In this article, we'll explain in depth what plastic is, why plastic is bad for the environment and the ocean, and solutions to mitigate the use and overall impact of plastic.

Why is Plastic Bad for the Environment?

Plastic is a material that is deeply intertwined with our modern lives. Plastic exists in nearly every industry, from food to cars to footwear to space equipment – but we talk about it as both being incredibly useful and dangerous for species worldwide, as it contributes to plastic waste, plastic pollution, plastic debris, plastic packaging waste, and plastic waste generation. The plastics industry is notorious for being bad for the environment.

💡 What is plastic, and why is the manufacturing process for plastic produced makes harmful to the earth and human health?

Plastic is a material that can be shaped or molded easily and can be synthetic, semisynthetic, or natural – which can then be molded into a wide variety of materials. 

💡 Plastic is extremely malleable due to the fact that it's made up of polymers, making it easier to cut through in addition to it's low melting point. 

At the molecular level, polymers are long chains of individual monomer links which bond easily to each  other. Polymers are also so bulky that they don't stack together well. This results in a compound that:

Once a completely natural product, much of today's plastic is man-made and largely dependent upon fossil fuels. From polymers to nurdles, learn how plastic is created and what we can do to slow the lasting repercussions this material will have on both our planet and our lives.
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Plastics 101 | National Geographic

How is plastic used in the plastics industry?

💡 In comparison to other materials, such as metal or glass, plastic is usually lighter and more flexible – seeing as plastic is able to achieve a feasible glass transition temperature (Tg) which allows for soft, flexible, and even rubber like state materials to be made. 

This makes global plastic production particularly useful for a wide range of purposes, and is precisely why the plastic industry has found so much success in creating beverage containers for several other industries, such as with:

plastic additives or other commodity plastics (such as plastic films used for new containers or shipping products like food packaging)

👉 However, the problem with fully synthetic plastic is that it doesn't contain any molecules from our natural environment – meaning that engineering plastics like these requires even more industrial activity, which results in even more emissions.

Luckily, most plastic items are recyclable – seeing as plastic can be melted and then reshaped, so most plastics can be heated until they can be formed into something else. Knowing this about the recycling process helps explain why it's bad to throw a banana peel in your recycling bin – it could get heated in with the plastic, rendering the reformed banana-plastic useless.  

Where do plastic materials come from and how is plastic made?

Plastic can be made in a variety of ways with a variety of materials. These materials can come from natural sources like latex from tree sap, tar, and amber. However, it is much cheaper and easier to make plastic from fossil fuels like crude oil and natural gas, partly because our industrial system is based on these fuels.

Intense heat or pressure is required to shape the plastic into something functional. For example, crude oil is heated in a furnace in the refining process before it is distilled into lighter compounds. Through a process called polymerisation, the light compounds are connected into polymers either with the addition of a catalyst or the removal of water.   

The table below will depict how much plastic used according to each industry:

<!DOCTYPE html>
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<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>Global Plastic Waste Production</title>
    <style>
        table {
            width: 50%;
            border-collapse: collapse;
            font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
            margin: 20px 0;
            font-size: 14px;
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        th, td {
            border: 1px solid #dddddd;
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        th {
            background-color: #f2f2f2;
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</head>
<body>
    <table>
        <tr>
            <th>Waste Type</th>
            <th>Global Plastic Waste Production (million tonnes)</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Packaging</td>
            <td>155.9</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Consumer Goods</td>
            <td>47.0</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Automotive</td>
            <td>47.9</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Textiles</td>
            <td>42.9</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Construction</td>
            <td>21.6</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Electrical/Electronic Devices</td>
            <td>15.9</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Other</td>
            <td>67.7</td>
        </tr>
    </table>
</body>
</html>

Every part of the “plastic life cycle” is harmful for the environment and creates pollution. 

Here just a few of the ways that the plastic pollution crisis has come to be:

Extraction of Fossil Fuels – Plastics exhibit enormous potential to continue emitting insurmountable amounts of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, as they currently account for over 3% of global GHG emissions. For example, it is estimated that people throw away 300 million tons of plastic every year – of which ends up in the landfill and contributes to even more greenhouse gas emissions.

👉  Extracting the fossil fuel required to create new plastics has negative impacts on local ecosystems by disturbing wildlife, polluting ground water systems, and causing oil spills in the ocean.

Production of Plastics – This refers to the mechanical properties, electrical equipment, high temperature, and how plastic is molded repeatedly before it can be used for commercial purposes – such as a water bottle cap or plastic mold for product packaging. The production process releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, exacerbating human-induced climate change and the distribution component plastic's life cycle. As goods produced around the world are intended for international markets, more fossil fuels need to be burned to deliver the products.

Distribution – The distribution of and use of plastic products alone contributes to poor environmental conditions and has a profound impact on any nearby marine environment. For instance, the United States is responsible for generating over 35 million tones of plastic – but only about 9% of that plastic gets recycled. And in that process, enormous amounts of energy, often generated from fossil fuels, need to be used to heat the plastic so that it can be remolded for new use.

💡 About 12% of the plastic produced ends up being incinerated. The fumes from both recycling and incineration add more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere – and then, of course, the rest is plastic pollution.

Plastic Trash – This refers to the consistent poor disposal, recycling, incineration, and litter of various plastics such as polyvinyl chloride – which is the industrial-like-strength plastic used for wire cables and medical purposes. As a whole, we have produced a striking 9.2 billion tons of plastic since 1950, with production doubling each year on average. The most long-lasting plastics can take up to 500 years to decompose. In addition to this, a wide variety of different chemicals are added during the production process depending on the use of the plastic – which can further impact air quality and air pollution.

