Today’s Solutions: April 27, 2024

Circularity

Understanding the value of a circular economy and identifying circular solutions are essential to changing our world for good. Circularity, or the zero-waste principle of keeping materials in a closed loop and away from landfills and incinerators, is the future. Find out about the latest innovations and solutions accelerating the transition towards a circular economy in the articles here from The Optimist Daily.

Shelf with raw food products displayed in refillable food dispensers. Food shop interior in package free grocery store.

The rise in popularity of zero-waste stores

What are zero-waste stores? Zero-waste or refill stores, specialize in products with no packaging waste and are non-harmful for the environment. A wide variety of foods and household cleaning products can be found at many of these stores, with the hope in the future that mainstream supermarkets Read More...

Colorful pile of food scraps in a bin

Food waste prevention law takes effect in New York

According to estimates, the state of New York is responsible for about 7.8 billion pounds of food waste every year. That’s equivalent in weight to over 17,000 Statues of Liberty. In a bid to curb the humongous amount of organic waste that ends up in landfills, the state has recently joined the Read More...

Peelsphere leather alternative made out of fruit peel and algae

This circular leather alternative is made from algae and peels

As people are increasingly becoming reluctant to use clothes and fashion accessories made out of animal-sourced leather, more and more designers are turning their eyes towards more sustainable and ethical alternatives. One of the latest leather alternatives on the market comes from textile Read More...

Fruits and vegetables isle in supermarket

Edible coating keeps fresh produce from quickly spoiling

Removing plastic packaging from fruit and vegetables in supermarkets can help reduce a significant amount of plastic waste. However, if you have a product that tends to spoil rapidly once ripe, such as a banana, you will be faced with another problem: food waste. Swapping plastic packaging for a Read More...

sun shines on office windows

Windows giant Anderson gives solar window integration a $30M boost

Here at The Optimist Daily, we love sharing stories about the exciting advancements that we are making in terms of discovering and fashioning creative ways that we can harvest clean, green, and renewable energy. One of the threads of renewable energy we’ve been following closely is solar Read More...

gloved hands throw food waste into compost bin

Everything you need to know about California’s new composting law

Food waste is a huge problem to tackle, which is why we’ve shared numerous stories with tips on how you can help reduce your own personal food waste. To that end, we’ve suggested that people re-organize their pantry and refrigerator, download apps that connect consumers with grocery items that Read More...

A pair of Rens sneakers next to a cup of coffee

Coffee on the go: These sneakers are made out of recycled coffee

While coffee is a popular drink all across the world, it holds a particularly special place in the hearts of Finnish people. According to the International Coffee Organization, Finns consume more coffee than any other nation in the world. But like everywhere else, coffee consumption in Finland Read More...

Plastic on conveyor belt at recycling facility

Scientists develop tech that can separate 12 different types of plastics

Plastic is a much more complex material than you may think. Because it comes in many different types with varied compositions and characteristics, plastic is difficult to separate and recycle at the end of its life. Although, new technology developed by scientists in Denmark may soon change Read More...

smiling mixed-race woman stands smiling against a yellow backdrop with a reusable bag full of plant-based groceries

The green living trends experts expect will dominate 2022

Green living and sustainability are at the forefront of many of our minds. This mentality is reflected in the droves of people who over the course of the many lockdowns have: pledged to be green-minded about their transportation options, choose more plant-based milk and food, and change their Read More...

Fresh produce wrapped in plastic inside a plastic bag

French ban on plastic packaging for most fruit and veg comes into force

A few months ago, we wrote about France’s ambitious plan to phase out single-use plastic packaging. On January 1st, that ban went into effect, paving the way for more sustainable and ethical consumption habits among its citizens. As part of the ban, about 30 varieties of fruit and vegetables, Read More...