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.
NASA uses Navajo language to name rocks and soil on Mars
After successfully landing on the neighboring planet last month, NASA’s Perseverance rover is now ready to explore its ground. Its first scientific focus is a rock named “Máaz” — the Navajo word for “Mars.” That’s just one nickname among many others that have been given to landmarks Read More...
Virginia restores voting rights for the previously incarcerated
Last year, we wrote about a proposed bill in Washington DC that would end felony disenfranchisement in the district. Fortunately, that bill passed and now the state of Virginia is eying a similar policy. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced an executive action this week that would restore Read More...
This startup turns captured carbon into stone
Addressing climate change means finding new strategies for carbon capture. Many of these, like kelp farming, focus on absorbing carbon back into our natural environment. Icelandic startup Carbfix is taking on this same challenge, but rather than use plants, it's putting carbon back into the ground Read More...
Indulge guilt-free with these 5 ethical and eco-friendly chocolate brands
We are big fans of chocolate here at The Optimist Daily and have written extensively in the past about its many health benefits, from keeping you mentally sharp to lowering your risk of heart failure. But if we are going to indulge in this delicious treat, it’s important to be aware of how Read More...
This skyscraper in Taipei features a carbon-absorbing vertical forest
According to the World Green Building Council, our built environment is responsible for almost 40 percent of the world’s carbon footprint. Facing a dire need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, architects and urban planners must ensure that our future buildings have the smallest negative Read More...
Chicago suburb slated to implement the country’s first reparations program
The concept of reparations has gained traction in recent years as a starting point for compensating for the racism and discrimination Black Americans have historically experienced and continue to face in society. Now, one Chicago suburb is on the verge of becoming the first in the country to pilot Read More...
New project aims to make the world’s longest hiking trail more accessible
As the longest recreational trail in the world, The Great Trail in Canada has really changed the way Canadians can experience their country’s natural heritage. It officially opened in 2017, after nearly 25 years of planning, to connect 27,000 kilometers of multi-use trails in ways that are safe Read More...
The Optimist View: The power of investing in inclusion
“When we listen and celebrate what is both common and different, we become wiser, more inclusive, and better as an organization.” — Pat Wadors As we start off the new year with back to back celebratory months of Black History and Women’s History, we are reminded of the long journey Read More...
Minneapolis nonprofit creates first-of-its-kind village for the homeless
While homeless shelters can be pivotal in providing short-term housing and protection from the elements, there are tradeoffs to staying in a shelter. Many shelters feature communal sleeping arrangements, with dozens of beds packed into a room. This can make homeless shelters particularly Read More...
FedEx plans to become carbon neutral by 2040 with zero-emission vehicles
Recently we have seen an increasing number of giant automakers pledging to phase out carbon-emitting vehicles over the next couple of decades — all in an effort to do their part in tackling climate change. Now delivery service FedEx has joined the bandwagon, recently revealing plans to invest at Read More...