Latest news with #AidanCharron
USA Today
15-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
New product packaging reduces toxic plastic waste
New product packaging reduces toxic plastic waste Emerging sustainable options to plastic packaging are made with mushrooms, seaweed, starch and wheat straw Consumer packaging dumps 19 million metric tons of plastic waste into the environment each year, according to the nonprofit advocacy group Beyond say we can do and consumers need to move 'away from plastics in packaging, towards more sustainable alternatives,' says Aidan Charron, associate director of Global Earth Day. Many businesses are heeding the call.'Some brands are looking to improve their packaging footprint because their customers are demanding it. Others are looking to meet regulations that are increasingly coming online,' says Valerie Langer, principal at Canopy, a global nonprofit that helps brands shift to next-gen ecofriendly materials. Beyond responsibly sourced paper, there are plenty of other emerging alternatives to plastic, including packaging made from mushrooms, seaweed and wheat straw. How are brands shifting their packaging strategies? To tame the scourge of plastic water bottles, Boxed Water sells hydration in (you guessed it) plant-based cartons. 'Ninety-twopercent of the carton is made up of a renewable resource' that can be regrown, says Daryn Kuipers, CEO of theMichigan-based company. Plants to the rescue 'The paper comes from certified FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) forests — forests that are being replenished,'Kuipers says. 'And every time someone posts a picture of our carton (on) their social media and shares it, we plant two trees. Over the lifetime of this company, we've already planted one-and-a-half million trees in our country's national forests.'And what about those 'next-gen' materials? Here, too, leading brands are making moves: BambooDell Technologies has pivoted to packaging made of bamboo, 'an extraordinary material chosen for its fast growth rate, exceptional fiber strength and durability,' says Oliver Campbell, director and distinguished engineer ofsustainability. 'This innovation allowed us to protect our technology products effectively while minimizingenvironmental impact,' he says. AluminumCleanCult puts its household cleaning products into refillable paper-based cartons and aluminum bottles. 'Aluminum is durable, infinitely recyclable, and easy for consumers to recycle correctly when the time comes,' says CEO and co-founder Ryan takes a similar approach with its coffee pods. 'Our original capsules are made using at least 80 percent recycled aluminum, and most Vertuo capsules are made using at least 85 percent recycled aluminum,'says Jessica Padula, the company's vice president of marketing and head of sustainability. Starch-based foamWild Alaskan Company uses Green Cell Foam by TemperPack, 'a starch-based foam insulating material,' says packaging manager Garrett foam 'does double duty when it comes to sustainability: It's made from a non-fossil fuel renewable resource, and it gives members an easy and responsible way to dispose of the material after it's done its job. Simply pour water directly on the Green Cell Foam and it quickly dissolves in the sink, trash or even a garden's compost bin.'Some next-gen solutions come with tradeoffs. 'Whether it's mushrooms, or an agricultural fiber like wheat strawor rice straw or pineapple leaves, you also have to look at things like what's happening to the soil, to make surethat we're not … actually replacing food lands with packaging agricultural lands,' Langer says. Use less movementShiki Wrap, for example, aims to replace tons of landfill-bound paper gift wrap with reusable fabric gift bags and wraps made from sustainable fabrics.'Most gift wrap is not recyclable but even the wrap that is recyclable requires and pollutes an enormous amount of water to produce and recycle,' says the brand's founder Meagan brand Patagonia likewise takes a less-is-more approach to packaging, says Jennifer Patrick, globalpackaging and branding bamboo and other materials hold much promise — 'there are some really innovative materials outthere,' she says. But for now, '100 percent recycled FSC paper is really the most environmentally friendly substrateavailable today that you can use.' That being the case, the company is trying to use less of it.'All of our gloves hang on a header card that has a cutout, and we have a loop inside the glove that hangs on,'she says. By redesigning the card dimensions, 'We were able to save about 30 percent of the materials we wereusing.'The company likewise pivoted away from using multiple paper tags on clothing, instead using a single tag with a QR code that people can scan for more product information.'Out of the gate, the first season, we saved over 175,000 pounds of paper from landfills,' she says.
