A few years ago, H&M was caught destroying unsold clothing to discourage dumpster-divers, enraging people, especially if they were already opponents of fast fashion. A few years later, the Swedish chain did the exact opposite: they offered customers a discount for their old clothes, and promised to recycle those old duds into rags, insulation, or even new clothes. Now, three years later, you can theoretically buy your old clothes back from H&M in denim form. [More]
waste not want not
Why Bagged Salads End Up In Landfills Instead Of Compost Piles
By 6.16.15
When food is past its prime and leaves the distributor or supermarket, where does it go? We’d like to think that it all ends up in a compost pile or anaerobic digester, which at least re-purposes the food and the methane it gives off while decomposing to fertilize future crops and to generate electricity. Here’s one sad exception: bagged salads. [More]
Grocery Store Runs On Electricity Generated By Its Own Food Waste
By 7.23.14
It’s the ciiiiiiircle, the circle of life, but instead of a cartoon lion there’s a grocery store running on electricity generated by the same food waste that store creates. More recycling, fewer anthropomorphic talking animals, but it’s a circle… of science. [More]
Californians Facing $500 Fines For Violating Water Restrictions In Drought-Stricken State
By 7.16.14
When you turn on the hose outside to wash your car or set up the sprinkler so the kids can run through it on a hot day, what kind of price tag would you put on that water use? If you’re living in some parts of California, there might be a price tag of $500 floating in front of your eyes as residents face hefty potential fines for violating new water restrictions in the drought-stricken state. [More]
I Am Not Letting Go Of This Product Until Its Usefulness Is Completely Exhausted
By 3.2.11
It’s a good sign that consumer spending is up lately, but an even more telling trend shows that no one is forgetting how tough the times can get. In ongoing efforts to save money, it seems consumers are holding products close and never, ever letting go. Or at least waiting a long time to replace them. [More]
