The impacts of climate change are more evident than ever, and it’s vital to find ways to manage it. Human-created emissions play a large role in the deterioration of the ozone layer, and it’s up to people to save the planet.
The minds behind these 10 visionary concepts are fighting for a sustainable future. Here’s how they can change the world by making vital changes.
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1. B-Droids
Pollinators are vital to maintaining ecosystems, but too many are disappearing. Many invertebrate pollinators face extinction. Knowing that 75% of crops and 90% of wild flowering plants depend on these creatures is a scary statistic.
According to the National Park Service, the bee population experienced a 44% population loss in the U.S. thanks to climate change. The B-droid fills in for the missing pollinators by performing their vital tasks.
The mini-drones can spread pollen from plant to plant to boost the food supply and keep ecosystems strong. These droids can significantly improve the planet’s condition as advocates work to restore pollinator populations.
2. CloudFisher
Nearly 800 million people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water. The impacts of climate change make it more difficult than ever to provide this vital resource.
CloudFisher makes it possible to pull water out of thin air. The innovative device captures water vapor from the atmosphere and turns it into clean, usable water. German WaterFoundation developed the idea of using a “net” to capture fog and humidity. The water produced complies with standards set by the World Health Organization.
CloudFisher is strong enough to withstand winds over 150 mph and could change the world forever.
3. Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft
Air travel is crucial for modern society’s operation. Multinational corporations, trade agreements and tourism industries make it hard to imagine a world where the Wright brothers didn’t take off. Unfortunately, the industry annually emits around 1 billion tons of carbon emissions.
Manufacturers have an ongoing debate about how to make aircraft more environmentally friendly. Airbus is leading the charge in producing hydrogen-powered planes. Hydrogen is a clean energy source that can fuel combustion engines — its only byproduct is water.
The cost is one of the largest barriers to implementing the alternative energy source, but with a value of more than $100 billion, Airbus can experiment with it. The company plans to have a zero-emission hydrogen aircraft ready for passengers by 2035. If it’s successful, more production companies may follow suit to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint significantly.
4. Fairphone
Smartphones are an integral part of society. However, their production and charging needs could be more environmentally conscious. A new phone contributes 85 kilograms of emissions in its first year. Fairphone wants to change that.
The smartphone company aims to use sustainable measures in every part of its production and use. The Fairphone creates a blueprint for others to make better devices by responsibly sourcing materials and maintaining ethical working conditions.
The world will continue using smart devices, and advocating for better practices can improve their environmental, social and economic impacts.
5. SoleX Turf
Turf can be a more environmentally friendly alternative to grass. However, it gets up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than grass, making it less enjoyable to play sports or spend time on. SoleX Turf uses a sustainable solution to solve this problem.
SoleX Turf is proof that younger generations are paying attention to environmental challenges. A fifth grader came up with the concept.
Xavier Baquero-Iglesias presented his invention at the 2020 Invention Convention. SoleX Turf uses the concept of photosynthesis to collect the sun’s energy while keeping the turf cooler and more comfortable. It presents a potential solution for sports fields and locations without native grasses.
6. Zéphyr Solar
Zéphyr Solar uses solar balloons to provide energy to those who need it.
The balloons capture solar energy through lightweight photovoltaic panels and transport it to remote locations or areas impacted by natural disasters or power grid failures. They produce enough energy to reliably power several ground operations, including communications, which can be crucial in search and rescue operations or coordinating other aid.
Projects like these solar balloons tackle the environmental and social responsibility aspects of sustainability. Providing a valuable resource a community needs can help it get back on its feet.
7. ORCA
Food waste is an unfortunate problem because of the hundreds of millions of people experiencing food insecurity. Unused food also rots in landfills, contributing to global warming and, subsequently, food insecurity.
ORCA technology uses microorganisms to aerobically digest food waste to a liquid form in less than a day. Instead of going to a landfill, it goes to water treatment plants. The biogas produced as it’s filtered can then nurture the land.
The ORCA organization works to help food-related industries meet their sustainability goals, providing an application that tracks the amount of organic waste digested by the machine.
8. AirCarbon
The textile industry annually contributes around 1.7 million tons of carbon emissions to the atmosphere. Newlight is working to transform it and other sectors with AirCarbon.
The company gained inspiration from microorganisms that feed on carbon dioxide and methane in the ocean. AirCarbon creates a polymer that individuals can mold similarly to plastic. Newlight mimics ocean conditions, so the same microorganisms produce the polymer for various environmentally friendly products. The company offers a wide range, from luxury handbags to straws to cutlery.
Newlight’s AirCarbon can replace plastic and other emissions-producing materials.
9. The Seabin
The world’s oceans currently hold millions of metric tons of trash. Aside from emissions, it has a devastating impact on ecosystems, harming the wildlife within.
If only the sea had trash cans. Now it does. Seabin is an Australian-based organization working to reduce the ocean’s waste problem significantly. Seabin describes its products as a cross between a typical trash can and a pool skimmer. The devices collect garbage while letting water continue to flow. The bins don’t sit in the ocean but at an upstream location. A submersible pump brings water, where the filter captures trash and microplastics.
10. VEGANBOTTLE
Humans use over 480 billion plastic bottles yearly. That’s a lot of plastic ending up in landfills and releasing copious amounts of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. As much as environmental activists try, it’s unlikely that disposable water bottles will completely disappear. However, VEGANBOTTLE proves they can improve.
LYS Packaging produces a range of plastic bottles, cups and containers made from organic, completely biodegradable and compostable materials. It uses all-natural materials like hemp, flax, wood fibers, shells and other local materials that can hold liquids without harming the planet. It micronizes the materials, transforming them into bioplastic to mimic traditional plastic processing.
Innovating for a Better Future
Creativity is vital in the fight for a healthier world. When current methods damage the planet, clever individuals develop innovative ways to improve them.
These 10 companies prove that small changes can make a big difference. Choosing sustainability can help the environment recover, serve those who need vital resources and preserve Earth for future generations.