SOCIETY

Sustainable Living

No, Your Netflix Binge Isn't Killing the Planet, But These 5 Gadget Habits Could Be

When it comes to how our gadget use impacts the environment, streaming is far down the list of things to worry about, but you may want to consider the following sustainable gadget habits if you're looking to cut your impact down to size. 

Mary Mazzoni

May 29, 2024

Justice + Equality

Brands Taking Stands

Despite Attacks, The Demographic Case for Pride Month Continues to Grow

In the wake of attacks on the LGBTQ+ community in the lead-up to Pride Month in 2023, some brands are taking a quieter, more cautious approach this year. But new data shows corporate diversity and inclusion outreach is a sound business practice to highlight and celebrate, not hide away.

Tina Casey

May 29, 2024

Justice + Equality

Neurodivergent Workers and Businesses Thrive Together with the Right Support

The largest autistic-majority company worldwide, Auticon, helps businesses create an environment where neurodivergent workers can realize their potential and feel fulfilled in their employment.

Riya Anne Polcastro

May 28, 2024

Voices for Change

Empowerment Avenue Helps Incarcerated Writers Get Their Work Published

Creatives who were incarcerated at San Quentin prison started Empowerment Avenue to give writers and artists who are incarcerated the support necessary to get their work featured in outside publications and secure fair pay.

Michelle Erdenesanaa

May 23, 2024

Justice + Equality

The Debt Relief Program Restoring Voting Rights for People with Felony Convictions

The nonprofit Free Our Vote helps people with felony convictions restore their voting rights by paying off their criminal court debt, which is required to be able to vote in many U.S. states but can be difficult to do.

Gary E. Frank

May 21, 2024

Sustainable Living

Will the American Climate Corps Help Young People's Mental Health?

Along with creating green jobs, taking hands-on action with the American Climate Corps could help alleviate the growing climate anxiety among young people.

Kate Yoder

May 20, 2024

Justice + Equality

Empowering Immigrant Communities For Climate Justice

A Just Transition Starts with Ensuring Immigrant Oil Workers Know Their Rights

Somos Un Pueblo Unido is advocating for a just transition by helping immigrant workers in the oil and gas industry organize. Making sure they know their rights is the first step.

Riya Anne Polcastro

May 17, 2024

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

Should Employers Prepare For a Summer of Protests?

Summer jobs and student internships have been rites of passage for generations. But this summer could pose unique challenges for employers as some analysts anticipate the string of protests at colleges and universities will spread to office buildings and corporate campuses. 

Tina Casey

May 15, 2024

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

Inside TelevisaUnivision's Media Blitz to Drive Voter Registration

Spanish for "Vote With Me," the Vota Conmigo campaign focuses on providing essential election information to Hispanic and Latino voters. It reached 770 million media impressions and registered 1.3 million new voters ahead of the 2020 election, and it's just getting started.

Mary Mazzoni

May 15, 2024

Voices for Change

Can Young People's Faith in Democracy Be Restored?

Young people are growing disenfranchised with democracy, increasingly viewing the efforts of global leaders as incapable of addressing the issues that matter most to them. How can we restore faith in a system that has failed young people and their concerns? 

Ella Robertson McKay

May 14, 2024

Justice + Equality

Donte West’s Growing Cannabis Coalition is Fighting for Reparative Justice

After escaping wrongful incarceration for false cannabis charges, Donte West joined a growing coalition of brands and organizations fighting drug-related criminal injustice and advocating for the release of people who were incarcerated for cannabis.

Patrick McCarthy

May 13, 2024

Community Development

An Answer Under Our Feet: 'Cool Pavements' Fight Urban Heat Islands

Cool pavement coatings reflect the sun's rays and can be applied to things like roads and playground surfaces to reduce heat in cities. A project in one of the hottest neighborhoods of Los Angeles shows it can work.

Riya Anne Polcastro

May 7, 2024

Sustainable Living

Beyond the Lawn: The Advantages of Cultivating Native Plants

Swapping the non-native turf that likely makes up your lawn for native plants and grasses is beneficial for wildlife, the environment and you.

Ruscena Wiederholt

May 6, 2024

Justice + Equality

Undermining Progress: Human Rights and the Low-Carbon Transition

Mining Companies are Suing Governments, and It's Compromising Environmental and Human Rights Laws

Did you know companies can sue countries for enacting social and environmental protections that impact their projects? It's called an investor-state dispute settlement, and some say the mechanism is necessary to mobilize private investment. Human rights and environmental organizations disagree.

