ENVIRONMENT

Energy

'Solar For All' Grants Could Boost Community Solar by 25 Percent

Following $20 billion in grant disbursals last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to announce the winners of the $7 billion Solar For All competition any day. The program could boost community solar by more than 25 percent in the U.S., according to a recent analysis.

Gary E. Frank

April 11, 2024

Energy

Schools and Shopping Malls Can Help Marginalized Communities Go Solar

Installing solar panels on commercial and public buildings like schools, malls and factories could provide a fifth of the power that disadvantaged communities need, bringing renewable energy to people who can least afford it, according to a recent study by Stanford University.

Sachi Kitajima Mulkey

April 9, 2024

Technology

Concentrated Products Reduce Packaging and Emissions: Can They Win Over Consumers?

More options for concentrated products are hitting the market as a new generation of home and hygiene brands aim to win over consumers. From toothpaste tablets to shampoo bars, these products save a whole lot of space and packaging, as well as fuel costs for distributors.

Riya Anne Polcastro

April 8, 2024

Technology

Meet the Clean Energy Company Bringing NASA’s Battery Technology to Earth

In 2020, a Stanford professor made an energy storage breakthrough. Taking inspiration from the International Space Station, he created a battery that is safer and longer-lasting than lithium-ion.

Mary Riddle

April 5, 2024

Technology

Raising the Bar: Alcohol Giant Diageo Aims to Increase Glass Recycling

One of the world’s largest producers of beer and spirits is working with the Don't Trash Glass project to increase glass recycling in the U.S. — one bar, restaurant and local business at a time.

Ruscena Wiederholt

April 4, 2024

Technology

When Done Right, AI Can Be a Powerhouse for Environmental Conservation

The capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) are proving to be beneficial to wildlife. The World Wildlife Fund is among the organizations using AI to help sort and analyze conservation data and detect deforestation risk.

Rasha Rehman

March 21, 2024

Technology

Should Refillable Packaging Be the New Norm?

New Fund Aims to Scale Packaging Reuse and Refill Systems Around the World

The Reuse Outcomes Fund will support promising reuse and refill startups in the U.S., Canada and India, leveraging lessons learned from scaling waste management infrastructure across the Global South. 

Mary Mazzoni

March 13, 2024

Technology

Concrete Gets an AI Makeover for Rapid Decarbonization

Concrete is getting a long overdue, lower-carbon makeover, but the millions of mixes available makes choosing the most sustainable option difficult. A new platform powered by artificial intelligence can help.

Tina Casey

March 1, 2024

Nature

Brands Taking Stands

Forests, Carbon Offsets and a Clear Path to Decarbonization

Emerging evidence gives brands that engage in forest projects for carbon offsets an opportunity to highlight their support for sustainability, but they should continue paying attention to the impact on communities.

Tina Casey

February 28, 2024

Technology

The Electronics of the Future Will Stay Charged All Day Using Indoor Light

Imagine a wireless keyboard that doesn't have to be plugged in or a remote control that never needs new batteries, because they get their charge from indoor light with solar technology. This futuristic tech could soon become the norm, with products rolling out as early as this year.

Riya Anne Polcastro

February 27, 2024

Energy

5 Unusual Ways to Decarbonize the Shipping Industry Right Now

The transition to cleaner fuel is just one way to decarbonize the shipping industry. New retrofit technologies are emerging that can significantly reduce shipping emissions with less wait time.

Tina Casey

February 12, 2024

Nature

Amidst Ongoing Conflict, Efforts To Save This Endemic Tree Are Threatened

On Yemen’s Socotra island, poverty and political disruption hinder efforts to give its prized dragon’s blood tree a future. A local journalist explores efforts to preserve it despite all odds.

Abdulmalik Alnemri

February 8, 2024

Technology

Brands Taking Stands

Why Waffle House is a Perfect Place for EV Charging Stations

An unusual experiment is unfolding in Tennessee, where the state’s Department of Transportation allocated the first round of federal funding for new electric vehicle charging stations. Among a string of roadside gas stations soon to receive chargers, a lone Waffle House stands out.

Tina Casey

February 7, 2024

Energy

Will Sustainable Aviation Fuel Help the Industry Reach its Net-Zero Goals?

The aviation industry is one of the hardest to decarbonize. Sustainable aviation fuel is a viable solution. Will production increase and price decrease fast enough for the industry to reach net zero by 2050?

