Fewer Ownership, More Rental: French App Facilitates Access to Essential Household Goods

Are you in need of a kitchen mixer, drill, tent, or raclette maker? Maybe there’s a bread machine, an ice cream maker, or a toast maker gathering dust in your cupboard?

If you answered yes to either of these questions, Lucy Bash has a solution for you. The French entrepreneur and creator of the successful anti-food waste app is now tackling another issue: the simultaneous overuse and underuse of everyday household items.

Bash co-founded a new app called Poppins, inspired by the endlessly deep carpet bag of the world’s most beloved nanny, filled with oversized items, including a hat stand. The app aims to connect individuals who have items they no longer need under the motto “You have fewer and more yourself.”

Bash mentioned a survey revealing that the average French citizen owns about 2.5 tons of belongings, with roughly a third of those not being used.

Poppins app.

“It doesn’t make ecological or economic sense,” she stated. “Our goal is to simplify the process for everyone to locate what they need nearby. Collective prosperity is the only path forward.”

She further explained: “The Raclette machine is a perfect example; you buy one and use it only a couple of times a year, yet it occupies half your kitchen space. Renting it out is a smart alternative.”

Since its launch in April, the app has garnered 40,000 users in France within just a few weeks. Users can browse available items in their area, some of which can be rented, while others can be borrowed. Poppins plans to establish community guidelines. Their broader mission is to promote sharing over shopping, including local rental shops and library-like lending outlets.

In the initial weeks post-launch, the raclette machine emerged as the most sought-after household item. With summer approaching, there is an increasing interest in tents and camping gear—like petancasses, beds, cribs, party supplies, barbecues, and outdoor equipment. Nearly 65% of offerings on Poppins are available for free borrowing. The moderated platform prohibits the promotion of weapons or adult toys.

Bash remarked: “The beauty of sharing combines ecological, economic, and social benefits. When sharing becomes the norm, it leads to lower production rates, which is eco-friendly. Rentals and purchases become more affordable and social through discussion.”

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“We are shifting from linear growth to cyclical growth. Linear models are no longer sustainable; they harm our planet. The necessity is clear to everyone in the sector, including major companies that are now starting to reach out to us.”

Bash indicated that even large-scale commodity companies are moving towards rental options. “This is the future. The challenge for industry leaders lies in transforming their business models.”

“We aim to make sharing straightforward, dependable, and enjoyable. The enjoyment is crucial; it gives you that life-hacker feeling. We guarantee you can find what you need within your chosen radius.”

At 33, Bash, who was born in Paris, studied at Lille’s prestigious Centre-Rail Engineering University. She became aware of the critical issue of food waste during her tenure at Nestle. Her first idea for an app arose when she witnessed a bakery discarding unsold products; upon inquiry, she learned they couldn’t donate but offered her three times the food in exchange for payment.

Currently, the app boasts over 100 million users across 19 countries in Europe and North America. It originated when Bash recognized that 40% of the world’s food produced is thrown away, generating over 8% of the planet’s greenhouse gases, while millions remain hungry. Users of Too Good To Go purchase surprise bags collected at specific times from shops and restaurants, with a total value exceeding three times the price of the app.

The Poppins app is set to launch in Belgium next year, with plans for a release in the UK in late 2026 or 2027.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Researchers have discovered a method to eradicate hazardous “eternal chemicals” lurking in your household

For over 70 years, chemical compounds known as “Forever Chemicals” have been used in various products, ranging from non-stick cookware to food packaging. Despite their widespread use, these chemicals have been linked to serious health risks, including certain types of cancer. Recent scientific advancements have led to the development of new methods for breaking down and recycling these seemingly permanent materials, prompting a need for alternative names.

Mark Ruffalo, a fan of the 2019 film Dark Waters, is well aware of the environmental and health hazards posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

The difficulty in removing PFAS has been a significant challenge until now. Researchers from Oxford University and Colorado State University have collaborated to create a novel technique for not only destroying PFAS, but also recovering valuable components from it.

“The breakthrough in using phosphates to destroy PFAS represents a significant advancement in addressing longstanding environmental concerns,” stated Dr. Longyan, a chemist at Oxford University and the lead author of the study published in Nature.