Andrew Kaminsky

May 2, 2024

Justice + Equality

A Human Rights Wake-Up Call for the Seafood Industry

More than 34,000 people gathered in Barcelona last week for a massive trade show focused on seafood, the world's most widely traded commodity, valued at over $236 billion. But behind the scenes, the industry faces a stark reckoning.

Ryan Bigelow

May 1, 2024

Sustainable Living

Sustainable Travel Guide: Reduce Carbon Emissions on Your Next Trip

Tourism produces 8 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, but you don't have to leave a heavy footprint to see the world with these sustainable travel tips.

Riya Anne Polcastro

April 30, 2024

Voices for Change

The Solutions Effect

Is Joy Newsworthy?

Adding joy to the criteria journalists use to decide which stories to cover could improve our relationship with the news and our view of the world.

Taylor Haelterman

April 29, 2024

Justice + Equality

A Guide for Companies to Embrace Social Justice

Though some critics diminish social justice engagement by using the word “woke” as an all-purpose pejorative, this new resource helps business leaders rise above it and take action.

Gary E. Frank

April 26, 2024

Sustainable Living

Why You Should Travel Slowly Through Florence, Italy, and How to Do It

Overtourism is rife in Florence and regions throughout Italy, but travelers can use this guide to see the city while staying conscious of their social and environmental impacts by spending more time in one place and shopping locally.

Mary Riddle

April 26, 2024

Sustainable Living

A Sustainable Travel Guide to Central New York

Next time you visit Central New York, use this roundup to stop by some must-see nature locales near Syracuse that are also a part of conservation and sustainability efforts.

Patrick McCarthy

April 25, 2024

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

Nonpartisan Ways Brands Can Support Free and Fair Elections in the U.S.

Standing up for basic tenets of democracy — such as the right to vote without interference and have that vote be counted — is not partisan. And business leaders don't need to back a candidate or make a political statement in order to get involved.

Mary Mazzoni

April 24, 2024

Community Development

Brands Taking Stands

How Big Tech Can Deploy Solar on Schools for Community Benefit

A recent policy shift in West Virginia illustrates how tech firms can help school districts take advantage of new power purchase agreement opportunities, which de-risk renewable energy projects for developers while giving customers access to low-cost energy.

Tina Casey

April 24, 2024

Sustainable Living

Aloha’s Pa’akai Bar Proves Aligning Profit and Planet Creates Delicious Results

Following the release of Aloha’s new pa'akai bar made with ingredients from Hawaiian farms, we spoke with the plant-based protein brand's CEO Brad Charron about what it takes to build sustainable partnerships that benefit local communities.

Gladstone H Taylor

April 23, 2024

Justice + Equality

Empowering Immigrant Communities For Climate Justice

For a Just Energy Transition, Oil and Gas Workers Must be Heard

Decreasing the production of fossil fuels is an essential part of the energy transition to reduce carbon emissions, but without proper planning, immigrant oil and gas workers are set to suffer from the fallout. That's where the immigrant rights organization Somos un Pueblo Unido comes in.

Riya Anne Polcastro

April 22, 2024

Sustainable Living

Five Hidden, Sustainable Spots to Visit in Kingston, Jamaica

If you're visiting Jamaica, don't overlook the capital city, Kingston. Travelers might not expect to find these locally-owned, sustainable spots that are good for the environment and support the local economy.

Gladstone H Taylor

April 19, 2024

Community Development

Zero-Emissions Road Freight in India is a Blueprint for Public-Private Collaboration in Emerging Markets

When it comes to road freight, India is leading the way among emerging markets in accelerating the number of zero-emissions vehicles on the road. And it’s offering a blueprint for others to follow.

Diane Holdorf

April 12, 2024

Sustainable Living

From Four Wheels to Two: Ditching Your Car for a Cargo Bike

What happens when a family of four tries to go car-free? It's not an easy task, but 3p contributor Mary Riddle found it possible with the help of an electric cargo bike and a little ingenuity.

Mary Riddle

April 12, 2024

Voices for Change

DEI Isn't the Enemy: It Helps Organizations Navigate Conflict and Change

Knowing what to say about complex and emotionally charged global events is uncomfortable territory for business leaders. Investing in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives can help.

Elizabeth Curwen

April 2, 2024

Justice + Equality

This App Helps Immigrants Reclaim Their Stolen Wages

Wage theft costs American workers approximately $50 billion each year, and low-wage, immigrant workers are more than twice as likely to have their wages stolen than those born in the U.S. Reclamo helps advocates in New York navigate the process of reporting stolen wages with immigrant workers.

