ENVIRONMENT

Technology

E-waste is Illegally Flowing to Asia, Even as Certifiers Try to Close the Loopholes

E-waste recycling is meant to keep old electronics out of landfills and ensure they’re handled responsibly, but gaps in oversight mean American waste is still shipped to landfills in Southeast Asia. The leading certification bodies are weighing in on what needs to change.

Andrew Kaminsky

February 6

Technology

At CES 2026, Limited Sustainability Presence Is Actually Its Biggest Win

Sustainability is no longer being treated as a standalone category. It’s woven into how products, systems and infrastructure are designed from the start.



Noam Freshman

January 20

Technology

Armored Air: Using Bubbles to Keep Plastic Pollution From Reaching the Sea

Can a curtain of bubbles really stop plastic pollution on its route to the oceans? The Great Bubble Barrier says yes.

Ruscena Wiederholt

January 12

Technology

This Startup Retrofits Buildings Using As Few New Materials As Possible

GeoStruxer takes a different approach to retrofitting than the average engineering firm, giving structures a second life while avoiding excess materials and carbon emissions.

Phil Covington

January 8

Technology

Brands Taking Stands

Signs Point to a Bright Future for U.S. Green Steel in 2026

Some fear the resurgence of the U.S. steel industry could mean an uptick in emissions, but recent investor activity indicates the green steel sector could change that.

Tina Casey

January 7

Technology

The Fragile System Taking Shape to Manage Nigeria’s E-Waste Crisis

As local recyclers share safer ways to manage e-waste, Nigeria is testing whether producer responsibility regulations can reduce pollution from discarded electronics.

Abdullahi Jimoh

December 29, 2025

Technology

The Startups Producing Drinkable Water from Air

Atmospheric water generation is inching from sci-fi to reality in communities that lack access to potable water.

Jennifer Cole

December 1, 2025

Technology

Countless Everyday Products Include Fossil Fuels. A New Generation of Chemicals Could Change That

Fossil fuels are probably in some of the products you use every day. Plant-based chemicals are growing in popularity as a replacement, and the shift is largely invisible to consumers.

Gary E. Frank

November 26, 2025

Technology

Cement Has a Serious Emissions Problem. This Startup is Solving It

Cement production emits roughly the same amount of carbon dioxide as all of the cars in the world combined. Massachusetts startup Sublime Systems found a way to make it without its largest source of emissions.

Tina Casey

November 20, 2025

Technology

The Long View: 20 Years of Sustainability in Motion

The Death (and Life) of the Electric Car

From near death in the early aughts to more than 10 percent of new U.S. vehicle sales this year, electric vehicles traveled a winding road to the mainstream U.S. market.

Tina Casey

November 14, 2025

Technology

Brands Taking Stands

With Global Emissions Rules Held Off, What’s Next for the Shipping Industry?

Voting on the first international emissions standard for the shipping industry was pushed back another year, but innovators are still scaling new ways to reduce climate impacts from shipping.

Tina Casey

November 12, 2025

Sponsored

Bringing Tires Full Circle: How Traceability Enhances Recovery and Sustainability

Where Do My Old Tires Go? eTracks Has the Answer

Jurisdictions around the world have put laws on the books to incentivize tire recovery and recycling. But to enforce those rules, they need visibility into where tires come from and where they go. That's where the eSustainable Recovery Platform comes in.

Andrew Kaminsky

November 10, 2025

Technology

Undermining Progress: Human Rights and the Low-Carbon Transition

The Blockchain Solution for the World’s Most Problematic Minerals

Minerals pass through countless hands before reaching manufacturers, making it nearly impossible to trace the ethics of their origins. In Rwanda, one tin smelter turned to blockchain to bring transparency and trust to its supply chain.

Andrew Kaminsky

November 7, 2025

Technology

Brands Taking Stands

Decarbonizing Carbonated Beverages With Direct Air Capture

Carbon dioxide gas is essential for giving soft drinks their famed fizz, and a growing number of beverage companies are looking toward captured carbon as an option.

