The Earth is struggling, folks.
It’s given us incredible resources that make our lives so much easier, but we’re
pushing the planet to its limit.
Thankfully, people are now setting all kinds of eco-friendly trends, and companies are
coming up with green technologies that let consumers live a low-waste yet equally comfortable
lifestyle.
Here are some of the best examples!
#22.
Edible cutlery Disposable cutlery is a major contributor
to the growing plastic waste crisis.
In the US alone, approximately 40 billion plastic utensils are thrown away every year.
That's why using an edible alternative can help cut back on all that plastic garbage.
These utensils are actually made from millet, wheat, and rice, but that doesn’t mean they
aren’t sturdy!
You can even eat soup with them, and they won’t fall apart!
They taste like crackers, so you could just have them as a snack too!
#21.Toothpaste pills Around 1 billion toothpaste tubes end up in
landfills each year.
But TV producer Lindsay McCormick came up with an awesome way to fix that!
She invented toothpaste that comes in pills.
They're sold in a glass bottle that’s meant to be refilled.
All you have to do is bite one of these pills, and it instantly becomes foamy just like ordinary
toothpaste.
As a bonus, these Toothpaste Bits don’t need any preservatives to stay fresh!
#20.
Off-grid energy Waterlily is a relatively small turbine that
converts moving wind or water into actual electricity!
So, yes, you can use it to charge all your USB-powered devices such as tablets, smartphones,
cameras, and so on.
It has a compact design, which is why it's super easy to use it in almost any outdoor
situation.
This handy little innovation not only creates energy in an eco-friendly way, it also makes
camping much more comfortable!
#19.
Stove that doesn't need fuel Another super cool thing for camping enthusiasts
is the Biolite CampStove 2.
It works only on wood, and its fan creates smokeless fire that can cook food and boil
water in minutes.
On top of that, this eco-stove recycles unused heat during cooking and turns it into electricity
that you can use to charge your electronics!
#18.
Old plastic bottles as light bulbs Nearly 16% of the world’s population still
lives without access to electricity.
To solve this problem, a project called A Litre Of Light was launched in 2012 in the
Philippines.
The idea is to use plastic bottles as light bulbs by filling them with water, bleach,
and a tiny solar panel.
When sunlight hits it, the refracted light helps these DIY bulbs give off about 55 watts.
Impressive!
#17.
Water blobs No, this isn’t a water balloon to pelt at
your annoying sibling.
Water blobs are an alternative for single-use plastic water bottles.
They consist of water surrounded by a jelly-like capsule made of seaweed extract.
This casing is 100% biodegradable and has no taste, although the inventors are thinking
about adding some flavors to it.
You can either tear the capsule and pour water in your mouth or just gulp it down whole!
#16.
Plastic bottle cutter Need some rope?
Just start saving all your plastic bottles and make one yourself!
This cutter turns plastic bottles into strips that you can use around the household or for
DIY projects and crafting.
Not to mention, cutting up bottles helps reduce the amount of space they take up on their
way to be recycled.
Win-win!
#15.
Edible packaging When I said “plastic waste crisis” earlier,
I wasn’t kidding!
About 10 million tons of plastic end up in the sea and threaten marine life.
To protect those sea dwellers, Saltwater Brewery produced six-pack rings that can safely be
eaten by marine animals since they’re made of wheat and barley, common leftovers from
the brewing process.
When one of these six-pack rings gets into the ocean, it starts breaking down in a few
hours, which saves animals from getting stuck in them!
#14.
The hydro-wheel irrigator The Barsha pump is a hydro-powered pump that
works anywhere there’s flowing water.
When placed in a river or stream, it uses the energy from the current to send water
inland without the need of expensive fuel.
It can help farmers irrigate fields up to 1 mile away with over 11,000 gallons of water
a day.
It works without electricity and doesn't emit polluting gases.
#13.
Mr. Trash Wheel Mr. Trash Wheel is the cute nickname Baltimore
locals thought up for the Inner Harbor Water Wheel.
This awesome machine collects garbage flowing down the Jones Falls River.
The water wheel turns on by the power provided by the river's current, gathers all that nasty
litter and debris, and deposits it into a dumpster.
