Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Post

💧 Water is a vital component in every stage of the textile industry's processes, from dyeing fabrics to finishing treatments. 🏭 Within operations, optimizing water usage is a crucial starting point. Implementing water-efficient technologies and recycling systems significantly reduces direct impact on water resources. 🌐 The total impact, however, extends far beyond textile-factory walls and includes agricultural practices, raw material cultivation, and the use of chemicals throughout the entire production journey. 🔄 Hence, while focusing on direct operations is crucial, we must not overlook the substantial water footprint in supply chains. 📰 Interested to learn more? Feel free to dive into the attached article to understand the diverse effects of agricultural practices on the water footprint during cotton farming. https://lnkd.in/dg76TWXu   #REWAFTProject #WaterFootprint #Sustainability #Textile #Water _ Kaunas University of Technology | University of West Attica | Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) | IDEC S.A. | LATIA | Water Footprint Network

Our partners from Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) are working on the initial stages of the #ECOLOOPLivingLab. They recently met with Las Naves, who manages & implements SOILUTIONS Living Lab. They have been exchanging information about the project's status and have identified common points and synergies for future collaborations aimed at improving soil quality within the #circulareconomy of the agri-food sector. #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy #CircularEconomy #Innovation, #RuralAreas #HorizonEU

Earlier this week I was invited to give a Masterclass at the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (Hogeschool Rotterdam) to share ideas on #circulair #material use, while showcasing the design of Octatube's new headquarters. One of the highlights of these kind of presentations for me is definitely the prep work. It forces you to dig deep into your own work, taking a complex, lengthy design process and turning it into a clear and straightforward story. It's like a mirror to your actions, showing areas for growth and highlighting just how far you've come. Secondly, there's the audience interaction - sharing enthusiasm and insights. Seeing that 'aha' moment light up in the crowd (and in me!). Plus, the questions posed were spot on. They give me valuable hints for improvement. Thanks Merijn Neeleman and Cora Jongenotter for inviting me to your Sustainability Skills program at Coöperatie Leren voor Morgen Here are my main takeaways of this meeting: - Use safe and healthy materials: Avoid toxic chemicals. They can not be recycled or composted without negative effects. - Design for future change: Aim for long-term value by ensuring that the design is flexible enough to adapt to changing use. Have a future growth and change strategy in mind. - Celebrate diversity: Emphasise the importance of diversity in your design team. Get a wide variety of perspectives and experiences for a healthier and more resilient environment.  - Transformation inspires: Always say yes, when someone invites you to a repurposed prominent shipbuilding site in the Rotterdam harbour RDM Rotterdam

Sustainability is a growing concern, and the concept of a "circular economy" is gaining traction. A circular economy aims to keep resources in use for as long as possible, minimizing waste. Adriana Hofmann Trevisan; Camila Gonçalves Castro; Leonardo Augusto de Vasconcelos Gomes; and Janaina Mascarenhas from University of São Paulo and Federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology of Minas Gerais explore how businesses can collaborate in "circular ecosystems" to achieve this goal (via ICED23 Proceedings: DS 122). https://lnkd.in/gwEEHzyG Join the "Design is a Team Sport" movement at ICED25 Dallas! How can businesses collaborate to create a more circular economy? What are the biggest challenges and opportunities of circular ecosystems? Share your thoughts on the future of sustainable design. Don't miss out!  · Register for ICED25 Dallas: iced.designsociety.org/ The University of Texas at Dallas, The Design Society #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #Collaboration #Business #Innovation #ICED25

OPEN CALL FOR INNOVATION Nitsan Lab for Sustainable Development @ TAU Tel Aviv University, in partnership with Gerando Falcões, a leading Brazilian NGO, is presenting an extraordinary opportunity for Israeli startups. A call for proposals has been launched to pioneer innovative solutions in WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) for Brazil's favelas. The challenges faced by Brazilian favelas are significant, with sanitation issues presenting considerable health risks due to inadequate infrastructure. From waste disposal to irregular water supply, these communities struggle with a variety of pressing issues, including lack of toilets, contaminated drinking water, and environmental hazards like flooding and drainage problems. Gerando Falcões and Nitsan Lab invite Israeli startups to submit applications, offering the chance to pilot and adapt affordable, cutting-edge solutions tailored to the specific needs of Brazilian favelas. The project is particularly interested in addressing four critical areas: - Sanitation Technologies: Innovative solutions for various types of toilets, sewage treatment, and wastewater management. - Hygiene Technologies: Infrastructure to promote hand hygiene and prevent the spread of diseases. - Waste Management: Solutions for the disposal of both organic and inorganic waste. - Water Monitoring: Technologies to ensure the quality and safety of drinking water. If your organization shares the commitment to social impact and has innovative solutions to offer, we encourage you to apply. To learn more about this exciting opportunity, join the presentation webinar on May 15th and visit the project's website at https://lnkd.in/d3R7DHhB Rodrigo Vieira Ricardo Lomaski

