Social media shows sustainability stridesDate: 6/16/2021 Sometimes if you scroll through Facebook or other social media platforms, there are many depressing photos of our planet covered with trash, filthy rivers or animals stuck in plastic netting. Hopefully these photos make you think twice about throwing out a plastic bottle or letting that balloon fly away. However, there is some good progress towards making changes to recycling and reusable items.
On the Instagram page #sustainabilitychampions, there are some true champions making headlines for their creative and waste free inventions. In Mexico, two entrepreneurs created organic leather from cactus leaves called Desserto. They do not use toxic chemicals, phthalates or PVC in their designs. This could save millions of animals from being slaughtered for their skins.
Francis Thuti from Kenya turned discarded face masks and plastic into blocks made for walk ways and sidewalks. Francis collected facemasks, plastic and glass bottles, and plastic bags and combined them with glass sand. He then heated them at a high temperature and molded the components into blocks used for building or walk ways.
Pat Mangulabnan from the Philippines created sustainable packaging made from pineapple leaves and seeds so the packaging can be planted to grow native plants. This invention helps tackle agricultural waste and encourage consumers to contribute to preserving the natural flora of Philippines.
So the take away from all these champions are we are making strides towards a healthier planet, and maybe we can come up with ways to help our planet like these sustainability champions!
Elizabeth Bone is the recycling coordinator for the Town of East Longmeadow. Questions can be emailed to her at elizabeth.bone@eastlongmeadowma.gov.
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