About 40% of plastic produced are single-use plastics – they have an intended short lifespan. Think of plastic bags, packaged water, to-go containers and plastic ware. They all often end up in landfills or in nature. 

👉 Therefore, how much plastic waste is produced is irrelevant, as plastic waste inputs damage to the planet even if plastic consumption is reduced.

Plastic, which comes in many shapes and sizes, can end up polluting nearly every corner of our world – bodies of water, ecosystems, and our atmosphere. 

Unsurprisingly, plastic ends up in and around our oceans, which harms marine life, our natural environment, and contributes to ocean pollution. Due to gravity, water collects in rivers and lakes, winding its way to the ocean.

 Many aquatic animals consume plastic as they believe it to be prey, and as a result – we are eating microplastics in the fish we eat. 

💡Ultimately, plastic threatens ecosystems, lowers biodiversity, and can even change the flow of nutrients between plants and animals.

As plastic is worn down by seawater and sand, it creates microplastics – which refer to plastic bits smaller than 5 millimeters (0.2 inches). Microplastics are more pervasive than larger plastics – they have been found in the guts of plankton: one of the ocean's smallest living creatures.  

Microplastics also show up in sediment layers of the ocean floor. The accumulation by year is on pace with the historical trend of plastic production worldwide.  

👉 However, it is important to note that even larger plastics have been found in the depths of the ocean. For instance, when buoyant plastics such as water bottles and plastic bags are in the water for long enough– algae and other life grows on them which weighs them down enough to sink to the ocean floor.  

Solutions to reduce plastic pollution & plastic usage

Unfortunately, recycling plastic isn't all what it's chalked up to be – seeing as it's not an efficient use of energy – and not as much plastic get recycled as you may think.

According to an investigation, the U.S. has been shipping hundreds of thousands of tons of plastic to  other countries, including developing countries that are poorly regulated. Some of these countries include  Bangladesh, Senegal, and Laos – where the U.S. can find relaxed environmental regulation and cheap labor to handle the grueling recycling process.

However, much of the American plastic that is transported abroad for recycling cannot be processed. This was revealed with China and Hong Kong in 2015, as they received more than half of the plastic that Americans placed in the recycle bin. 

👉 Regardless, the majority of this load of plastic ended up in a landfill due to contamination of the plastic. As a result, China now only accepts plastic that is well cleaned. This is why waste management systems should seek to rectify the way plastic waste is created and overall plastic collection, as most plastic is ended up in landfill.

Some places have turned towards banning certain types of plastic in order to limit its negative environmental impact and encourage the government to employ more stringent legislation for recycling. 

For instance, California recently passed a law to eliminate single-use plastics. By 2032, all packaging in California must be recyclable or compostable – as plastic pollution facts are encouraging greater climate legislation.

Not only has Canada passed a similar law to California, but they also have a plan to reach zero plastic waste by 2030. Also, India has their own ban on single-use plastics. They elected to ban ear buds in addition to straws, cigarette packets, cutlery, and more.

👉 Overall, banning the use of single-use plastics – could help to mitigate the colossal environmental impact created by plastic. 

Seeing as plastic bans won't get to the root of the problem, it's important for us as a society to tackle over excessive consumerism behavior that aids in the negative impact created by plastic. 

💡 This will require innovative solutions to create, use and dispose of items without the use of plastic and reduce the need for single-use items.

Here are just a few suggestions to reduce your single-plastic usage:

Shop at bulk food stores and use ration containers for dry goods

Bring a durable container with you when you get take-out food or when you need a to-go  container at a restaurant

Wash with a bar of soap rather than liquid soap

👉 Changing your habits to reduce your plastic usage will not only create a positive environmental impact but also you will be kind on  your pocket – as you'll save money on plastic bags and plastic water bottles in your everyday, now "greener" lifestyle.

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How did we get to a world full of plastic? - BBC

Additional solutions to reduce plastic pollution

Scientists have found some solutions to break down plastic without heat and are working hard to   implement them, such as via the use of microbes to help decompose plastic at a more rapid pace.

💡 Wax worms and mealworms can break down plastics into compost that can be used as fertiliser. There  are some microbes that can decompose plastics in mere hours, rather than the usual years needed.

Until our society can ween off of its current dependency on plastic, we can turn to natural sources of rubber such as a rubber tree – as it produces latex, which can be used like plastic. In addition to this, amber has latex which can also be used like plastic, and it is sometimes found while mining for other minerals.

Of course, these solutions do not solve the root of the problem regarding the excess consumerism present in our society – as plastic is all-around energy intensive at every step of its lifecycle. 

Therefore, it is crucial to change our behaviors and encourage governments to ban the most harmful plastics – but for the time being, we can all do our part to reduce the amount of plastic we use in our everyday lives. 

If learning about the negative impacts of plastic on the environment has encouraged you to want to do more to limit your impact on the environment, we can help.

At Greenly, we can help you to assess your company’s carbon footprint, and then give you the tools you need to cut down on emissions. We offer a free demo for you to better understand our platform and all that it has to offer – including assistance with boosting supplier engagement, personalised assistance, and new ways to involve your employees.

Learn more about Greenly’s carbon management platform here. 

The iPhone 14 will be released on September 16. But do you know the exact carbon footprint of an iPhone?

What is the Carbon Footprint of the iPhone?

