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.