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.
This Polish company uses waste wheat bran to make biodegradable bowls and plates
Isn’t it ridiculous that disposable plastic plates are still being used even though they can take up to 500 years to break down? An innovative Polish company by the name of Biotrem thinks so, which is why they’ve created biodegradable tableware made from compressed wheat bran, a by-product of Read More...
Gibraltar bans release of helium balloons in bid to save marine life
For years, Gibraltar used to release 30,000 balloons each year on the 10th of September to celebrate its National Day. After realizing that most of these balloons ended up polluting the sea and seriously threatening marine life, the government decided to put an end to this tradition two years Read More...
How gender quotas could lead to more land conservation
The key to boosting environmental conservation around the world could be gender quotas. While it seems like an unlikely tool to inspire more conservation, a new study conducted in three developing countries showed that when more women are involved in group decisions about land management, the group Read More...
Green groups expand protection over one of the most biodiverse places on Earth
Magdalena Valley, a low land rainforest in Central Colombia and one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, is home to some of the world’s rarest animal species that are under serious threat because of intense deforestation and illicit farming in the area. Luckily, after years of negotiations, Read More...
Federal judge halts drilling in large swath of Wyoming, citing climate change
The fossil fuel industry took a blow last week when a federal judge ordered a halt to oil and gas exploration on almost 500 square miles in Wyoming, stating that the US government must account for its cumulative effect on global climate change. The order marks the latest in a string of court Read More...
Cement is a huge polluter. Here’s how the industry is tackling the problem
While cement is incredibly versatile, the relatively cheap building material comes with a huge downside: it’s a massive greenhouse gas emitter. In fact, it’s responsible for about 8 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. If the cement industry were a country, it would be the Read More...
Monsanto’s cancer-causing herbicide is being banned in cities across America
Los Angeles didn’t wait a moment to act when a second jury in a matter of months declared that the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup, glysophate, causes cancer. Following the case, the county of Los Angeles banned any further use of the toxic weedkiller by all county departments. Read More...
Hilton is taking used soap bars from its hotels and recycling them into new ones
Last May, Hilton conducted a survey asking guests if they look into a hotel’s environmental and social efforts in making their travel plans. They discovered that social, environmental and ethical considerations are important in making booking choices, especially for those younger than 25 years Read More...
Chinese production of bio-plastics shows a promising upward trend
Chinese plastic manufacturers are responsible for nearly 30 percent of global plastic production. That's an alarmingly high amount for one country, but the good news is that Chinese plastic makers are increasingly switching to biodegradable materials as the government ramps up regulations against Read More...
Carbon capture firm receives $68 million funding to commercialize its tech
Carbon capture technology is poised to be a vital tool in the global fight against climate change. The only problem is high costs and a limited commercial market makes scaling it up a rather slow process. Recently, however, that trend seems to be changing. Take, for example, a Canadian company Read More...