The Sun
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Celebrate Earth Day 2025 with Sun Bingo – here's how to get involved
SINCE 1970, Earth Day has been celebrated on 22 nd April. The aim is to raise awareness and celebrate the protection of the planet. The day seeks to tackle environmental issues, including pollution and climate change. An estimated one billion people across 192 countries celebrate Earth Day. History of Earth Day Wisconsin after he saw the disastrous environmental effects of the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. The senator was so shocked that he decided to dedicate a day to the prevention of similar events in the future. The first official Earth Day saw 20 million people in America take to the streets in protest of the polluting effects of industry. That was approximately 10% of the US population at that time. Senator Nelson wanted to inject the enthusiasm of the student political voice, which was very outspoken against the Vietnam War at the time, into conservation efforts. Hence, 22 nd April was chosen as the event date because it fell between Spring Break and final exams, maximising the likelihood of student participation. 1 Earth Day 202 5 This year marks 55 years of Earth Day! Each year has a specific theme. This year, the focus is 'OUR POWER, OUR PLANET". According to the Earth Day website, the aim with this theme is to unite supporters behind renewable energy, with the goal of tripling the global generation of clean electricity by 2030. As renewable energy comes from sources that can be replenished (e.g. wind power), which do not produce greenhouse gasses, they do not contribute to climate change. The movement towards such energy sources will diminish our reliance on fossil fuels. It is reported that 49 nations already generate more than half of their electricity needs from solar, wind, water and geothermal sources. They include Switzerland, New Zealand, Norway and Canada. Meanwhile, Iceland gets 99.99% of its electricity from renewable sources. According to Aidan Charron, Associate Director of Global Earth Day: 'Switching to renewables also represents a humanitarian revolution — for the first time in human history, we have a path to provide virtually unlimited, low-cost energy for everyone". There are some big events have been organised for this year's Earth Day. New York will be hosting its annual Car-Free Earth Day on Saturday 26th April between 10am and 4pm. London has lots of events as well, including Earthfest. This is an event that aims to bring the community together for a day of music, art, food, learning and fun. Earthfest will be on Saturday 26th April between 11am and 4pm. What can you do? It can feel overwhelming trying to think of a way to make an impact on a big issue, when you're an individual. However, the concept is to encourage lots of individual efforts so that they add up to big changes. For instance, you might want to plant a tree in honour of Earth Day. That may only be one tree. However, cumulatively, Earth Day (and the Canopy Project) has inspired tens of millions of trees to be planted since 2010. *New customers only. Deposit £10 for 50 free spins on selected games (wager winnings on free spins 20x within 7 days) & spend £10 on bingo tickets for £50 bingo bonus (wager bonus 4x within 7 days). Accept bonus & free spins within 48hrs. Debit cards only. Offer ends 30.04.25. 18+. T&Cs apply. Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
The major cities that are becoming too hot for humans to live in
With record-breaking temperatures being recorded seemingly every month, experts are now warning large areas of the Earth could become completely inhospitable to humans due to the scorching heat. January was the world's warmest on record, despite a shift towards the La Niña weather pattern that should have resulted in cooler weather. Instead, January's temperatures extended a run of extraordinary heat, in which 18 of the last 19 months saw an average global temperature of more than 1.5C above pre-industrial times. Scientists described the results as "surprising". The impact of increasingly extreme temperatures on humans could eventually result in swathes of currently habitable areas becoming so inhospitable that people are simply unable to live there because of the heat. Some experts warn that some areas of the Middle East could soon be at risk, with some regions of China, Brazil and the United States potentially at risk further into the future. The resulting upheaval could lead to increased mass migration and even spark wars over water and food supplies, experts have warned. Aidan Charron, an environmental scientist and associate director of Earth Day, warned that the warning signs of extreme heat are already here. 