When the dumpster’s full, it’s towed away by boat, and a new one is put in its place.
Ingenious!
#12.
Portable turbine A Canadian company has invented a turbine
that turns a river's perpetual flow into power and makes up to 12 kilowatt hours, which is
enough to power your home.
It takes only three people to install this turbine, but it does have to be connected
to an electrical generator.
The company says that there’s no evidence that the turbine is harmful to aquatic life,
so fish won't get trapped or injured in it.
Phew, that’s good to know!
#11.
Tire shredder A lot of people keep their old tires stacked
in garages or backyards, where they just take up space and serve no purpose.
What a waste of a highly useful resource, right?
Well, this huge machine gives tires a second life by separating the rubber from the textile,
fiber, and steel cords.
You can then recycle these materials into new products, like for construction!
#10.
Shipping container pools Have you always dreamed of having a swimming
pool in your backyard?
Then choose one made from old shipping containers!
It's a hot new trend for cooling off in the summer heat!
These pools are installed with a filtration system.
And like any other standard pool, you can place it above, in, or partially in the ground.
One of the perks of owning such a pool is that you can take it with you if you decide
to relocate.
Plus, it just looks so cool!
#9.
Trash can for the sea The Seabin collects garbage by creating water
flow with the help of a pump.
The water gets sucked into the Seabin, which catches all floating debris and garbage.
After trapping the litter in a bag, the water then flows back out to the sea.
There’s also a pad at the bottom of the bag that can soak up oil!
#8.
Shampoo pods These shampoo pods are plastic-free and come
in a soluble form that contains enough product to wash hair of any length and simply melts
in water.
These single-serve pods can also hold conditioner, body wash, and shaving cream.
All of them are free of parabens, preservatives, or artificial fragrances.
Oh yeah, and the bright mind behind their creation, Benjamin Stern, came up with the
idea when he was just 14 years old!
#7.
Powder that cleans dirty water Would you drink water that’s so murky you
can't see through it?
Well, a lot of people don't even have a choice since they live in remote areas without a
centralized water system.
For them, purified water is the stuff of dreams, but now it can be a reality.
This amazing powder kills off all bacteria and mixes with dirt and pollutants so that
they fall to the bottom.
#6.
Biodegradable bags These biodegradable bags made of cassava starch
completely dissolve in water.
Their creator, Kevin Kumala, even proved it's not harmful by drinking a glass of water with
a piece of this bag dissolved in it!
Talk about putting your money where your mouth is!
Or, I guess the other way around in this case…
#5.
Whirlpool turbine Looks like eco-friendly turbines will be a
big thing in the near future.
This one has just one moving part, so it can operate for longer and doesn’t need much
maintenance.
It was designed to produce electricity in rural areas and is capable of continuously
powering dozens of homes 24 hours a day.
#4.
Compost bin that turns trash into gas This compost bin allows you to create your
own source of renewable energy right in your backyard!
You can place all kinds of food and organic waste into the HomeBiogas.
Then, bacteria inside the bin decompose the organic material and release biogas that travels
through a gas pipe and is ready to be used for cooking!
#3.
Washing machine on pedal power Ingeniously dubbed the SpinCycle, this machine
just looks like a bike with a plastic drum attached to it.
But what it actually does is wash your clothes while you go for a nice bike ride!
This invention is perfect for people who live in developing countries and don't have access
to electricity.
Or, ya know, for really busy multitaskers!
#2.
Waterotor Waterotor is a special turbine that harnesses
green energy from slow water currents.
(See?
I told you turbines are the future!)
This one can create a sufficient amount of electricity when it's submerged in water that
moves as slow as 2 mph.
#1.
Charcoal made from poo I know, just let me explain.
Believe it or not, 2.3 billion people live without access to a toilet.
That's why poo becomes a real problem, especially if it seeps into the water supply.
So, bright minds in Africa decided to turn feces into fuel!
They first let it dry for 3 weeks in a greenhouse and heat it up at really high temperatures.
After all that, the waste loses its smell, and you can start planning your next barbecue!
Which of these inventions would you like to try?
Sound off in the comments below!
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