This week, the future got a little greener with inspiring progress across three continents. Norway hit pause on deep-sea mining licenses until 2029, opening the door for smarter resource use, and potentially slashing mineral demand by 58% through tech and recycling. In New York City, millions of pounds of food scraps now skip the landfill to become rich compost, showing big cities can fight waste and grow greener spaces at once.

And the UK just banned junk food ads before 9pm and online, setting a healthy new standard for kids’ environments. The real highlight? Our Deep Dive spotlights The Ocean Cleanup’s bold plan: in 2025, they hauled away a record 25 million kilos of ocean plastic. Curious how collective action can clean the seas? Dive in! ⬇️

🌍 Norway Halts Deep-Sea Mining Until 2029

Key initiative: Norway's government has postponed issuing deep-sea mining licenses until 2029, marking a significant shift in its environmental policy.

In a notable reversal, Norway has decided to delay its deep-sea mining initiatives, halting the issuance of licenses until the end of the current legislative term in 2029. This decision follows intense negotiations among various political parties and reflects growing environmental concerns. Previously, Norway had been at the forefront of deep-sea mining, aiming to extract minerals essential for green technologies like electric vehicle batteries. However, environmentalists have raised alarms about the potential irreversible damage to marine ecosystems and biodiversity. The Environmental Justice Foundation highlighted that deep-sea mining might not be necessary for the clean energy transition, suggesting that advancements in technology and recycling could reduce mineral demand by 58% between 2022 and 2050. This postponement aligns Norway with a more cautious approach to ocean resource exploitation, contrasting with other nations accelerating such activities such as the US that we highlighted in last week’s newsletter. (euronews.com)

Quantified benefit: Potential to reduce mineral demand by 58% between 2022 and 2050 through technological advancements and recycling.

🌍 New York Transforms Food Waste into Compost

Key initiative: New York City has implemented a large-scale composting program, converting millions of pounds of food waste into nutrient-rich compost.

Facing the challenge of managing vast amounts of food waste, New York City has launched an ambitious composting initiative. The program collects food scraps from residents and businesses, diverting them from landfills where they would produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Instead, the organic waste is processed into compost, a valuable soil amendment that enhances soil health and fertility. This initiative not only reduces landfill usage but also supports urban agriculture and green spaces by providing high-quality compost. The city's efforts demonstrate a scalable model for urban waste management, emphasizing sustainability and resource recovery. (reuters.com)

Quantified benefit: Diverts millions of pounds of food waste from landfills annually, reducing methane emissions and producing nutrient-rich compost.

🌍 UK Bans Junk Food Ads Before 9pm (and online!)

Key initiative: The UK has implemented a ban on junk food advertising on TV before 9pm and a total ban online to combat childhood obesity.

In a decisive move to address rising childhood obesity rates, the UK government has enforced new regulations restricting the advertising of foods high in fat, sugar, and salt. Effective January 5, 2026, these products cannot be advertised on television before the 9pm watershed and are entirely banned from online advertising. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is responsible for enforcing these rules, which cover 13 categories of products. Health campaigners have lauded this initiative as a significant step toward protecting children from exposure to unhealthy food marketing. However, some exceptions exist, such as brand-only advertisements that do not feature specific products. The government aims to create a healthier advertising environment, encouraging better dietary choices among young audiences. (theguardian.com)

Quantified benefit: Addresses plastic waste in countries contributing significantly to ocean pollution.

📖 Deep Dive: From Bold Idea to Global Cleanup Force

What started as a teenager’s ambitious idea is now a full-scale global operation, proving that with bold thinking and relentless innovation, we can actively clean our oceans and rivers.

1. Problem Solved (The Big Idea): 
The Ocean Cleanup is solving two problems at once: removing the millions of kilograms of plastic already polluting our oceans while also intercepting trash in rivers to stop the flow of new pollution at its source.

2. Tech Explanation (A Food Metaphor):
How does this two-part system work? Think of it as managing a kitchen where someone left the tap on, and the floor is already flooded.

First, you have to stop the source. The Ocean Cleanup’s river “Interceptors” are like putting a smart colander under the running faucet. These solar-powered, automated barges are placed in the world's most polluting rivers. They catch plastic waste flowing downstream before it can ever reach the open ocean, much like a colander catches pasta while letting the water flow through.

Meanwhile, you still have to deal with the flood. For the "legacy" plastic already in the ocean, The Ocean Cleanup deploys massive floating systems. Their latest, System 03, acts like a giant, slow-moving pool skimmer. It's a long, U-shaped barrier towed by two vessels that concentrate the floating plastic, from tiny fragments to massive "ghost nets", into a central collection zone for removal. By tackling both the source and the existing mess, it’s a complete recipe for a cleaner kitchen.