<p id="">On September 16, the iPhone 14, the newest model of the iconic Apple range – will be released. An umpteenth version of a smartphone that is now part of our daily lives… To the point of forgetting that this small device in our pockets and bags also emits CO2.</p><p id="">What exactly is the iPhone’s carbon footprint? With the release of the new Apple’s smartphone, we decided to focus on its environmental impact. </p><p id="">‍</p><figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-center" data-rt-type="image" data-rt-align="center" data-rt-max-width=""><div id=""><img src="https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/6232f79b68d15d3d9b69c096/631f4d551a9d3252ea0ff490_empreinte-carbone-iphone.jpg" loading="lazy" id="" width="auto" height="auto"></div></figure><p id="">‍</p><h2 id="">What is the carbon footprint of an iPhone?</h2><blockquote id="">According to the Product Environmental Report published by Apple in September 2021, <strong id="">an iPhone emits a total of 64kg CO2e</strong>.</blockquote><p id="">It is important to note that this figure was specifically calculated for a model of iPhone 13, with a storage capacity of 128 GB. </p><p id="">This total amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was also estimated using the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) method. Concretely, this means that the total amount of emissions announced in this report normally includes all the emissions generated by an iPhone, throughout its life cycle (from the extraction of raw materials to destruction).</p><p id="">To compare, the carbon footprint of an iPhone 12 with the same storage capacity (128 GB) was 72kg CO2e.</p><blockquote id="">👉 To learn more about the Life Cycle Analysis of a product, do not hesitate to <a href="https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/company-guide/everything-you-need-to-know-about-lca-life-cycle-analysis-in-2022" id="">read our article</a>.</blockquote><p id="">‍</p><h2 id="">Where do iPhone’s CO2 emissions come from?</h2><p id="">According to the report published by Apple:</p><ul id=""><li id="">81% of emissions would be related to production (extraction, production and transport of raw materials, but also manufacture, transport and assembly, plus packaging);</li></ul><ul id=""><li id="">16% of emissions would be usage-related (energy use is simulated in a variety of ways, for example, by modeling daily battery charging or the use of video or music applications);</li></ul><ul id=""><li id="">2% of emissions would be related to the transportation of the final product (air and marine, from the manufacturing site to regional distribution platforms);</li></ul><ul id=""><li id="">Less than 1% of emissions would be related to the “end-of-life” of the product (transportation from collection points to recycling sites, and the energy needed to separate and shred elements).</li></ul><p id="">‍</p><blockquote id="">💬 These calculations are made knowing that the estimated the duration of use for an iPhone is around 3 to 4 years (in accordance with the user data collected by the brand on similar products). In addition, the transport of products from distribution points to final customers was modeled using average distances. Finally, local differences in the mix feeding of power grids must be considered.</blockquote><blockquote id="">👉 For more details on the iPhone 13 “Product Environmental Report”, you can find it on Apple’s website by <a href="https://www.apple.com/environment/pdf/products/iphone/iPhone_13_PER_Sept2021.pdf" id="">clicking here</a>.</blockquote><p id="">‍</p><h2 id="">Why is the carbon footprint announced in the iPhone 13 “Product Environmental Report” underestimated?</h2><p id="">Considering the 64kg of CO2e announced by Apple, only 10kg would come from smartphone’s usage – more specifically, from charging the terminal. </p><p id="">An obvious question arises: what about the use of mobile data? </p><p id="">The Greenly experts investigated: given the data on the emissions induced by the 4G network in France, while considering an average mobile data consumption of 45 GB each month, <strong id="">50kg of CO2 would need to be added to the figures published in the Apple’s study</strong>. 👀</p><blockquote id="">Contrary to the estimates provided by the brand, <strong id="">the carbon emissions related to the use phase of an iPhone would amount to 60kg of CO2e</strong>.</blockquote><p id="">Besides, the colossal carbon footprint of data centers (physical infrastructures allowing to store and share data) should also be considered in this calculation, as they are terribly energy-intensive – because of their electricity consumption or need for air conditioning, for example.</p><p id="">Hosted internally, Apple’s iCloud service claims to be 67% carbon neutral. However, it should be noted that this estimate only takes into account scopes 1 and 2. While scope 3 is an essential variable in the calculation of the carbon footprint of any entity.</p><p id="">‍</p><figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-center" data-rt-type="image" data-rt-align="center"><div id=""><img src="https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/6232f79b68d15d3d9b69c096/631f4d010b74027b5ab6eff1_iphone.jpg" loading="lazy" id="" width="auto" height="auto"></div></figure><p id="">‍</p><h2 id="">What is the carbon footprint of data stream?