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.
In solidarity with global climate strike, Patagonia will close its doors September 20th
Companies are slowing beginning to acknowledge the need for greater environmental consciousness in their business practices, but one company has been practicing green corporate responsibility for years and continues to put its money where its mouth is: Patagonia. In keeping with their Read More...
3 ways one business coalition is combating modern slavery
One of the harsh realities of business in the 21st century is that it’s still upheld by slavery. Shocking as it might seem, over 40.3 million people globally are victims of modern slavery today, and at least 16 million of them are being exploited in the private sector. The US Department of Labor Read More...
Secret sustainability: Why many businesses hide their green credentials
You would imagine any company that figures out how to do something more sustainably than other businesses would make it known to the public. That, however, is far from the truth. Cassandra Coburn unveils the unseen world of secret sustainability, whereby innovations are silently enacted and kept Read More...
High tech furniture makes smaller spaces more adaptable than ever
Would you consider placing a movable bed in front of your closet to save space? What if the bed could move itself automatically when you needed to access your shoes? Ori, a customizable furniture company, is joining others, such as Alphabet and Sidewalk Labs, and embracing how robotics will play a Read More...
Keep your household out of the US-China trade war and stop buying new stuff
The so-called trade war taking place between the US and China will cost the average US household an estimated $460 by the end of the year, according to economists. But it doesn’t have to. Sure, some of the costs that will come from new US tariffs on Chinese-made goods may be unavoidable, but you Read More...
Iconic red Solo cup could soon find a more sustainable replacement
The iconic red Solo cup that has been a staple of backyard barbecues, college parties, tailgates, and many other casual hangouts since the 1970s, might be facing the end of its time thanks to giant packaging company Ball - that’s about to launch an eco-friendly aluminum alternative. The Read More...
What this inmate’s journey to a tech career can teach businesses
At the end of 2017, Emile DeWeaver was 20 years into a life sentence in San Quentin for murdering a man when he was 19. Right now, he’s sitting at a desk in San Francisco in the offices of Pilot, a startup that manages bookkeeping for businesses, working as a product specialist and communicating Read More...
Marriott becomes latest hotel chain to ban tiny toiletries
Just a month ago, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced it will no longer offer tiny toiletries at its hotels, which includes the Holiday Inn—amongst others. The move is expected to eliminate 200 million tiny bottles each year by 2021. Now, just a month later, the world’s largest Read More...
This Chinese utility's finances show how much cheaper solar is than coal
Electricity giant China Power’s figures for the first half of 2019 have demonstrated the economic take-off of solar power in the country. The Hong Kong based company reported higher earnings from coal-generated electricity than solar, however, when profits from photovoltaic (PV) systems were Read More...
150 top-of-the-line clothing brands have united to clean up the fashion industry
Here’s some news from the G7 summit that’s actually worth talking about: this week. French President Emmanuel Macron; who hosted this year’s summit, debuted his new Fashion Pact, a set of shared objectives the fashion industry can work toward to reduce its environmental impact. The Pact is Read More...