How can we liter tissue paper into a recycling bin? I unbelievably asked my friend one day after lunch. There were only two types of rubbish beans outside our cafeteria. Recycling beans and other waste beans. Why not? Isn't tissue paper recyclable? She answered in amazement, seeming that I had cracked her belief system down. Calming myself down, I explained to her patiently, "You know, since you have wiped your mouth with a tissue paper, the tissue paper is no longer clean, but is polluted by the germs and ...

Environmental Impact of Basketball Waste - The industry produces 40 to 50 million basketballs annually, enough to fill an auditorium 10 times over [2] - A staggering 95% of basketballs end up in landfills or are burned [2] - Discarded basketballs decompose into toxic microplastics, polluting soil, water, and air [3] Consumer Behavior and Waste Generation - A survey at YCIS indicates the average student owns almost two basketballs, with some owning six or more [4] - This consumption pattern contributes to a global waste problem [4] Proposed Solutions for Sustainability - Encourage consumers to extend the lifespan of their basketballs [6] - Promote repairing damaged basketballs instead of discarding them [6] - Support recycling or donation programs, such as Wilson's Rebound, to repurpose old basketballs [6] - Advocate for reduced consumption of new basketballs [6]

Materials Science & Sustainability - Waste wood scraps, after molecular-level modification, can be transformed into high-performance building materials [1] - Modified wood scraps have the potential to replace plastics, aluminum, and carbon fiber in vehicles and gadgets [1]

90% of the rivers in in in the world that are used are processed in China. If you look at where critical minerals are used, the question is where aren't they used. Right.Everything we touched almost every day has a critical mineral whether it's something in a vehicle, could be something in our our homes in terms of our kitchen, but also, you know, a lot of our defense systems and and defense industry relies on rare earth and critical minerals. So, when you think about that at a broader picture, that has a m ...

Textile Waste Problem - The fashion industry contributes 10-12% to global pollution, with textile waste accounting for 60% of fast fashion pollution [7][8] - India contributes 10-15% to global textile waste pollution [8] - Textile waste in India is classified into post-consumer, pre-consumer, and imported waste [9][10] - 17% of textile waste ends up in landfills [12][13] - A truckload of waste clothes is dumped into landfills every second in India [13] - Fiberglass mannequins are non-recyclable and contribute to landfill waste or toxic pollution through burning [16][17] Sustainable Solution: Restrict Mannequins - Restrict mannequins are 100% recycled using textile waste, biodegradable, eco-friendly, and sustainable [19] - Each Restrict mannequin uses 30-40 kilograms of waste textiles [22] - Restrict mannequins reduce carbon emissions by 70% and save 80% of usable water compared to normal mannequins [22] Call to Action - Consumers should think before purchasing clothes, support sustainable brands, and engage with recycling initiatives [24][25][26] - Spreading awareness can educate consumers about textile waste and encourage conscious purchasing decisions [26]

[Music] Well, trash has been good for investors this year. The biggest player in the industry has risen 17% year-to- date. It's trading near a record high.That compares with a less than 3% gain for the S&P 500. We're talking about WM, the company formerly known as Waste Management. We've been focusing on stocks like this that have been overperforming amid a volatile year for our series, the why behind the high.And we're joined now by WM CFO Deina Ranken. Deina, thank you so much for being here. Happy to be ...

Core Points - Nucor Corporation declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.55 per share, marking its 209th consecutive quarterly cash dividend [1] - The dividend is payable on August 11, 2025, to stockholders of record on June 30, 2025 [1] Company Overview - Nucor and its affiliates are manufacturers of steel and steel products, operating in the United States, Canada, and Mexico [2] - The company produces a wide range of products including carbon and alloy steel in various forms, as well as fabricated concrete reinforcing steel and metal building systems [2] - Nucor is recognized as North America's largest recycler and also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron, and hot briquetted iron [2]