Abha Malpani Naismith

February 1, 2024

Technology

The New Ocean Cleanup Crew: Seaweed-Sinking Robots

Seaweed Generation's robots collect and sink massive mats of Sargassum seaweed to prevent them from disrupting ecosystems and hurting tourism-dependent economies.

Ruscena Wiederholt

January 30, 2024

Energy

5 New Sustainable Sources for Green Hydrogen

Green hydrogen is an important part of the global energy transition, and innovators are making it greener by developing systems that can use impure water instead of fresh water. Here are five emerging water-for-hydrogen developments that show promise.

Tina Casey

January 26, 2024

Technology

The Solutions Effect

Is 2024 the Year of the Train?

It looks like 2024 will be full of new developments in the rail industry. From high-speed passenger trains to battery-powered locomotives, these are the three trending train topics we have our eye on this year.

Taylor Haelterman

January 25, 2024

Technology

The Software That's Making Mining Better for the Environment

As we transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy, demand for minerals like lithium, manganese and cobalt is high. Mining is not going away, but that doesn’t mean its environmental impact can't be reduced. A new modeling software is making it possible.

Phil Covington

January 23, 2024

Technology

5 High-Tech Climate Solutions Worth Watching in 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) has an important role to play in climate solutions and climate change adaptation, alongside other technologies like cloud computing. Here are five tech-driven solutions that hit our radar in 2023 and we will continue to watch this year. 

Riya Anne Polcastro

January 22, 2024

Technology

Unleashing the Power of AI: University of Illinois and IBM Join Forces to Anticipate Flash Floods

With the support of tech giant IBM, the University of Illinois developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model capable of anticipating heavy rainfall and flash floods in the Appalachian Mountains, and there’s potential to expand what is learned there to other regions. 

Riya Anne Polcastro

January 19, 2024

Energy

5 Wind Power Trends to Watch in 2024

Wind power accounts for about 10 percent of the electricity in the U.S., representing a remarkable growth spurt in recent years. Competition for land can pose hurdles, but wind industry innovators are coming up with solutions that open up new pathways for rapid growth.

Tina Casey

January 18, 2024

Technology

Kenya Reforestation Efforts Show AI Can Advance Climate Solutions

It’s impossible to know if solutions are working without evidence. A new artificial intelligence (AI) model from IBM uses NASA data to track and visualize the impact of a reforestation project in Kenya, and the early results show real promise.

Riya Anne Polcastro

January 11, 2024

Energy

Should Refillable Packaging Be the New Norm?

Doesn't It Produce More Carbon Emissions? Busting Common Myths About Refillable Packaging

While billions of beverages are sold in refillable bottles around the world, there's still a lot of confusion about how these systems work and if they really reduce environmental impact compared to selling drinks in single-use bottles.

Mary Mazzoni

January 10, 2024

Food + Farming

Sustainability on Tap: Exploring the Organic Beer Market

Craft beer is booming in the United States, and organic options and environmentally-friendly brewing practices are growing in popularity alongside it. While organic still makes up a minority of beer sales, the segment is poised to take off.

Ruscena Wiederholt

January 5, 2024

Technology

This App Fights Ocean Plastic Pollution and Helps Lift Refuse Collectors Out of Poverty

The Indian startup Recykal is cutting plastic pollution off at the source with an app-based system that rewards local refuse collectors while offering new opportunities for businesses to help raise awareness about effective solutions.

Tina Casey

January 4, 2024

Technology

Will 2024 Be the Year the Green Chemistry Trend Takes Off?

Green chemistry looks to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing chemical products by minimizing the use of hazardous substances. The transition has been slow so far, but stakeholders are aligning to help accelerate the pace.

Tina Casey

December 28, 2023

Energy

How Diversity Can Grow the Clean Energy Workforce

The American Council on Renewable Energy recently launched an outreach effort aimed at including more women- and minority-owned firms in its powerful network. The results are already successful and somewhat surprising.

Tina Casey

December 22, 2023

Nature

The Solutions Effect

Live Christmas Trees Bring More Benefits Than Just Holiday Merriment

Have you driven past a Christmas tree sale and wondered if chopping down, and inevitably disposing of, that many trees has a negative environmental impact? As it turns out, live Christmas trees can help local communities thrive environmentally and economically. 

