Business
Looking for positive and inspiring business stories? From green operations to employee rights, from innovative corporate structures to diversity and inclusion, the Business section at The Optimist Daily has got the latest innovative solutions from the corporate sector.
Why one entrepreneur left Silicon Valley to tackle sustainable packaging
In 2009, Ken Jacobus quit his Silicon Valley job to set up Good Start Packaging, a supplier of compostable takeaway containers for restaurants. He had little knowledge of the industry, about $10,000 worth of inventory, and no Read More...
General Motors will soon use wind power to build pickups and SUVs
General Motors' largest gasoline-burning vehicles — pickups and full-size SUVs — will soon be built, ironically, at plants powered by wind, not fuel. GM wants to power all its global facilities with 100-percent renewable energy by Read More...
Book review: Blockchain, transforming your business and our world
The internet was envisaged as a decentralized global network, but in the past 25 years, it has come to be controlled by a few, very powerful, centralized Read More...
Starbucks unveils store built from 29 recycled shipping containers in Taiwan
Starbucks Taiwan will debut its first Asia Pacific store that is built from recycled shipping containers in the Hualien Bay Mall. The mall has yet to be opened to the public, but it is situated in a touristic area of the city that is well known for its cuisine and features breathtaking views of the Read More...
Tesla CEO is providing schools in Flint with new water filtration systems
Flint has been suffering from a lack of access to clean water for over a year now due to lead contamination. That’s why Elon Musk and his foundation for technological developments has granted nearly half a million dollars to schools in Flint in order to install new water filtration systems. The Read More...
Oprah's three questions to structure an efficient meeting
The average meeting time in an American office is 31 to 60 minutes, but given that 11 million formal business meetings take place in the U.S. every day, how can we ensure this time is being used effectively? Oprah Winfrey says there are 3 key questions she uses to kick off every meeting to make the Read More...
The power of purpose: 7 socially conscious restaurants to visit around the world
When it comes to the world of social innovation, some of the most interesting work has been taking place in the field of food and restaurants. Not only are chefs and restaurateurs pioneering food that is made in an environmentally friendly way (using ethical and sustainable sources, clean energy, Read More...
Sustainability toy: Lego is re-releasing one of its most rare and beloved designs
Lego created this toy windmill for fellow Danish corporation, Vestas, in a limited edition. It became very popular and people now pay unto $1,000 for the windmill in online auctions. The popularity of the sustainability toy has made Lego decide to relaunch the windmill. From Black Friday onwards it Read More...
Pot luck: the paint recyclers who put leftover gallons to good use
Rare is the DIY dilettante with the foresight to know they are never going to use the rest of that paint they stashed in the shed after doing up the living room. Who hasn’t kidded themselves that they really are going to touch up all those grubby spots with the leftovers in years to Read More...
New benchmark will rank companies on their sustainable development goals
In the world of social enterprise and impact investing, perhaps the most universally accepted guide is the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Introduced in 2015, the 17 inter-connected goals now form an organizing principle for many entrepreneurs, as well as Read More...