A method for growing wood-like materials with specific properties and shapes could pave the way towards 3D-printed wood and offer an alternative to industrial forestry, which has severe effects on the global climate and environment and eliminates about 10 million hectares of forest every year. The ability to make “customizable timber” in a laboratory setting would reduce waste in manufacturing and allow forests to remain untouched as a measure to mitigate climate change.
Scientists at MIT have demonstrated how “wood-like plant material” can be grown in a lab from cell cultures in a way that...
In the societies and business worlds of today, “green” or ethical investment has become a key benchmark. However, the lack of standardization and knowledge as well as a plethora of regulations in this area make it difficult for investors to assess the sustainability of an organization. In an interview with Supertrends, Kristina Touzenis shares some insights regarding the current situation and the challenges that sustainable investment poses.
Sustainable investing, also referred to as socially responsible or ESG investing, has become a hot topic due to the growing awareness and global prioritization...
Jordan’s climate varies from a Mediterranean one, in the uplands, to steppe and desert, towards the south. Rising temperatures, a constant decrease in average annual precipitation, and deforestation are some of the main problems the government has been fighting for decades. The installation of a network of emitter stations based on ionization technology on the ground has led to a 27 percent overall increase in rainfalls over a period of three years, the extension of the rainy season, and rainfall volumes of hundreds of millions of cubic meters.
In an interview with Supertrends, Dr. Helmut...
The world’s first 3D-printed metal bridge opened to the public on 15 July 2021. The futuristic design of the smart bridge adds a modernist flair to one of the oldest canals in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. (Head image credit: Adriaan de Groot)
The challenge of a 3D-printed metal bridge
A 3D-printed metal bridge being installed in central Amsterdam (Image credit: Merlin Moritz)
Metal 3D printing has gained massive interest in recent years. It enables manufacturers to advance more quickly from the design to the final product and facilitates a more flexible and complex design approach....
Cultured seafood, synthetically grown from fish or crustacean cells in a bioreactor, is being touted as one of the next major developments in the food industry. Most of the small but growing number of companies in the sector of cultured meat are based in the US, Europe, and Asia. However, the cutting-edge technology is also gaining a foothold on the African continent. Supertrends spoke to Marica Quarsingh, the CEO of Africa’s first cultured seafood company.
In 2020, Marica Quarsingh’s promising energy efficiency project was brought to a halt by the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of looking backward,...
As a Senior Management Consultant at IBM, Anja Juhl Jensen has been working with digital innovation and disruptive technologies for more than 16 years. Currently, she supports IBM customers in the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain to set a sustainable course for their organization. In an interview with Supertrends, she calls attention to an essential step in achieving a sustainable organization: proper data collection and analysis.
Anja Juhl Jensen has extensive experience working with disruptive technologies that drive sustainability. Other areas of expertise...