Taylor Haelterman

December 21, 2023

Technology

Leather or Not? The Rise of Eco-Friendly Substitutes

The production of leather and plastic-based synthetic leather give rise to an array of environmental and social issues. Lately, a petroleum-free pearl is emerging from the muck: leather alternatives from inventive sources like cacti and invasive species.

Ruscena Wiederholt

December 19, 2023

Technology

This Kenyan Startup Aims to Get More Electric Motorcycles on the Road

YNA Kenya is out to get more electric motorcycles on the road, and it's financing the transition with a carbon credit system based on blockchain technology. The startup's innovative model was one of two winners of the U.N. Global Climate Action Award at COP28.

Abha Malpani Naismith

December 15, 2023

Nature

After COP28, Where Does the Fight Against Climate Change Go From Here?

Amidst strong pushback from oil-rich nations, some have called the agreement reached at the COP28 climate talks a historic milestone. But how a just and equitable energy transition will be financed remains an unanswered question.

Abha Malpani Naismith

December 15, 2023

Technology

Brands Taking Stands

Carbon Capture and Sequestration in the Spotlight at COP28

The COP28 climate talks cast new attention on carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) strategies. Some say CCS will save us from climate change, while others call it a distraction that keeps the world hooked on fossil fuels. Work on nature-based solutions may make both arguments irrelevant.

Tina Casey

December 13, 2023

Nature

This Company Turns Retired Buoys Into Outdoor Clothing

Blue Ocean Nylon, made primarily from recycled fishing buoys gathered off the coast of Taiwan, is the star material in Livsn’s Ecotrek line of trail shorts and pants.

Taylor Haelterman

December 12, 2023

Energy

Waste Could Replace Trees for Key Products, But Will the Transition Happen Fast Enough?

“Deforestation is a relic of the 20th century and needs to be left back there,” said Nicole Rycroft, founder and executive director at Canopy, an environmental organization dedicated to ending deforestation by connecting companies with next-generation solutions.

Riya Anne Polcastro

December 11, 2023

Nature

Nature-Based Solutions Are Crucial to Combat the Climate Crisis, Leaders Say at COP28

“We are moving very rapidly toward the 1.5 degree Celsius limit. The only way to avoid it is with an enormous effort by nature," Johan Rockström, scientist and director at Potsdam Institute for Climate Change, said at COP28.

Abha Malpani Naismith

December 7, 2023

Energy

COP28 is a Defining Moment for the Oil Industry 

The global COP28 climate talks are a key moment for the oil sector to reassess its trajectory and reckon with the unavoidable truth that, ultimately, it is the burning of fossil fuels that is driving the climate crisis.  

Andrew Logan

December 6, 2023

Sponsored

Impact Through Action: Integrating ESG into a Business

Companies Can Do More to Help Everyday People Reduce Emissions

The first Global Stocktake report warns time is rapidly running out to limit global heating. The report called on countries to empower behavior changes like sustainable diets and decreased food waste to drive impact, and companies can do more to inspire their customers to get involved.

Ellen Jackowski

November 30, 2023

Energy

COP28: What to Expect at This Year's Global Climate Talks

We spoke with teams at Oxfam, World Resources Institute, World Wildlife Fund, 350.org and Rainforest Alliance to understand the pivotal topics set to be addressed at the global climate talks this year.

Abha Malpani Naismith

November 29, 2023

Energy

Business Can't Ignore These Unavoidable Truths at COP28

With our window of opportunity to address climate change dwindling, many business leaders want a better understanding of where we stand, why we fall short, and what we can do to close the gap. In response, the lead of private-sector engagement at WWF offers two fundamental truths.

Sheila Bonini

November 29, 2023

Energy

Millions of Old EV Batteries Could Find a New Home on Solar Farms

This California startup is looking to prove the feasibility of giving electric vehicle batteries a second life as stationary energy storage before they are recycled.

Gabriela Aoun Angueira

November 27, 2023

Energy

It Takes a Village: The Evolution of a Homegrown Solution to Ocean Plastic Pollution

Sungai Watch, an environmental organization started by three siblings, is taking a human-based approach to tackling the plastic pollution problem in rivers across Indonesia.

Carl Nettleton

November 17, 2023

Technology

Should Refillable Packaging Be the New Norm?

Bottle Refill Schemes Work in Other Countries, So Why Not the U.S.?