Tina Casey

October 8, 2025

Sponsored

NYC: Leading Toward a Green Economy

Biomaterials and the Big Apple: How New York City is Reinventing Sustainable Materials

Opened this September during Climate Week, Gotham Foundry aims to leverage biomaterial innovation to bring new businesses and materials to key New York City industries like fashion and construction.

Tina Casey

October 7, 2025

Technology

Brands Taking Stands

New Alliance Picks Up the PACE on Decarbonizing the World’s Buildings

Even as U.S. federal energy policies shift and some decarbonization programs are eliminated, one model designed to resolve the cost hurdle in modernizing buildings is still standing and set to expand.

Tina Casey

October 1, 2025

Technology

This New Machine Churns Out Carbon-Storing Biochar on the Cheap

A worker-owned cooperative is deploying PyroTowers to produce biochar, which helps farmers in the developing world improve their yields.

Matt Simon

September 26, 2025

Technology

Is a Circular Polyester Boom Around the Corner?

Very few of the countless articles of clothing made every year are recycled, but that doesn't mean they can't be. With the European Union's Extended Producer Responsibility legislation on the way, a textile recycler in the United Kingdom is ready to make circularity a reality.

Riya Anne Polcastro

September 24, 2025

Technology

Fabric Maker Nassimi Wants to Make Biodegradable Vinyl the Norm

Nassimi found a way to maintain the toughness vinyl is known for and ensure the material breaks down in a landfill.

Gary E. Frank

September 23, 2025

Technology

Brands Taking Stands

Hyundai Explores a New Low-Carbon Leather Alternative

Hyundai is among the automakers exploring the potential for next-generation plant-based materials to replace leather and plastics in vehicle interiors.

Tina Casey

September 3, 2025

Technology

Can’t Keep Your Houseplants Happy? This Fake Plant Cleans Indoor Air and Produces Electricity

This small fake plant has big potential. Its creators envision future iterations that clean the air and create off-grid energy in homes, disaster-relief shelters and even spacecraft.

Gary E. Frank

August 28, 2025

Technology

Clay Cups Are Replacing Plastic at Cafes and Hotels Across San Francisco

A new kind of to-go cup is quietly taking hold in San Francisco, and this one is made of clay.

Riya Anne Polcastro

August 21, 2025

Technology

Brands Taking Stands

Three Signs the Electric Vehicle Movement is Unstoppable

It's a big month for electric vehicles. Two of the biggest U.S. automakers just announced billion-dollar investments in EV production, and a national program for installing public charging stations is restarting.

Tina Casey

August 13, 2025

Technology

Will Better Labels Increase Plastic Recycling?

Labels may seem like a built-in part of shampoo bottles and condiment jars, but they can cause serious problems for recyclers when they're left on packaging. Pressure-sensitive labels could help.

Nithin Coca

August 8, 2025

Technology

Brands Taking Stands

More Signs of Life for EV Sales in the U.S., With a Second-Life EV Battery Twist

As the global demand for electric vehicles continues to surge, so is the second-life batteries field. Retired EV batteries still have plenty of capacity to store excess energy from renewables and the grid.

Tina Casey

August 6, 2025

Technology

Hilton is Reducing Hotel Food Waste With Creative Cooking and AI

Hilton wants to inspire industry-wide food waste reduction starting with its own hotels. Using lessons learned from projects already underway in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the hospitality giant is tackling its U.S. waste next.

Mary Riddle

July 28, 2025

Technology

Brands Taking Stands

From Pharma to Fabrics, the Green Chemistry Field is Growing Fast

With the global demand for green chemicals and processes set to nearly double by 2030, U.S. researchers and investors continue to be drawn to new opportunities in the field regardless of shifting federal policies.

Tina Casey

July 23, 2025

Technology

Community Composting Can Be an Economic Powerhouse, Coalition Says

A growing international network of schools, farms, bike haulers and community gardens is showing the world that community composting programs can create jobs and improve neighborhoods.

Riya Anne Polcastro

July 11, 2025

Technology

A Map of the Fastest Pathways to Replenish Groundwater in California's Central Valley

Depleted groundwater poses a serious threat to communities and farms in California's Central Valley, but scientists say the region's cropland might also be critical for refilling the underground aquifers holding that water.