Exciting Milestone from My First Year! I'm thrilled to share a highlight from my first year: my project on *Groundwater Recharging by Percolation Method* and my participation in the Innovsense 2022 project expo! Project Overview: Our project focused on enhancing groundwater levels using the percolation method. This sustainable approach aims to: - Increase groundwater reserves. - Improve water quality. - Mitigate the effects of water scarcity. The percolation method involves directing surface water into the ground, allowing it to filter through soil layers and replenish aquifers. This not only supports agriculture and drinking water supply but also strengthens ecological balance.  Key Learnings: - Research & Development: Explored various techniques to optimize water percolation and identified the best practices for different soil types. - Team Collaboration: Worked closely with a dedicated team, learning the importance of synergy in problem-solving. - Practical Implementation: Gained hands-on experience in setting up a percolation system and monitoring its effectiveness. Innovsense 2022: Presenting our project at Innovsense 2022 was an incredible experience! The expo was a platform to: - Showcase our innovative solution to a broader audience. - Receive valuable feedback from industry experts. - Network with fellow innovators and gain insights into cutting-edge developments in sustainable technologies. Participating in Innovsense 2022 not only bolstered my understanding of environmental engineering but also ignited a passion for sustainable solutions to global challenges. I'm grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a project with such significant environmental impact and look forward to exploring more innovations in the future!

Behavior Change is a central theme that dominates research in sustainability. And understandably so. Much of the unsustainabilities today arise from human behavior that evolved or got modified by production systems and marketing campaigns that show little sensitivity towards the planet. While behavior change is mostly associated with consumer behavior (ethical consumption, less waste, product care, etc.), my research explores behavior change for producers. How can we decentralise production and motivate more distributed self-production? Today was a great opportunity to talk about it at the Design for Sustainability workshop held by Sustainability & Social Innovation (SSI) Lab. More encouraging was the fact that the participants ranged from undergrads to Design faculty. And that the Government of India now takes education in Sustainability rather seriously. . #behaviorchange #sustainability #design #consumerbehavior

The fourth and last workshop of the fountain training series of the SDG mentorship programme at AIIDEV Africa is such an expository one for me. The topic "Design Thinking and Innovation" with focus on circular design thinking, presented by Oluwaseyi Olarinde was one I was not too familiar with before the workshop. During the presentation, I grasped the concept of the circular economy, it's design thinking and the benefits. The circular design is the process of creating products that are durable, reusable, repairable and recyclable that creates zero waste to support the circular economy. This design cut across all stages from sourcing of raw materials, to product specifications, manufacturing, distribution and disposal. Circular design thinking helps to ensure that the circular design is considered right from the initiation stage of a product and throughout it's life cycle (not waiting till when a product has been manufactured), it is different from the linear model which is just a "take, make and waste approach". The concept of circular economy and design thinking is highly beneficial because it has environmental, economic and health benefits. #SDGMentorshipatAIIDEVAfrica

Innovation and sustainability, from production to reuse Bio-economy experiences in Italy and Switzerland Interdisciplinary workshop Memox – Europaallee, Zürich 15 November 2023, 14:00 – 18:00 Materials of biological origin, such as proteins and bio-polymers, are increasingly important in reducing the carbon and energy footprint of food and industrial production in contemporary society. They are used in food and, in both primary and derived forms, can be the basis for other innovative biodegradable or compostable materials easier to reuse, or for highly sustainable technologies such as water purification or low-emission energy production. We can think of a cycle of these bio-materials, from production to complete reuse, with minimal product waste, reduced environmental impact and low energy footprint. This workshop aims at bringing together and present some experiences of research, innovation and entrepreneurship between Italy and Switzerland, starting from the point of view of materials: from sustainable production (in the broadest sense), to the conscious use for animal and human nutrition, to the use of waste for the realisation of other products up to the reuse and (eventual) disposal of residues. This workshops brings together examples of scientific and technological research, of innovative products and production techniques with the involvement of entrepreneurial realities, of the use of products seen as resources, ‘building blocks’ of new materials, of the reduction (or elimination) of unproductive waste, in an ideal cycle of reuse of materials (with the use of non-fossil fuel energy sources). 🙏Grazie al Consolato italiano di Zurigo, Ambasciata , Camera di commercio, Diplomazia scientifica per averci portato in questo viaggio per comprendere i grandi cambiamenti nel mondo di innovazione e ricerca .

Textile companies rely majorly on the cultivation of large areas of land 🗺️ to grow different types of fibers, but also, and most importantly, on water to complete the exploitation process ⌛of the fabric. During the production process it is estimated that over 20% of the global clean water💧 also gets polluted from microplastics, along with dyeing and finishing products, a figure that’s increasing every year 📈 at an alarming rate. The availability and quality of the water 💧that is utilized by the textile sector is very important, thus, our primary goal in REWAFT is to help companies take more sustainable measures regarding water consumption patterns. To achieve this an 🔍 online measuring tool is being developed in order to calculate 🔢 the water footprint of textile companies, which will also assist on 🤜 sustainably managing its polluted waste. 👉 Stay tuned to learn more about our progress! _ #REWAFTProject #waterfootprint #manage #tool #sustainability #water #textile Kaunas University of Technology University of West Attica Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) IDEC S.A. LATIA Water Footprint Network