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.
Nike’s refurbished program to sell gently used goods at discounted price
In an effort to promote sustainability and reduce waste, Nike has launched their new “Nike Refurbished” program to clean and resell gently worn shoes. Shoes that are returned within 60 days of purchase will be assessed and placed back on the shelf at a discounted rate. Shoes that are too Read More...
Starbucks moves to make reusable cups the new normal
The vast majority of take-away coffee cups from Starbucks are single-use, non-biodegradable, and non-recyclable. That may soon change though, thanks to the company’s recent initiative to integrate reusable cups across more of its stores. Seattle is one of the first places to test such a reuse Read More...
Small wind turbine could enable buildings to live off the grid
Last week, we discussed Vortex Bladeless, a bladeless wind turbine with the potential to become the wind equivalent of rooftop solar panels. As it turns out, Vortex Bladeless is not the only invention out there seeking to rethink the design of traditional wind turbines. Enter Powerpod, a portable Read More...
Nepal’s rhino population grows by more than 100 over last five years
Good news from Nepal! The country’s rhino population has seen a significant increase over the last five years. That’s according to the National Rhino Count 2021, which concluded that the current population of the species inhabiting Nepal’s Terai Arc Landscape stands at 752 individuals — Read More...
How will farmers face rising sea levels? Floating gardens may be the answer.
Farmers in Bangladesh are ahead of the game in developing creative solutions for planting in places with more water than land because Bangladesh’s wild monsoon season gives farmers no choice but to adapt to excess rains. According to experts, 20 percent of the available land in Bangladesh will Read More...
Daimler is now taking orders for their all-electric freight truck
Electric trucks have the power to revolutionize the shipping industry and drastically cut emissions, but designing a truck that can travel long distances and transport large amounts of goods on electric power is no easy feat. Fortunately, vehicle company Daimler Trucks has announced they are ready Read More...
Conservationists build giant “sandcastle” to support sand martins
Every March, sand martins from sub-Saharan Africa migrate to the inland UK to feed until September when they make their way back. Unfortunately, because there has been a decline of natural inland nest sites in the UK, the birds haven’t nested there for more than 25 years. That’s about to change Read More...
The simple solution protecting one of Africa’s rarest monkeys
The Zanzibar red colobus is an endangered monkey species native only to the Zanzibar archipelago with precious few numbers to lose. About half of the primate’s population lives in the Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park, where cars traversing a busy road endanger wildlife in the park. Since the road Read More...
Spanish chef introduces us to marine grains, the new sustainable superfood
Spain’s renowned Chef del Mar or chef of the sea, Ángel León, is an expert at pushing the boundaries of seafood. The chef’s restaurant Aponiente won its third Michelin star in 2017 and León’s latest project is introducing the world to a new sustainable superfood. León is known Read More...
Electric company Polestar wants to make a car that’s truly zero-emission
When you see something labeled as “carbon neutral,” chances are that its manufacturer purchased carbon offsets to counterbalance the product’s environmental impact. Offsets typically involve supporting different environmental projects across the world, such as reforestation and conservation Read More...