Business
Looking for positive and inspiring business stories? From green operations to employee rights, from innovative corporate structures to diversity and inclusion, the Business section at The Optimist Daily has got the latest innovative solutions from the corporate sector.
The case for relocating small businesses back to residential areas
If you walk around some 1920s-era neighborhoods, it’s not unusual to see a tiny grocery store inhabiting the street corner. This used to be normal in residential areas, but as cars became more widespread, businesses relocated to more centrally-located commercial centers such as malls. The Read More...
Giant retailers like Walmart and Target unite to take on plastic bags
Single-use plastic shopping bags are a real problem. They take decades to break down but nearly 100 billion of them are used in the United States every year to cart away goods from retailers. Fewer than 10 percent of those are recycled — often winding up in landfills and waterways because many Read More...
Four things we can change to reduce police violence in America
Calls for police reform have never been louder, but in order for actual reform to take place, we need to make concrete changes that work to keep citizens safe while holding police accountable. The people over at Freethink have written four things we can do to end police violence in America. You can Read More...
Our public transit systems can help us fight racism. Here's how
In the US, the opportunities afforded to people can often rely on how connected their communities are transportation-wise. This is something Darnell Grisby knows well. Growing up as a Black man in Southern California during the 1980s and 1990s, Darnell Grisby saw how limited public transportation Read More...
This mom donated her lottery winnings to a wounded police officer
Shetara Sims is a single mom who was down to her last $7 when she found a dollar bill in a grocery store parking lot. The Kansas City native used it to buy a lottery ticket and ended up winning $100. But rather than keep it for herself, she listened to her daughter Rakiya’s advice and donated Read More...
Apple pledges to become carbon-neutral by 2030
As the titans of the tech industry have come under increasing public scrutiny for their massive carbon footprints, lately we’ve seen an increasing number of such companies step up their commitments to tackle the climate crisis. Apple is the latest tech giant to make such a pledge, recently Read More...
Country Time will write $100 checks to kids with struggling lemonade stands
The pandemic and a crumbling economy have taken a toll even on the smallest businesses out there. Social distancing guidelines have hindered the typical foot traffic that lemonade stands usually receive, leaving many aspiring entrepreneurs disenchanted. Luckily, not all is lost. The beloved Read More...
Got milk? These shirts made from spoiled dairy sure do
You know the saying there’s no use crying over spilled milk? Well for LA-based startup Mi Terro, spilled milk truly is a new opportunity. The company is using biotechnology to turn a portion of the 128 million tons of milk wasted every year into sustainable fibers for biodegradable Read More...
Ikea’s classic Swedish meatball now has a plant-based version
Each year, Ikea sells more than a billion meatballs at its in-store restaurants. But the furniture company is now hoping to convince more customers to choose a plant-based version instead. In August, it will launch a new “plant ball” in European stores. US stores are set to follow in Read More...
How sliding scale pay systems make wellness circles more inclusive
While exercise and wellness are critical parts of a healthy lifestyle, fitness classes that cost upwards of $30 a pop make activities like yoga, pilates, and kickboxing inaccessible for many people who live on a tight budget. For Black Americans, who make on average 13.5 percent less than white Read More...