The world is a constantly changing and innovating place. Here are some of 2016’s top innovations that are changing the earth for the better.

AirCarbon

AirCarbon, an initiative by Newlight Technologies, is made by combining air with methane-based carbon. These emissions, that would otherwise become part of the air we breathe, produce a material that is approximately 40% oxygen and 60% carbon and hydrogen from the air.

AirCarbon has been independently-verified as a carbon-negative material, including all energy, materials, energy, materials, transportation, product use and end-of-life disposal. The life cycle of this new plastic could be the renewable material that cleans the atmosphere, rather than polluting it.

You can find out more about AirCarbon at newlight.com/aircarbon

Boyan Slat’s Oceanic Array

Boyan Slat is a young Dutch inventor with a big dream. He aims to rid the world’s oceans of the 8 million tons of plastic that enters it every year. He uses a very simple principle, “Why move through the oceans, if the oceans can move through you?” His invention uses the ocean’s currents to clean themselves.  A giant, floating, V is to be placed in the path of the major ocean currents, capturing plastic as it floats past. The Ocean Cleanup unveiled its North Sea Prototype in June this year and was deployed shortly after.  The 100m long barrier has sensors that will track the motion and loads that it’s subjected to and the data will be collated to enable engineers to develop a system fully resistant to the severe oceanic conditions.

You can find out more about the Oceanic Array and its progress at theoceancleanup.com

Tesla Model X

The Tesla Model X is not the newest or most innovative of the inventions listed here. However, it brings together a bunch of small innovations that, when combined, produce an affordable product that is leaps and bounds beyond the competition. Tesla has created an affordable car with a luxury feel and great, growing, infrastructure behind it.

The advancement that Tesla offers makes electric cars a much more inviting option for many motorists and with that, comes the reduction of a motorist’s carbon footprint.

You can find out more about it at tesla.com/modelx

HomeBiogas

HomeBiogas is a family-sized affordable biogas system that converts organic waste into cooking gas and fertilizer for your garden. The invention can take kitchen leftovers and turn it into 3 hours of cooking gas per day.  The HomeBiogas invention maintains a ‘closed-loop eco cycle’ that turns yesterday’s lunch into today’s fuel for cooking and growing.

This January, HomeBiogas received over 200% of the funding it required on Indiegogo and has begun shipping this month.

You can find out more about HomeBiogas at HomeBiogas.com