Scientists have discovered a cheap way to recycle plastic

This week Current climatewhich brings you the latest sustainability business news every Saturday. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every week.

Melanie Hess-Robinson | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Onone of the prompts in sustainable plastics production, the simple fact is that recycling plastics is expensive and resource intensive. As a result, it is often much cheaper to produce only single-use plastics, despite the long-term environmental risk they pose. But that may soon change, thanks to the developed new technique at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. A new method that was published in the journal Scienceuses specific catalysts that allow plastics to be decomposed at temperatures close to room temperature, which significantly reduces costs.

“This study points to a practical new solution for closing the carbon cycle for waste plastics that is closer to realization than many others proposed,” said researcher Johanne Lerceher. in a press release about the new process.

A great read

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Five enabling technologies the fusion industry will need

Fusion energy needs more than a sustained fusion reaction before it can help the world produce enough carbon-neutral energy. The US Department of Energy has identified a research and development agenda for a set of technologies and processes that will enable the ultimate clean energy technology.

Discoveries and innovations

Island Ynys Enllijust two miles from the coast of Wales, he was appointed the first international dark sky sanctuary in Europe as light pollution increases in the Northern Hemisphere.

Battery recycling company Aqua Metals announced that he was successfully restored of high-purity lithium hydroxide at its new recycling facility in Reno, a key step toward expanding the recycling of lithium batteries.

Sustainability Week Events

Electrifying Kenya: Electric vehicle company Roam has announced the cooperation with Hitachi Europe, which aims to produce more electric vehicles such as motorcycles and buses in Kenya.

Bioproduction: Future Fields, a company developing sustainable bioreactors that can produce chemicals and cultured meat, announced that $11.2 million seed expansion roundwhich will focus on the development of its first bio-production facility.

On the horizon

Thanks to a new $25 million donation, the Ocean Cleanup Project is ready to speed things up. He plans to use the influx of funds this year to start system 03, which is the largest version of its ocean cleaning system yet developed. The system will target a waste site in the Pacific Ocean that is twice the size of Texas.

What else are we reading this week?

What Ancient Tsunamis Can Teach Us About Future Disasters (Popular Science)

Ski resorts survive climate change for more money and less snow (Bloomberg)

Can churches be prime locations for EV charging stations? One company thinks so. (religion news)

Green transport update

WireImage

Eelectric vehicles hold great promise as a tool to slow the rapid accumulation of carbon in the atmosphere that causes climate change. But are they the fastest and most achievable option for most people? Toyota has been criticized as a laggard when it comes to electrification, but the world’s biggest carmaker says a mixed strategy of electric cars, plug-in hybrids and Prius-like hybrids may have greater impact on reducing carbon emissions soon.

A great traffic story

state of California

Tesla is moving its engineering headquarters back to California

Elon Musk is nothing short of mercurial. After years of criticizing California, starting during the Covid-19 pandemic and moving Tesla’s headquarters from the Golden State to Austin, Texas, the billionaire CEO unexpectedly announced that the electric vehicle company’s engineering operations will be based in Palo Alto. With the state remaining the largest US market for Tesla’s expensive EV and Silicon Valley still a major source of tech talent, it’s a logical move.