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.
What if all packaging could be replaced with popcorn?
Last week we wrote about a takeout container made from edible, compostable material. Another sustainable container hitting the market comes from researchers at the University of Göttingen in Germany and uses an unusual base material: popcorn. Next time you eat popcorn, you might notice how Read More...
Volunteers in Myanmar build a library for orphans out of discarded plastic
Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady River intercepts an estimated 119 tons of plastic waste per day, making it one of the most polluted waterways in the world. It is not uncommon to see plastic waste littered on the country’s roadsides and clogging up sewage drains. The excess of plastic litter inspired Read More...
To avoid stigma, Covid-19 variants will be given Greek alphabet names
Scientific names for the variants of diseases and illnesses can be complicated to say and difficult to remember, so people often fall back on distinguishing between variants based on where they were detected. This year especially, the world has seen how identifying diseases based on certain Read More...
Illinois bill bans police from lying to underage suspects
In an effort to improve the criminal justice system, Illinois became the first state this week to ban policy from giving youth false information during interrogations. This practice has been linked to higher rates of wrongful convictions and false confessions, especially among juvenile Read More...
Miss South Africa pageant opens its doors to transgender women
For the first time in South Africa’s beauty pageant history, transgender women are allowed to compete. The Miss South Africa organization published the eligibility news on their website this past Wednesday, a historic move that was met with lots of excitement and approval on social Read More...
5 Bad habits remote workers tend to form (and how to fix them)
“Going to work” this past year has looked quite different for many of us. In most cases, going to work didn’t require any commuting or even an outfit change. There are many benefits to the shift to remote work, such as the fact that companies don’t have as many overhead costs because Read More...
Beyond price: More consumers are buying based on brand values
More and more companies are adopting mission-oriented approaches to business and while it’s great that companies are using their voice and products to support the planet and promote inclusivity, there are definite financial benefits to good business as well. A new study from Washington University Read More...
Dancers fight to rid the ballet of harmful Asian stereotypes
Inflamed by racist stereotypes during the pandemic, cases of hate crimes against people from Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities are on the rise. This bubbling over of racist attitudes hasn’t just appeared out of nowhere but is an indication of how the undercurrent of one-dimensional Read More...
LEGO unveils its first LGBTQ+ toy set titled ‘Everyone Is Awesome’
Among other things, toy-maker LEGO stands out as a role-model company when it comes to inclusivity and environmental action. Now, the company decided to also celebrate diversity — and inspire others to do so — by unveiling its inaugural LGBTQ+ set, titled 'Everyone Is Awesome.' The 346-piece Read More...
New bill aims to reduce recidivism rates with expanded resources
Introduced by bipartisan lawmakers this week, the One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act aims to tackle recidivism rates in the US. According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, the rate of crime after leaving prison, also known as a recidivism rate, is 49.3 percent during the eight-year period Read More...