Innovations in Sustainable Fashion, Microplastics Cleanup, and Coral Restoration - 60th Issue

We’ve all been there after a breakup — staring at the hoodies, T-shirts, or dresses left behind by an ex. It’s the literal baggage we don’t want but often hang on to, with research showing that two-thirds of Americans keep items left behind by an ex. 

So, dating app Tinder decided to make lemonade out of lemons. With its ExCycle program, singles can upcycle their exes’ garments and transform them into something new, all while freeing up physical and emotional space. 

In partnership with designer Sami Miró, ExCycle debuted in New York City to an audience of singles eager to reimagine their exes’ clothes as works of wearable art. By changing the narrative around emotionally charged garments, the program inspires singles to reclaim their power and get a fresh start in love — all while keeping old clothing out of landfills.

Did you know 80% of plastic waste comes from rivers? Unless intercepted, this waste travels to the oceans, accumulating as “plastic islands” like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which rivals the combined size of Spain and Portugal. 

Over time, the sun breaks down these plastics — primarily consisting of plastic bags, caps, bottles, and Styrofoam cups — into tiny pieces known as microplastics. In turn, these particles impact marine life. For example, albatrosses may mistakenly feed plastic resin pellets to their chicks, which ultimately die of starvation or ruptured organs.

Fortunately, there’s a company committed to retrieving plastic waste before it travels into the oceans and disrupts delicate ecosystems. River Cleaning, with its River Cleaning System, features autonomous devices that operate 24/7 to recover nearly all the plastic waste they encounter — with minimal environmental impact. With River Cleaning’s help, waterways of all sizes are becoming cleaner and safer for the marine animals that call them home.

The world needs coral reefs — yet we’ve already lost half of them. Home to countless sea turtles, fish, crustaceans, and other marine life, these diverse ecosystems need our help to regenerate. That’s precisely what Coral Gardeners aims to do, and now you can be a part of their mission. 

With operations in French Polynesia, Fiji, and Thailand, Coral Gardeners tends to coral in its nurseries before transplanting mature coral to various reefs. When you adopt a coral through Coral Gardeners, you’ll help support the restoration and diversification of these ecosystems with climate-resilient coral. Plus, you can even follow your coral’s journey on a digital tracker dashboard.

Coral Gardeners also offers bookable tours, giving you an opportunity to play coral gardener for a day or even snorkel among the coral trees. Now that’s what we call vacationing with a purpose!

Today’s homes just keep getting better when it comes to sustainability features. In Ashland, Oregon, the Oceanspray Townhomes project is taking eco-responsibility to new heights — quite literally — with the construction of multi-story, multi-family structures made from straw bale. 

When used in buildings, particularly when combined with wood, straw stores carbon instead of releasing it — thus cutting down on construction-related emissions. This innovative concept sets a benchmark in sustainable design, aiming to transform buildings into carbon storage facilities instead of emitters.

Created in collaboration with Arkin Tilt Architects and Verdant Structural Engineers, the project addresses climate change and the housing crises simultaneously. The future of housing looks brighter with projects like this one underway.