Plastic Bans, Carbon-Negative Fashion, and a Phone-Free Paradise

Dear friends,

In a week filled with remarkable stories, New Zealand made history as the first country to ban thin plastic bags, taking a significant step against single-use plastics.

Meanwhile, a California startup converts carbon emissions into carbon-negative yarn. WageIndicator Foundation opened access to living wage benchmarks globally, and Square launched Forward, an accelerator empowering Black and Latino entrepreneurs.

In addition, Ulko-Tammio, a Finnish island and popular tourist destination offers a unique digital detox experience, inviting visitors to disconnect from devices and immerse themselves in a phone-free summer amidst the serene Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park.

Looking for more ideas and insights on all things Purpose? Visit our Inspiration blog.

Enjoy the read!

Be kind, be good, and look after each other,

Afdhel and Bobby

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TOP STORIES THIS WEEK

New Zealand Becomes First Country to Ban Thin Plastic Bags: New Zealand has become the first country in the world to implement a ban on thin plastic bags commonly used by supermarket customers to collect fruit and vegetables. The new ban will also extend to plastic straws and silverware, as the government expands its campaign against single-use plastics which account for half of the plastic produced every year globally.

Turning CO2 into Yarn: Inside a lab in San Leandro, California, a startup uses enzymes to “eat” carbon emissions and turn them into cellulose, which it’s then using to make textiles that are carbon-negative. The process mimics how trees work, breathing in CO2 and using enzymes—proteins that help reactions happen—to convert the CO2 into strong carbon polymers in the trunk and leaves called cellulose.

Unlocking Living Wages for Garment Workers: WageIndicator Foundation is making its living wage benchmarks open access for workers, trade unions, and small employers. It’s an industry first that hopes to make wage negotiations fairer across 155 countries and 2,290 regions. The move is intended to minimize confusion, make wage negotiations more transparent, and catalyze progress.

Square Launches Accelerator for Black And Latino Entrepreneurs: Square’s new accelerator, Forward, launched in partnership with Social Change Fund United (SCFU), 1863 Ventures, and American Express, aims to provide Black and Latino entrepreneurs with the education, mentorship, coaching, and capital needed for their businesses to thrive. In 2022, Black and Latino Americans, as the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs, filed more than 5 million new business applications, more than any other group.

The Future of the Playground: Designers and children are reinventing play spaces for a changing world. The freedom of play is what the trendsetting architects and designers of today’s playgrounds think about first, with children having increasingly taken center stage in the creative process. The playgrounds are more inventive and more inclusive, spaces that integrate natural elements and emphasize a sense of open-ended possibility. A playground of the 21st century must account for a changing climate and for the changing experience of childhood itself.

Non-Profit of the Week: Renaissance is a French nonprofit that produces upcycled pieces made in the couture style and offers job training opportunities to low-income individuals and immigrants. The organization teaches some of the most sophisticated techniques in fashion design and builds on a movement by nonprofits to train workers and help place them in fashion jobs. Like much of traditional couture, many of Renaissance’s pieces are one-offs that are carefully handcrafted.

Phone-Free Summer: Did you know that Ulko-Tammio is believed to be the world's first phone-free tourist island? Nestled in the Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park, Ulko-Tammio presents itself as the world's first phone-free tourist island, inviting visitors to embark on a unique summer experience by unplugging and taking a break from smart devices and digital distractions.

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“Money’s the cheapest thing. Liberty, freedom is the most expensive.”

—?Bill Cunningham

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