Gary E. Frank

June 23, 2025

Technology

Brands Taking Stands

Despite Changing U.S. Policy on EVs, Fleet Electrification is Here to Stay

Only about 14 percent of U.S. commercial fleets included electric vehicles last year, but even as federal policies shift, signs point to continued and accelerated growth. Companies like Amazon are adding thousands of EVs to their fleets, and research shows fleet operators using EVs today have a 90 percent likelihood of purchasing more.

Tina Casey

June 18, 2025

Technology

This California Startup Helps the Ocean Absorb More Carbon Dioxide

By removing carbon dioxide from the ocean, Captura disrupts a natural balancing act between the gas in the water and the gas in air, enhancing the ocean's ability to absorb the greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.

Gary E. Frank

June 17, 2025

Technology

New Tech Turns Manure Into Fertilizer While Capturing Carbon

The climate startup Kairos Carbon developed a system that extracts carbon from livestock waste, sequesters it, and turns what's left into a fertilizer that doesn't leach into groundwater. The process reduces agricultural emissions while still reclaiming valuable nutrients from the waste.

Mary Riddle

June 3, 2025

Technology

Seaweed Can Replace Fossil Fuel-Derived Ingredients in Everyday Products

Food tech startup Marine Biologics uses seaweed from Alaska to create what it calls “the world’s first programmable biomass” that can replace fossil fuel  derivatives in everyday products. 

Gary E. Frank

May 15, 2025

Technology

This Company Can Make Plastic With 90% Less Fossil Fuels: Is That Enough?

By swapping fossil fuels for agricultural waste, Applied Bioplastics makes plastics cheaper, stronger and lower-impact. It won’t end plastic pollution, but it could help manufacturers and buyers cut carbon in a world still obsessed with plastic.

Andrew Kaminsky

May 6, 2025

Technology

This Wildfire Detection System Smells Fires Minutes After They Ignite

Dryad Networks is cutting down the time it takes to detect wildfires. Hoping to give responders a leg up before the flames grow out of control, its AI-powered system senses fires when they first start smoldering.

Rasha Rehman

May 5, 2025

Technology

Can Smarter Charging Cut Smartphone Waste? This Tiny Adapter Says Yes

Smartphone batteries seem to degrade far too quickly. Part of that problem stems from our charging habits. Liion Power's new adapter micro-manages device charging, making it easy to take better care of the batteries in almost any USB-charged device, including your phone.

Abha Malpani Naismith

April 22, 2025

Technology

Can These Bioplastic Cups Reduce Plastic Waste in Event Spaces?

It can be difficult to swap single-use plastic cups for a more sustainable option at big events, especially when it requires behavior or operational changes. Better for All created its bioplastic cups with that in mind, offering a compostable option that breaks down in any environment — not just industrial composting facilities.

Riya Anne Polcastro

April 4, 2025

Technology

The Changing Landscape of Emissions Control

The method used to print eye-catching graphics on the flexible plastic packages that hold everything from snack food to potting soil can release harmful volatile organic compounds into the air. The engineering firm Ship & Shore Environmental's new technology helps address these emissions.

Tina Casey

March 28, 2025

Technology

Brands Taking Stands

Trade Wars Aside, Canada's Clean Tech Startups Help to Decarbonize the U.S. Economy

Even as trade wars heat up, three leading Canadian companies in the electric vehicle battery and solar energy fields are set to expand their presence in the U.S. this year.

Tina Casey

March 12, 2025

Technology

Vycarb Strives to Scale Carbon Removal Using Water, And It's Starting in NYC

The Brooklyn-based startup Vycarb aims to capture and remove 100 metric tons of carbon using an innovative carbon dioxide removal system and water from New York City's East River. And it's getting precise measurements along the way.

Gary E. Frank

March 10, 2025

Technology

Brands Taking Stands

Consumer Education Can Help Keep the Electric Vehicle Momentum Going

Electric vehicles now account for a fairly substantial 9 percent share of the U.S. auto market. A new report from the consumer intelligence firm JD Power suggests that consumer education could help keep the trend alive, despite the challenge of new federal policies.

