plastic
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What to do about ‘plastic soup’ in the ocean
Is there a less appetizing phrase than “plastic soup”? (Don’t answer that.) The New York Times Green blog reports on what happens to plastic in the oceans — it turns into a soup of seawater and plastic particles — and what we can do about it. The answer, basically: Try to stop putting so much […]
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Self-healing plastic lets gadgets take a licking and keep on ticking
Here’s a good way to cut down on waste: Stop breaking sh*t. To that end, scientists are working on self-healing materials that can extend the life of your belongings. One new polymer, developed by scientists in Switzerland, can heal deep scratches just by being exposed to ultraviolet light. It's like an immune system for your […]
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Ball o’ confusion: Ask Umbra on non-toxic exercise balls
Send your question to Umbra! Q. Dear Umbra, I want to buy a stability ball and some purport to be PVC-free and made of non-toxic vinyl. Is there such a thing? RoseNew York City If that ball is vinyl, this scene isn’t as healthy as it looks.Photo: Adria RichardsA. Dearest Rose, I give you snaps […]
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Ask Umbra on refillable cleaning supplies
Send your question to Umbra! Q. Dear Umbra, I’m trying to cut back on plastic waste and am wondering if you know of places that offer things like cleaning supplies in bulk, so that I can refill and reuse my old containers? Thanks!Lyda L.Harlem, NY A bottle walks into a bar and asks for a […]
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House Republicans will now toast their victories over decency using non-biodegradable cups
Source photos: Republican Conference and Bill V.Finally, our long national nightmare is over: Styrofoam cups and plastic cutlery are back in the Congressional cafeterias. Yes, the Republicans’ campaign to save America by needlessly trashing it continues apace, and on Monday John Boehner announced a hard-won victory over even the most trivial and symbolic environmental concessions. […]
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Ask Umbra on turning plastic garbage into gasoline at home
Send your question to Umbra! Q. Dear Umbra, Not long ago, I saw a video of a Japanese scientist who had created a small machine that converted discarded plastics back into fuel. He was demonstrating it to schoolchildren. Is something happening with this technology? If it is true it could certainly help to save us […]
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'Bio-based': organic’s sketchy new cousin
Will the USDA's new "bio-based" label, for products made with renewable ingredients, actually just enable greenwashing?
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Van Jones on the economic injustice of plastic [VIDEO]
Van Jones lays out a case against plastic pollution from the perspective of social justice in this TED talk.
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Plastic bag rap urges people to jump on the ban-wagon [VIDEO]
Plastic, it's the "fossil product all your crap's made of," and its ubiquity is the motivation for this Jay-Z parody aimed at giving plastic bags a bad rap. Watch the video and let us know if you like the way they work it.
