Latest news with #eco-friendly
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Karat Packaging to Report 2025 Second Quarter Financial Results and Host Conference Call on Thursday, August 7, 2025
CHINO, Calif., July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Karat Packaging Inc. ('Karat' or the 'Company') (Nasdaq: KRT), a specialty distributor and manufacturer of environmentally friendly, disposable foodservice products and related items, today announced it will release its 2025 second quarter financial results after market close on Thursday, August 7, 2025. The Company will host an investor conference call on the same day. Call Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025 Time: 2:00 p.m. PT/5:00 p.m. ET Phone: 877-418-4045 (domestic); 412-317-6745 (international) Conference ID: Karat Packaging Inc. Webcast: Accessible at archive available for approximately one year About Karat Packaging Inc. Karat Packaging Inc. is a specialty distributor and manufacturer of a wide range of disposable foodservice products and related items, primarily used by national and regional restaurants and in foodservice settings throughout the United States. Its products include food and take-out containers, bags, tableware, cups, lids, cutlery, straws, specialty beverage ingredients, equipment, gloves and other products. The company's eco-friendly Karat Earth® line offers quality, sustainably focused products that are made from renewable resources. Karat Packaging also offers customized solutions, including new product development and design, printing, and logistics services. To learn more about Karat Packaging, please visit the company's website at Investor Relations and Media Contacts: PondelWilkinson Inc. Judy Lin or Roger Pondel 310-279-5980ir@
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
SQU student team develops eco-friendly bricks for sustainable construction
Muscat: A student team from Sultan Qaboos University has developed an eco-friendly brick named Envibrick. Made entirely from local natural materials, this innovation is a promising and sustainable alternative to traditional bricks. It contributes effectively to reducing carbon emissions in the construction sector, aligning with Oman's unique environmental requirements and marking a pioneering step toward a future of sustainable building. Envibrick possesses exceptional properties that make it ideal for Oman's hot and humid climate. It is lightweight, salt-resistant, and offers very high thermal insulation, which significantly reduces energy consumption in buildings and creates a more comfortable indoor environment. The brick also has an insect-repellent property, adding a health and environmental dimension to buildings. Furthermore, its low production cost makes it an excellent economic choice compared to imported alternatives. Halima Khamis Al Fajrani, CEO of Envibrick, explained that the team underwent a meticulous research and development journey. This began with extensive product testing in university labs using specialized equipment, with comprehensive documentation of the results through videos and photos. She noted that the main challenge was the brick's weight. The team adjusted the component ratios, replacing heavy materials with lighter ones without compromising quality. Some of the alternatives even demonstrated higher-than-expected performance. Al Fajrani confirmed that work is ongoing to finalize the product's composition in preparation for obtaining a patent. She added that the company plans to use 3D printing technology in the next phase, after the final mixture is approved, to produce precise models that meet the latest needs of modern construction. The Envibrick project has achieved notable accomplishments, including winning the Best Marketing and Promotional Idea award at the Sultan Qaboos University Scientific Festival. The company was also ranked among the top three student industrial companies, reflecting the promising potential of this innovation. The Envibrick team aims to expand into the Gulf market, leveraging the growing interest in sustainable building materials in the region. This step is fully aligned with the priorities of Oman Vision 2040 in the areas of sustainability and innovation, thereby reinforcing Oman's position as a regional center for environmental innovation.
