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Trash Hunters Nonprofit environmental organization the Ocean Cleanup has announced that it's on track to eliminate the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by 2034. If it can get the necessary funds, that is. In a press release, the organization claimed that eliminating the patch once and for all would cost a whopping $7.5 billion — the "first time both a cost and a timeline has been placed on ridding the Pacific Ocean of the environmental hazard." The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a name given to an estimated 79,000 metric tons of plastic waste floating in the ocean in an area roughly twice the size of Texas. The Ocean Cleanup has made it its mission to fish it out of the water piece by piece. "Today’s announcement is clear: clean oceans can be achieved in a manageable time and for a clear cost," said founder and CEO Boyan Slat in a statement. "Through the hard work of the past ten years, humanity has the tools needed to clean up the ocean." Plastic Beach Researchers have found that the patch is growing rapidly, making it a massively difficult problem to deal with. To make a dent, the Ocean Cleanup has been developing new technologies to fish this plastic out of the water. Its latest iteration, called System 03 consists of a floating barrier roughly 1.4 miles long, which is towed between two vessels. So far, the nonprofit claims it has fished out a million pounds of trash from the patch, a mere 0.5 percent of its total. But within a decade, it says, it could ramp up its operations to get rid of it in its entirety. Next year, the company will focus its efforts on establishing a "hotspot" map of areas in the ocean with "intense plastic accumulation." While $7.5 billion may sound like a lot, it's less than one month's worth of Apple's profits last year, or a sixth of the bonus Tesla shareholders awarded to CEO Elon Musk. Read more here: https://flip.it/8-Mj8Y

all images courtesy of Yamaha Design Laboratory Yamaha Corporation imagines guitars made of scrap materials Yamaha Corporation unveils the concept project Upcycling Guitar, led by their design team, which seeks to create new instruments using defective and scrap wood from the company’s musical instrument manufacturing process. Yamaha, known for its extensive use of wood in crafting instruments, faces the challenge of managing large quantities of cut waste and unused materials. The relationship between a musical instrument and its material is fundamental, shaping its sound, appearance, and feel. Rare woods, often prized for specific instruments, are finite resources requiring years of growth. By repurposing these materials, the company explores innovative ways to design electric guitars that uphold the highest quality standards. The concept focuses on utilizing diverse types of wood, including those traditionally not used in guitar manufacturing, and reimagining their potential in crafting new instruments. Upcycling guitar repurposes wood from pianos and marimbas   Yamaha Design Laboratory’s commitment to upcycling does not compromise its instruments’ sound quality or aesthetics. Instead, the project aims to maximize the unique qualities of each type of wood, enhancing its inherent characteristics. Yamaha’s scientific analysis of instrument performance allows for a deeper understanding of these materials, enabling the design of instruments that maintain high sound quality, regardless of the wood used. For example, the Marimba model guitar is crafted from rosewood previously used in marimba tone bars, while the Piano model incorporates spruce, beech, birch, and maple scrap wood originally intended for pianos. The Upcycling Guitar concept exemplifies the Japanese musical instrument manufacturer’s vision for the future of musical instruments.   This research contributes to the company’s broader goal of creating instruments that sound good from any material. As technological advancements expand the possibilities for sound production, Yamaha emphasizes collaboration with musicians to define new standards of quality. Trial performance days offer opportunities for feedback, underscoring the project’s dedication to innovation and sustainability in instrument design. ccto: https://flip.it/VuIm-t

A new study has revealed that the world produces 57 million tons of plastic pollution annually, with more than two-thirds originating from the Global South Researchers at the University of Leeds found that enough plastic waste is generated each year to fill New York City’s Central Park up to the height of the Empire State Building The study, published in the journal Nature, highlights that 15% of the global population lacks proper waste collection, with cities like Lagos, New Delhi and Luanda being among the top contributors India is the leading plastic polluter, producing more than 10 million tons of waste yearly, followed by Nigeria and Indonesia The research also points out that mismanaged plastic, especially microplastics, poses a serious human health risk Experts stress that while focusing on plastic waste management is crucial, addressing plastic production itself is vital to solving the issue Despite global efforts, including a legally binding treaty on plastic pollution under negotiation, plastics production is projected to triple by 2100 Study author Costas Velis emphasized that plastic pollution is "everybody’s problem" and will continue to impact future generations • Videos • Pollution • Environment • Plastic • Climate Read here: https://flip.it/QhPb30