</h2><p id="">What about all the mobile data that we stream 24/7? <a href="https://t.sidekickopen01.com/s3t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7kF8c7YpqVRv9Zw59hl3kW7_k2841CXdp3VP1dqC2S0VpZW2bzNMH8H1z0h101?te=W3R5hFj4cm2zwW4mKLS-3ZWVWBW3K2-zv1JxwY5W1Lw3rh45LM6yW1LxLBV3K77BcF1GzP7WmLtP1&si=8000000005495252&pi=327ca282-180c-4621-bbc6-bb329182ee71" target="_blank" id="">Greenly</a>'s data science team computed the real weight of that data consumption</p><ul id=""><li id="">Over the course of the iPhone lifespan (3-4 years according to Apple), network use accounts for 2.16TB of mobile data. </li><li id="">Applying standard network emission factors, the electricity consumption of 4G or 5G networks is equal to 512 kWh of electricity.</li><li id="">In the US, 1 kWh of electricity represents 427g of CO2e on average. in France, 1 kWh represents 60g of CO2 per kWH because the energy is less carbon intensive.</li><li id="">So 512 kWH represents 220 kg of CO2e in the US, and roughly 50 kg of CO2 in France.</li><li id="">To this total, we would need to add 32.4 KG of CO2e related to the amortization of the mobile network for this amount of data.</li></ul><p id="">‍</p><h2 id="">What about the iPhone 14? </h2><p id="">This week, <a href="https://t.sidekickopen01.com/s3t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7kF8c7YpqVRv9Zw59hl3kW7_k2841CXdp3VP1dqC2S0VpZW2bzNMH8H1z0h101?te=W3R5hFj4cm2zwW4mKLS-3ZWVWBW3K2-zv1JxwY5W1Lw3rh45LM6yF1LvdzRmLcq1&si=8000000005495252&pi=327ca282-180c-4621-bbc6-bb329182ee71" target="_blank" id="">Apple</a> launched its new iPhone 14. </p><blockquote id="">💡 With 90M units hitting the market this year - at an average footprint of 61kg of CO2e per iPhone, the projected total footprint of the launch is 5,5 MT of CO2.</blockquote><p id="">Here is the carbon weight of each step of the phone's existence:</p><ul id=""><li id="">Components Sourcing &amp; Manufacturing: 79%</li><li id="">Shipping: 2%</li><li id="">Usage: 18%</li><li id="">End of Life: &lt;1%</li></ul><p id="">‍</p><p id="">According to the <a href="https://www.apple.com/environment/pdf/products/iphone/iPhone_14_PER_Sept2022.pdf" id="">new Apple’s Product Environmental Report</a>, using the iPhone makes up 18% of the total footprint over the product's life cycle (3-4 years). &nbsp;</p><blockquote id="">🧐 But is Apple's carbon footprint estimation correct? </blockquote><p id="">The answer is 'no'. <a href="https://t.sidekickopen01.com/s3t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7kF8c7YpqVRv9Zw59hl3kW7_k2841CXdp3VP1dqC2S0VpZW2bzNMH8H1z0h101?te=W3R5hFj4cm2zwW4mKLS-3ZWVWBW3K2-zv1JxwY5W1Lw3rh45LM6yW1LxLBV3K77BcF1GzP7WmLtP1&si=8000000005495252&pi=327ca282-180c-4621-bbc6-bb329182ee71" target="_blank" id="">Greenly</a> experts estimate that Apple is missing 80% of the iPhone's total climate impact. &nbsp;</p><blockquote id="">👉 Indeed, regarding the figures that should be considered on data stream, the real total footprint of the iPhone 14 should be 313kg over 4 years.</blockquote><p>However, it is important to underline that iPhone's carbon footprint is still decreasing.</p><p id=""><a href="https://t.sidekickopen01.com/s3t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7kF8c7YpqVRv9Zw59hl3kW7_k2841CXdp3VP1dqC2S0VpZW2bzNMH8H1z0h101?te=W3R5hFj4cm2zwW4mKLS-3ZWVWBW3K2-zv1JxwY5W1Lw3rh45LM6yF1LvdzRmLcq1&si=8000000005495252&pi=327ca282-180c-4621-bbc6-bb329182ee71" target="_blank" id=""><strong>Apple</strong></a><strong> is doing a much better job than most smartphone companies in disclosing its footprint.</strong> But if the most admired company in the world wants to set the exemple, it needs to go all the way and report its full indirect emissions (not just upstream, but also downstream emissions).</p><p>‍</p><h2 id="">3 tips to reduce the carbon footprint of your iPhone </h2><h3 id="">1. Using your iPhone responsibly</h3><p id="">One figure? On average, each French person stores between 10,000 and 50,000 emails. However, this data is not stored in a vacuum: it is stored in data centers, which generate 0.3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.</p><p id="">The right thing to do? Regularly sort your mailbox, keeping only the messages that are truly worth archiving.</p><p id="">If you want to significtly reduce the footprint created by your iPhone, <strong id="">try watching videos in moderate quality (480p) while using Wi-Fi, instead of streaming HD (1080p) on your 4G data</strong>.</p><p id="">‍</p><h3 id="">2. Get your iPhone fixed instead of discarded</h3><p id="">Unfortunately, we tend to believe that a smartphone should be changed at the slightest harm. </p><p id="">But it is not true.</p><p id="">Battery problem? Cracked screen? Change of camera? So many problems that can be handled thanks to repair shops. Do not hesitate to seek the advice of a professional!</p><p id="">Also, if you think you have the tools for this type of repair, you can also try to do it yourself. Many guides and tutorials are available. 💡</p><p id="">‍</p><h3 id="">3. Buy a refurbished iPhone</h3><p id="">If you want to contribute to reducing the environmental impact of our digital society, <strong id="">favoring the purchase of a </strong><a href="https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/ecology-news/what-is-the-carbon-footprint-of-a-refurbished-phone" id=""><strong id="">refurbished phone</strong></a><strong id=""> is the best thing to do</strong>.</p><p id="">In addition to fighting global warming, you will save a significant amount of money – a refurbished smartphone costs on average 30 to 50% less than a new model.</p><blockquote id="">Be careful not to confuse a refurbished phone with a used phone. ⚠️ Unlike the latter, the refurbished phone is used, but it has been checked, repaired if necessary, and has had its memory erased. For this reason, it is 5 to 20% more expensive than a used phone, as it did not undergo a complete revision. </blockquote><p id="">‍</p><p id="">‍</p><p id=""><strong

