CO2-Absorbing Vending Machines

The new vending machines by Tokyo-based Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. are definitely a ground-breaking achievement when it comes to sustainability. The innovative design incorporates a white powder-like material. Comprised of various calcium minerals, this material can reportedly absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. Once a certain amount of CO2 has been reached, the CO2-rich material can be utilized for different industrial purposes—it can be used to make fertilizer, for example, or to nourish algal sea beds.

The new vending machines by Asahi are in the testing phases. To begin with, 30 units will be installed in Japan's Kanto and Kansai regions. The firm proudly describes this ground-breaking innovation, which is part of its strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, as "a potential forest in the city." The

Image Credit: Asahi Group Holdings Ltd.