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.
Scientists have developed a way to give old EV batteries a ‘second life’
Typically when an EV battery reaches the end of its life-span, the manufacturer takes it back and recycles them. But according to researchers at the University of Warwick, many automotive Lithium-ion batteries have enough life left in them after a car is scrapped for “second-life” uses. To do Read More...
Amsterdam has a clever solution for reducing plastic in its canals: air bubbles
The canals which intersect Amsterdam are a famous addition to the city, but they also collect a lot of trash. When it comes to keeping these waterways clean, one solution is incredibly simple: air bubbles. Westerdok canal in Amsterdam is piloting new technology dubbed the Great Bubble Barrier. Read More...
How rain gardens can help reduce polluted water runoff
If you live in a coastal city, you know not to swim in the ocean for several days after heavy rain. This is because water runoff can carry dirty and even harmful pollutants such as bacteria, chemicals, and sewage. Beautiful, planted rain gardens are a natural and effective way to clean water moving Read More...
This solar farm is providing a habitat for desert tortoises to thrive in
Solar farms aren’t only good for generating clean energy. In the desert in Nevada, a solar farm is providing tortoises a habitat they can thrive in. Juvenile tortoises depend on plant cover to hide from predators, and fortunately for them, the shade below the solar panels allows many plants that Read More...
Starbucks rolls out new ambitious sustainability goals for 2030
Consumer pressure on the food industry is pushing restaurants to adopt greener practices including embracing alternative meats, ditching plastic straws, and encouraging customers to use reusable containers. This week, Starbucks has taken its sustainability pledge to cut emissions, reduce waste, and Read More...
This Canadian didn’t want to fly from Germany to Canada—so he took a cargo ship
When Will Vibert’s European work visa was closing in on its expiration date, the Canadian was reluctant to travel back to Vancouver via plane. Vibert had been confronted by the flight shaming campaigns that had shone a harsh light on the climate impact of air travel, and like so many of his Read More...
Lebron James and Lyft team up to give thousands of teens free bikeshare access
Growing up in Akron, Ohio, LeBron James relied on a bike to get to basketball practice and school and visit friends. Today, recognizing that access to a bike helped change his life, his company, Uninterrupted, is partnering with Lyft to give thousands of teenagers free one-year memberships to Read More...
The ultimate guide to getting rid of your old stuff responsibly
Great. You went all Marie Kondo on your house and now you have a bunch of stuff you want to get rid of. Dumping it in the trash is definitely not an option, so what can you do? Here you’ll find some tips for properly disposing of items that people commonly try to get rid of. Tech If you have Read More...
New homes in Wales will be powered by renewable energy by 2025
The building and housing sector are one of today’s major contributors to global warming and the climate crisis. Acknowledging the urgent need to find a solution to this problem, the Welsh government has recently issued plans requiring all new homes in the country to be heated and powered by clean Read More...
Packaging as a service could eliminate unnecessary cardboard and plastic waste
With nearly 700 million trees being cut each year to make the shipping boxes used in e-commerce, and nearly 8 million tons of plastic in tape, bubble wrap and foam, it’s high time the industry rethinks its wasteful practices. Enter THE BOX - a revolutionary, sustainable and trackable shipping Read More...