Today’s Solutions: December 19, 2025

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.

Need a lift? How German cities

Need a lift? How German cities are rethinking women’s safety with night taxi vouchers

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In response to growing concerns about women’s safety after dark, several German cities are offering a pragmatic (and much-needed) solution: subsidized night taxi vouchers. Think of it as a modern answer to the age-old dilemma of how to get home safely Read More...

From rubble to renewal: how re

From rubble to renewal: how recycling fire debris helps rebuild California—and the planet

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In the wake of Southern California’s Eaton Fire, which reduced entire neighborhoods to skeletal remains, a quiet effort is underway. One that’s turning charred debris into the foundation for rebuilding. At The Bunny Museum in Altadena, co-founder Read More...

UK moves to ban NDAs that sile

UK moves to ban NDAs that silence workplace harassment victims

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The UK government is set to ban the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that silence victims of workplace harassment and discrimination. This change marks a historic turning point in labor rights, aiming to give employees greater power to speak openly Read More...

How Hope Hydration turns adver

How Hope Hydration turns advertising dollars into free, clean drinking water

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a world where advertising saturates nearly every surface, from billboards and buses to our scrolling thumbs, one startup is flipping the script. Instead of using ads to sell soda or smartphones, Hope Hydration is using them to give away something far more Read More...

New Jersey takes bold step tow

New Jersey takes bold step toward universal free preschool and kindergarten

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM New Jersey is ushering in a new era for early childhood education. In a move celebrated by parents, educators, and advocates alike, Governor Phil Murphy signed three pivotal bills into law on July 9, advancing the state toward a future where every child has Read More...

French app Poppins makes borro

French app Poppins makes borrowing better than buying

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM From raclette machines to petanque sets, many of us own things we barely use. French entrepreneur Lucie Basch has a joyful solution: a new app called Poppins that makes it easy to borrow or rent underused household items from neighbors. The idea is simple: Read More...

Mushroom caskets offer an eart

Mushroom caskets offer an earth-friendly goodbye in North America’s first burial of its kind

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Traditional burials, though deeply meaningful, often come at a steep environmental cost. The chemicals, hardwood, and land use involved can have long-term ecological impacts. But a quiet revolution in burial traditions is beginning to bloom and its roots are Read More...

Barbie debuts first doll with

Barbie debuts first doll with type 1 diabetes, boosting visibility and inclusion

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Mattel introduced its first-ever Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes in an effort to improve representation and produce dolls that truly mirror real life. Created in partnership with Breakthrough T1D, a nonprofit focused on type 1 diabetes research and advocacy, Read More...

Tiny fire detector inspired by

Tiny fire detector inspired by nature could transform wildfire prevention

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As wildfires grow more frequent and destructive due to climate change, early detection is becoming more crucial than ever. But advanced systems like satellites and thermal imaging are often too expensive for many vulnerable regions. Enter Pyri: a new Read More...

Lisbon leads Europe with first

Lisbon leads Europe with first citywide reusable cup system

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Lisbon has just taken a big, refreshing step toward sustainability, perfectly timed for Plastic Free July. With the launch of a citywide reusable cup system, it becomes the first European capital to implement a deposit-and-return scheme designed to reduce Read More...