Resources

This documentary explores the enormous environmental challenges facing the Sahara, such as desertification, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss, emphasizing how these issues also have a significant impact on Europe.

This video explores five pioneering initiatives globally that transform waste into construction materials, aiming to address both environmental pollution and infrastructure needs. In Kenya, Gjenge Makers converts single-use plastics into affordable, durable paving bricks, generating local employment. Nigeria’s Freee Recycle tackles the massive problem of discarded tires by recycling them into resilient rubber pavers for playgrounds and driveways. In Mexico, Omar Vázquez crafts hurricane-resistant “Sargablocks” from invasive Sargassum seaweed, providing low-income housing while cleaning coastlines. Eco Friendly Thai in Thailand, with Tetra Pak’s support, innovates by processing complex milk cartons into eco-bricks and roofing sheets, often used for disaster relief housing. Lastly, Conceptos Plásticos, originating from Colombia and expanding to Ivory Coast, turns hard-to-recycle plastics into interlocking “Lego-like” bricks for constructing schools, significantly impacting education and livelihoods for waste collectors.

This video highlights the critical role of designers in addressing environmental challenges, particularly in the construction industry. The speaker, a former industrial designer, shares a pivotal experience where a “recyclable” chair ended up as waste due to a lack of proper recycling infrastructure. This led her to found Altet, a company focused on creating sustainable construction materials from waste, like paper.

Despite Spain’s prevalent heat and drought, Almería’s vast “sea of plastic” greenhouses enable abundant vegetable cultivation year-round, demonstrating how dry conditions can be beneficial for controlled growing. Farmers and engineers optimize scarce water resources using technology like sensors and software, achieving 20-30% savings in water and fertilizer, and around 30% in electricity. Manuel Escobar, a tomato farmer, uses soilless cultivation, recycling 20% of his water and fertilizer. This innovative approach, dating back to the 1960s, has dramatically improved Almería’s living standards.

This video features the founder of Sepiia, a brand born from a desire to create better, more sustainable clothing. With a background in industrial design and advanced textile technology, the founder recognized the significant environmental impact and poor functionality of conventional fast fashion. Sepiia’s mission is to produce highly functional, low-maintenance garments that reduce the need for frequent washing and ironing, have a longer lifespan, and minimize environmental impact throughout their lifecycle.

Andalusia in southern Spain is leading efforts in energy saving and sustainable construction and transport, inspired by the successful European Píxar program. This initiative achieved over 36,000 building renovations in under a year, resulting in an 85,000-ton reduction in CO2 emissions and saving families €280 million, with over 7,000 vulnerable families benefiting. For example, in Jerez, thermal insulation upgrades offered up to 70% subsidies, leading to nearly 60% energy savings for residents. Funded significantly by the EU’s cohesion policy, Píxar also created 80,000 jobs. Its success has spurred new sustainable energy development programs, as seen in Palma del Río, where European funding enabled ambitious projects like the energy-efficient renovation of a historic convent. Beyond buildings, Andalusia is also decarbonizing transport, with Córdoba’s bus fleet transitioning to cleaner compressed natural gas, significantly reducing particulate emissions.

This video introduces a unique rural project that blends traditional livestock farming with modern sustainability. The speaker, whose family has a long history in animal husbandry, explains her decision to take over the family farm, transitioning from sheep to meat goats (caprino). This shift was strategic because goats naturally clear dense undergrowth, providing natural fire prevention and fertilizing the land. The business actively collaborates with forestry services for brush clearing and firebreak maintenance.

This video highlights Reforestación Alimentaria, an organization dedicated to planting fruit trees in schools and public spaces across Argentina to provide children and adolescents with access to self-managed, organic, and sustainable food. They emphasize the importance of continuous care, working with interdisciplinary teams including agronomists and horticulturists, and fostering a sense of ownership among participants. Beyond providing nutritious food, the project aims to educate youth on food production and environmental care, promoting concepts like “edible forests” that combine fruit trees with vegetable gardens. The video showcases positive community responses, including children enthusiastically caring for the trees, and underscores the long-term vision of promoting food sovereignty and preparing new generations for a more sustainable future.

Spain’s Costa del Sol, a major global tourist hub, faces significant sustainability challenges despite growing awareness. While few hotels were built with resource conservation in mind, experts like José Damián Ruiz Sinoga argue that current tourist numbers in places like Málaga exceed their sustainable capacity, necessitating a shift from traditional sun-and-beach tourism. Local politicians aim to attract “quality tourists” interested in culture and nature, prioritizing visitor experience and resident well-being over sheer volume.

This video introduces the “Cocoon”, a biodegradable planter invented in the Netherlands, designed to boost tree growth in arid regions prone to desertification. The University of Almería’s Center for the Assessment and Monitoring of Global Change is testing its effectiveness in Sierra María-Los Vélez Natural Park, as part of the European project Life Desert-Adapt (GreenLink).

Spain’s organic sector is no longer a fleeting trend but a firmly established and growing industry. What began with small-scale farmers in the early 90s has now blossomed into an almost €2 billion annual production, with over 2 million hectares—nearly 10% of total agricultural land—dedicated to organic farming by 2018. This consistent growth, supported by rigorous European quality controls, has positioned Spain as the top organic producer in Europe and fourth worldwide. The sector’s expansion is evident across various crops, reflecting a clear increase in both production and consumer spending on organic products.

Cerrucos de Kanama’s manager, Teresa Redondo, shares energy saving and waste management tips from their artisanal cheese production in this reel. This video shows how small businesses can be environmentally conscious and successful.