Earth overshoot day is becoming more worrisome as each year passes. What is overshoot day about? Find out more about this term and what it implies.

Overshoot Day: What Does It Imply?

In 2024, overshoot day will occur on July 25th – roughly five months before the end of the year.

Overshoot Day is impossible to miss, as every year – the media announces this fateful date, and it draws closer each year. 

At this point, you may be wondering what Earth Overshoot Day, or EOD, is – essentially, Overshoot Day is an indicator and testimony to the pressure exerted by man on the planet. Of course, global warming is massively illustrated by the surplus of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions released into the atmosphere – but it is also represented by the depletion of natural resources.

In this article, we'll explain what Overshoot Day is, the causes of this ecological deficit, and how we manage to finally push back this date.

Overshoot Day symbolizes the date on which humanity has consumed all the resources that the planet can regenerate in one year. Some examples associated with overshoot day include how in one year, humanity catches so many fish – that the fish species don't have time to reproduce. Another example is when we cut trees faster than they can grow. 

Therefore, Overshoot Day day perfectly demonstrates the pressure humans are putting on the  planet – and depicts how our way of life is far too greedy to be sustained by the natural resources we have available.

This year, Earth Overshoot Day falls on 1 August. It means we’ve already used a whole planet’s worth of resources this year. We are over overfishing, over harvesting, over consuming and over polluting more than our planet can sustain.

We can all make a difference to move the date for Earth Overshoot Day and create a sustainable future.

Find out what your ecological footprint is and how you can reduce it today. http://www.wwf.org.au/get-involved/ch...

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What is Earth Overshoot Day? 🌏☄️ | WWF-Australia

On Overshoot Day, humanity is merely living off of credit – virtually the same way someone uses a credit card without having sufficient funds in their bank account. The same goes for humans on Overshoot Day: using resources that are otherwise unavailable. 

This can beg the question – have we ever noticed a net decrease of our ecosystems? Truthfully, the depletion of resources has been noticeable since the industrial revolution that took place in the 19th century, but has dramatically worsened over the last 50 year. Essentially, if we didn't over consume the planet's resources, the Overshoot Day wouldn't even exist – the same way that if people didn't spend money they didn't have, no one would ever go into debt.

👉 Overshoot Day will continue to prove prominent and relevant, as the forecasts are far from good – seeing as by 2050, humanity  will "require" twice as many natural resources to meet its needs in comparison to 2020. The availability of these resources by then is looking more sparse by the day. 

Every year, the American NGO Global Footprint Network uses more than 3 million pieces of statistical data, spanning around 200 countries, to calculate Overshoot Day. After this is done, Overshoot Day can then be calculated by dividing Earth's biocapacity by the average ecological footprint created – and then by multiplying this result by 365, or how many days are in a year. 

The main goal of Overshoot Day is to raise awareness regarding the limited availability and regeneration of our natural resources, and to encourage humanity to measure the impact of its consumption on our ecosystems.

In case that didn't make sense, let's break it down further:

Calculating Overshoot Day isn't all that complicated. In fact, all that is needed to calculate Overshoot Day is to divide humanity's ecological footprint, or their annual consumption of ecological resources, by the planet's biocapacity – or the amount of resources that can be regenerated, as well as the amount of waste that can be absorbed in a year. 

💡 Please note: both of these figures are expressed in global hectares and are calculated based on the National Footprint Accounts.

Using all this data, the American NGO also estimated the number of planets that would be needed to compensate for our excessive consumption of resources – and they found out in 2022 that we would need 1.75 Earths to meet our current level of consumption. This is equivalent to 74% more resources than what our ecosystems currently provide.

What's causing Overshoot Day to be so early?

There are several reasons why Overshoot Day continues to arrive earlier every year, such as increased greenhouse gas emissions created by human activity, more intensive agricultural practices, excess fishing, and deforestation.

As humans continue to engage in excessive and carbon intensive activities, Overshoot Day is likely to continue arriving closer and closer each year.

Here are some of the reasons why Overshoot Day arrives earlier each year:

Intensive Agriculture and Fishing Practices

Half of the Earth's biocapacity is used to feed us, and therefore – as our global human population continues to skyrocket, these resources will become even more sparse. In fact, according to the United Nations by 2100, there could be 11.2 billion people living on Earth – proving how we need to curate more sustainable patterns today.

Intensive agriculture and fishing practices contribute to:

Using too many resources, such as animals, but also natural resources – since agriculture consumes 70% of drinking water worldwide;

Contributes to deforestation, soil destruction, biodiversity depletion, marine ecosystem imbalance and atmospheric pollution.

💡 Lastly, these two modes of production lead to the depletion of biological resources. Therefore, over exploitation must give way to sustainable agriculture and fishing that is more respectful of the environment.

Ultimately, the WWF suggests slashing meat consumption in half, to push back the excessive fishing by 17 days, and to decrease global food waste by 50% worldwide to help push back this same date by 13 days.

The loss of global forest biocapacity has a direct impact on global  warming. By cutting down trees, humanity is robbing the planet of its natural carbon sinks. 

Remember, while trees absorb a portion of CO2 throughout their lifetime – once they've been cut down, they release all of the carbon dioxide emissions they've accumulated directly into the atmosphere. This further compromises our already questionable air quality and further impacts our already existing air pollution crisis.

Furthermore, deforestation impacts biodiversity, reduces the supply of food and raw materials, prevents the regulation of the water cycle, impacts our quality of life, and more.

💡 Did you know that every year, 100,000 km² of forest are destroyed, threatening millions of animal and plant species? 

Ultimately, forest conservation must be a priority. That's why WWF wants to reforest 350 million hectares of forests to help postpone Overshoot Day by eight days.

We generate more emissions than the earth's natural carbon sinks are able to absorb in a year. These natural carbon sinks mostly consist of forests and oceans. 

As a result, according to "Earth Overshoot Day," the carbon footprint for Overshoot Day in 2023 represented 61% of humanity's ecological footprint.

Evidently, since the industrial revolution – our GHG emissions have been steadily piling up in the atmosphere. Unsurprisingly, human activities, such as the extraction, burning and use of fossil fuels, emit a large portion of these greenhouse gases. 