To people in other markets, the news that major bottled beverage brands — among the largest producers of single-use plastic globally — are already operating successful refill systems may come as a surprise.

Mary Mazzoni

November 15, 2023

Technology

Brands Taking Stands

Green Chemistry is Growing Up and Branching Out

A new round of green chemistry innovation is going beyond common household products to decarbonize industrial processes, supply chains and fuels.

Tina Casey

November 15, 2023

Nature

Abandoned Coal Mines Are Home to Surprising Biodiversity

“We’re increasingly finding that it’s not true that these are just ecological voids where nothing is living there," said Wally Smith, a biologist at the University of Virginia who is studying biodiversity at abandoned coal mines.

Katie Myers

November 13, 2023

Energy

The Push to Upgrade the World's Washing Machines and Keep Microplastics Out of the Ocean

The startup PlanetCare is among those innovating to address the microplastics that are released when doing laundry. PlanetCare's external filter can attach to any washing machine and capture plastic microfibers before they end up as pollution in our waterways.

Riya Anne Polcastro

November 7, 2023

Energy

We Can’t Rely on Technology to Solve Plastic Waste

No mainstream solution exists to recycle sachets — the flexible pouches that hold single-servings of liquid or gel products. As brands are challenged to ensure the waste created from their sales is handled properly, technology alone isn't solving the problem.

Nithin Coca

November 6, 2023

Energy

Students On Board Floating Classroom Are Cleaning Up the Mississippi River

For more than a decade, Living Lands and Waters, an environmental nonprofit devoted to cleaning up the Mississippi River, has combined its efforts with education through a classroom on a river barge. Over 24,000 students have participated in the nonprofit's workshops since 2012.

Gary E. Frank

November 3, 2023

Energy

Hydrogen from Biomass: Beyond Decarbonization

Creating hydrogen from biomass, like forest waste, is a rising alternative to using natural gas. It has the potential to open up new economic development opportunities while decarbonizing the supply chain.

Tina Casey

November 2, 2023

Food + Farming

Are Paper Bottles the Future of Beverage Packaging?

Some beverage brands are considering paper bottles as an alternative to plastic and glass, but is paper really a better option?

Abha Malpani Naismith

October 31, 2023

Nature

From Panic to Progress: Remediating PFAS in Groundwater

The public is rightfully nervous about the group of chemicals known as PFAS contaminating water sources. Colloidal activated carbon offers promise for remediation, removing PFAS from groundwater before it can reach the tap and trapping it in the soil for decades.

Terry E. Cohen

October 30, 2023

Nature

Cultivating Conservation: The Interconnected World of Agriculture and Freshwater Mammals

Nearly a third of freshwater mammals are threatened, and their numbers are declining faster than other species. But we can help the beavers, minks and river dolphins of the world with changes in an unexpected area: agriculture.

Ruscena Wiederholt

October 26, 2023

Nature

Brands Taking Stands

These Climate Solutions Could Get Us Halfway to Capping Temperature Rise at 1.5 Degrees

And the best news? We already know how to do them, and we have the technology we need to move from ambition to action.

Mary Mazzoni

October 25, 2023

Nature

Brands Taking Stands

Top Environmental Solutions of the 2010s: Where Are They Now?

These ideas and innovations were touted as "the next big thing." Which ones took off, and which ones faded away?

Mary Mazzoni

October 18, 2023

Energy

A Hurricane’s Wrath Sparks the Vision for a Net-Zero Convention Center

In 2012, Hurricane Sandy left up to a foot of contaminated water inside the Javits Center in New York City, one of the nation’s busiest convention centers. The building's transformation from a flood-damaged behemoth to a model of sustainability for the net-zero built environment a story worth watching.

Amy Brown

October 17, 2023

Energy

Scientists Coax Sustainable Fuel from Seawater, Now the Hard Part Begins 

Scientists cracked the code for extracting green hydrogen from ordinary seawater. Now some are looking to install seawater-to-hydrogen systems on offshore wind farms to double up on positive impact.

Tina Casey

October 16, 2023

Energy

Will the Sustainable Fish Farm of the Future Be On Land?

Founded in the small town of Hvide Sande, Denmark, in 2010, Atlantic Sapphire is among the companies looking toward a more sustainable future for fish farming on land.

