Environment

April 23, 2019

Couple Spends 20 Years Planting an Entire Forest and Animals Have Returned

Nearly 30 years ago, Brazilian photojournalist Sebastião Ribeiro Salgado returned from East Africa, where he was on location documenting the horrors of the Rwanda genocide. Following this traumatizing project, Salgado was to take over his family's sprawling cattle ranch in Minas Gerais—a region he remembered as a lush and lively rainforest. Unfortunately, the area had undergone a drastic transformation; only about 0.5% was covered in trees, and all of the wildlife had disappeared.

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March 27, 2019

Artist Uses Recycled Textile Waste to Handcraft Ocean-Inspired Rugs and Tapestries

Portuguese artist Vanessa Barragão pays homage to the ocean with her incredible sculptural textile art. Her textured woolen rugs, tapestries, and wall hangings are made using a variety of techniques to transform discarded industrial textile waste into forms that mimic the organic coral structures found in the sea. Her recent works, Coral Garden and Ocean Tapestry address the huge scale at which the textile industry pollutes the natural environment.

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February 14, 2019

Ingenious Mexican Company Turns Avocado Seeds into Biodegradable Straws and Cutlery

Today, many eco-friendly companies are creating products that will help stop the single-use plastic problem. These innovations include a portable, metal straw, a “living seawall,” and, thanks to Mexican company Biofase, biodegradable utensils made entirely out of avocado seeds. Using pits predominantly leftover from guacamole and oil manufacturers, Biofase creates forks, spoons, knives, and straws. Like disposable plastic tools, these utensils are durable and suitable for hot and cold contents.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.