💚 Plastic-Eating Discoveries ♻️
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
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You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
Happy Thursday 👋
Think about all the throw-away products around you. What are they made of? Yes, plastic!
Even if you’re not always using them, it’s just difficult to cut down on how much plastic you (have to) use in your daily life. Or at least I find it a challenge to completely cut down on it.
I’m frankly disappointed that so many products and their packaging still rely on plastic that can’t really be recycled!
That’s why I am especially happy to share this week’s story of the week with you…
♻️ Discovered: Plastic-Eating Microorganisms
Great news for the potential reduction of our plastic waste (and maybe even creating a circular plastic economy)!
A recent study isolated 34 cold-adapted microbial strains from alpine and Arctic soils, and tested their ability to degrade different types of plastics at a lower temperature of 15°C.
The results showed that many of these strains could break down biodegradable plastic films and dispersed polyester-polyurethane, indicating their potential to contribute to a more sustainable plastic economy.
Because they can degrade plastic at a temperature as low as 15°C (unlike other microbes), it is significantly easier to use them on a global scale.
These microbial strains could serve as a valuable resource for sustainable plastic-waste recycling at lower temperatures.
Does this mean that we are one step closer to a circular economy? Potentially yes! While more research is needed, these microbial strains are a great step in the right direction.
📢 More Good News…
👉 UNEP report shows plastic pollution can be reduced by as much as 80% by 2040: Aside from reducing the production of plastic, the report outlines many ways to minimize pollution. It would require some major changes, and the charges may be costly at first, but these efforts would make a serious positive impact on our planet.
👉 6 Indigenous reserves are recognized in Brazil: Brazilian president ‘Lula’ created 6 new Indigenous reserves in Brazil, effectively protecting 620,000 hectares (1.5m acres) from deforestation. While other areas desperately need protection as well, this is excellent development so far.
👉 Platypus reintroduced in Australian national park after 50 years: Due to habitat loss, platypuses have been at risk of extinction and disappeared from Australia’s oldest national park over half a century ago. But after years of careful planning, scientists were able to release platypuses into the Royal National Park, in the hopes that these egg-laying mammals can re-establish a population.
Let’s share the positive news and make a bigger positive impact on the world & society together!
Stay impactful 💚
Dennis (Founder & Chief Ninja)
PS: Thank you for reading our first-ever newsletter, I’m so grateful to have you here!
PPS: Please hit the “reply” and let me know what you thought of this format (or if you have any other feedback for us). I’ll respond to every single email 😉
🌎 Event of the Week: World Hunger Day
🌱 Did you know that World Hunger Day takes place this coming Sunday, May 28? This event was founded by The Hunger Project in 2011 to call attention to the global food crisis. In line with the UN Sustainable Goal of Zero Hunger, the World Hunger Day raises awareness about global hunger issues, creating sustainable food systems, and encouraging ethical actions to address food insecurity.
Below are our favorite charities that are especially relevant this week:
📜 This Week in History
❤️ May 21, 1881: The American Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton and Adolphus Solomons. Since then, their organization has provided 142 years of compassionate service and disaster relief to millions of people in need.
🌳 May 27, 1907: Rachel Louise Carson, known as the mother of modern environmentalism, was born in Springdale, Pennsylvania. Her book, Silent Spring, exposed the dangers of chemical pesticides and led to the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
💭 Quote of the Week
“But man is a part of nature, and his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself.”
― Rachel Carson; marine biologist, writer, and conservationist