Patrick McCarthy

April 1, 2024

Voices for Change

The Solutions Effect

Solutions Storytelling Isn’t Only For Journalists

Journalism, cookbooks and video games are just some of the ways people are using solutions storytelling to tackle tough problems.

Taylor Haelterman

March 28, 2024

Sustainable Living

Sustainable, Money-Saving Swaps You May Not Know Your College Offers

The list of on-campus resources that professors share on the first day of classes can be easily forgotten, but the student benefits your college offers can help you save money and live more sustainably.

Taylor Haelterman

March 26, 2024

Sustainable Living

What Does It Take To Switch To a Sustainable Bank?

The hard-earned savings you’re holding in your bank account may be an indirect source of a ton of greenhouse gas emissions. So, we looked into what it takes to switch to a sustainable bank.

Taylor Haelterman

March 22, 2024

Sustainable Living

Growing "Food and Futures": Vertical Harvest Serves Its Community in More Ways Than One

Vertical Harvest is addressing the needs of communities like Jackson Hole, Wyoming, by growing fresh produce year-round and providing meaningful work for people with disabilities.

Gavi Klein

March 19, 2024

Justice + Equality

This Initiative Reduces Recidivism by Teaching Incarcerated People to Code

The ever-expanding tech industry is creating opportunities for job seekers who were formerly incarcerated. So, the Prison Scholar Fund is collaborating with Colorado Technical University’s Coding Dojo to help prepare people who are incarcerated for careers in tech upon their release.

Patrick McCarthy

March 18, 2024

Justice + Equality

Championing Gender Equity in Entrepreneurship: How Village Capital Redefines Investment for Women-Led Startups

Women entrepreneurs often face an arduous journey in getting funding due to deep-rooted societal and cultural biases. Village Capital is mitigating gender bias in investment decision-making by reshaping traditional due diligence processes.

Reem Goussous

March 15, 2024

Sponsored

Force for Good: Giving Back to Communities Nationwide

Subaru and Make-A-Wish Create Joyous Memories for Families

Children’s greatest wishes are coming true in the Chicago suburbs. From family vacations to bedroom makeovers, Autobarn Subaru of Countryside and Make-A-Wish Illinois are helping to create irreplaceable experiences for critically ill children and their families.

Ellen Delisio

March 14, 2024

Sustainable Living

Living a Sustainable Life Doesn’t Have to be Expensive

It's a common misconception that sustainable living is too expensive for the average person. In truth, it can be more affordable than established norms, but it requires changing our mindset and doing more with less.

Riya Anne Polcastro

March 11, 2024

Justice + Equality

Brands Taking Stands

Some Companies Dig in for the Long Haul on Reproductive Rights, While Those on the Sidelines Face Risk

As cases regarding restrictions on reproductive rights continue to rise in the U.S. court system, business leaders can no longer stay above the fray. CVS and Walgreens are among those taking advantage of a new opportunity to stand up for reproductive rights.

Tina Casey

March 6, 2024

Justice + Equality

This Chatbot Democratizes Data to Empower India's Farmers

The social enterprise Gramhal is building a cooperative in India where farmers contribute their information to a data ecosystem, which all farmers can leverage for better informed decision-making and to better understand how to fairly price their goods.

Abha Malpani Naismith

March 4, 2024

Sustainable Living

The Great Big Waste Audit: What We Learned From Tracking Our Trash For a Week

It’s easy to throw something in the bin and forget about it, so a waste audit is a great way to stop and think about what you’re really sending to the landfill each time you tie up a garbage bag.

TriplePundit Editors

March 1, 2024

Voices for Change

The Solutions Effect

These Journalists Are Making It Easier to Read About Difficult Things

As news avoidance hovers around an all-time high, some journalists are covering the most pressing societal issues in a way that encourages agency and hope.

Taylor Haelterman

February 29, 2024

Sustainable Living

Sustainable Home Ideas That Caught Our Eye on Social Media This Month

From turning your old clothes and packaging into food storage, to properly maintaining your car and washing machine, these helpful tips from social media prove it doesn't have to be costly or time-consuming to become more sustainable at home.

Mary Mazzoni

February 28, 2024

Sustainable Living

Vegging Out: What I Learned From Eating More Plant-Based Foods

The plant-based food industry is booming, and it's bringing foodie-approved vegan alternatives along with it. Plant-based products like cheese, yogurt and eggs are no longer a far stretch from the real thing. Here's what one of our writers learned from giving vegan a try more often.

