Environment

Up in a small northern Israeli town, a startup is growing fields of genetically engineered wheat that can withstand the challenges of climate change – but it’s not cultivating the grain for food.  The specialized seeds yield wheat with thicker and larger stalks that are being used to create biodegradable yet durable drinking straws. Blue […]

For decades, the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) has enjoyed a monopoly on power supply in the country. But in the last five years Israel has moved to end this monopoly, and allow other companies to enter the field.  And for one innovative solar energy firm, this means a real opportunity to make the country more […]

An Israeli company has developed genetically engineered versions of the ancient castor bean – and their higher yields and higher oil content are helping nations power their vehicles with greener fuel. The castor bean – which despite looking like a bean is actually a seed from the Spurge family of flowering plants – has been […]

While restaurant chains and cafes are doing their part to preserve our environment by using eco-friendly single-use items and packaging, often the greener alternative is less than durable.   A startup in Kibbutz Gan Shmuel, northern Israel, says it has developed a “secret sauce” – comprising natural and synthetic materials – that makes environmentally friendly utensils […]

Dozens of huge balloons are taking to the skies over Germany. They’re not carrying passengers eager to witness stunning views, but rather fridge-like containers that suck harmful carbon emissions out of the air and freeze them.  It may seem like a strange way of tackling the climate crisis, but Israeli startup High Hopes Labs insists […]

Summer is almost upon us, and with it, mass use of air conditioning that takes up around 40 percent of all electricity consumption in buildings, something that energy grids simply cannot support. That’s why one Israeli company is using ice as a cheaper, greener method to cool office blocks at those times of the day […]

Getting fresh coffee into our hands usually exacts a huge carbon footprint, requiring thousands of air miles and myriad packaging at every stage of the production chain.  Coffee machines normally use beans that have already been roasted, which involves a resource-heavy heating process as well as shipping beans from one place to another over extended […]

Israeli farmers are providing a parcel of land each for solar panels to generate renewable power for a quarter of a million people. The country enjoys an enviable 300 days of sunshine a year, on average, yet nearly 70 percent of its electricity is produced by burning natural gas from its massive reserves in the […]

That the world’s bee population is in crisis is no secret. Scientists, conservationists and agriculturalists have been scrambling for a solution to a situation that could be catastrophic for humans who rely on these stripy natural pollinators and their winged cohorts to propagate much of the food that we eat.  Israeli company Edete says it […]

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure – and that’s the way it is for nearly 100,000 Israelis, thanks to a new app.  They’re getting discounts and coupons on anything from surfing and rock climbing lessons to online eco-friendly clothing and beauty stores, just by filming themselves properly disposing of litter they find outside.  “We […]

From coconut-oil cheese to powdered egg mix made of chickpea, there are plenty of animal-free alternatives out there to enjoy. But they all face the same problem. Because they lack the natural protein content of their animal counterparts, they have to be supplemented with protein powders made from pea, soy, and other sources.  That gives […]

It’s summer, and the ritual of buying a new pair of flimsy plastic flip-flops for the beach begins again. They wear out, so you trash them, and the cycle repeats year after year. This ‘wear them and trash them’ cycle is one of the biggest contributors to plastic waste contamination in the world. But there’s […]

Startup says floating barrier is instant, easy-to-use and effective  

Hybrid fruits are resistant to intensifying weather conditions

Israeli startup develops a fully compostable alternative