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.
Upcycled shipping containers provide housing for LA’s homeless
Los Angeles County has an estimated 66,000 homeless individuals, but a new initiative is helping some find housing from an unexpected source: old shipping containers. Recycled shipping containers can be transformed into livable spaces surprisingly quickly. Each container in the seven-unit Read More...
Local 5 year old saves kidnapped lemur in San Francisco
Last week, Maki, a 21-year-old endangered lemur, went missing from the San Francisco Zoo. As one of the slowest primates in the exhibit, Maki was easy for thieves to catch, but fortunately, the lemur has been safely returned to the zoo after the heroic work of a local five-year-old named James Read More...
The gharial: How this special creature was saved from near extinction
Though often mistaken for crocodiles or alligators, the gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is its own special creature that dwells in the rivers of India and Nepal eating only fish and some crustaceans. This incredible reptile is believed to have split from all other crocodilians perhaps more than 65m Read More...
Try these sustainable detergents on your next laundry day
We recently discussed how to catch the microfibers produced by your washing machine. Today, we’re tackling detergents with the most eco-friendly laundry options on the market. Here are some of the best waste-free soaps to wash your clothes. As an added bonus, many are also cruelty-free and use Read More...
This Dutch wind farm will also restore oyster populations
Apart from playing a key role in our clean energy transition, offshore wind farms may also play an essential part in restoring the European flat oyster beds in the North Sea. At least that’s what Dutch maritime contracting company Van Oord plans to do by installing eight reef structures within Read More...
Playing underwater ‘music’ attracts young fish to degraded coral reefs
Whether it’s the “crackle of snapping shrimp” or the swishing sounds of fish passing by, a healthy coral reef tends to be quite a noisy place. These are sounds that young fish are attracted to once they have hatched and spent their larval stage in the open ocean. The problem is that once a Read More...
Apple removes chargers and earbuds from new iPhones to cut waste
When Apple announced that the its new lineups of iPhone 12s won’t come with accessories such as a wall charger or earbuds, many consumers were annoyed, dismissing it as a purely economic move on Apple’s part. But from an environmental perspective, it’s a great move. To start with, the lack Read More...
Conservationists release 26 scarlet macaws into Guatemala’s tropical forest
As a result of habitat loss and poaching, the scarlet macaw population has been suffering a decreasing trend over the last couple of decades, with fewer than 50,000 of the red bright birds remaining in the wild. But a recent conservation effort brings good news for these handsome tropical Read More...
Panera Bread introduces label to designate items with low carbon footprint
If you enjoy eating at Panera Bread, you might notice a new label on their menus that is intended to help customers make eco-conscious choices. This week, the national soup and sandwich chain announced the Cool Food Meal label, which is placed beside menus items that have a carbon footprint Read More...
This smart bin turns your food scraps into compost in less than two days
Indoor bins for composting are definitely a good way to put your food scraps to good use, but that organic waste can take several weeks before it becomes compost. And while certain foods like meat and dairy are compostable, they can often create foul odors and attract pests. With that in mind, a Read More...