Happy Tuesday 👋

Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:

• A new catalyst that breaks down plastics in minutes 🔬
• A kids’ comic cookbook to reduce food waste 🧑‍🍳
• Raising awareness for animal rights 🐇
• And more… 💚

Do you know what’s better than a solution to recycle plastic waste?

One that works incredibly quickly, is inexpensive, and—above all—is sustainable!

When I first heard about the global environmental impact of all our plastic waste, I’ve actively started searching for and using plastic-free product alternatives.

Unfortunately, these products are not the default yet and plastic waste is even expected to triple by 2060 🤮

That’s why I’m especially grateful for the latest discoveries that could help us tackle our plastic waste problem!

🔬 How a New Catalyst Can Breakdown Harmful Plastics With Ease

1️⃣ The big picture: Chemists at Northwestern University have developed a new catalyst that can break down nylon-6 plastics in a matter of minutes. Currently, the main way to dispose of plastics is to dump them in landfills or by using extremely high temperatures and pressure to break them down. The new catalyst, made from yttrium (a naturally abundant metal) and lanthanide ions, was tested on six nylon-6 samples without a solvent. Amazingly, the plastic fell apart and reverted to its original building blocks without generating any harmful byproducts. These blocks, known as monomers, can be upcycled to create new products, reducing the need to create new plastics.

2️⃣ Why is this good news: Nylon-6 is found in a range of products from fishing nets to carpets and clothing. So, it’s a major contributor to the global plastic pollution crisis. In fact, 46% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is thought to be made of nylon-6 fishing nets. The main problem with nylon-6 is that it’s too strong to break down on its own. However, this new technology offers a sustainable and inexpensive solution to plastic pollution, reducing the environmental footprint of plastics and helping to create a more circular economy. 

3️⃣ What’s next: The team has filed a patent for the new technology and they have already received interest from multiple industrial partners. The hope is that this catalyst can be a major contributor to ending the plastic pollution problem on a global scale. 

👉 You can already help to reduce the plastics polluting our environment by contributing to the Best Charities That Fight to End Plastic Pollution!

📢 More Good News…

🧑‍🍳 Beano Comics launches iconic first-ever kids’ comics cookbook:

• Beano Comics (the world’s longest-running weekly comic for kids) has partnered with renowned online grocery company Ocado, to create an innovative cookbook that helps families make their food go further.
• Each recipe is quick and simple to make and uses the most commonly wasted household food items including bananas, tomatoes, and bread. 
• The cookbook was launched after a survey found that 56% of parents had never had a conversation about food waste with their children. 

🇺🇲 US pledges $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund:

• The $3 billion pledge will help developing countries invest in clean energy, resilience, and nature-based solutions. 
• The Green Climate Fund now has over $20 billion worth of pledges, making it the largest international fund dedicated to supporting climate action worldwide.
• The pledge was announced at the U.N. COP28 Climate Summit, held in Dubai in October 2023.

🌷 Improving crop quality on farms by planting flowers:

• A first Indian study of its kind, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, has found that planting flowers next to food crops can attract bees, increase pollination, as well as improve crop quality and yield.
• To conduct the study, scientists focused on the moringa crop – an essential, nutrient-rich ‘superfood’.
• Results found that pollination and crop productivity increased by up to 50% in fields where marigold flowers were planted adjacent to moringa crops.

🐇 Event of the Week: International Animal Rights Day

👉 Did you know that this Sunday (October 10) is International Animal Rights Day? This event, which coincides with Human Rights Day, was founded in 1998 to recognize animals as sentient beings and respect their right to live free from cruelty, harm, and exploitation.

1️⃣ The big picture: International Animal Rights Day was set up by animal rights group, Uncaged, to encourage the world to see animals as sentient beings that deserve the same care and respect as humans. The date December 10 was intentionally chosen to highlight the connection between human and animal rights. Today, the event is marked around the world with animal rights demonstrations, and encourages individuals to reflect on their own attitudes and behaviors towards animals. 

2️⃣ Why is this important: Animal rights are vital for broader environmental health and to build a more compassionate society. Despite great strides in animal welfare legislation in recent years, an animal suffers some form of abuse every minute around the world. 97% of those are farm animals. In addition, there are still approximately 10,000 puppy mills still running in the US alone and more than 115 million animals are subjected to cruelty in laboratory experiments. 

3️⃣ How can you get involved: There are many ways you can get involved in International Animal Rights Day, such as setting up a fundraising event or making the decision to eat fewer animal foods and use cruelty-free products. You can also spread the word about the importance of animal welfare on your social media channels by using the hashtag #InternationalAnimalRightsDay. 

In addition, you can check out the organizations below that are fighting to improve animal rights worldwide:

• 20 Best Animal Charities to Donate to
• 9 Best Animal Rescue Charities
• 21 Best Charities for Helping Farm Animals
• 9 Best Charities to Symbolically Adopt a Wild Animal in Need

📜 This Week in History

🏝️ December 05, 1492: Christopher Columbus discovered the Caribbean Island of Haiti on his first voyage to the American Indies.

🎞️ December 05, 1901: Walt Disney was born in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up wanting to be an artist but later developed one of the largest entertainment industries in the world. 

🪙 December 05, 1848: US President James K. Polk confirmed a discovery of gold in California, triggering the gold rush of 1849.

💭 Quote of the Day

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

— Walt Disney, American animator, film producer, and entrepreneur

Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society together!

Stay impactful 💚