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.
Scientists are creating a plant that thrives on guzzling carbon dioxide
The institute that developed the first safe polio vaccine is now off to tackle another life-threatening problem: climate change. To do so, they are attempting to create the “Ideal Plant”—one that thrives on consuming lots of carbon dioxide and storing it in its roots. The scientists behind Read More...
This company is turning avocado seeds into 100% biodegradable plastics
Unless you live under a rock, you’re probably aware that single-use plastic items such as disposable cutlery and straws are falling out of favor. In fact, cities around the world such as Seattle and Paris have already issued bans on straws. But what will come in its place? The answer may possibly Read More...
Scotland’s Isle of Arran becomes first British community to go plastic-free
The Isle of Arran in Scotland attracts over 400,000 visitors a year, and is often referred to as ‘Scotland in miniature’. Now it can also be referred to as Scotland’s first plastic-free community. The island received the Plastic Free Community accreditation from Surfers Against Sewage, an Read More...
Personal care products are especially wasteful. This company wants to solve that
When entrepreneur Brian Bushell found out that a third of all the single-use plastic products in landfills are personal care products, he decided to launch a new line of personal care products called Humankind aimed at eliminating single-use packaging. A deodorant from the brand will come in a Read More...
Volunteers in India plant 66 million trees in 12 hours to break world record
When people come together and focus their energy on one thing, amazing things can happen. Just look at the state of Madhya Pradesh in India where an estimated 1.5 million people gathered together to plant more than 66 million tree saplings in just 12 hours along one of the major rivers in the Read More...
90 percent of bottles collected by Oregon’s bottle deposit system get recycled
If we want to make recycling an effective way of dealing with used beverage containers, then we must look to Oregon for inspiration. Currently, the state recycles 90 percent of the beverage containers covered by its bottle deposit system, despite major disruptions in the global recycling markets. Read More...
How a robot could save Australia’s Great Barrier Reef
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef used to be a symbol of the pristine beauty that the ocean offers, but now it represents the terrible mark that human-induced climate change is having on the world as half of the coral that made up the reef has died in the past couple years. Is there still hope? The Read More...
Britain’s CO2 emissions have fallen once again
According to the latest statistics, the mass closure of coal-fired power stations in the UK has helped reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. Britain’s emissions were 2.7 percent lower than in 2016, and 42.1 percent lower than in 1990. On top of that, coal use for electricity 27 percent Read More...
Elephant seals reclaimed this California beach during government shutdown
When the recent federal government shutdown caused national parks to close, something unexpected happened on one California beach: a herd of sea elephants took over. With no humans occupying the beach, as many as 100 elephant seals decided to take refuge on the beach and call it home just in time Read More...
Samsung will start using eco-friendly materials in its packaging
As a consumer, it can be frustrating that the everyday products you need are packaged in materials that wind up in the trash. We can avoid creating waste from packaging by being selective with our purchases, but it's not always possible. What we really need are alternative ways to package goods Read More...