design features to be built into homes of the future!
Source: Environmental Journal
2. Junglepussy Is Helping New York City Kids Master Sustainable Fashion Design
New York City-born rapper, Junglepussy, has been back to her old high school to serve as a judge for their annual fashion show. She praised the student's work, recalling a time where the sustainable show had had to use materials like newspaper, curtains,and even orange peel.
Source: Vogue
3. We go backstage as Glasgow fashion show puts spotlight on sustainable clothing
Students at Glasgow's Caledonian University have spent the last couple of months furiously sewing to put on their end of year show, which featured an 80s retro-futurism theme. Fourth year students used waste cashmere alongside other luxury off-cuts for their incredible designs.
Source: Glasgow Live
4. Waitrose launches packaging-free trial
UK supermarket Waitrose is at it again. Following their move to eco-doors, the supermarket has been offering shoppers at its Oxford store a chance to buy food and drink entirely packaging free. Part of the trial is a £5 borrow a box scheme, so you don't even have to bring your own containers.
Source: The Guardian
5. World's first sustainable land-based prawn farm launches in Scotland
Sustainable seafood has been making waves around the world recently, but this prawn farm is, unusually, completely landlocked! Using sustainable energy to keep the water nice and warm, the farm will begin to harvest up to one million prawns this summer.
Source: Sky News
6. Animal welfare activists step up efforts to ban SeaWorld dolphin shows
The documentary "Blackfish" moved us all to reconsider the ethics of SeaWorld's performances. Whilst some advances have been made, PETA have called for the complete end to the 'circus style' acts involving dolphins at the parks.
Source: Reuters
7. Unilever launches 'eco-conscious' laundry product delivery brand
Doing your laundry without ruining the planet just got easier, as Unilever will now bring you eco-conscious laundry products straight to your door. Homey laundry capsules will not only come straight to you, but will also be delivered in recyclable, recycled packaging.
Source: Business Green
8. Highways 'Green' England: Bio-tech, bug hotels, butterfly scrapes and bee banks
Highways England's trial scheme sees specialist soils being used to filter harmful pollutants, from water running off the A38 in Devon. Alongside this the scheme, bee banks and bug hotels are being installed to encourage biodiversity!
Source: Highways Magazine
ADVERTISEMENT9. Eco-friendly pupils lead the way on recycling in parliament
The children at Bishop's Tachbrook Primary School in Leamington have been dubbed 'eco-rangers' thanks to their recycling efforts. Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western even brought up their efforts in a parliament strategy meeting, as an example to be followed by schools and communities across the country. Well done guys!
Source: Leamington Observer
10. New bike helps create delicious smoothies at eco-friendly café
This wheely good idea encourages people to peddle for a delicious smoothie treat. ReRooted cafe in Tiverton, Devon (UK) has been using 'imperfect' fruit - damaged or bruised - to create smoothies, using their smoothie bike complete with person powered blender!
Source: Devon Live
11. Harry Potter star Bonnie Wright joins kids' plastic toy push
Ginny Weasley is a friend to the environment? That doesn't surprise us at all, given her recent collaboration with Prada, making bags out of ocean plastic. In this article, Bonnie Wright investigates how to remove plastic from toys without removing the fun.
ADVERTISEMENTSource: BBC
12. Tallest ever ‘eco’ wooden building opens in France
A giant 38 metre tall, 11 storey wooden tower has opened in Strasbourg. Yes, you read that right, this tower is the first of its kind made completely from wood. Exciting!
Source: The Connexion
13. First 'song' recorded from rare, lovelorn, 'right whale' off Alaska
It might be heartbreak for the poor, lonely North Pacific 'right whale' but researchers are excited to have recorded the song from this incredibly rare animal for the first time.
Source: Reuters
ADVERTISEMENT14. Sustainable Food Cities Conference 2019 UK
The city of Newcastle hosted a conference this month with a diverse range of workshops and speeches from keen activists. Food waste, health, and sustainable cities were all on the table as delegates sat down to discuss local, national, and global connections.
Source: Sustainable food cities
15. Eco-friendly prefab social housing in France is built from wood and straw
Last but not least, we bring you more eco-friendly architecture. Built from wood and straw, these materials allow 'prefabs' (prefabricated buildings) in Nogent-le-Rotrou, northern France, to have panels completely constructed offsite. Plus, the initiative is specifically targeting social housing, aiming to make a real difference in the community.
Source: Inhabitat