Sky News
3 days ago
- Business
- Sky News
Could your summer holiday be greener? Government invests £63m into more sustainable types of jet fuel
The government is investing £63m in new types of jet fuel that it hopes will make your summer holiday a little more eco-friendly - though not everyone is convinced. The cash will be shared by 17 British companies developing different types of "sustainable aviation fuel" (SAF), made from materials including forest cuttings, household rubbish, sugar beet or hydrogen gas. Ministers said the funds could support 1,400 jobs, add £5bn to the economy and help the British industry get ahead as global demand for SAF soars in order to meet stricter climate targets. But campaigners question how sustainable these fuels really are, saying the real answer is to deter "frequent flying". They warn the materials needed for sustainable fuels are hard to come by and too expensive to ever scale up. Industry says it needs this cash injection precisely in order to lower costs and grow, and global demand is booming. 1:55 As of January, flights taking off from the UK must use 2% SAF in their fuel, under new government rules. This will gradually rise to 10% in 2030 and 22% in 2040. But there have been alarm bells warning not enough SAF will be available to meet those targets. The government says sustainable fuels cut emissions of greenhouse gases by 70% on average compared with kerosene over the course of its life, which includes producing it and burning it. Aviation minister Mike Kane said: "We're not just backing brilliant British innovation, we're creating thousands of high-skilled jobs and positioning the UK at the forefront of the global sustainable aviation market." He said the move would "kickstart economic growth, secure energy independence, and make Britain a clean energy superpower". But campaigners say at best the fuels will reduce aviation emissions "by a tiny fraction of the amount needed", and are being used to justify "irresponsible levels" of airport expansion. James Sutton, co-director of climate charity Possible, told Sky News they were not anti-investment, but that the SAF plans would not bring down emissions at the pace and scale necessary. He said: "We need to cut those emissions immediately if we have any hope of hitting our climate goals, not just sit and hope for the best in a few decades time. "The technology and investment required for SAF to displace kerosene entirely is simply not there yet, but policies aimed at reducing demand for flights and taxing frequent flyers, which will therefore cut emissions, are possible now. "So that is what we need to focus on first and foremost." The biggest winner in this round of funding was Stockton-on-Tees based Alfanar Energy, which will get £8m for converting waste wood from sawmills and forestry into SAF.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi sustainable building demand triples
JEDDAH: Demand for environmental performance assessments under Saudi Arabia's Sustainable Building program has tripled over the past five years, highlighting the Kingdom's growing focus on eco-friendly development. The growth follows the launch of the program's digital platform, the automation of service procedures, and improved accessibility. It also reflects enhancements to the ready-built property inspection service, which now allows developers to submit detailed inspection requests for villa compounds and apartment buildings, according to a Saudi Press Agency report citing an official press release. As part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 strategy, the nation is accelerating efforts to make its rapidly growing construction sector more sustainable and environmentally responsible. Developed by the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing, the Mostadam, meaning 'sustainable,' program is designed to suit the Kingdom's local climate and environmental conditions. It promotes sustainable building practices by improving the efficiency of energy, water, and resource use, while supporting economic growth and job creation. Projects are awarded one of five ratings, ranging from Green to Diamond, based on their compliance with established sustainability criteria. 'The program noted that six projects received sustainability assessment certificates during the first half of 2025, marking a 200 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Moreover, the number of projects granted design conformity certificates rose by 93 percent, reaching 29 projects,' SPA reported. The release-based report said that 38 new projects, including four communities covering over 8 million sq. meters, have registered for sustainability assessment services, with a combined built-up area exceeding 700,000 sq. meters. Since its inception in 2018, the platform has issued over 6,000 reports, encompassing property inspections and evaluations of construction quality. The national program, in cooperation with the Real Estate General Authority, also announced that university students registered with the Saudi Council of Engineers are now eligible to enroll in training programs offered by the Saudi Real Estate Institute, SPA added. The release said that the initiative aims to support students, enhance their professional readiness, and empower youth by enabling them to develop their skills and create a 'Certified Engineer' account through the Mostadam platform. The Sustainability Assessment is the Kingdom's first evaluation system aligned with international best practices and the Saudi Building Code. It enables owners and developers to measure the sustainability of new and existing buildings through a comprehensive rating system, from design to maintenance. The assessment standards were specifically developed to suit the nation's climate and environmental conditions, focusing on key areas such as energy, water, health, and quality of life, consistent with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
