SunChips Compostable Bag

SunChips has a mission, “to reduce our environmental impact.” To do that SunChips have comitted themselves to taking small steps towards environmental sustainability. In 2010, SunChips introduced the first fully compostable chip bag, designed to fully decompose in about 14 weeks when placed in a hot, active compost pile. SunChips has begun to change the way we understand recycling. 33% of every 10 1/2 oz. size bag is made with renewable, plant-based materials. When we are done with our recyclable products we throw them in recycling bins, but when we are done with our compostable SunChips bag we throw it in our compost bin at home! Hopefully this will prompt other companies to hold a similar mission to that of SunChips, because then maybe we could begin to reverse the damage we have done to our environment.

Vector Foiltec

Vector Foiltec invented the use of Texlon, the climatic envelope, over twenty five years ago and has successfully developed and promoted the use of this innovative technology worldwide. Texlon consists of pneumatic cushions restrained in aluminium extrusions and supported by a lightweight structure. The cushions are inflated with low pressure air to provide insulation and resist wind loads. Texlon combines exceptional light transmission with high insulation. Each layer can incorporate different types of solar shading, enabling the designer to optimise the aesthetic and environmental performance of the building envelope. They can even create cladding systems that react to the sun and change their transmission and insulation throughout the day. Using air to support and clad buildings is not a new idea, however it was not until fluoro polymer foils, that do not degrade under sunlight that a permanent structure was feasible. What is so attractive about this technology is it allows the designer to make full use of the products innate flexibility, there are almost no restraints; the sky is the limit.

Disposable Diapers

Mass produced disposable diapers were introduced to the US in 1949, by Johnson & Johnson. The switch from cloth to disposable diapers happened almost overnight. Perhaps disposable diapers appealed more to Mothers because they eliminated leaks, sagging, safety pins and wash. Disposable diapers were more convenient. But there has been much debate over the impact of disposable diapers on the environment. It takes around 80,000 pounds of plastic and over 200,000 trees a year to manufacture the disposable diapers for American babies alone, and it can take several hundred years for the decomposition of disposables to take place, with some of the plastic material never decomposing. Today the cloth diapers have greatly improved. With the newer style of cloth diapers that are on the market, disposable diapers are not much more convenient than cloth diapers. The new multiple layer, Velcro fastening, and Snappi make taking on and off cloth diaper just as easy, not to mention you can hire a diaper cleaning service for just $45 a month. Maybe we need to revaluate disposable diapers because although they were more convenient in the past that is not the case today.