Learn about strategic and sustainable solutions!
February 2019
Circular Economy Yields Bionic Yarn
A circular economy is a regenerative system in which resource input and waste , emission , and energy leakage are minimized by slowing, closing, and narrowing energy and material loops ; this can be achieved through

This is in contrast to a linear economy which is a 'take, make, dispose' model of production. The three basic principles of a circular economy are: (1) design out waste and pollution; (2) keep products and materials in use; and (3) regenerate natural systems.
Bionic Yarn
TRASH INTO CLOTHING : Pharrell Williams has joined the circular economy with his clothing line RAW for the Oceans, which recovers plastic found on the shoreline and turns it into wearable fashion, such as jeans, graphic t-shirts, and even kimonos! This is done by breaking down plastic waste and turning it into a weavable clothing fiber called Bionic Yarn .
FROM TIRES TO SHOES : Timberland has partnered with Omni United, a tire manufacturer and distributor to produce footwear using recycled tires. Once tires have reached the end of their product life, they are shipped to a recycling facility and turned into crumb rubber, which is then processed into sheet rubber for the outsoles of Timberland shoes.
Regional Effects of Climate Change
Global climate change has already had observable effects on the environment. Glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up earlier, plant and animal ranges have shifted and trees are flowering sooner.


What can you expect in the region of the U.S. where you live? According to the National Climate Assessment Reports :

  • Northeast. Heat waves, heavy downpours and sea level rise. Infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries and ecosystems will be increasingly compromised.

  • Northwest. Reduced water supplies for competing demands. Sea level rise, erosion, inundation, risks to infrastructure and increasing ocean acidity. Increasing wildfire, insect outbreaks and tree diseases are causing widespread tree die-off.
  • Southeast. Sea level rise poses widespread and continuing threats to the region’s economy and environment. Extreme heat will affect health, energy, agriculture and more. Decreased water availability will have economic and environmental impacts.
  • Midwest. Extreme heat, heavy downpours and flooding will affect infrastructure, health, agriculture, forestry, transportation, air and water quality, and more. Risks to the Great Lakes.
  • Southwest. Increased heat, drought and insect outbreaks, increased wildfires. Declining water supplies, reduced agricultural yields, health impacts in cities due to heat, and flooding and erosion in coastal areas are additional concerns.
What's Your State's Green Rank?
I n order to determine the greenest state(s), WalletHub compared the 50 states across three key dimensions :

1) Environmental Quality
2) Eco-Friendly Behaviors; and
3) Climate-Change Contributions.

Using 23 weighted metrics, WalletHub graded each state on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of eco-friendliness. The final state rank was determined as a weighted average across all metrics.
The three greenest states are:
Vermont, Oregon, and Massachusetts.
For a full listing, click below:
About Plisko Sustainable Solutions
Joan and Marc Plisko
Swallow Falls State Park, Maryland
Joan Plisko, PhD, President
Marc Plisko, CIH, Vice President
The mission of Plisko Sustainable Solutions, LLC is to catalyze positive health, environmental, and social change through improved customer performance, economic savings, and enhanced social awareness.