In 2021, CO2 emissions reached 36.4 billion tons.

In 2023, CO2 emissions reached 37.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions – an all time high for the planet.

Beyond accelerating global warming, the industry also participates in the depletion of natural resources. For example, fossil fuel reserves are melting away. 

‍💡 In order to rectify the amount of emissions contributing to Overshoot Day, the WWF recommends reducing humanity's carbon footprint by 50% to push back Overshoot Day by 93 days – equivalent to three months.

The best way to postpone Overshoot Day is to reduce the consumption of natural resources involves slowing down our current economic model. Therefore, we need to transition from the use of an unsustainable model of over consumption to a sustainable model – which is a circular economy.

Essentially, the best way to ensure Overshoot Day is postponed every year would be to encourage our society to make do with less – and to vouch for the infamous saying, "less is more" – as in terms of Overshoot Day, it is!

Postponing Overshoot Day is possible by protecting the environment while ensuring the well-being of individuals relies on sustainable production, reasoned consumption and efficient waste management. 

This may seem like an overwhelming agenda, but there are several ways to approach delaying Overshoot Day, such as by:

Eco-designing products by taking into account the life cycle of the product or service to determine both their environmental and social impact;

Limiting food and resource waste – seeing as every year, one third of the food produced in the world for human consumption around 1.3  billion tons of food per year, is wasted;

Extending the life of objects (reuse, repair, belly up, rent and buy second-hand), in order to reduce the extraction of natural resources and, by extension, the extraction of resources – which is a polluting process. This can also be known as upcycling;

If an item is beyond repair but doesn't need to be thrown away, remain mind of recycling waste.

The ocean absorbs 30% of our carbon emissions, making it the most important carbon sink in the world – but it is obviously not the only one. 

Several actions can be taken to safeguard our natural carbon sinks:

Preserve existing carbon sinks and create artificial sinks through new technologies;

Restore forests that have been over exploited (those converted to cattle ranching, for example);

Reforesting tropical forests (which capture more CO2 and act as a barrier to floods  and hurricanes in coastal urban areas in the tropics and sub-tropics);

Fighting ocean acidification through sustainable fishing.

With a goal in mind to limit global temperature from exceeding 2°C by the end of  the century and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 – decarbonizing  the economy seems inevitable, but there are approachable ways for all of us to successfully work towards this goal. 

For instance, switching to the use of renewable energies is one of the best ways to limit rising worldwide temperatures. This is one of the objectives set by the United Nations. Thus, the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix should be increased by 2030.  

👉 In addition to this, we must do without fossil fuels, especially in our production processes – as this remains one of the most detrimental components to Overshoot Day and global warming as a whole.

Overall, Overshoot Day is a reminder of how we are treating the planet – and it still isn't too late to turn it all around. We can all make a difference, whether in our daily lives or as a cog in the machine of a big company, to delay Overshoot Day and protect our planet from the negative effects of global warming.

If reading this article about Overshoot Day has made you interested in reducing your carbon emissions to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!

At Greenly we can help you to assess your company’s carbon footprint, and then give you the tools you need to cut down on emissions. We offer a free demo for you to better understand our platform and all that it has to offer – including assistance with boosting supplier engagement, personalized assistance, and new ways to involve your employees.

Click here to learn more about Greenly and how we can help you reduce your carbon footprint. 

Antarctica's temperature trends show alarming increases, but how do temperature trends in Antarctica impact sea levels and ecosystems?

Antarctica Temperature Trends

Cold, dry, and windy, Antarctica temperature trends have a significant impact on the continent’s climate and sea levels. Unprecedented temperature jumps are legitimate causes for alarm. Researchers at the East Antarctic plateau’s Concordia station registered the then-largest temperature jump on March 18th 2022, recording a temperature rise of  38.5°C above its seasonal average. Over the past 50 years, temperatures have been rising, leading to significant changes. Notably, the Western Antarctic Peninsula has warmed by almost 3°C since 1950, which is higher than anywhere else in the Southern Hemisphere. While 3°C might seem like a slight increase, this doesn’t bode well for our planet. 

Aligned with this temperature jump, upper ocean temperatures are also increasing, with the Antarctic Circumpolar Current warming more rapidly than other oceans. As the region warms, ice loss and ocean heat waves will become increasingly frequent. Winter ice formation is already at its lowest level on record. With sea ice formation experiencing record lows since 2017, sea levels will likely be impacted, as well as biodiversity on the continent. What does this mean for the future of Antarctica temperature? As we reckon with the global impact of Climate Change, Antarctica temperature trends become key indicators of how desperately we need to change. 

👉 In this article, we’ll examine the current state of antarctic temperature trends, identify what’s driving the change, and the impact on our ecosystems. 

Antarctica temperature fluctuation leads to ice loss

Antarctica temperature variability over the past few decades reveals a complex and concerning picture. According to recent Copernicus satellite data, February 2024 saw sea ice extent and sea ice area values close to historical lows, closely aligning with predictive models. This reduction in sea ice underscores the accuracy of current forecasting systems and signals the rapid ice loss occurring in the Antarctic region. Why is this significant? 

The ice reduction is an unprecedented change, showing a distinct departure from previous ice formation patterns dropping below 2 million square kilometers for only the second time since 1974. Later ice formation, smaller areas of coverage, and earlier melting signals alarming consequences for the Antarctic ecosystem and global climates

East Antarctica experienced a dramatic heatwave in March 2022. As temperatures soared above seasonal averages, driven by a record-breaking atmospheric river. This extreme event saw temperatures soar far above average, reaching unprecedented levels for the region. Additionally, as Antarctic sea ice plays a vital role in ocean circulation and carbon absorption, ice loss has the potential for big picture consequences. Most significantly, Antarctic sea ice showed a slightly increasing trend in contrast to the clear decline observed in Arctic sea ice. However, the sudden sea ice loss following 2016 leaves scientists concerned. Researchers are addressing these rapid changes with new modeling and ongoing monitoring to identify and correct underlying causes. 