“Through this effective PFAS destruction method, we aim to shift away from referring to these compounds as ‘Forever Chemicals’.”

So, how was this achieved? The scientists treated PFAS samples with potassium phosphate salts and mechanically ground the mixture using ball bearings to break the strong carbon-fluorine bonds present in PFAS and extract the fluorine content for other applications.

This process is crucial as fluorine is primarily sourced from a mineral called Fluorspar, which is used in various industries including pharmaceuticals and agriculture.

Professor Véronique Gouverneur, the Oxford chemist leading the study, emphasized the significance of recovering fluoride for essential drug production, highlighting the impact of large-scale mining on depleting this resource.

This innovative approach not only addresses the removal of PFAS but also enables the recycling of components to support other industries, making it a potentially beneficial solution for multiple sectors.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Meta dismisses employees for using complimentary meal coupons to buy household items

Reports suggest that Mehta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, terminated approximately 24 employees at the Los Angeles office for misusing $25 meal credits to purchase items like toothpaste, laundry detergent, and wine glasses.

The tech giant, with a market capitalization of £1.2 trillion and ownership of WhatsApp, took action after an investigation revealed unauthorized food deliveries to employees’ homes. One employee allegedly fired was earning $400,000 and admitted to using meal credits for non-food items and groceries.

On Blind, an anonymous platform, the individual wrote about using meal credits only on days they did not eat at the office, leading to their termination upon admission during an HR probe. Some employees were also found to have used credits for personal items like acne pads, with consequences varying based on the severity of the violation.

Free meals have been a common perk at tech companies, including Meta, founded by Mark Zuckerberg, which offers free meals in large offices but provides daily food credits for smaller sites. These credits include $20 for breakfast, $25 for lunch, and $25 for dinner.

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In 2022, Meta made changes to its Silicon Valley campus, delaying the free dinner service by 30 minutes to 6:30 p.m. as part of broader cutbacks. This decision sparked discontent among employees as fewer could dine on campus, affecting access to leftover food to take home.

Requests for comment from Meta are pending.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Common household products and cosmetics found to impact cell epigenetics

New research has found that formaldehyde poses serious risks to epigenetics, interfering with gene activity and potentially causing cancer and other diseases. The study emphasizes the need for stricter policies to limit exposure to formaldehyde, given its prevalence in various household products, cosmetics, polluted air, architecture, and other industries.

The research, conducted by Dr. Manel Esteller and Dr. Lucas Pontel from the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute and Dr. Christopher J. Chan from the University of California, Berkeley, focused on the effects of high formaldehyde concentrations in the body. The study revealed formaldehyde’s harmful impact on normal epigenetic patterns and its association with cancer, liver degeneration, and increased asthma risk.

Formaldehyde is commonly found in products used in architecture, furniture manufacturing, textiles, and hair products, as well as in polluted gases and the metabolism of certain food substances. It can also be produced in the body and has the potential to alter the epigenetic landscape of cells.

The study concluded that formaldehyde inhibits the production of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), a universal donor of the methyl chemical group that regulates genetic activity. This decrease in SAM content leads to a loss of methylation of histones, proteins that package DNA and control gene function, contributing to formaldehyde’s carcinogenic properties.

As such, the researchers stressed the need for environmental and health policies aimed at reducing exposure to formaldehyde in various industries and environmental sources. Despite restrictions by international health authorities, there are still areas of work where formaldehyde is used at high levels, necessitating further regulations to minimize exposure to this hazardous substance.

Reference: Vanha N. Pham, Kevin J. Bruemmer, Joel DW Toh, Eva J. Ge, Logan Tenney, Carl C. Ward, Felix A Dingler, Christopher L. Millington, Carlos A. Garcia Prieto, Mia C. Pross Holmes, Nicholas T. Ingoglia, Lucas B. Pontel, Manel Esther, Keetan J. Patel, and Daniel K.・Nomura, Christopher J. Chan, November 3, 2023, science. DOI: 10.1126/science.abp9201

Source: scitechdaily.com