'Parts of South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East - Dubai for example in the United Arab Emirates - are all going to face some of the worst impacts of climate change in the form of even worse extreme heat indexes," Carron told Yahoo News. In May 2024, India and Pakistan also saw record heat waves with temperatures hitting 50C. "This is all going to get worse," Carron continued. "New Delhi was especially badly hit with extreme heat. We could easily see heat indexes in this part of the world that make outdoor life virtually impossible, by the end of the century. In the US too this is going to be an issue – for example, Chicago is becoming a severe heat zone.' Some of the most populous areas in the world in Africa and South-east Asia are most at risk. Previous research showed that Yemenese cities such as Hudaydah could experience up to 56 days a year of intolerable heat, while Aden would have 34 days. Jeddah in Saudi Arabia would have 37 days, and Lahore in Pakistan would have 24, while Dubai would have 20 and Delhi would have six. 'Already in Iraq and Syria, droughts have been linked to heightened social tensions and mass migration," Charron said. "By 2050, parts of the Middle East could experience up to 30% less precipitation, turning areas that were once fertile into deserts. "These people won't stay and die, they will migrate north. We could easily see the precious resources of clean water and fertile soil being fought over.' Human beings can survive very high temperatures (well over 50C) when humidity is low, but in high humidity, we cannot survive temperatures of even 35C for long periods, because there is no way to cool down by sweating. In such circumstances, even the fittest people can die within hours in the most extreme conditions. In the coming decades, a measurement called 'wet-bulb temperature' - the lowest temperature to which an object can cool down when moisture evaporates from it - could become crucial for determining which areas of our warming planet remain habitable. Wet-bulb temperature is measured by taking the temperature from a thermometer covered in a wet cloth, which is normally slightly cooler than 'dry-bulb temperatures'. This allows researchers to work out whether humans can sweat in such temperatures: if the water evaporates, the thermometer cools down, so that 'wet bulb' temperatures are lower than 'dry bulb' temperatures. Climatologist Dr Jennifer Brandon, founder of Wild Beacon Consulting, told Yahoo News: 'In terms of areas that will be too hot to be considered liveable, we often look at what we call the 'wet bulb temperature'. "Basically, it measures how our bodies cool down from sweating. Think about getting out of a hot shower. If the room is cooler, you cool down quickly. If the room is hot and humid, you cool down much slower.' 'The fear in a heating world is that our bodies can never fully cool down, and so risks of heat stroke and heat exhaustion increase as the wet bulb temperature increases. 'The highest wet bulb temperature that humans can survive is 35C for about six hours. The places people predict are most vulnerable for being that hot, and thus becoming unliveable are South Asia, the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea by around 2050, and Eastern China, parts of Southeast Asia, and Brazil by 2070.' A study this year measured both 'uncompensable' thresholds, where body temperature rises uncontrollably, and 'unsurvivable' thresholds where the body's core temperature rises to 42C within six hours. 'Uncompensable' means that humans cannot cool down by sweating, and 'unsurvivable' means that temperatures would be fatal to adults within hours. If the world's temperature rises by up to 4-5C above pre-industrial levels, older people could experience uncompensable heat across 60% of Earth's surface during heat wave events. The Climate Action Tracker predicts that today's policies could lead to 2.7C warming above pre-industrial levels by 2100: warming of 4-5C is unlikely, but not impossible. With a rise of this level, unsurvivable heat would also begin to affect younger people in tropical areas, the King's College study found. With a rise of 2C, the area where even young adults could not keep a safe body temperature will triple to 6% of Earth's land surface.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
The major cities that are becoming too hot for humans to live in
With record-breaking temperatures being recorded seemingly every month, experts are now warning large areas of the Earth could become completely inhospitable to humans due to the scorching heat. January was the world's warmest on record, despite a shift towards the La Niña weather pattern that should have resulted in cooler weather. Instead, January's temperatures extended a run of extraordinary heat, in which 18 of the last 19 months saw an average global temperature of more than 1.5C above pre-industrial times. Scientists described the results as "surprising". See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. The impact of increasingly extreme temperatures on humans could eventually result in swathes of currently habitable areas becoming so inhospitable that people are simply unable to live there because of the heat. Some experts warn that some areas of the Middle East could soon be at risk, with some regions of China, Brazil and the United States potentially at risk further into the future. The resulting upheaval could lead to increased mass migration and even spark wars over water and food supplies, experts have warned. Aidan Charron, an environmental scientist and associate director of Earth Day, warned that the warning signs of extreme heat are already here. 