If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that sustainability is non-negotiable. This year, we encourage you to make sustainable living one of your New Year’s resolutions. That may sound like an inconvenient move, but it can actually be quite simple to make a few life swaps. Here are three easy things you can do this year to live more sustainably thanks to biotech.
Eatsustainably
Biotech food options are increasing. These crops often require fewer inputs, last longer in a fresh state, and yield more while helping uplift the lives of small farmers around the world .
A lot of biotech crops in the United States—corn, soybeans, canola, and cotton—are not necessarily available to consumers to choose off the shelf. They are often used as ingredients in other everyday products. But consider it a positive if your food has GMO ingredients instead of looking for that butterfly logo.
Consumers can also choose produce options like Arctic apples, they bruise and brown slower than traditional apples, which are great for people who love apples, but may not always eat them quickly. Similarly, Innate potatoes are also available to pluck from your local produce section. These potatoes are less prone to bruising and black spots, which reduces food waste.
Uselessplastic
Nearly 1 million plastic bottles are purchased per minute around the world. Approximately the same number of plastic bags are also sold per minute. We are drowning in plastic.
The best solution is to not use plastic at all, but that’s a difficult ask in a world where it seems everything is covered in plastic. Thankfully, biotech companies are working hard to make plastic alternatives that are renewable and biodegradable or recyclable. There are consumer products on the market today that create compostable plastic alternatives such as Biotrem, Spoontainable, and Restore.
Try to dispose of your rubbish at a local compost facility or your home compost. In the meanwhile, biotech company Danimer is working with major corporate brands to roll out compostable plastic materials that don’t necessarily need to end up in a bin to decompose.
Flyclean
We’re all going to be cooped up for a little bit longer as the coronavirus pandemic continues, but that hasn’t stopped airlines from working to reduce their carbon footprint.
Last year, we interviewed Gevo CEO, Pat Gruber for an I am BIO podcast episode on a new type of jet fuel—one with a zero-carbon footprint. Gevo announced in September that they secured a partnership with a trade company. They are also continuing to develop relationships with commercial airline partners like Delta.
Meanwhile, this list from Simple Flying highlights airlines that are flying right now with low-carbon fuel.
There are so many ways to be sustainable in the year to come and of course, we’ll be here at bio.com/blogs sharing all the latest news in the biotech industry as always.
