Rethinking Waste: New Life to Old Fire Hoses

Fundamentally, waste doesn’t have to exist. It is simply a matter of rethinking of the item as a resource and find new uses for the material. Today we got an interesting request – What to do with a city’s worth of old fire hoses. What an interesting and fun challenge. Feel free to add your thoughts.

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Start At The Exit – O.S. White Paper

New Opportunity Sustainability white paper on the quick ROI available when you switch to LED exit signs. Estimated operational cost savings of 93%.

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Of Desserts and Styrofoam

Cold-Pack EPS Cooler shipping packaging. An example of doing it right if you have to use EPS, along with resources for both recycling and alternatives to EPS coolers for shipping perishable goods.

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Rethinking Waste

Rethinking Waste: Walmart Style

Posted on by Matthew Rochte

Here are two Rethinking Waste stories that are worth sharing for their innovative efforts to close the loop and upcycle store waste. These were shown at the Global Sustainability Milestone Meeting – November 12, 2009 1) “The Secret Life of Walmart’s Deli Pizza Box” 2) Of Styrofoam, Workforce Rehabilitation, and Pictureframes: A great story of [...]

Rethinking Waste: Firehoses, Coffee Sacks, & CSR

Posted on by Matthew Rochte

Ran across another British firm rethinking industrial waste streams as supply streams. Eako is upcycling. They are taking condemned fire-hose and waste coffee sacks and creating belts (marrying them with reclaimed pewter), placemats, bags (lined with decommissioned office furniture textiles or scrap sail cloth), purses (made from hoses and optical bags), and wallets.

Rethinking – Saltwater Energy

Posted on by Matthew_Rochte

There is a new idea afoot in the Netherlands these days and they have an opportunity to take advantage of it. The idea is generating saltwater power by a process called reverse electrodialysis. Is this a new clean energy? Is this taking a threat and turning it into an opportunity? Author: Matthew Rochte, Sustainability Consultant http://www.OpportunitySustainability.com

Rethinking Waste: Tube and check shoes

Posted on by Matthew_Rochte

Above + Below London has been rethinking waste streams. This shoe manufacturer has rethought and repurposed old London Underground seat fabric, car tires, and leather checkbooks to create a hip, trendy, and truly eco-conscious footwear. This is part of the Rethinking Waste series from Opportunity Sustainability℠. Author: Matthew Rochte, Sustainability Consultant http://www.OpportunitySustainability.com

Rethinking Waste: Another R word – Repair

Posted on by Matthew_Rochte

In the vein of Reduce Reuse Recycle there are a plethora of other R words to use in being sustainable. Repair is a great one. In many respects it takes the original three and combines it into one. This is part of the Rethinking Waste series from Opportunity Sustainability℠. Author: Matthew Rochte, Sustainability Consultant http://www.OpportunitySustainability.com

Rethinking Waste: Have some cocoa with your coal

Posted on by Matthew_Rochte

Lindt Chocolate Company is experimenting with their “waste,” a by-product of the chocolate manufacturing process – cocoa bean shells – to reduce emissions and or provide a cleaner fuel source for local power plant. This is part of the Rethinking Waste series from Opportunity Sustainability℠. Author: Matthew Rochte, Sustainability Consultant http://www.OpportunitySustainability.com

Rethinking Waste: a new series

Posted on by Matthew_Rochte

Rethinking Waste: This Opportunity Sustainability℠ series will look at how companies are rethinking waste to find the opportunities in being sustainable. When I consult on sustainability one of the biggest opportunities for serving the triple bottom line is to look at the waste. All waste can be opportunity. Author: Matthew Rochte, Sustainability Consultant http://www.OpportunitySustainability.com