You Won't Believe the Positive Impact These Eco Initiatives Are Making!

Welcome to this Monday’s Newsletter! I hope you had a great weekend and let’s dive into some good news.

"You can never see a plant grow, but they do."

Here's what we've got for you today:

• Bronx River Dolphins are back

• The Best Zero Waste Razor for Men and Women

• Alternatives to Concrete

• Kenya Start-Up turns plastic into Bricks

• Zero Waste Shaving Creams to complete your Bathroom

• App for decluttering

The recent sighting of dolphins in the Bronx River suggests an improvement in the river's ecosystem health.

Collaborative efforts of various groups have contributed to improving water quality, restoring habitats, and promoting fisheries in the Bronx River.

Toxic waste and pollutants have been removed from the river, and sustainable practices like green infrastructure and permeable pavement have improved water quality.

🐬 Individuals can contribute by reducing their carbon footprint, participating in clean-up efforts, and supporting environmental organizations to protect and preserve natural resources.

Read the full article here.

This is hands down the best zero-waste razor kit I have come across. The company is amazing, and the razors they make both for men and women are the highest quality I have seen. You buy them once and can probably pass them on to your grandkids. No joke.

Get 10% Off with code ZEROWASTEMAN

Did you know that concrete, the number one building material, has a big problem? If it was a country, it would be third in carbon emissions behind China and the US.

Concrete accounts for about 7% of carbon emissions per year and needs to change to mitigate climate change.

• Hempcrete is one sustainable alternative for insulation but has lower compressive strength.

• Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) is an alternative that uses old concrete and debris, reducing costs and energy consumption.

• Innovations in cement production, such as solar clinker and the use of fly ash and slag, are reducing the carbon footprint of concrete.

• Ferrock: A carbon-negative concrete alternative that sets faster than concrete, making it practical for jobs where speed is necessary.

• Rammed Earth: Made by compacting dampened subsoil between temporary formwork, rammed earth is a durable and sustainable alternative to concrete.

• Straw Bales: Straw bales can be used as an alternative to concrete blocks in construction. They are renewable, biodegradable, and have good insulation properties.

• Timbercrete: A lightweight and sustainable alternative to concrete that is made by mixing sawdust and concrete.

• Papercrete: Made by recycling paper waste and adding it to a cement mixture, papercrete is a sustainable alternative to concrete.

• Greencrete: A material that is still in development, Greencrete is becoming a more popular material to create eco-friendly walkways and driveways that are very comparable to concrete.

• Ashcrete: Made by using waste fly ash from coal burning operations, ashcrete offers similar benefits as ferrock.

Read the full article here.

Here is a woman that turns plastic into bricks that are stronger than concrete, and she has been doing so since 2020.

The Kenyan startup Gjenge Makers, founded by Nzambi Matee, produces bricks made of recycled plastic and sand that are stronger than concrete.

♻️ Gjenge Makers' process involves mixing plastic waste with sand as a binder, using high temperatures for mixing and compression. The company currently produces 500-1,000 bricks per day, recycling around 500 kilograms of plastic waste daily.

🌱 Plastic waste has enormous potential but is often misused and misunderstood, leading to disastrous environmental consequences. If we want to make a change, then this could be one of many ways. What are your thoughts on this? Have you come across other projects that I should mention here? Let me know via Twitter.

Read the full article here.

Since I already mentioned the awesome Leaf zero waste razor, I might as well share the best zero waste shaving creams for your zero waste bathroom.

Read the full article here.

Today I got one of the biggest Apps in the zero waste field for you called OLIO.

Olio is an app that allows you to pass on unwanted items to people nearby, promoting waste reduction and supporting the planet.

🌟 Decluttering with Olio is rewarding and fun, plus they have a vibrant community where you can share your insights and learn.

📱 The app has been downloaded by 7 million users worldwide, so if you are not one of them, try it; it’s free.

And if you are looking for more apps and different ways to save food waste, here is a list for you.

Why not try it? It's free!

The combined weight of ants on the planet is higher than all human beings.

Not sure if I can trust this source. But I thought it sounded interesting anyway.

P.s.: Please give me your feedback on what you liked, what you didn't like, and what changes you'd like to see. I'm eager to learn from you. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy it!

 📣 You can submit any suggestions to my Twitter or just hit reply.