6 inventions that are saving our oceans
I did a post a week or two ago about environmental inventions and I was pleasantly overwhelmed with how many products are being created to tackle this huge problem. I thought I’d explore a more specific goal that these companies had in mind when they were made – our oceans!
Edible Water
Water bottles create a huge amount of plastic waste within our oceans. Although we have reusable water bottles that have come into popularity as of late – we’re discovering that the convenience is just too alluring to be completely ignored. Sometimes, we don’t want to carry around a big metal cup around on our hike, or at the beach. We are humans, which mean we are addicted to convenience. That’s Why Ooho, a French company, came up with a biodegradable water sphere. Not sure how sanitary or strange that sensation will be to drink, but I’m curious if it will come to market in America so I can try one myself!
The Ocean Cleanup System
It’s been in concept and production for YEARS now, and I’ve been keeping a close eye on its progress. I’m absolutely horrified by the great pacific garbage patch in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The idea that this giant machine will literally “comb” the ocean for plastics of varying sizes is just astounding to me. AND it’s already had its first run, bring back quite literally tons of trash. Now where are we going to put it? That’s another question all together; however, we know that they’re looking into advancements for possible recycling for future consumer products. I’ll be sure to keep my eye on this one.
Naked Cosmetics
Cosmetics companies are in a huge boom right now, mostly due to celebrity endorsements and the rise of Instagram models & influencers. Most of the time, when you pick up makeup, it’s covered in plastic packaging on the outside, and then the makeup itself is made of plastic, with just the ACTUAL makeup taking up about 1/16th of the actual packaging. It’s absolutely disgusting how much plastic I’ve probably thrown out. Naked actually replaced this packaging with deliciously smelling soap bars. Genius!
Edible Cutlery
Think of all the takeout or quick, single-use forks and spoons you have gone through throughout the years. For me, I went through an Uber Eats phase, and I cannot tell you how much plastic I ended up trashing. More and more restaurants are opting out of the plastic utensils for more degradable or even edible types. I think this is genius. With the elimination of plastic straws going viral, it was only a matter of time before cutlery followed suit.
The Toothpaste Pill
All of the above were actually known to me, but this one surprised me. I never really thought about the plastic tube that holds my toothpaste before, let alone all the waste that it creates. Creating a toothpaste “pill” sounds absolutely genius to me. Pop it in, let it dissolve into a single “serving” of mouth cleaning substance. This would also work well for travelling and for saving room while packing for a trip with only a carry on (hey, as a woman, this matters!)
Eco 6-pack Rings
We have all seen the story with the poor tortured turtle or dolphin that cannot get out of a soda or beer can plastic ring. Growing up in the 90’s, they told us to just cut them because there were no alternatives on the market. Little did we know that we were just speeding up the micro-plastic epidemic? Now, we don’t have to worry as much, since more beer companies are taking personal responsibility to make sure that they are biodegradable, or even EDIBLE to the creatures that live in our oceans. What a terrific turn of events!
I am truly amazed how companies are changing their attitudes towards the world of plastics and what the effects have on our only home – Earth. I hope that many up and coming inventors continue this path, and that we find materials that are just as much – if not cheaper to produce than plastics. Here’s to the future!