'Parts of South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East - Dubai for example in the United Arab Emirates - are all going to face some of the worst impacts of climate change in the form of even worse extreme heat indexes," Carron told Yahoo News. In May 2024, India and Pakistan also saw record heat waves with temperatures hitting 50C. "This is all going to get worse," Carron continued. "New Delhi was especially badly hit with extreme heat. We could easily see heat indexes in this part of the world that make outdoor life virtually impossible, by the end of the century. In the US too this is going to be an issue – for example, Chicago is becoming a severe heat zone.' Some of the most populous areas in the world in Africa and South-east Asia are most at risk. Previous research showed that Yemenese cities such as Hudaydah could experience up to 56 days a year of intolerable heat, while Aden would have 34 days. Jeddah in Saudi Arabia would have 37 days, and Lahore in Pakistan would have 24, while Dubai would have 20 and Delhi would have six. 'Already in Iraq and Syria, droughts have been linked to heightened social tensions and mass migration," Charron said. "By 2050, parts of the Middle East could experience up to 30% less precipitation, turning areas that were once fertile into deserts. "These people won't stay and die, they will migrate north. We could easily see the precious resources of clean water and fertile soil being fought over.' Human beings can survive very high temperatures (well over 50C) when humidity is low, but in high humidity, we cannot survive temperatures of even 35C for long periods, because there is no way to cool down by sweating. In such circumstances, even the fittest people can die within hours in the most extreme conditions. In the coming decades, a measurement called 'wet-bulb temperature' - the lowest temperature to which an object can cool down when moisture evaporates from it - could become crucial for determining which areas of our warming planet remain habitable. Wet-bulb temperature is measured by taking the temperature from a thermometer covered in a wet cloth, which is normally slightly cooler than 'dry-bulb temperatures'. This allows researchers to work out whether humans can sweat in such temperatures: if the water evaporates, the thermometer cools down, so that 'wet bulb' temperatures are lower than 'dry bulb' temperatures. Climatologist Dr Jennifer Brandon, founder of Wild Beacon Consulting, told Yahoo News: 'In terms of areas that will be too hot to be considered liveable, we often look at what we call the 'wet bulb temperature'. "Basically, it measures how our bodies cool down from sweating. Think about getting out of a hot shower. If the room is cooler, you cool down quickly. If the room is hot and humid, you cool down much slower.' 'The fear in a heating world is that our bodies can never fully cool down, and so risks of heat stroke and heat exhaustion increase as the wet bulb temperature increases. 'The highest wet bulb temperature that humans can survive is 35C for about six hours. The places people predict are most vulnerable for being that hot, and thus becoming unliveable are South Asia, the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea by around 2050, and Eastern China, parts of Southeast Asia, and Brazil by 2070.' A study this year measured both 'uncompensable' thresholds, where body temperature rises uncontrollably, and 'unsurvivable' thresholds where the body's core temperature rises to 42C within six hours. 'Uncompensable' means that humans cannot cool down by sweating, and 'unsurvivable' means that temperatures would be fatal to adults within hours. If the world's temperature rises by up to 4-5C above pre-industrial levels, older people could experience uncompensable heat across 60% of Earth's surface during heat wave events. The Climate Action Tracker predicts that today's policies could lead to 2.7C warming above pre-industrial levels by 2100: warming of 4-5C is unlikely, but not impossible. With a rise of this level, unsurvivable heat would also begin to affect younger people in tropical areas, the King's College study found. With a rise of 2C, the area where even young adults could not keep a safe body temperature will triple to 6% of Earth's land surface.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
The major cities that becoming too hot for humans to live in