3. Global Potential (The Sobering Metrics): 
The progress is tangible and accelerating. In 2025 alone, The Ocean Cleanup removed a record-breaking 25 million kilograms (over 55 million pounds) of trash from oceans and rivers. This brings their total collected amount to over 45 million kilograms since operations began. While this is a fraction of the estimated 11 billion kilograms of plastic that enter the ocean annually, their strategy is creating a scalable blueprint. Their analysis shows that just 1,000 rivers are responsible for 80% of ocean plastic pollution, and their goal is to tackle these arteries. The ultimate ambition is to remove 90% of all floating ocean plastic by 2040, a goal that is looking increasingly achievable with their proven technology.

4. Wisdom from the Source: 
Reflecting on the journey from a viral TEDx talk to a global force, founder Boyan Slat’s determination is clear: "After years of research and development...we felt ready to to try and and launch our first cleanup system...this was a critical milestone, yet it wasn't a celebration because we knew that it was still very much an experimental system." This highlights the iterative, science-driven approach that has been key to their success.

Why is this important for you? 
The sheer scale of ocean plastic can feel paralyzing, making individual actions like refusing a plastic straw seem insignificant. But this is where the "salad and the gym" analogy truly shines. The Ocean Cleanup is the heavy-lifting, industrial-scale "gym workout" our planet needs. It doesn't, however, replace the need for each of us to "eat the salad" by reducing our own plastic consumption. The success of The Ocean Cleanup proves that large-scale solutions are not just possible; they are happening right now. This should inspire us, because it shows that a cleaner future is a tangible goal we can work toward from both ends. Our individual choices to reduce waste create the cultural shift and political will needed for systemic change, while audacious, large-scale engineering projects like this one do the heavy lifting. Together, they form a powerful movement that turns the tide against pollution.

Search Sources
➡️ theoceancleanup.com
➡️ gard.no
➡️ blueoceanstrategy.com
➡️ designboom.com
➡️ new-atlas.com
➡️ optimistdaily.com

💡 5 Quick Wins

❄️ Defrost the freezer + clean fridge coils (and set temps right)
Empty to a cooler, defrost ice build‑up to <5 mm, vacuum dust on rear/bottom coils, and set temps to ~4°C (fridge) and −18°C (freezer). Ice and dusty coils act like a winter coat on your heat‑exchangers, compressor runs longer. Expect ~30–120 kWh/year saved (often 10–25% of appliance use). Rainy‑day friendly: 60–90 minutes, €0.

🔥 Tune the heating curve/schedules (boiler or heat pump)
On a condensing boiler or heat pump with weather‑compensation, lower the slope a notch and cap max flow temp (e.g., 45–55°C for radiators, lower for underfloor). Tighten schedules: warm when home/awake; setback 1–2°C at night/away. Overshooting burns energy and comfort. A right‑sized curve can cut space‑heating 5–15% without feeling colder, perfect mid‑winter optimization.

🧺 Spin smarter: max RPM + airflow for laundry
Use the highest spin speed your fabrics allow (1,200–1,600 rpm), shake items out, space them on a rack, and point a small desk fan past (not at) clothes for gentle airflow. If you must tumble, choose “eco” low‑temp with max spin first. Every extra 400 rpm removes noticeable water, slashing drying time and electricity. Typical savings: 0.2–0.6 kWh per load; over a year that’s 30–80 kWh. Bonus: run washer/dryer in heures creuses/off‑peak if you have them.

🪟 Add thermal curtains + DIY pelmet, close shutters at dusk
Hang lined/thermal curtains that touch the floor and overlap the frame; add a simple pelmet/valance (even a neat wood strip) to stop warm air dropping behind the curtain; close volets/shutters as soon as daylight fades. Windows are February’s cold radiators. Good dressings can trim window losses 10–30% and shave ~1–5% off whole‑home heating, with instant comfort near glass.

🧯 Seal an unused fireplace/chimney with a “chimney balloon”
If your fireplace is purely decorative in winter, fit an inflatable chimney balloon or a removable insulated plug above the damper (clearly tag it for safety). An open flue is a 24/7 hole to the sky, especially on windy, rainy days. Sealing it can cut infiltration equivalent to a window left ajar, often 2–5% space‑heating saved.

☔ You know what's funny about rainy days? They make the best backdrop for sharing sunshine. While everyone's scrolling through weather apps and complaining about puddles, you could be the person who drops a little brightness into someone's feed. Think of it as being an umbrella for the soul, you're not stopping the rain, but you're definitely keeping someone dry. And unlike actual umbrellas, good news never turns inside out in strong winds.

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