Good news from around Europe
Based in the Vorarlberg region of Austria, the EKO-LIFE project found a novel way to address climate change, while supplementing existing policies and actions. “It is hard for people to change their lifestyles, because there are always difficult decisions to make, so we decided to provide experimental spaces for people
Treating wastewater from industrial plants is an expensive business, requiring a lot of energy and generating high carbon emissions. EffiSludge for LIFE has a solution to this – converting waste sludge from the process into biogas. Powered by WPeMatico
An unusual sight now greets drivers travelling down the N272 in North Brabant, the Netherlands. One of the first bio-based safety guardrails installed in Europe lines a 20-metre stretch on both sides of the road. The construction replaces metal elements from conventional guardrails, notably substituting their environmentally problematic zinc oxide
A transnational LIFE project plans to start testing two hydrogen-powered bin lorries in Eindhoven this October. Led by the NGO, WaterstofNet, the LIFE’N Grab Hy project is demonstrating a zero-emission and low noise alternative to traditional refuse collection vehicles. Powered by WPeMatico
Large areas of flower-rich grassland still exist in mountain ranges in Central Europe. These provide an important refuge for endangered insects, but their long-term survival depends on appropriate land management. Powered by WPeMatico
The food processing industry’s biggest impact on the environment comes from cleaning and disinfection. While this is vital for food hygiene and safety, it consumes vast amounts of water, energy and chemicals. Cleaning and sanitisation also releases undesirable chemicals into the environment, and generates wastewater and greenhouse gases. Powered by
Commercial fishing has unintended negative consequences for sea turtles. An estimated 200 000 turtles die every year in the Mediterranean after being accidentally caught in fishing nets. The Italian Marine Science Institute led a project called TARTALIFE to tackle unnecessary turtle deaths, focusing on the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) in
The Kleine Nete is a lowland river situated in the Flemish Campine region. The river valley consists of heathland and moors in higher areas and valley ecosystems along the stream. “One of the unique things about the Kleine Nete is that there is still freshwater tidal influence, which means the
International Beer Day is a celebration of all things to do with brewing. This year we can invite the Spanish project LIFE-Brewery to the party. It is re-using beer waste streams to reduce the environmental impact of brewing, an after effect of beer that is perhaps less widely considered. Powered
The Balearic island of Formentera has successfully tested ‘hyper-local’ architecture and the use of local Neptune grass (Posidonia oceanica), as part of a bid to revolutionise architecture and foreground environmental considerations in the building industry. The award-winning initiative to build 14 dwellings was developed under the LIFE-funded Reusing Posidonia project.