Recent record-breaking temperatures have sparked concern among climate experts. January was the world's warmest on record, despite a shift towards the La Niña weather pattern that should have resulted in a cooler weather. Instead, January's temperatures extended a run of extraordinary heat, in which 18 of the last 19 months saw an average global temperature of more than 1.5C above pre-industrial times. Scientists described the results as "surprising". The impact of increasingly extreme temperatures on humans could eventually result in swathes of currently habitable areas becoming so inhospitable that people are simply unable to live there because of the heat. Some experts warn that areas at risk include the Middle East in the near future and - further into the future - areas of China, Brazil and even the United States. The resulting upheaval could lead to increased mass migration and even spark wars over water and food supplies. Aidan Charron, an environmental scientist and associate director of Earth Day, warns that the warning signs such extreme heat are already here. 'Parts of South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East - Dubai for example in the United Arab Emirates - are all going to face some of the worst impacts of climate change in the form of even worse extreme heat indexes," Carron told Yahoo News. In May 2024, India and Pakistan also saw record heat waves with temperatures hitting 50C (122°F). "This is all going to get worse," Carron continued. "New Delhi was especially badly hit with extreme heat. We could easily see heat indexes in this part of the world that make outdoor life virtually impossible, by the end of the century. In the US too this is going to be an issue – for example Chicago is becoming a severe heat zone.' Some of the most populous areas in the world in Africa and South-east Asia are most at risk. Previous research showed that Yemenese cities such as Hudaydah could experience up to 56 days a year of intolerable heat, while Aden would have 34 days. Jeddah in Saudi Arabia would have 37 days, and Lahore in Pakistan would have 24, while Dubai would have 20 and Delhi would have six. 'Already in Iraq and Syria, droughts have been linked to heightened social tensions and mass migration," Charron said. "By 2050, parts of the Middle East could experience up to 30% less precipitation, turning areas that were once fertile into deserts. "These people won't stay and die, they will migrate north. We could easily see the precious resources of clean water and fertile soil being fought over.' Human beings can survive very high temperatures (well over 50C) when humidity is low, but in high humidity, we cannot survive temperatures of even 35C for long periods, because there is no way to cool down by sweating. In such circumstances, even the fittest people can die within hours in the most extreme conditions. In the coming decades, a measurement called 'wet-bulb temperature' - the lowest temperature to which an object can cool down when moisture evaporates from it - could become crucial for determining which areas of our warming planet remain habitable. Wet-bulb temperature is measured by taking the temperature from a thermometer covered in a wet cloth, which is normally slightly cooler than 'dry-bulb temperatures'. This allow researchers to work out whether humans can sweat in such temperatures: if the water evaporates, the thermometer cools down, so that 'wet bulb' temperatures are lower than 'dry bulb' temperatures. Climatologist Dr Jennifer Brandon, founder of Wild Beacon Consulting, told Yahoo News: 'In terms of areas that will be too hot to be considered liveable, we often look at what we call the 'wet bulb temperature'. "Basically, it measures how our bodies cool down from sweating. Think about getting out of a hot shower. If the room is cooler, you cool down quickly. If the room is hot and humid, you cool down much slower.' 'The fear in a heating world is that our bodies can never fully cool down, and so risks of heat stroke and heat exhaustion increase as the wet bulb temperature increases. 'The highest wet bulb temperature that humans can survive is 35C for about six hours. The places people predict are most vulnerable for being that hot, and thus becoming unliveable are South Asia, the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea by around 2050, and Eastern China, parts of Southeast Asia, and Brazil by 2070.' A study this year measured both 'uncompensable' thresholds, where body temperature rises uncontrollably, and 'unsurvivable' thresholds where the body's core temperature rises to 42C within six hours. 'Uncompensable' means that humans cannot cool down by sweating, and 'unsurvivable' means that temperatures would be fatal to adults within hours. If the world's temperature rises by up to 4-5°C above pre-industrial levels, older people could experience uncompensable heat across 60% of Earth's surface during heat wave events. The Climate Action Tracker predicts that today's policies could lead to 2.7°C warming above pre-industrial levels by 2100: warming of 4-5C is unlikely, but not impossible. With a rise of this level, unsurvivable heat would also begin to affect younger people in tropical areas, the King's College study found. With a rise of 2C, the area where even young adults could not keep a safe body temperature will triple to 6% of Earth's land surface.
