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.
4 policy strategies to reduce the environmental cost of meat
Many food systems have a detrimental effect on the environment, especially when it comes to the cattle industry. Cheap meat does not reflect its true price when it comes to its negative cost to our planet. So how can we bring meat products up to their true cost without hurting the pockets of the Read More...
This app can reduce social media overuse
The time we spend on our phones can run easily from an easygoing couple of minutes to a dissociative hour of doom-scrolling where we finally look around and say, “How did I kill a whole hour?” These “dissociative states” are common. We get into them when we’re so focused on a task or Read More...
Baltimore aims to expand public internet access with city-owned network
State and local governments are coming to appreciate the internet for what it is: an essential utility. With much of the workforce working from home and children going to school online, reliable internet is vital for workers in all sectors of the economy. In the wake of successful programs Read More...
US pushes through solar panel imports while helping boost production
A tariff investigation by the Commerce Department has stalled the expansion of the United States solar industry. This was a look into whether or not Chinese solar manufacturers were improperly funneling parts through other Asian countries. Determined to meet its clean energy and climate goals, Read More...
This device helps farmers raise happier, healthier cows
Dairy farmers have a regular problem when it comes to testing their cows’ health and the quality of their milk. They have to ship milk samples to labs for each cow and wait on the results. Two MIT alumni aim to help with their new device which gives the same results in 10 minutes. Testing Read More...
California is making composting a statewide practice
Composting is an easy and fun way to cut down on our carbon emissions while making our own fertilizer. Despite this, a lot of green waste like vegetable scraps and lawn trimmings wind up in landfills. Here they rot and release methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. Read More...
Fair scheduling practices boost retail sales and employee well-being
Retail stores are notorious for unpredictable work schedules. Employees are often called in last-minute or sent home well before the end of their scheduled shift. They’ll work late one day and then open the store the next day, a practice known as “clopening.” This intense variation in work Read More...
The VEST “hackathon”: designing safety vests for everyone
Despite its importance, a lot of construction wear isn’t made for comfort, especially if you don’t have a “default male body”. With a wide range of body types in the construction industry and its growing diversity, construction wear seems to operate on a one-size-fits-all standard, even Read More...
Ikea US will soon be offering consumers solar panels
Soon, shoppers in the US at Ikea will be able to buy more than just cute household furniture and accessories. Ikea announced an exciting new product in a press statement: solar panels. The Swedish home and living giant partnered with SunPower, a California-based company that sells and installs Read More...
Changing lives with Debate Mate
For London trial attorney, Margaret McCabe, debate changed her life. It gave her the confidence to appear in court, to talk, and to argue for a living. She decided to bring debating to youth in London and started the nonprofit Debate Mate. We sat down with McCabe, founder and CEO of Debate Read More...