The 2023 Consumers Electronics show in Las Vegas didn't just feature smart devices to make our lives easier, there were also some gadgets aimed at eliminating waste and improving climate conditions.
The accumulation of plastic waste across the globe accounts for eight to 12 million tons of garbage in the Earth's oceans but a new product from Clear Drop could be a counter to that problem.
The company introduced a new plastic compactor that consolidates loose pieces into a single brick. Over the course of a month, a user can continuously add loose pieces of plastic into the compactor and pressed brick of the material is created for easy recycling.
When it comes to eliminating food waste, food tech company OneThird is looking to help grocery stores reduce their produce waste. They've introduced a grocery scanner that can test produce ripeness rather than a shopper doing a hand test and potentially damaging the goods.
"The problem is that doing that, it actually damages the avocado and that means that stores have to throw away lots of the avocados," Marco Snikkers, OneThird CEO, told Cheddar News.
According to the US Department of Agriculture, food waste is estimated to be around 30 to 40 percent of the food supply.
Items are simply placed inside the scanner and a few seconds later, the device provides a reading of how firm the produce is, if it is good to eat and how many days are left in its shelf life.
"By knowing shelf life at the moment before they ship it, they'll be able to make better choices," Snikkers said.