Tina Casey

February 26, 2025

Technology

Coach Gives Secondhand Denim a Second Life With Bank & Vogue

Using secondhand materials has the potential to significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the fashion industry. The secondhand goods broker Bank & Vogue is demonstrating that's possible by working with big brands to create products out of upcycled fabrics, like Coach's new repurposed denim bag.

Nicole Froio

February 25, 2025

Technology

As Global Efforts to Reduce Refrigerant Emissions Gain Momentum, This Software Helps Companies Track Their Use

Refrigerators, air conditioners, and other cooling systems are leading sources of extremely potent greenhouse gas emissions. As more governments look to regulate these emissions, new software from Locus Technologies aims to help companies comply.

Gary E. Frank

February 17, 2025

Technology

Exergio Gives Shopping Malls Energy-Efficient Makeovers With AI

Shopping malls are some of the largest energy consumers. With the help of artificial intelligence (AI), they can significantly reduce their energy waste by better managing existing systems.

Gary E. Frank

January 30, 2025

Technology

Startups Are Scaling the Direct Air Capture Industry

As carbon emissions reach record levels and global temperatures surpass a crucial tipping point, climate scientists are calling on carbon capture to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Direct air capture startups, which suck carbon out of the open air, hope to answer that call by developing scalable versions of the technology that use less energy and drive costs down.

Gary E. Frank

January 23, 2025

Technology

Jamaica's CNG Buses: A Bridge to a Greener Future

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company recently purchased a fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses in hopes of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality in the capital city Kingston.

Gladstone H Taylor

January 13, 2025

Technology

IBM and WWF Collaborate to Save Elephants with Artificial Intelligence

African forest and African savanna elephant populations are in severe decline. Monitoring them helps conservationists develop protection strategies, but doing so in dense tropical rainforests is a challenge. New artificial intelligence technology is eliminating that barrier.

Abha Malpani Naismith

January 9, 2025

Technology

How Aldi is Tackling Extremely Potent Greenhouse Gases

Aldi is eliminating refrigerants that contain hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) from its value chain. The greenhouse gases trap thousands of times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

Gary E. Frank

December 27, 2024

Technology

This Coalition is Providing Better Data for Water Security Solutions

The Water Security Compass is a first-of-its-kind online tool created to address a critical data gap in global water management: understanding how both natural processes and human interventions impact the water supply. The designers hope it drives users to take action.

Mary Riddle

December 13, 2024

Technology

New Reforestation Tool Makes Data Collection Easier to Boost Project Success

The new online tool Terraware promises to track reforestation projects according to foresters’ data collection needs and make global collaboration to fight climate change easier.

Nicole Froio

November 1, 2024

Technology

New Tool Helps Engineers Consider Carbon Emissions During The Design Process

Aiming to make carbon accounting easier, Bentley Systems' new tool allows engineers to see a digital representation of the embodied carbon in their future projects. That also helps them compare building materials and design choices to mitigate those emissions.

Phil Covington

October 29, 2024

Technology

Ocean Biodiversity is Under Threat and Technology Can Help Save It

As the United Nations biodiversity summit continues in Colombia, an intergovernmental effort driven by four Latin American countries is leading a digital revolution to protect ocean biodiversity.

Tony Long

October 28, 2024

Technology

Brands Taking Stands

The U.S. Faces a Persistent Gender Gap in EV Sales: Here's What Automakers Can Do About It

Women purchased just 33 percent of the electric vehicles sold in the U.S. in the first six months of 2023. Here's how automakers can get more women interested in EVs.

Tina Casey

October 16, 2024

Technology

An AI Career Coach is Leveling the Playing Field for Job Seekers

Most young people don't have access to a counselor or advisor who can help them enter the workforce. CareerVillage's artificial intelligence-powered career coach is democratizing how people navigate their career paths, especially youth who lack access to traditional career support systems.

Abha Malpani Naismith

October 7, 2024

Technology

The Restor Platform Empowers Communities to Restore the Planet

Part social network, part marketplace, the open-access land restoration platform Restor helps local land stewards reach customers and investors for their products and services. The aim is to support climate change adaptation and mitigation by empowering those who are most vulnerable to its effects.