Core Insights - SpartanNash has partnered with Trex and Home Repair Services to convert recycled plastic grocery bags into accessibility ramps for Veterans, highlighting a commitment to sustainability and community service [1][3][5] Group 1: Project Overview - The initiative involves constructing accessibility ramps for Veterans using composite decking boards made from approximately 157,500 recycled plastic bags [4] - The ramps are built by SpartanNash Associate volunteers in collaboration with Home Repair Services, which provides income-based home repairs [4][5] - In 2024, SpartanNash successfully built ramps for five Veterans and plans to expand the 'Bags to Boards' program to additional communities [5] Group 2: Environmental Impact - Since 2023, more than 5,000 pounds of plastic bags have been recycled at SpartanNash-operated stores [6] - The project exemplifies how recycling can create tangible impacts, reducing landfill waste while providing meaningful support to Veterans [5] Group 3: Company Profile - SpartanNash operates in two business segments: food wholesale and grocery retail, serving a diverse range of customers including independent grocers and U.S. military commissaries [7] - The company employs approximately 20,000 Associates and operates nearly 200 grocery stores under various banners [7]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company ended 2024 with $103 million in cash, cash equivalents, and securities, down from $158 million at the end of 2023, indicating a cash burn of $55 million, which is at the low end of the guidance range for 2024 of $55 million to $65 million [38][39] - Fourth-quarter revenue was $9.2 million compared to $13.1 million in the prior year quarter, while annual revenue for 2024 was $31.3 million, within the guidance of $25 million to $35 million [38][39] - Operating expenses for the fourth quarter were $16.2 million, down from $19.8 million in the prior year, while full-year operating expenses increased to $85.3 million from $60.1 million, largely due to a non-cash impairment charge and higher depreciation [39][40] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has begun commercial production from its first Catformer line, which is expected to produce tens of millions of caps monthly, with plans to have eight Catformer lines operational by the end of 2025 [10][12][14] - The expected gross margins for the cap business are projected to fall in the mid-double digits range, with a payback period for the average line expected to be less than eighteen months [32][34] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Demand for the company's caps is described as incredibly strong, with multiple customers signing MOUs, and indicative demand significantly exceeding fulfillment capabilities for several years [21][22] - The caps market is dynamic, with variable pricing based on customer types and volume commitments, allowing the company to price its products based on their unique value [24][25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to build a scalable platform capable of accommodating hundreds of Catformer lines over time, targeting a significant share of the $65 billion caps and closures market [46][47] - The strategy includes forming partnerships and licensing technology to expand overall PET cap supply, with a focus on maintaining a balanced portfolio of customers [27][28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges the macroeconomic environment as unforeseen but believes the fundamentals of the business remain unchanged, expressing confidence in the technology's value [105][107] - The company expects to achieve EBITDA positive results on a run rate basis by the end of 2026, updated from the previous guidance of the first half of 2026 [36][37] Other Important Information - The company has over seventy issued patents and numerous pending applications, creating a defensible moat around its technology [42][43] - The first beverage products with Origin caps are expected to be on shelves by Q3 2025, with continuous improvements planned for future Catformers [13][29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Timeline for qualification process and customer sourcing - Management confirmed that qualification involves extensive testing on capping and filling systems, requiring large sample sizes for evaluation [51][55] - The qualification process duration varies by customer size, with larger customers typically requiring more time [58][60] Question: Status of a significant MOU and its impact on revenue - Management acknowledged a delay in the initiation of purchases under a $100 million MOU but expects it to be backloaded into the second year of the contract [66][70] Question: Cash burn and minimum cash level - Management indicated a prudent approach to maintaining a minimum cash balance equivalent to one to eighteen months of operating expenses, estimating around $48 million for 2024 [73][75] Question: Revenue and EBITDA guidance for 2025 - Management refrained from providing specific revenue guidance for 2025, citing variability in customer orders and qualification timelines, but expressed confidence in a strong exit rate for 2026 [81][82] Question: Issues with Catformer line one and its impact on EBITDA timeline - Management explained that customer feedback led to the addition of knurling features on line one, causing delays in production and qualification processes, impacting the timeline for achieving EBITDA positivity [89][92] Question: Manufacturing process and margin economics - Management clarified that while they currently rely on external suppliers for extrusion, they plan to vertically integrate over time, maintaining margins without immediate reliance on extruders [96][98]