Supply Management scours the world to highlight where supply chains are making a difference
US
Using a small sample of regenerating animal cells Memphis Meats, which is backed by billionaires Bill Gates and Richard Branson, can churn out beef, chicken and duck, without animal slaughter. The ‘clean meat’ is said to be just as tasty, and guaranteed to be antibiotics-, E coli- and salmonella-free.
UK
Argent Energy offers a way to reuse the masses of solid sewage – or fatbergs – under our feet: melt down the fats and solids; remove water using a high-tech filtering system; syphon off the oil and add chemicals to create biodiesel – 25-40% of the original mass, it claims.
Germany
One CityTree matches 275 real trees in environmental benefits, and takes up less space. Green City Solutions’ 3.5m square structures are covered in moss and lichens, which absorb nitrogen dioxide and ozone. They’re powered by solar panels and monitored by the Internet of Things.
China
State-run space contractor CASIC is researching a high-speed ‘flying train’ – a passenger pod that uses magnetic levitation inside a tube, which will reach 4,000km/h – 10 times faster than the fastest bullet train.
Australia
The Little Ripper Group’s Shark Spotter drone, developed with Sydney’s University of Technology, uses artificial intelligence to analyse footage of surfers and swimmers. Loud speakers alert people in the water to risk.
South Korea
The Frame, Samsung’s latest 4K television, is as much work of art as state-of-the-art gadget. Created by Fuseproject, its sensors detect when someone is in the room, at which point it displays your chosen artwork. Switch it on and it becomes a UHD TV.
Switzerland
Fancy a bug burger? Swiss supermarket chain Coop now stocks a range of insect-based food. It is the first European country to allow insects to be sold for human consumption, as eating insects for protein is better for the environment.
The Netherlands
Dutch start-up Physee has installed the world’s first fully transparent solar power-generating windows at Rabobank headquarters in Eindhoven. An added bonus is that they can charge smartphones.
Crunching the numbers
3
The factor by which 20/20 vision is multiplied, using Ocumetics patented bionic implants. Its intraocular lens designs are undergoing clinical trials and may replace cataract surgery.
116
The number of tech company leaders who called for a ban on the development and use of autonomous weapons – aka killer robots – in an open letter to the UN warning against the potentially lethal technology.
$103bn
China’s investment in renewable energy last year, making it the world’s largest contributor, according to GTM Research. Data indicates solar power will generate 390GW globally in 2017, rivalling the 391.5GW from nuclear power.