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.
Reverse vending machines prove effective in encouraging recycling
Reverse vending machines that exchange plastic bottles for money are proving to be incredibly effective in encouraging Britons to recycle. The machines, introduced last year at five UK sites, reward consumers with a voucher worth 10p for every deposit of a bottle purchased at the shops. Since the Read More...
China is bringing back to life the coral reefs it damaged in the South China Sea
China has engaged in the revival of the coral reefs it damaged in the South China Sea after the country’s disputed island building in the region. Facilities to protect and recover coral were installed on the three biggest of China’s seven artificial islands, and operations began at the start of Read More...
2019 could see great results in terms of environmental action
While 2018 has been a year bedeviled by extreme weather due to climate change, scientists have also put serious efforts into raising global awareness of the dire consequences that may follow if things are left unchanged. Following the UN report on climate change and the climate conference in Read More...
South Korea bans single-use plastic bags from major supermarkets
South Korea is joining a growing list of countries attempting to halt the use of disposable plastic shopping Read More...
2019 could see great results in regards to environmental action
While 2018 has been a year bedeviled by extreme weather due to climate change, scientists have also put serious efforts into raising global awareness of the dire consequences that may follow if things are left unchanged. Following the UN report on climate change and the climate conference in Read More...
First no-kill eggs hit supermarket shelves in Berlin
Scientists discovered a way to determine the sex of chicks before they hatch, which may prevent the slaughtering of an estimated 4-6 billion male chicks each year. The process can tell a chick’s gender nine days before an egg has been fertilized, and has the potential to put a stop to the Read More...
Scientists unveil technology that brings dying coral reefs back to life
Scientists developed an innovative device that succumbs underwater and pours life back into coral reefs which are suffering dramatically due to climate change. The briefcase-size submersible is designed to move autonomously along damaged sections of reef, seeding them with hundreds of thousands of Read More...
German town to be first in the country to tax single-use plastic products
A town in southwest Germany plans to pass legislation that will tax retailers for using disposable plastic items in their shops, cafes, and fast food restaurants. The measures include taxing single-use plastic items such as to-go coffee cups, pizza boxes, and other food delivery containers. The Read More...
Will carbon capture technology help us combat climate change in the future?
Extracting vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere could help to limit global warming. The only problem is capturing carbon is currently very costly. That’s why it’s good news that Climeworks, a Swiss company that wants to capture 1 percent of man-made carbon dioxide emissions by Read More...
Are these edible pouches the future of plastic-free packaging?
While everyone from David Attenborough to the Queen of England are working on ridding the world of plastic containers, others are working on sustainable replacements. Take this UK-based startup for example: They have created small pouches that encase a serving of water in a thin membrane made from Read More...