Jeliza Patterson

Posts tagged technology

110 notes

unconsumption: Hard Plastic Bottles, Reborn as a Bridge The town of York, Me., is putting up what could be a bridge to a better future, not because of it where it goes but because of what it is made of: plastic. Plastic bottles have been the bane of landfills for decades because they do not degrade. To find other uses for these strong and persistent materials, some manufacturers have melted them into boards for beach house decks or spun them into clothing materials. But while plastics recycling has become more common since the 1980s, far more could be done, environmental policy makers say. The nation recycles only 27.5 percent of its hard plastic bottle waste, versus 71 percent of its newspapers and 67 percent of its steel cans, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2010 figures. Now comes Axion International, a New Jersey-based company founded in 2007 that has developed a process to make a building material that is strong enough to supplant steel and concrete but is made out of discarded laundry detergent containers and milk cartons.  Such plastic building material also could be fabricated into railroad ties, sound barriers along highways, and I-beams, among other uses. In most cases, “the product costs a little less than steel and concrete.” (via Hard Plastic Bottles, Reborn as a Bridge - NYTimes.com)

unconsumption:

Hard Plastic Bottles, Reborn as a Bridge

The town of York, Me., is putting up what could be a bridge to a better future, not because of it where it goes but because of what it is made of: plastic.

Plastic bottles have been the bane of landfills for decades because they do not degrade. To find other uses for these strong and persistent materials, some manufacturers have melted them into boards for beach house decks or spun them into clothing materials.

But while plastics recycling has become more common since the 1980s, far more could be done, environmental policy makers say. The nation recycles only 27.5 percent of its hard plastic bottle waste, versus 71 percent of its newspapers and 67 percent of its steel cans, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2010 figures.

Now comes Axion International, a New Jersey-based company founded in 2007 that has developed a process to make a building material that is strong enough to supplant steel and concrete but is made out of discarded laundry detergent containers and milk cartons. 

Such plastic building material also could be fabricated into railroad ties, sound barriers along highways, and I-beams, among other uses. In most cases, “the product costs a little less than steel and concrete.”

(via Hard Plastic Bottles, Reborn as a Bridge - NYTimes.com)

Filed under plastic plastic bottles upcycling building materials technology business sustainability architecture

2 notes

Inflatable gown by Diana EngCream silk chiffon, draped over plastic inflatables and white silk flowers. Presented in the December 2010 Fairytale Fashion Collection show. The Fairytale Fashion Collection uses technology to create magical clothing in real life. Electronics, mechanical engineering, and mathematics are used to create clothing with blooming flowers, changing colors and transforming shapes. Research and development for the Fairytale Fashion collection are shared online at FairytaleFashion.org as an educational tool that teaches about science, math, and technology through fashion. Diana Eng is a fashion designer who specializes in technology, math, and science. Her designs range from inflatable clothing to fashions inspired by mechanical engineering. She is a designer from Bravo’s Emmy nominated TV show, Project Runway season 2 and author of Fashion Geek: Clothes, Accessories, Tech. Diana is cofounder of NYC Resistor hacker group. Photo by See-ming Lee

Inflatable gown by Diana Eng
Cream silk chiffon, draped over plastic inflatables and white silk flowers.

Presented in the December 2010 Fairytale Fashion Collection show.

The Fairytale Fashion Collection uses technology to create magical clothing in real life. Electronics, mechanical engineering, and mathematics are used to create clothing with blooming flowers, changing colors and transforming shapes. Research and development for the Fairytale Fashion collection are shared online at FairytaleFashion.org as an educational tool that teaches about science, math, and technology through fashion.

Diana Eng is a fashion designer who specializes in technology, math, and science. Her designs range from inflatable clothing to fashions inspired by mechanical engineering. She is a designer from Bravo’s Emmy nominated TV show, Project Runway season 2 and author of Fashion Geek: Clothes, Accessories, Tech. Diana is cofounder of NYC Resistor hacker group.

Photo by See-ming Lee

Filed under diana eng project runway fashion innovation technology gown