All over the world, countries are finding creative ways to solve environmental issues.

From sandals made from tire scraps to headphones made out of mushrooms, here are some of the most innovative sustainability ideas to learn about this #EarthDay

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McDonald’s produces 62 million pounds of coffee waste each year.

@Ford found a creative method to keep this waste out of landfills by turning it into car parts — and it’s working. Ford hopes to have 100% recycled plastics on its vehicles by 2035.
50% of the world’s plastic items are used just once before being thrown away.

This Colombian start-up is changing that by creating biodegradable plates made from pineapple scraps.
@PAPELYCO products contain real seeds and can be re-planted after use.
Bananas are one of the world’s most wasteful crops and their stems are a huge part of the problem.

@Texfad in Uganda is turning the stems into a fiber that needs less water and land to produce, and can be used to make rugs, fabric, and hair extensions.
Last year, Americans consumed over 6 billion avocados, leaving behind mounds of inedible waste.

@BiofaseMX in Mexico found a solution to this problem by developing a method that transforms avocado waste into a sustainable, bioplastic alternative.
Over 10 tons of food go unsold at Bowenpally Market in India every day.

But instead of going to a landfill, the market converts its unsold food into biogas, a renewable fuel that gets turned into electricity to power street lights, buildings, and homes.
People dispose of 100,000 chopsticks every day in Vancouver alone.

@ChopValue is up-cycling this waste, turning chopsticks into shelves, tables, and furniture, in an effort to reduce single-use plastics waste from restaurants.
Studies show that by 2050, there will be more plastic waste in the ocean than fish.

@BrightmarkE is hoping to change that by turning plastic waste into eco-friendly fuel on a commercial scale, aiming to process 100,000 tons of plastic this year alone.
Tran Minh Tien, a small business owner in Mekong Delta, Vietnam, produces eco-friendly drinking straws made out of grass that, once used, decompose in as little as 2 weeks.

He came up with the idea to combat Vietnam's growing plastic waste problem.
Regular flip-flops have one of the worst environmental footprints, taking several decades to decompose.

These scientists at @UCSanDiego are hoping to change that with 100% biodegradable flip-flops made out of algae and plants.
Over 250,000 tons of crustacean waste are produced each year in the EU alone.

Instead of lobster and crab shells sitting in a landfill emitting methane, this student group in London found a way to turn seafood waste into a single-use plastic alternative.
People around the world drink and dispose of approximately 100 billion soda cans each year.

These weavers in Brazil turn pop-tops into fashionable designer bags at @Bottletoppers, a retailer that aims to highlight excessive waste in the garment industry.
England-based @gomi_design turns non-recyclable plastic bags into state-of-the-art Bluetooth speakers. Each speaker has a unique color depending on what kind of plastic waste it's made of.
Tires are made from synthetic rubber and petroleum that makes them poisonous for the environment.

So this power plant in Turkey recycles 20,000 tons of tires every year and uses them to generate electricity for over 30,000 people
India is the world’s biggest recipient of tire waste from countries like Britain, Italy, and the United States.

This 27-year-old engineer, Pooja Apte Badamikar, founded Blink Green, aiming to solve the problem by turning tire scraps into stylish sandals.
@Vistaraku is a woman-owned company that makes 100% biodegradable plates and bowls from the leaves of Palash trees, which are sourced from local villages, and are said to have natural antibacterial properties.
When mushroom fungus dries, it creates a squishy and cloud-like material that rivals plastics or leather and can be the perfect substitute for many items.

@Ecovative uses lab-grown mushrooms to make vegan bacon, leather, and a Styrofoam-like packaging.
Headphones require a lot of plastic and leather — so what if they could be made with more sustainable materials?

This team of scientists, designers, and artists teamed up to create headphones made entirely out of fungus, bacteria, and other microbes.
When it comes to environmental challenges, the opportunity for innovation is endless.

To learn more about the companies featured and how to support them, visit our World Wide Waste series homepage on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmur3Z0Afau7p-Au2E1uYKYVPNE2b62dN
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