August 27, 2020

It is widely known that we are experiencing a climate crisis due to human-induced climate change. While climate change is a natural process, man-made choices and actions are accelerating this process and damaging our planet in different aspects.

Fortunately, pioneers in clean energy and sustainability are committed to improving methods of production to tackle many issues such as minimizing water use in agriculture, developing clean energy sources and producing ethical clothing.

Following are some of the many Israeli companies working hard to fight human-induced climate change and to implement more sustainable methods of consumption and production.

  1. Tal-Ya

Tal-Ya Agriculture Solutions, founded in 2008, aims to tackle crop issues, such as water shortages and extreme weather conditions, with a patented polypropylene tray that enables farmers to harvest significantly more from each tree, faster.

The tray allows water to condense on its inner ceiling as it evaporates from the soil beneath it. As water is constantly circulating, this system makes water utilization highly efficient. This M-shaped tray collects irrigation water, rainwater and even dew, allowing it to run down the tray’s ridges directly to the center and into the soil and roots. This further enhances water utilization.

Moreover, the Tal-Ya tray is highly durable to endure harsh weather conditions without harming the crops. It has a lifespan of up to nine years in field conditions, and it can be reused for several crop cycles for even more economical farming. This company is definitely a game-changer.

  1. UBQ

UBQ Materials was founded in 2012 by Tato Bigio and Rabbi Yehuda Pearl. The company’s advanced conversion technology transforms household waste — mixed plastics, dirty diapers, food scraps, paper and cardboard, to name just a few — into a sustainable, recyclable, bio-based UBQ Material that replaces conventional plastics in the manufacture of everyday products.

By taking organic materials that would otherwise decompose in landfills, UBQ prevents the emission of methane and other toxins.

UBQ Material can be seamlessly integrated into existing plastic machinery, offering a cost-competitive solution to oil-rich plastics such as PP, PE, PLA and PVC, thereby offsetting their carbon emissions.

UBQ’s solution simultaneously tackles two big challenges: the ever-growing amount of plastics manufactured, and the ever-growing amount of waste thrown away. By doing this, UBQ enables the transition into a fully circular economy in which waste is no longer wasted.

UBQ has partnered with big companies such as Arcos Dorados Holdings (the largest independent McDonald’s franchise in the world) and Daimler, the manufacturer of Mercedes Benz. As leaders in their respective industries, these partnerships offer significant potential for changing the way people think about, consume and dispose of plastics.

  1. Brenmiller

Brenmiller Energy was founded in 2012 by Avi Brenmiller, former CEO of Siemens CSP and Solel, and a team of experts in the field of renewable energy.

Brenmiller Energy’s thermal storage system, bGen, collects and stores waste heat from furnace flue gas output. The system can discharge the energy upon demand to generate electricity and steam. Heat is stored to be used at time periods that maximize the overall savings.

This is just one of the great things this company does. Brenmiller Energy has created a thermal storage system that basically hybridizes any kind of power source, such as solar, biomass, nuclear, wind, natural gas; and it provides clean energy.

  1. Tooshaaya
Photo courtesy of Tooshaaya Eco Fashion Design.

Tooshaaya Eco Fashion Design is a mother-daughter partnership designing and producing ethical clothing using natural materials such as cotton, bamboo, linen, soy and wool.

Even the production process is completely by hand, making Tooshaaya a “slow fashion” brand. No sweatshops here.

This eco-friendly brand does not use synthetic fabrics, which release microplastics every time they’re washed. Once in the environment, microplastics can reach concentrations of thousands of particles per cubic meter and are ingested by a broad range of species, especially marine life.

This wonderful partnership, created out of love, spreads love with its commitment to the environment and its ethical way of working.

A handmade soy shirt and Big Air soy shawl from Tooshaaya. Photo by Gabi Moatty

These four Israeli companies are here to change and transform our lives and the environment. It is difficult to understand that as human beings we have to adjust and change our habits in order to make a difference. These companies are showing us that anything is possible.

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