Riya Anne Polcastro

October 11, 2023

Energy

Rethinking How We Think About Disasters

Recent scenes from New York City of stranded cars, closed subways and pedestrians in hip-deep water are shocking, but unfortunately they should no longer come as a surprise.

Darius Nassiry and Lauren Kovach Geraghty

October 6, 2023

Environment

Brands Taking Stands

As Petroleum Investment Lags, the Value of Nature Takes Center Stage

Investor attention is turning toward the value of protecting natural ecosystems from the harmful impacts of human activity, as a means of fostering a secure and healthy environment for long-term economic growth.

Tina Casey

October 4, 2023

Technology

The Human Equation: Using AI and Data To Address Global Challenges

Emerging technologies like AI (artificial intelligence) can play a vital role in a brighter future — if they're designed, managed and regulated effectively.

Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth

October 3, 2023

Energy

Biochar is a ‘Shovel-Ready’ Climate Solution, But Is It Ready to Scale?

Biochar is rare on American farms, yet it has become a focal point in the movement to turn agriculture into a climate solution.

Max Graham

October 2, 2023

Energy

Patagonia's Search for a Better Wetsuit is What Sustainability Should Be

Made with natural rubber and a focus on repairability, Patagonia’s Yulex wetsuits depart from the single-season neoprene versions that dominate the market.

Riya Anne Polcastro

September 28, 2023

Sponsored

A Clean Energy Revolution in Agriculture and Construction is Here

Advanced Technologies Are Essential to a Sustainable Future

The adoption of advanced technologies is accelerating in agriculture and construction. Machines today are more powerful, precise and easy to use than they have ever been, making them more efficient, productive and sustainable.

CNH Industrial

September 28, 2023

Sponsored

Building a Sustainable Future Through Material Innovation

Solving the Wind Industry's Waste Problem

With first-generation wind turbines reaching end-of-life, questions loom over how to properly handle the waste they create. While wind turbines are up to 90 percent recyclable, turbine blades in particular present the biggest challenge. 

Phil Covington

September 25, 2023

Sponsored

Building More Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chains, Today and Into the Future

Regenerative Cotton Makes an Impact: Just Ask Brands Like the North Face

A collaboration among farmers, scientists, and businesses are applying scientific rigor and data quantification to measure the positive outcomes attained when farmers utilize regenerative practices to grow cotton.

3p Editors

September 22, 2023

Energy

The IRS Has the Power to Unlock the Future of Heat Pumps

A technicality with the IRS is preventing access to one of the most sustainable sources of heating and cooling available: geothermal heat pumps.

Mary Riddle

September 22, 2023

Environment

Brands Taking Stands

The Forest Landscape Restoration Movement Fills the Tree-Planting Pledge Gap

Forestry experts are calling out the shortcomings in conventional tree-planting and advocating for a new approach they say works even better.

Tina Casey

September 20, 2023

Energy

NYC Mayor on Climate Crisis: ‘Desperation is Inspiration’

“Desperation is inspiration,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said today as he convened multiple sustainability events running parallel to the United Nations General Assembly.  

Dave Armon

September 18, 2023

Corporate Responsibility

Moving Beyond Targets: The Time is Now for Climate Transition Action Plans

Climate transition action plans have emerged as a leading framework for companies to reduce climate-related risks and maximize opportunities.

Steven Clarke

September 18, 2023

Community Development

Looking Toward the Long-Term With Zero Fresh Water Textile Manufacturing

Welspun India, a home textiles supplier for brands on the international market, found a simple way to eliminate all fresh water use in manufacturing.

Riya Anne Polcastro

September 15, 2023

Sponsored

Building a Sustainable Future Through Material Innovation

Glass Innovation Relies On Recycling

Glass can be recycled over and over without losing quality, making it a great foundation material for the circular economy. But the supply of crushed post-consumer glass — also known as cullet — is at risk. 

Mark Leo

September 14, 2023

Corporate Responsibility

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Could Boost Climate Action

Due to their holistic approach to leadership and understanding of climate risks, women in entrepreneurial positions have a key role to play in climate resiliency and adaptation, says Lizz Welch, CEO of the nonprofit International Development Enterprises (iDE).

Riya Anne Polcastro

September 11, 2023

Energy

This Washing Machine Filter Gulps Up Microplastics

Gulp’s laundry filter is the first sustainable, microfiber filter of its kind. And it catches up to 90% of microplastic particles from each load of laundry. 

Gary E. Frank

September 8, 2023