👉 What are current antarctica temperature measurements? The continent is experiencing ongoing warming, with a 3°C temperature increase that is significantly higher than global averages. This leads to sea ice loss, which has drastic impacts on ecosystems, sea levels, and carbon absorption.

What’s driving Antarctic temperature change?

Several factors contribute to the observed temperature changes in Antarctica. Atmospheric rivers, which are narrow corridors of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere, have been identified as major drivers of extreme weather events in Antarctica. These atmospheric rivers can transport large amounts of heat and moisture to polar regions, causing dramatic temperature spikes and contributing to ice melt. For example, the March 2022 heatwave in East Antarctica was driven by an atmospheric river, showing just how significant these can be for Antarctic temperatures. 

Oceanic conditions around Antarctica also play a critical role in temperature changes. The Southern Ocean, which surrounds the continent, has been warming, with this heat being transferred to ice shelves and glaciers, accelerating their melting. This warming is partly due to changes in ocean currents, which are influenced by broader climate patterns such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. The complex interplay between atmospheric and oceanic conditions necessitates sophisticated models to accurately predict future temperature trends and their impacts.

Greenhouse gas emissions are also at play, as increasing CO2 levels are impacting the Antarctic temperature. The Antarctic ozone hole also has an effect on the continent's climate. As stratospheric ozone concentrations fell, temperatures above Antarctica dropped, creating a larger temperature difference between the tropics and the Antarctic. Moreover, the westerly winds traveling over the Southern Ocean have increased by 15%, shifting the Antarctic temperature. 

👉 Atmospheric rivers, ocean conditions, and the westerly winds are responsible for Antarctic temperature changes.

Antarctic temperature rise also impacts ecosystems. Reductions in sea ice, which is crucial for wildlife, could lead animals on the path towards endangerment. Wildlife implications include penguins, seals, and krill. Emperor penguins particularly rely on sea ice for breeding and raising their young. Ice loss has the potential to significantly reduce breeding. As sea ice melts, a necessary habitat is threatened, disrupting the Antarctic ecosystem. Krill similarly relies on sea ice. While krill may seem like a small fish, pun intended, their numbers impact the species that feed on them: whales, seals, and sea birds. Even worse, as the ice melts, this can release ancient carbon stored within permafrost and ice. These ice melts can disrupt ecosystems on a larger scale. By adding to the effects of global warming, the release of these ancient carbon stores can accelerate climate impacts. 

👉 Ice melts have the additional impact of disrupting wildlife ecosystems and possibly releasing ancient carbon stored within.

Predictive modeling for tracking Antarctic temperatures involves a combination of advanced techniques and data sources to improve the accuracy and reliability of forecasts. Climate models can show predictions about future climate change, allowing us to act in order to mitigate adverse effects. Recent innovation shows various opportunities for understanding datasets relating to Antarctica temperature. advancements in deep learning and other predictive technologies have improved the reliability of these forecasts, offering better tools for understanding and anticipating changes in the Antarctic climate. Here are some key methods and tools used in this field:

Climate Modeling - Climate models are essential for making quantitative estimates of how Antarctic climate may change over the 21st century. These models incorporate various climate variables and interactions between the atmosphere, ocean, ice, and land to simulate future climate scenarios. They are particularly useful for understanding long-term trends and potential impacts of climate change on Antarctic temperatures.

Machine Learning - Machine learning techniques, such as Long Short-Term Memory networks, have been employed to predict Antarctic temperatures. These models can handle time series data effectively, making them suitable for predicting temperature variations more quickly and accurately than traditional models.

Numerical Weather Prediction Models - The Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System is an example of a numerical weather prediction model that provides high temporal and spatial resolution data for Antarctic temperatures. These models use real-time data and sophisticated algorithms to predict short-term weather patterns and temperature changes.

Satellite Datasets - Earth Observation satellite data is crucial for monitoring remote and harsh environments like Antarctica. The AntAir ICE dataset, for example, uses MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) skin temperature data to model near-surface air temperatures. This dataset offers a daily temporal resolution and a high spatial resolution of 1 km, providing detailed insights into local temperature variations and extremes.

Historical Data Reconstruction - Long-term reconstructions of Antarctic temperatures using molecular fossils and machine learning provide insights into past climate conditions and help improve future predictions. These studies highlight the importance of both climatic and non-climatic drivers in the stability of Antarctic ice sheets and the potential tipping points related to atmospheric CO2 levels.

👉 Predictive modeling can compare historical data trends with future shifts.

Addressing the challenges posed by rising temperatures in Antarctica requires a multifaceted approach. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions globally is key to slowing the rate of warming. This includes transitioning to renewable energy sources, enhancing energy efficiency, and implementing policies that promote sustainable practices. International cooperation is essential for effective mitigation and adaptation. Geoengineering technology like carbon capture and storage, and solar radiation management could help, but require consistent monitoring to prevent unintended climate impacts. However, the Antarctic Treaty System, which regulates international cooperation concerning Antarctica, plays a vital role in coordinating scientific research and conservation efforts.

👉 The Antarctic Treaty System encourages international collaboration and research, allowing nations to come together to tackle issues like Antarctica temperature shifts and protect vulnerable ecosystems. 