Ruscena Wiederholt

February 27, 2024

Justice + Equality

Undermining Progress: Human Rights and the Low-Carbon Transition

Empowering Indigenous Voices Might be the Key to a Successful Green Energy Transition

With 54 percent of transition mineral projects located on or near Indigenous peoples’ lands, getting free, prior, and informed consent from Indigenous communities for mining project development is one way to ensure they are not neglected as the green energy transition marches forward.

Andrew Kaminsky

February 26, 2024

Justice + Equality

Companies Can Advance Social Justice and Do Good Business: Here’s How

Now is not the time for companies to back down, but rather stand out by strengthening their commitment to social justice and by leveraging their time, money and influence. This may not be easy to do, but these strategies can help.

Harriet Gardner

February 23, 2024

Justice + Equality

A Women-Led Initiative is Growing Food Security and Climate Resilience Across Africa

The nonprofit Camfed teaches young women to spread climate-smart agriculture techniques in their communities to increase food security, climate resilience and even school attendance.

Riya Anne Polcastro

February 20, 2024

Sustainable Living

How Sustainable Lifestyle Choices Saved Me Money as a College Student

Sustainable living can feel out of reach as a college student on a strict budget, but making sustainable lifestyle changes doesn’t require buying new things or following trends — and it can save you money. These simple things made a big impact in my student years.

Taylor Haelterman

February 19, 2024

Justice + Equality

This Coalition of Companies Wants to Close the Gender Gap: Is It Working?

More than 80 companies around the world are searching for the best ways to advance women across racial and ethnic groups into leadership roles to improve gender equity as a part of the Catalyst CEO Champions For Change initiative. 

Rasha Rehman

February 16, 2024

Sustainable Living

What Makes a 'Sustainable' Material When It Comes to Interior Design?

Knowing what counts as a sustainable building material can be difficult, especially when working with the overwhelming variety of products available for interior spaces. Gensler's new platform helps companies implementing sustainable design identify their options.

Tina Casey

February 15, 2024

Justice + Equality

On Valentine's Day, Let's Consider Where Our Chocolate Comes From

The cocoa industry generates roughly $200 billion in annual profits, yet the farmers who produce it often make less than a dollar a day from growing and selling cocoa. As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, WWF's Jason Clay examines how companies can invest in the people and places that sustain cocoa production. 

Jason Clay

February 14, 2024

Justice + Equality

Brands Taking Stands

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Are Still Winning Despite Pushback

It may seem that the corporate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) movement is retrenching, but regathering is a more accurate assessment. A strong DEI profile is essential for businesses to thrive and grow today.

Tina Casey

February 14, 2024

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

All the Brands That Took Stands With Their 2024 Super Bowl Ads

While standard product features with a side of comedy dominated the airwaves at Super Bowl LVII, a number of brands opted to raise awareness for a bigger message.

Mary Mazzoni

February 14, 2024

Voices for Change

I'm An Environmental Journalist, And These Are the Sustainable Living Choices That Made My Life Better

Sustainability writers are often tasked with answering the question, "where is the impact?" When it comes to sustainable living, the impact is felt in the daily life of the person practicing it. Here are some of the ways it's added to my enjoyment of life.

Tina Casey

February 13, 2024

Voices for Change

Why It’s Hard to Discuss Race At Work (and How to Make It Easier)

Talking about race at work often devolves into defensiveness that invalidates people of color and their perspectives. To have productive conversations, you should arrive capable of managing your own feelings while accepting hard truths about yourself, this diversity and inclusion expert recommends.

Fatimah Gilliam

February 9, 2024

Voices for Change

As Bali Chokes in Plastic Waste, Surfers Should Be Part of the Solution

Scroll idly through Instagram’s explore page and it won’t be long before you encounter an influencer’s trip to Bali. They paint a paradisiacal vision, but if you walk down those beaches yourself, the stark reality of plastic debris intermingled with the sand quickly shatters the illusion so carefully cultivated for your digital consumption. 

Emma Bukowski

February 6, 2024

Sustainable Living

Don't Toss Those Veggie Scraps! How to Use Them to Make Stock at Home

In the spirit of our 2024 Sustainable Living Challenge, and trying out affordable and accessible things that reduce our personal footprints, we decided to give it a go — and we're not going back. Bookmark this page for when you have enough scraps to start some stock yourself. 

Mary Mazzoni

February 5, 2024

Sustainable Living

Can You Really Reduce Food Waste With ChatGPT? We Tried It To Find Out

We heard through the grapevine that everyone's favorite digital assistant, ChatGPT, is also a powerful ally for reducing food waste at home. But does it really work? We gave it a try to find out. 

