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.
This eucalyptus-based hoodie can be composted in your garden
Just over a year ago, we wrote about Vollebak, a Dutch clothing startup making T-shirts that you can bury in your backyard once you’re through with them. That’s because the shirts are made entirely out of wood pulp and algae, which breaks down in soil and becomes “worm food” within months. Read More...
SeaClear project takes ocean clean-ups to the underwater level
While ocean clean-ups by themselves are not a solution to the pressing environmental crisis of plastic pollution, they are still essential if we are to reduce the problem’s already overwhelming impact on ocean health. But to do that effectively we need to collect not only the garbage that’s Read More...
Critically endangered wildcat kittens born at wildlife park in Scotland
A wildlife park in Scotland has recently welcomed four critically endangered wildcat kittens into the world, giving new hope to the species, which is one of Europe's most elusive and endangered mammals. Visitors at the Highland Wildlife Park can now have the opportunity to see the four playful Read More...
African elephant trails can help shape better conservation plans
When African elephants travel from one destination to another, they typically create highly complex routes on their way, shaping the landscape and thus the fabric and way of life of many local communities. Understanding how these massive creatures affect the dynamics of local life may lead the way Read More...
Architecture student creates sustainable alternative greenhouse
Traditional greenhouses use plastic polythene sheeting to create a nurturing environment for plants, but this may soon change. An innovative architecture student has found a greener alternative. Eliza Hague, a University of Westminster Master of Architecture student, has designed an Read More...
New Guinea singing dog thought to be extinct reemerges in the wild
The New Guinea singing dog, a dingo-like animal best known for its unique howling style was considered extinct in the wild, with only around 200 captive singing dogs living in conservation centers or zoos. Scientists, however, have recently confirmed that the dogs still roam the highlands of Papua Read More...
This company converts old hotels into affordable housing
As the tourists stay home due to the coronavirus, hotels across America are closing down. Fortunately, a company by the name of Repvblik is ensuring some of these hotels get a new lease on life. What the Los Angeles-based company does is convert empty commercial spaces into affordable housing Read More...
Bharati Chaturvedi: It's time to value waste collectors for their work
Bharati Chaturvedi is the founder of Chintan, an Indian-based organization that cuts waste and consumption. While speaking at a plenary discussion at Circularity 20 last week, she raised a good point: If waste collectors play such a pivotal role in the plastic supply chain, why aren’t they valued Read More...
150,000 Purple Martins are dazzling the skyline of Nashville
Before flying down to Brazil for the winter, a flock of rare Purple Martins has chosen a rather unusual place to rest up: the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in downtown Nashville. Okay, a flock of birds roosting in an urban area isn’t all too uncommon, but did we mention how many Purple Martines Read More...
Another company is out to capture all the CO2 it has ever emitted
When it comes to offsetting carbon emissions, Microsoft has set a new precedent for companies around the world. Instead of trying to offset more emissions than it produces on a yearly basis, the company has committed to erasing its historical carbon footprint. In other words, Microsoft will capture Read More...