Going, Going, Gone

A survey by global consulting firm Protiviti, in collaboration with the University of Oxford, reveals that executives anticipate a cashless future by 2028 and are gearing up for the digital currency era.

About one-third of executives surveyed expect the demise of physical money within five years, while 85 percent foresee it happening in the next decade.

It’s a shift expected to reshape the global economy and business operations.

Furthermore, 87 percent of business leaders are anticipating the impact of digital currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Tether on their enterprises over the next decade.

Cory Gunderson, Protiviti’s Executive Vice President, Global Solutions, emphasizes the need for businesses to prepare for these transformative shifts to steer clear of disruption.

“Leaders need to be thinking of ways to get ahead of the curve and prepare for the unknowns so that they can best serve their customers and clients,” he said in a statement.

Back in Black

Tire giants Bridgestone and Michelin have released a joint white paper, ‘Bridgestone & Michelin: Recovered Carbon Black Guidelines’, showcasing their year-long efforts to promote the use of recovered carbon black (rCB) in the tire industry. Their collaborative initiative, following a 2021 call to action, aims to set a global standard for increasing rCB utilization.

In 2022, the two companies unveiled a position paper outlining their shared ambition to boost rCB usage. This collaborative endeavor engaged rCB suppliers and industry stakeholders to develop standards, grades, specifications and quality and performance requirements for tires. The result is a comprehensive set of definitions, proposed specifications and guidelines, forming a foundation for rCB industry growth.

Globally, one billion tires, equaling around 30 million metric tons, reach the end of their life annually. Currently, less than one percent of the carbon black used in new tire production comes from recycled tires.

The use of recovered carbon black offers the potential to reduce the tire industry’s dependence on petrochemicals while significantly cutting CO2 emissions during production. Both Bridgestone and Michelin recognize the importance of collaboration to achieve the target of products made from 100 percent sustainable materials by 2050.

Swiss Tricks

Switzerland’s Nespresso, Mammut and HeiQ have teamed up to create the ‘Extraordinary Jacket’, a remarkable fusion of Swiss innovation and design. This high-performance insulation jacket features Mammut’s Ajungilak insulation, enhanced by HeiQ XReflex technology with recycled Nespresso capsule aluminum.

The result? The jacket boasts 20 percent better heat retention than conventional options of similar thickness. Its innovative 3D aluminized scrim layer reflects body heat within the insulation, offering superior warmth without extra energy expenditure. All in all, a pure Swiss innovation ideal for mountain conditions.