Tag: Circular economy

Every year, the global rice milling industry generates millions of tons of rice husks, a byproduct once discarded as waste. However, due to their unique properties, the diverse benefits of rice husks are now being leveraged across multiple industries, creating valuable resources from what was previously considered trash.

Over two billion people worldwide already consume insects as a regular part of their diet, showcasing a practice known as entomophagy that is gaining global attention. With mounting pressure on traditional agriculture, many are asking: are insects a sustainable food source, and could they help feed a growing population?

According to researchers at Cotton Incorporated, textile cotton waste can indeed be converted into glucose, or sugar, creating bio-based chemicals and other valuable products. The secret lies in breaking down cotton's primary component, cellulose, a complex carbohydrate made of long chains of glucose units. Through advanced and increasingly efficient processes, this abundant, natural resource can be unlocked and repurposed for a more sustainable future.

In 2023, Singapore generated 755,000 tonnes of food waste, with a recycling rate of only 18%. This persistent issue prompts many to ask: why is food waste still a problem in Singapore despite increasing public awareness and government initiatives?

According to research, it is estimated that only 15% of the phosphorus applied to agricultural land makes it into the food chain, with the rest lost to the environment where it can cause significant pollution. This inefficiency, coupled with finite rock phosphate reserves, makes finding sustainable alternatives to phosphorus crucial for a circular economy and a healthier planet.

Globally, about one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted each year. While this is a significant problem, it has also spurred brilliant innovations, such as the famous Australian spread. The question, "Is Vegemite a waste product?", reveals a surprising tale of culinary resourcefulness and the circular economy in action.

According to research, spent coffee grounds have a high calorific value, making them a promising feedstock for energy production. This discovery leads to a critical question: Can coffee grounds provide energy, and how is this transformation achieved? The answer lies in advanced waste valorization technologies that convert this abundant byproduct into valuable biofuels.

Globally, approximately one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted, amounting to around 1.3 billion tonnes annually. In response, The Real Junk Food Project was founded to tackle this colossal waste by intercepting surplus food and redistributing it to feed people, rather than letting it go to landfill.

According to recent studies, spent coffee grounds (SCG) are not a nutritional void but actually contain a significant amount of protein, with concentrations reported between 10% and 17% on a dry weight basis. This discovery is driving new research into how to best repurpose this common household and industrial byproduct.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), over 2 billion people worldwide already consume insects, showcasing the potential for entomophagy to address global food security issues. This ancient practice highlights the multifaceted benefits of larvae, which are now being leveraged for sustainable agriculture, nutrition, and environmental solutions on an industrial scale.