Environment
Need some good news about the environment? The Optimist Daily is your go-to herald of positive environmental news, highlighting eco-friendly solutions and scientific progress around climate action, circularity, conservation, and more. Learn about everything eco in our Environment section.
Fixing Fashion reduces textile waste with consumer education
Dutch designer Dave Hakkens has launched a new sustainable fashion collection, but he doesn’t want you to buy any of it. Instead, he uses this line to illustrate the different techniques he teaches users on Fixing Fashion, a platform that features instructions and video tutorials on how to Read More...
Recycling asphalt shingles is now possible thanks to this roofing giant
Affordable and easy to install, it’s not surprising that asphalt shingles are the most popular roofing material in the US, covering about 75 percent of the country’s roofs. The problem with it, however, is that 12 to 15 years after installation, they need to be replaced. Due to this, shingles Read More...
These classic deodorant lines now come in zero-waste packagings
Coming up with new delivery models and redesigning the packaging of consumer goods is an essential step in achieving a future where plastic waste is obsolete. This is particularly relevant when it comes to giant fast-moving consumer goods manufacturers who are the main contributors to our global Read More...
Unilever develops detergent capsules made from recycled carbon emissions
Did you know that your laundry detergent is most likely made from fossil fuels? The key ingredients that produce foam and do away with dirt are called surfactants, which are derived from petroleum. Surfactants are also found in other cleaning products such as dish soap. Fortunately, Read More...
Alaska’s forests are more resistant to climate change than we once thought
In 2004, wildfires burned an area of Alaska the size of Massachusetts. Researchers feared that the CO2 released by the fires would accelerate climate change and that the destroyed boreal forests would no longer serve as the immense carbon sinks they once did. Now, nearly two decades later, Read More...
Plugging abandoned oil and gas wells generates jobs and reduces emissions
We recently shared a study that found that plugging abandoned oil and gas wells is not only a win for the environment but can also generate billions of dollars in new jobs and avoiding pollution. A new study from the Ohio River Valley Institute supports these initial findings and lays out the Read More...
NASA project uses satellites to identify greenhouse gas super-emitters
Greenhouse gas super-emitters are exactly what they sound like: Individual sources like landfills, dairy farms, or leaking pipelines generating enormous amounts of planet-warming emissions, namely methane and carbon dioxide. In the fight against climate change, these big players must be taken out Read More...
5 Ways to maintain an eco-friendly kitchen
The choices we make in the kitchen have a huge impact on the environment. Luckily, the eco-conscious movement is catching on and more people are prioritizing “going green” in their homes. Here are five tips to go green in your own kitchen. Recycle. Most people already have a good idea of why Read More...
The Optimist View: Healthy Kitchens Week
“Everything happens in the kitchen. Life happens in the kitchen.” – Andrew Zimmern The kitchen is said to be the heart of the home. That’s where we gather with our families or friends to break bread, get nourishment, find connection. To celebrate Earth Day, which really has grown to Read More...
The Climate Diet: A guide to living for a greener future
We at The Optimist Daily are big fans of lifestyle changes that contribute towards slashing greenhouse gas emissions and offer a sense of autonomy in creating a greener future. We’ve written at length about the benefits of shifting towards a plant-based lifestyle and reducing personal waste and Read More...