Mary Mazzoni

February 5, 2024

Sustainable Living

How to Store Your Fruits and Vegetables So They Last Longer

You're probably storing your fruits and vegetables wrong. Clickbait aside, improper storage is the No. 1 reason your fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs are spoiling faster than you can use them. Bookmark this list to start storing your produce like a pro.

Mary Mazzoni

February 5, 2024

Voices for Change

Nonprofit Builders are Pivotal in Pioneering AI for the Public Good

Nonprofit builders are at the forefront of developing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that advance the public good. Helping students with their resumes, trialing generic drugs to treat cancer, and improving livelihoods for rural farmers are among the missions nonprofits are pursuing with help from AI.

Kevin Barenblat

February 2, 2024

Sustainable Living

2024 Sustainable Living Challenge: Join Us in Making a Difference This Year

With the 2024 Sustainable Living Challenge, we're out to prove adopting a more sustainable lifestyle can be easy, budget-friendly and fun (yes, fun!). 

Mary Mazzoni

January 31, 2024

Justice + Equality

3 Ways to Improve Disability-Inclusive Design in 2024

Representation in disability-related product design has come a long way, but there is still room for improvement. Businesses can use disability-inclusive design to make products that can be used by and benefit all while making sound business sense.

Megan Amrich

January 29, 2024

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

Book Bans and ESG Backlash: Top Issues Brands Must Address in 2024

Along with another critical year in the fight against climate change, these issues are sure to be at the forefront for brands as we head into the new year. 

Mary Mazzoni

January 24, 2024

Justice + Equality

Brands Taking Stands

A Chilling Legal Landscape Has Racial Equity Efforts Under Attack

Advocates warn that lawsuits filed in 2023 add up to a murky legal landscape in which racial equity programming can be labeled discrimination.

Mary Mazzoni

January 17, 2024

Community Development

Brands Taking Stands

How the Circular Economy Can Transform Buildings Into 'Material Banks'

Demolishing a building with a carefully planned implosion is a spectacular sight, but the debris typically goes to waste in landfills. A new approach takes all that careful planning and puts it to work in a circular economy model that cuts carbon emissions and conserves resources.

Tina Casey

January 17, 2024

Sustainable Living

24 New Plant-Based Foods Coming to Market in 2024

New plant-based brands, partnerships and products are released almost every day, to the delight of vegans and curious omnivores alike, making it easier for everyone to mix up their plates more often.

Mary Mazzoni

January 16, 2024

Community Development

Mobile Home Owners Form Co-Ops for Housing Security and Climate Resilience

As mobile home owners fight rising housing costs, some of them have hit upon a solution that also helps in the fight against climate change: banding together and buying the land underneath their homes.

Siri Chilukuri

January 12, 2024

Justice + Equality

Brands Taking Stands

How Leading U.S. Businesses Can Find Their Voice on Abortion Rights

Business leaders who support the right to safe, legal abortion risk stepping into a minefield when they speak out. But the opportunity to speak up and unify around common ground exists, and the dating app Bumble is among those showing the way.

Tina Casey

January 10, 2024

Justice + Equality

Empowering Immigrant Communities For Climate Justice

Immigrants Are a Vital Voice in the Climate Movement: Will Environmentalists Listen?

Their lived experiences give immigrants invaluable insight into the climate crisis, yet their voices are largely excluded from mainstream environmental movements. The National Partnership for New Americans is looking to change that by shifting the climate migration narrative.

Riya Anne Polcastro

January 2, 2024

Sustainable Living

The Big Sustainability Ideas Our Readers Loved In 2023

2023 was a big year for TriplePundit. Our renewed focus on evidence-based sustainability solutions resonated with our community of readers, and these were some of the headlines that caught your eyes most last year. 

Mary Mazzoni

December 29, 2023

Community Development

Air Pollution is a Global Problem That Calls for Local Solutions

A recent report from the American Thoracic Society shows the local impacts of air pollution so cities, counties and regions can see the direct benefits of making air quality improvements.

Mary Riddle

December 27, 2023

Voices for Change

Solving the Caregiving Crisis is a Collective Endeavor

The U.S. faces a caregiving crisis of immense proportion. Support for the care workforce is severely lacking while America enters an elder boom, with all baby boomers turning 65 or older by 2030. It doesn’t have to be this way. Solutions for creating a care economy that works for everyone exist today.

Amy Brown

December 26, 2023

Sustainable Living

Brands Taking Stands

Tips on Buying Secondhand for Your Last-Minute Holiday Gifts

More than 90 percent of Americans say they'd be open to receiving a secondhand gift for the holidays. If you still have a few more names to check off your gifting list before the weekend, consider choosing a secondhand option using our go-to guide.

Mary Mazzoni

December 20, 2023