Who's Thinking Outside The Box?

A team of international researchers wants designers of clothes and washing machines to reduce the release of fibers

. Washing machines cause "microplastic pollution". Bits of polyester and acrylic smaller than the head of a pin come off clothes during the wash cycle and end up on coastlines. More than 1,900 fibers can come off a single garment and these fibers contain potentially harmful ingredients that fish eat and transfer to people who eat fish. The researchers looked at 18 coastlines worldwide and found microplastic contamination is most common in densely populated areas. It seems wash-and-wear can "wear down" our health.

The Affinia hotel chain trained all the employees in 7 of its hotels to read body language. As of October 2011 employees know guests making eye contact are open to conversation and guests who repeatedly tug an ear or grab their chin are stressed and may like a therapeutic pillow. Employees were also trained to mirror guests' volume and rhythm of speech to put them at ease. The training's purpose is to improve customer service. However, if the expense doesn't result in higher guest-satisfaction scores and revenue, reading body language may be limited to a H.A.N.D. - Have A Nice Day.

An increasing number of restaurants are serving insects. A Washington, D.C. restaurant serves sauteed grasshoppers with shallots, tequila and guacamole. Ants, cicadas, crickets, locusts and termites are edible too and are low-fat sources of protein. They're also eco-smart, considering their low impact on land, water and air. In 2010 the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization said it might promote insect consumption over meat consumption to improve nutrition and reduce global warming. Seventy-five percent of the world's countries consume more than 1,000 species. However, for some people just the word entomophagy - eating insects - leaves a bad taste in their mouth.

Then there's the New England Confectionary Company, the maker of Necco Wafers. In 2009 the company changed the recipe and created "All Natural" Necco Wafers. Artificial colorings were replaced with natural colorings using turmeric, red beets, purple cabbage and cocoa powder. Some of the artificial flavors were also replaced with natural ones. Since then the volume of mail increased 20% - mostly negative - and sales decreased 35%. Now the company has gone back to the original recipe with artificial dyes and old-fashioned sugar. It seems after 164 years a company that tried to think outside the box was "boxed in".

by: Knight Pierce Hirst

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