Predictive modeling and data tracking puts crucial information in the hands of decision makers. By measuring the impact of various drivers, we are able to calculate small shifts with large positive impacts.

Greenly works with you to identify and lower your carbon footprint. Combining human analysis and innovative technology, Greenly creates personalized carbon accounting that is accessible to a wide range of companies no matter their size. Request a free demo with a member of our expert team to learn more about how to get started on your journey to help fight climate change. 

How does carbon capture prevent climate change? All you need to know about carbon capture and how it works and if companies should invest in a carbon capture system.

All You Need to Know About Carbon Capture

You would think that as we dive deeper into the 2020s, that innovative technologies would be on the brink of reversing the environmental damage that we’ve already created. 


Carbon Capture is a groundbreaking system that serves to relocate and reuse carbon dioxide emissions already present in the atmosphere. 

But can carbon capture really undo the pollution we’ve already emitted? 

Does carbon capture have the potential to change the way we approach global warming? 

We’re about to tell you all you need to know about carbon capture, and if carbon capture can really prevent climate change. 

Carbon Capture, sometimes known as Carbon Capture and Storage or CCS for short, is a counteractive way to reduce the amount of carbon emissions in the air.

 Carbon Capture consists of capturing carbon dioxide already present in the air due to industrialization, and then injecting it deep underground to prevent the emissions from continuing to harm the environment. 

The selling point about carbon capture is that it has proven to be effective at extracting and relocating carbon emissions both after they’re in the air, or depending on the type of carbon capture system –  even before they pollute the air.

Carbon capture is one of the only verified technologies that has proven able to remove carbon dioxide emission and greenhouse gasses from the air, and therefore – is one of the only available methods to directly reduce current carbon emissions rather than mitigate future climate change projections.  

How long has carbon capture been used for? 

Carbon capture was done successfully for the first time back in 1972 in the Sharon Ridge oilfield in Texas. 

This marked the beginning of carbon capture and storage, as this event illustrated it was indeed possible to remove carbon emissions from the air. 

As of present day in 2023, carbon capture and storage has become both more feasible and popular – as there are 43 large-scale carbon capture and storage systems functioning around the world. 

Carbon capture and storage, CCS, works in three steps:

The first step to carbon capture is to remove the carbon emissions already in the air by using carbon capture and storage technologies – think of a carbon capture system like a giant vacuum cleaner to suck up the excess dirt, particles, and pollution infiltrating the atmosphere.

However, it’s important to note that more often than not that most carbon capture systems work to remove potential carbon emissions directly from the source of detrimental environmental activity before they even have the chance to pollute the atmosphere. 

The carbon dioxide emissions that are captured by the carbon capture system are then consolidated and relocated to a storage facility.

After capturing and transporting the carbon emissions, they will either be temporarily stored to be reused, or to be permanently stored underground where it can no longer negatively impact the environment.

Think of Carbon Capture and Storage like you’re keeping a secret.

It’s the kind of secret that if you tell someone, it’s bound to create chaos.

You decide to bury your secret, and don’t let it anywhere near your mouth where it could cause you or someone else harm. As long as that secret doesn’t meet your tongue – there’s nothing it can do to provoke any trouble.

Carbon Capture works in the exact same way, as it removes anything potentially harmful from the surface and places it where it can’t cause further damage to the environment. 

Can carbon dioxide retrieved from carbon capture be reused?

Carbon capture doesn’t only allow for carbon dioxide emissions to be removed from the environment, but some companies are seeking to find new ways to recycle existing pollution into already popular products. 

For example, a company called Climeworks has been providing The Coca-Cola Company with recycled carbon dioxide emissions.  

Climeworks is not only seeking to remove carbon dioxide emissions that have already been emitted into the air, but they are dedicated to discovering innovative methods to reuse carbon emissions in everyday products, such as beverages as common as soda. 

There’s no need to pollute the environment further when a process like carbon capture and storage and cultivate and allow for the reuse of carbon dioxide that’s already been created.

Is there a difference between carbon capture and carbon sequestration?

More often than not, an imperative word is left out of the common definition of carbon capture – and that word is, “storage”. 

When people talk about carbon capture, they are usually referring to carbon capture and storage – which means capturing, transporting and storing carbon dioxide before it is emitted into the air. 

Carbon sequestration, on the other hand, is defined by storing carbon dioxide for a longer period of time. 

Carbon capture usually only refers to the process of collecting carbon from industrialization sources which emit high levels of greenhouse gas emissions, whereas carbon sequestration solely depicts the long-term period in which that capture carbon dioxide will be stowed away. 

Both carbon capture and carbon sequestration have the ability to reduce climate change.

Can Carbon Capture prevent climate change?

While it is alluring to view carbon capture as the escape method to our intense, superfluous industrialization habits that have caused environmental harm  – carbon capture can ultimately only do so much. 

Carbon capture is indeed able to reduce carbon emissions, and it is a unique asset for companies seeking to lower their carbon footprint that can’t afford to buy recycled carbon dioxide.

The over compassing, potential benefit of carbon capture is not that it can store carbon dioxide emissions far away from the atmosphere, but that it can allow carbon dioxide to be reused in various ways. 

Ultimately, carbon capture cannot prevent climate change or reverse that already existing, damaging effects that have been made to the environment. 

Is Carbon Capture the best way to fight against climate change?

So, which is the better option for carbon emitting companies to employ – a Carbon Capture system, or other common strategies we use to mitigate climate change?

 While carbon capture is the most innovative opportunity to date in regards to removing already existing carbon emissions from the atmosphere – global warming is already upon us.

Ines Gendre, Copywriter specialising in environment, climate change and ecological transition

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