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.
Concrete could be made cheaper, stronger, and greener using old glass
Although glass is thought of as being relatively eco-friendly because it's recyclable, the fact is that a lot of it doesn't get recycled – this is particularly true of small fragments, that are too fiddly to sort. Now, however, scientists are suggesting that glass waste could be used to make Read More...
You have to see these portraits of farm animals that were allowed to grow old
When you see a really old dog, it can make you feel all fuzzy inside. But have you ever seen an elderly farm animal? Chances are you haven’t, which makes sense considering many farm animals don’t get the chance to live for more than a year. Their "purpose" – in the dystopian thing that is Read More...
Renewology could hold the key to solving the plastic crisis
While plastic water bottles are rather simple to recycle, other low-grade plastics such as plastic bags usually wind up in the landfill. That’s because it’s hard to turn low-grade plastics into anything of value. Plus, they often get tangled in the sorting equipment of recycling centers, Read More...
Canada just banned the captivity and breeding of dolphins and whales
When you see whales or dolphins swimming through the vast ocean, you come to realize that these magnificent creatures should never be held in captivity. It’s flat out inhumane to keep them cramped in small pools, and the government of Canada seems to agree. On Monday, Canadian lawmakers passed Read More...
A high-tech sustainable greenhouse is about to be built in coal country
Kentucky may be coal country, but that’s not stopping entrepreneurs from introducing sustainability to the state. In Morehead, a small town where roughly one in three people live below the poverty line, a company called AppHarvest is constructing a massive new 60-acre high-tech greenhouse will be Read More...
Cacti could help slash the amount of plastic polluting our environment
With so many headlines everywhere about the devastating effect of plastic pollution on our ecosystems, it feels good to see scientists eagerly working on finding sustainable solutions to this urgent environmental crisis. The most recent instance comes from Mexico, where a researcher has been Read More...
Bathing suits shed microplastics. This brand has a better solution
Every time someone washes something made from polyester or another synthetic fabric, tiny fibers flow down the drain and into waterways. In one study, an acrylic sweater shed 700,000 fibers each time it was washed. For swimsuits, the problem can be more direct, and some microfibers might rub off Read More...
Starbucks is testing a reusable cup scheme for airports
Travelers looking to get a quick fix of coffee before a flight use more disposable coffee cups than you can imagine. At Gatwick airport alone, more than 7 million paper cups are used each year, with most ending up in the landfill. Aware of this striking fact, Gatwick airport is testing the UK’s Read More...
The biggest climate villains in Washington are quickly losing power
Business trade groups are known for throwing their weight around — and getting their way — in Washington. The US Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Farm Bureau, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the American Petroleum Institute — these names Read More...
Meet the unlikely team of US veterans scuba diving to save coral reefs
Coral reefs were once the epitome of the richness of life on Earth, but with water quality dropping and ocean temperatures rising, coral reefs are unfortunately struggling to survive. Enter Force Blue, an unusual green organization with three key goals. Founded by US special forces veterans, it Read More...