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.
Corona launches biodegradable packaging made from barley byproduct
From plastic-free LEGO deliveries to paper Coca-Cola bottles, sustainable packaging is gaining popularity as a way to enjoy environmentally-friendly versions of our favorite products. The latest company to adopt greener packaging is Corona, which is rolling out biodegradable six-pack holders made Read More...
China's meatless movement is gaining momentum
In traditional Chinese culture, eating meat is a symbol of wealth and financial comfort. This cultural connection between prosperity and meat consumption as well as China’s expanding middle class (which has been growing since the 1970s) contributes to the high percentage of meat-eaters in the Read More...
Transparent solar cell greenhouses could grow food and produce energy
Solar power is one of the fastest-growing forms of renewable energy, so there are many initiatives that are trying to see how solar can be combined with other industries, like agriculture, to become even more effective. We at The Optimist Daily have already written about agrivoltaic farming, Read More...
Floating seawater reservoirs could help Helsinki become carbon neutral
As humans, we pride ourselves on our ability to innovate and adapt to a variety of environments. This has led us to develop technology that can support civilization, even in extreme environments. However, this technology largely relies on fossil fuels. Now, there’s a global push to put human Read More...
Microwave boilers could help cut heating emissions
Heating is responsible for 14 percent of the UK’s carbon footprint, posing a major hurdle in the country’s journey to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. As the country plans to phase out the use of gas boilers in homes by 2030, more sustainable heating technologies — such as green hydrogen — Read More...
Researchers map out where ocean conservation would be most impactful
Marine conservation is critical for ocean health and the continued survival of marine species, but when it comes to protecting our oceans, some regions pack a bigger conservation punch than others. A new study from the University of California, Santa Barbara has mapped out which areas of the ocean, Read More...
Indonesian man revives once-arid land after 24 years of effort
When Indonesian eco-warrior Sadiman exchanged the goats he reared for tree saplings to reforest the barren hills surrounding his village, most people in his community doubted his decision. Now, however, they’re more than grateful to him. After 24 years of determination, Sadiman has managed to Read More...
Gomi introduces wireless chargers made from plastic waste
UK-based sustainable studio Gomi first put themselves on our sustainable design radar when they partnered with Lime to release a Bluetooth speaker powered by old e-bike batteries Now, Gomi is back at it again with the addition of their newest product: wireless chargers made from recycled Read More...
Plants could soon communicate with farmers to improve food security
We recently wrote about how researchers at MIT were teaching spinach plants to send emails. Now, scientists from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore are developing technology that allows for further communication between plants and humans. When plants interact with their environment, Read More...
This Russian fashion brand creates pieces entirely out of recycled plastic
“Ethical” and “sustainable” are fashion trends that we at The Optimist Daily hope never go out of style. We’re uplifted that many popular brands such as Adidas and Levi’s are rethinking how they manufacture their products so that they are more eco-friendly. Russian fashion house Read More...