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JIA Inc. partnered with Gearlab from Taiwan to create a one-of-a-kind coffee pot made from their native zisha and bamboo. Zisha, also known as purple clay, is natural clay unique to China, found around Taihu in Jiangsu during the Northern Song Dynasty (1000-1200 A.D.). When fired, the purple clay assumes a fine and sandy texture that retains the temperature of the tea held inside longer than......read more
Say it ain't so. It appears that the latest victim of climate change could be a magical bean we enjoy everyday — coffee. Colombia, one of the world's largest coffee producers, produced three million fewer 132-pound bags of coffee last year than in 2006, and people are starting to wonder if peak production of the Arabica coffee bean is already behind us. Across the planet, climate change is......read more
The energy industry needs clear policies from government to invest in sustainable technologies, says a new report from the World Energy Council (WEC). The group interviewed 40 executives from the energy industry for its annual World Energy Trilemma report, released this week at COP-18 in Doha, Qatar. The report calls for the establishment of clear emissions targets in in......read more
Imagine, if you will, a world where building windows and computer screens produce electricity via clear solar cells. Well, it may not be as far off as you think. Researchers at the UCLA have developed a new transparent solar cell that can absorb radiation without compromising your ability to see through it. That means that the film can be attached to glass and......read more
The good peeps at Repurpose Compostables are on a mission to replace single-use, petroleum-based plastic cups with greener, plant-based alternatives. Needless to say, we're down for their cause. The company's Repurpose This! campaign asked people to show off their creative repurposing ideas, with sweet prizes for the best projects. SHFT was approached by Repurpose to judge the contestants and......read more
Berlin-based architectural outfit Studio Aisslinger has created what may be the most stunning modular home ever built. The conceptual building, dubbed Fincube, is "nomadic" in the sense that it can be easily dismantled and reassembled on a new site. The prototype, pictured above, has been constructed near Bozen in Northern Italy, almost 4,000 feet above sea level, with the Dolomite......read more
The Hudson Valley in upstate New York is known for small-scale agriculture, making the town of Hudson a perfect place for a restaurant that sources all of its food from nearby farmers. Dan Gibson, a local farmer, thinks so. Gibson just opened Grazin', a diner that takes "farm-to-table" ideas seriously. The first restaurant in the USA to be certified Animal Welfare Approved, Grazin'......read more
Nothing against rice and beans, but there's a whole world of grainy goodness beyond, a culinary realm that's criminally ignored in most kitchens (including our's). Barley, bulgur, quinoa, millet — whole grains are readily available, easy to cook, and make for scrumptious summer salads. After 30 years making salads using rice, beans, and lentils, LA Times writer Russ Parsons dove......read more
We recently spotted these photos on The Cleanest Line, the excellent blog published by outdoor clothing brand Patagonia. The pictures, shot by Patagonia friend and product tester Trevor Gordon, document his travels along the west coast of Vancouver Island on a quest for waves. "There is a beauty to the unpredictable," said Gordon. "Whenever I go on a trip I won't let my trustworthy......read more
Worn out sneakers are some fairly nasty business, and not just 'cause they stink. Rubber, leather, and ink aren't the most compostable things on the planet. There's not a ton of options for recycling shoes either. Enter Dutch footwear brand OAT Shoes, which recently dropped a 100% biodegradable series of kicks that rightfully won the company a green design award at Amsterdam Fashion Week. Called......read more