Ruscena Wiederholt

October 3, 2024

Technology

Can Digital Twins and Tree Mapping Help Cities Adapt to Climate Change?

Trees play an important role in cities' ability to adapt to extreme weather and other impacts of climate change. Now, they're using digital twins paired with artificial intelligence to create digital maps of trees, plan green infrastructure projects and monitor tree health.

Riya Anne Polcastro

August 8, 2024

Technology

Lithium-ion Batteries Could Soon Work Much Better in Extreme Temperatures

The Japanese technology company Asahi Kasei found a way to improve lithium-ion battery performance in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 140 degrees. It could be a game changer for the electric vehicle industry.

Phil Covington

July 29, 2024

Technology

Harnessing the Oceans to Combat Climate Change: 
The Possible Next Wave in Geoengineering

Solar geoengineering is gaining traction as a potential method to temporarily reduce global temperatures. While some geoengineering techniques could present more unintended consequences than others, researchers think marine cloud brightening is worth a closer look.

Rinaldo S Brutoco

July 26, 2024

Technology

A Coalition of Companies is Replacing Thin-Film Plastic With Seaweed

The Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Accelerator powered by Lonely Whale brought together a group of companies to speed up the adoption of seaweed-based alternatives to the thin-film plastic commonly used to package clothes and other products.

Gary E. Frank

July 25, 2024

Technology

Aquacycl Makes Treating Industrial Wastewater Easier and More Effective

The California startup Aquacycl created an on-site way to address hard-to-treat industrial wastewater. The system uses natural, locally-sourced bacteria to consume organic materials in the water while creating electricity.

Carl Nettleton

July 11, 2024

Technology

Climeworks’ Iceland Carbon Capture Plant is First to be Puro Standard Certified

After rigorous evaluation, Climeworks became the first direct air capture company to receive third-party verification under the Puro Standard for its Orca plant, which captures carbon dioxide straight from the air around it.

Mary Riddle

June 25, 2024

Technology

PetSmart Wants to Turn Your Dog’s Old Toys Into New Ones

Pet parents in four western states can drop off their dog's old rubber and plastic toys at PetSmart to be recycled into brand new toys. The company is partnering with West Paw to expand the toy maker's existing toy takeback program.

Riya Anne Polcastro

June 21, 2024

Technology

B&Q Launches Plastic Plant Pot Recycling Program

The United-Kingdom-based home improvement company B&Q is minimizing gardening waste with a closed-loop plant pot recycling initiative. The plastic pots it collects are used to make new, weather-resistant pots.

Gladstone H Taylor

June 20, 2024

Technology

These High School Scientists Are Building Wildfire Solutions

Two thousand young scientists from around the world just presented their solutions for critical societal issues at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. We spoke to three students who conducted research and created tools to address wildfires.

Mary Riddle

June 17, 2024

Technology

Brands Taking Stands

How the U.S. Navy is Making Electric Vehicle Batteries Better

Lithium is the material of choice for electric vehicle batteries, but it comes with a set of problems. The U.S. Navy is working with the startup Enzinc to assist in bringing alternative battery materials like zinc into the market to address some of those issues.

Tina Casey

June 12, 2024

Technology

Corporate Composting Could Take Off With New Tech That Removes the 'Ick Factor'

The composting industry is challenged by the "ick factor" that accompanies the idea of keeping food waste around. So, Mill Industries developed a compact, odor-free kitchen appliance that turns food waste into dry grounds with cleanliness and convenience in mind.

Tina Casey

June 10, 2024

Technology

Phononic’s New Cooling Technology Reduces Grocery Store Emissions

Grocery stores typically use refrigerants that are thousands of times more powerful greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide to keep food cold. Heating and cooling technology company Phononic found a way to do so without using them.

Gary E. Frank

June 6, 2024

Technology

Artificial Intelligence Helps Restore the World’s Most Biodiverse Coral Reef

Three businesses are teaming up to restore the reefs in the most diverse marine ecosystem on the planet, Malaysia's Coral Triangle, using underwater cameras and artificial intelligence.

Abha Malpani Naismith

May 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