World's first LIVING coffin: Eco-friendly casket is made from mushrooms - and the unusual method is already available in Britain
When it comes to funerals, two choices usually spring to mind. Most people will opt for either a traditional ground burial in a wooden coffin or a cremation, which turns a person's remains into ashes. But an alternative method is now available - and it's good news for nature-lovers. A company has designed the world's first 'living coffin', made of natural materials which degrade in just 45 days once buried. Dutch company Loop Biotech, who are behind the design, grow the 'Living Cocoon' from local mushroom species and upcycled hemp fibres in the space of a week. They pad out the interior with a soft hemp bed and a pillow of moss, with the option to 'upgrade' to a bed of wool or soft cotton. The coffin itself weighs 30kg and has a carrying capacity of up to 200kg, with six integrated handles for easy transportation. The unusual burial method is already available in the UK, but it isn't cheap - the living coffin costs around £3,000. Mark Ancker recently become the first person in the US to be buried in the eco-friendly casket. 'I have confidence that my dad will be fully part of the garden by winter,' Marsya Ancker told Fast Company. 'He didn't want to be embalmed, just to return to the Earth in a place that he loved.' Her father always used to tell her that he wanted to be buried naked, under a tree in the woods. When he passed away in June, her first call was to Loop Biotech and her father has since become the first person in the US to be buried in the 'Living Cocoon' - in a forest clearing on his property in Maine. So far, the company has sold around 2,500 caskets in Europe - mostly in the Netherlands - but their coffins are also available to be shipped to the UK. 'Become part of nature's majestic loop of life and enrich the earth with the world's first living coffin,' their website reads. The company said traditional wooden coffins 'not only require decades for trees to grow but also involve chopping, importing and processing them'. Their 'Living Cocoon', however, can be fully grown in seven days using local raw materials, eliminating unnecessary transportation and the need for additional paint, glue, varnish or screws. What is mycelium? One of the key ingredients used to make the caskets is mycelium, the 'root' system of mushrooms. It plays an important part in nutrient absorption and decomposition, and is known as one of nature's greatest recyclers. As it breaks down, mycelium can help 'foster new life in the soil' by introducing a new carbon and energy source. To make their caskets they mix mycelium - the 'root' system of mushrooms - with hemp, a plant often cultivated for its fibre. The mixture is poured into a mould and a coffin grows out of it over the space of a week. The company has a 1,500 square-metre growing facility in Delft, Netherlands, with the capacity to grow 500 caskets at a time. The living coffin costs around £3,000, and can also be used for cremations. Meanwhile their biodegradable urns cost roughly £300. Meanwhile price of a wooden coffin can vary significantly depending on the type of wood, level of craftsmanship and whether it's for cremation or burial – but can cost as little as £270 and up to around £2,000 in the UK. 'Funerals can be more than endings - they can be beginnings,' Bob Hendrikx, founder of Loop Biotech, said. 'We created the Loop Living Cocoon to offer a way for humans to enrich nature after death. It's about leaving the world better than we found it.' So-called 'green' burials, which have grown in popularity since the 1990s, are a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional funerals. They focus on minimising environmental impact by using biodegradable coffins or shrouds and avoiding embalming, often taking place in designated natural burial grounds such as woodlands or meadows. 'We have helped many families in the UK with our sustainable funeral solutions,' a spokesman for Loop told MailOnline. They said that last weekend Poppy's Funerals - a funeral director based in London - had a burial with one of their Living Cocoons. The latest burial option follows an emerging trend for 'boil in a bag' funerals that dissolve bodies and flush them down the drain. The method, which could soon become available in Britain after catching on around the world, is officially known as water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis. It involves rapidly decomposing a corpse in water and alkaline chemicals under high temperatures, leaving only liquid and bones. The liquid, known as 'effluent', can go down the drain with other wastewater and bones that can be ground to ash for the bereaved owner to take home. Advocates say the method is better for the environment, but others believe it is an undignified way to dispose of the dead. Promession, or cryomation - Involves using liquid nitrogen to chill the body to -196c, leaving it so brittle that it can be 'fragmented' on a vibrating mat. A magnet then removes metal objects such as fillings and artificial limbs, leaving a sterile powder - giving a whole new meaning to 'dust to dust'. Aquamation - Sees bodies placed in silk bags and submerged in an alkaline solution that has been heated to 160C. Flesh, organs and bones all dissolve under the onslaught, leaving behind fluid and bones. Ashes turned into diamonds - This technique utilises the fact that both human beings and diamonds are carbon-based. A body is cremated and the resulting ash is then purified at 3,000C before being further heated and pressurised into a diamond over a 16-week period.
