Environment
Need some good news about the environment? The Optimist Daily is your go-to herald of positive environmental news, highlighting eco-friendly solutions and scientific progress around climate action, circularity, conservation, and more. Learn about everything eco in our Environment section.
Chile's single-use plastic ban will cut over 23,000 tons of waste annually
In a major win for environmentalists and marine ecosystems, Chile has passed a plastic regulation bill that would cut the country’s plastic waste by over 23,000 tons per year. Among other things, the new law will take aim at reducing plastic waste in the food industry and will also introduce a Read More...
These circular eco-friendly companies are inspired by nature
What is good design? Iconic works of architecture and technology, such as Frank Lloyd Wright’s homes or an iPhone might come to mind first, but when it comes down to it, nothing can beat the evolutionary process of nature that has been refined for millennia. In nature, energy and materials Read More...
Comic strip competition helps children see spiders in a more positive light
Spiders are incredible creatures that play an important part in our eco-systems, however, they are often linked to feelings of dread and disgust, resulting in them being prematurely squashed for no reason other than irrational fear. Author Jane McGee believes that spiders need to go through some Read More...
Sea squirts can help address our oceans' growing microplastic problem
In the past, The Optimist Daily has written about unassuming sea creatures such as sea cucumbers, which, despite their humble appearances, play a vital role in maintaining the health of the entire underwater ecosystem and can reveal important information about how human activity impacts marine Read More...
Denver will be home to North America’s largest sewer heat-recovery project
Did you know that the hot water you send down the drain can be used to regulate the temperature of buildings? Called sewer heat recovery, the process essentially captures warm water from showers, washing machines, and dishwashing and stores it in a heat-consistent pit. This stored water is then Read More...
How can we solve our plastic waste problem? Make an island out of it.
Visionary architect and psychologist Margot Krasojevic is working on an outlandish concept that may just help us deal with the concerning plastic waste problem plaguing the world’s oceans: building a plastic island. Krasojevic and her team at Margo Krasojevic Architecture started with Read More...
This car-free neighborhood encourages residents to walk and cycle more
A while back, we shared a story about how in addition to reducing air pollution and making streets safer, car-free zones can also help build more connected thriving communities. Well aware of the benefits of designing people- rather than car-friendly neighborhoods, a team of designers recently Read More...
Bulgaria welcomes reintroduction of Griffon vultures
The pandemic has offered an opportunity for the resurgence of some of the world’s most vulnerable species and among these is Bulgaria’s Griffon vultures. The birds were presumed extinct in the country in the 1970s, but a team of researchers confirms that after conservation and reintroduction Read More...
Papilio is a self-powered street lamp designed to reduce light pollution
Human innovation has driven our civilizations forward, but oftentimes at the detriment of other species. For instance, conventional lights and street lamps allow people to work and navigate at night, but they can confuse nocturnal life and attract pollinators, killing them in the process. Tobias Read More...
This gifted dog is helping a Texas fire department by sniffing out arson
From preventing the spread of COVID-19 to helping turtle conservation and protecting wildlife, dogs continue to prove themselves as humans’ most devoted helpers. One of the latest cases that further adds evidence to this fact involves Sheldon, a dog that’s helping a fire department in Texas Read More...