This project is turning PPE waste scraps into bedrolls for those in need
Since the start of the pandemic last year, the landscape of waste has changed significantly, with the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks and gloves creating a common source of waste in virtually all parts of the world. Well aware of the issue, Indian fashion designer Read More...
AI-powered robot that rapidly sorts through recyclables is going global
Before plastic can become recycled products, that plastic needs to be manually sorted by workers at a recycling center. The problem is that recycling centers can’t afford to hire the number of people needed to sort through all the plastic they receive each day, and even if they could afford it, Read More...
This non-profit raises awareness about ocean plastic by making art out of it
From shifting consumer behaviors to holding corporations accountable, raising awareness about plastic pollution can go a long way in helping tackle the plastic crisis. In an effort to do exactly that — though in a rather unconventional way — environmental non-profit Washed Ashore uses the Read More...
This new delivery platform uses reusable containers to cut plastic waste
Food and packaging containers together account for almost 45 percent of landfill materials in the US. A large part of that waste comes from takeout orders, where single-use plastic packaging has been normalized. A new delivery service in New York City, called DeliverZero, wants to change that by Read More...
These solar-powered barges can scoop up 50 tons of plastic from rivers each day
While removing the plastic waste that currently contaminates the ocean today will be crucial for protecting marine ecosystems, it is arguably more important that we stop any more plastic trash from entering the ocean. Fortunately for humanity, The Ocean Cleanup, a nonprofit taking on plastic waste Read More...
This app helps people keep their communities free of litter
Clean-ups might make public spaces a little bit neater but they’re far from actually solving the problem of litter in the long-run. The Litterati app wants to change that by giving people a platform to upload information about the litter they collect outside and share it online. Now, you might Read More...
Affordable housing design uses plastic waste to build sustainable homes
There are hundreds of millions of tons of plastic waste in the environment all over the globe, threatening both human health and natural ecosystems. What if we could take this problem and use it to solve another one? That’s the line of thinking behind a new ambitious project aiming to build Read More...
Scientists use microwaves to turn plastic waste into clean hydrogen
One of the main contributors to plastic pollution is the ubiquity of difficult-to-recycle plastic packaging such as plastic bags, milk bottles, and sachets. Because they are such a pain to recycle, most of these single-use plastics end up in landfills or waterways, polluting the environment as a Read More...
These refillable cleaning products help you reduce plastic waste
Reducing plastic consumption is one of the most effective ways to tackle plastic pollution. That’s why, here at The Optimist Daily, we love hearing about solutions tackling the plastic problem at the source. The latest we’ve come across was developed by UK startup Spruce. Its solution to Read More...
Central Europe to become a frontrunner in reducing plastic waste
The town of Bled in Slovenia is known for its beautiful lake, picturesque scenery, and cream cakes. But more recently it has also become a flag bearer of good recycling practices in Central Europe, with many tourist spots in the resort town prioritizing sustainable packaging. For much of its Read More...