Brazilian scientists have discovered a way to use fruit fibers in the production of plastics for car parts. The plastic is both lightweight and durable and nearly as strong as Kevlar, the synthetic fiber used in bulletproof vests. “The properties of these plastics are incredible,” the leader of the project, Alcides Leão of Sao Paulo State University, said in a press release. “They are light, but very strong — 30 per cent lighter and three…

It is estimated that 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used annually, which calculates to over one million consumed every minute. To make matters worse, one measly plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to break down. Whats more, only around 1 to 3 percent of these bags are even recycled. Enter One Small Step, an online retailer that offers eco-friendly food containers, wraps, bags, napkins — basically everything the…

Reusable shopping totes can be very affordable and make environmental sense, however a new report has revealed that the marketing behind this “green” alternative is extremely deceptive. Earlier this year, reusable bags sold at CVS pharmacies and Wegman’s grocery stores were found to contain alarming levels of lead, which can potentially leach into food products and endanger health. Not to mention, if the bags are tossed away into landfills or littered onto streets, they also run the risk of polluting local groundwater sources. Since the discovery…

Benicio del Toro, Jack Johnson, Ed Begley Jr. and many other celebrities are speaking out against disposable plastics and the waste they cause around the planet. Each actor has created a unique viral video to encourage people around the world to drop the plastic habit and pick up reusable items such as reusable bags and canteens. This problem will continue to plague our generation and others to come if we do not reach a consensus to refuse plastic bottles that contribute to waste and senseless animal…

Let’s face it: water has become a precious commodity. Humans need it to survive, and is gradually being depleted by the minute. Not to mention, out of the 75 percent of available water we do have on this planet, only 1 percent is safe for human consumption. Even that 1 percent is consumed via agriculture, dishwashing, showers, and other activities. To help prevent senseless water waste, Germany-based Stop the Water While Using Me! has created toothpaste, shampoo and shower gel products which require absolutely no…