The brown coating is formed when iron oxidizes. Rust is not only unattractive, it also causes damage because it continues to decompose the metal. Conventional rust solvents contain acids as an effective component, usually phosphoric or hydrochloric acid. These reverse the process and stop the formation of rust. Acids, however, are dangerous to handle and pollute the environment.
We drink from it, water the fields with it, or use it as a coolant or solvent: groundwater. This vast reservoir of water under our feet is essential for human and animal life, but for the majority of the time we take it entirely for granted. For groundwater ecologist Christian Griebler, this invisible water is far more than just a commodity. “The groundwater is so clean only because of the biology that it contains, which ultimately has a purifying function.
The start-up wijld uses wood as an alternative to polyester fibres, but also to cotton. If one compares the manufacturing process of a conventional cotton T-shirt with a wooden shirt, 1000 litres of water and more than 600 g CO2 are saved by using the wooden yarn. The wooden shirt is also very comfortable to wear. It is surprisingly soft and pleasant on the skin, also breathable, tearproof and antibacterial.
Blader of grass consists of about 50 percent cellulose, a highly resilient material. The cellulose from the blades of grass is broken down in a biorefinery. For this purpose, the blades of grass are washed in a warm water bath. The grass is cleaned of dirt and stones and the heat also loosens sugar, proteins and amino acids from the stalks. After drying, the blades of grass are fused with recycled plastic.
The profession of farming has a long tradition in Robert Hagemann’s family. Without the German reunification, however, it is unlikely that the native of Lower Saxony would have followed in the footsteps of his grandfather and father. In 1990, the family of the then 15-year-old Robert Hagemann moved to the region of Prignitz, where they established an agricultural business in Groß Pankow, far from his old home. “My father had always dreamed of having his own large company.
As synthetic materials are much easier to care for than leather and also resistant to moisture, they are increasingly being used as uppers for running shoes. adidas uses a very special material in its new "Futurecraft Biofabric Shoe". The upper of the shoe is made entirely of artificial spider silk. Spider silk is extremely robust. The threads are thinner than a hair, yet more tear-resistant than steel, more elastic than rubber and also ultra-light.
Although every full diaper contains valuable nutrients, they are currently incinerated with household waste in huge quantities. Each child goes through about 6000 diapers before it is completely toilet trained at the age of about two and a half years. The most important elements of a conventional diaper are made of petroleum-based materials. These are outer shell of the diaper as well as the superabsorber (SAP), which absorbs and stores the liquid released.
Around the globe, plastic packaging and disposable tableware makes up a significant portion of discarded waste. This problem is particularly acute in India, where policy makers are now pushing for change as part of broader efforts to curb the flood of rubbish. Some Indian states have even instituted a ban on plastic.
The world population is growing and resources are becoming scarce. An important contribution to food security could be breeding insects instead of cattle, pigs and poultry. Insects are rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and unsaturated fatty acids. Insects also consume significantly less resources than their four-legged counterparts.
“There are only 34 harvests left until 2050, by which time there will be 10 billion people on the planet. The time for change is now,” says Guido Ritter. In Central Europe, we live in an affluent society, while other places are characterised by scarcity.