Every time you ask an AI chatbot for a recipe, have it summarize an article, or draft a report, a cluster of GPUs in a data center draws power from the electrical grid, generates heat that must be cooled with water, and produces carbon emissions tied to whatever fuel mix supplies that grid. A single…
Cattle are one of the most consequential climate problems hiding in plain sight on the dinner table. Livestock are responsible for roughly 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, and cattle alone account for about 65% of that sector’s output. Most of it doesn’t come from…
When we first published this guide in 2019, environmentally responsible ergonomic pillows were a niche category. Six years later, the market looks dramatically different, with changes both encouraging and concerning. Consumer demand for sustainable sleep products has surged. The global sleeping pillow market, valued at roughly $15.5 billion in 2024, is projected to reach $24.3…
Do you have a box of old electrical wires and cables lying in a corner of your house? You’re not alone. According to the UN’s Global E-waste Monitor 2024, a record 62 million metric tons of electronic waste was generated worldwide in 2022, an 82% increase since 2010. E-waste is projected to reach 82 million…
After finally getting the designer treatment it deserves, the shoe we love to hate — Crocs — is back with another upscale collaboration we didn’t know we needed. LoveShackFancy is known for stamping its feminine and pastel-colored designs on other beloved brands like Stanley, Gap, Hunter Boots, Kendra Scott, and Pink. And now, LoveShackFancy is…
At least once a week — let’s face it, at least once every day — the writers and editors across Refinery29 discuss the latest and greatest products in our lives, from some cool new water bottle that’s been absolutely saving our lives to a state-of-the-art sleep product that’s changed our eight hours for the better. And gatekeeping isn’t in our vocabulary, so…
When your phone screen cracks or your laptop battery dies, what do you do? For years, most people just bought a new one. Companies made products hard to open, limited spare parts, and canceled warranties if you tried to fix things yourself. Now, thanks to consumer advocates, new laws, and changing business strategies, that’s starting…
Korean drama is having a moment. From Squid Game to Letterboxd’s highest-rated 2025 miniseries When Life Gives You Tangerines, there are millions of eyes locked in. Blackpink band member Jisoo has been embarking on solo projects recently, releasing her first solo album in 2023 and starring in multiple TV shows and films. However, Netflix’s Boyfriend on Demand is…
In a perfect household, every appliance would run with zero waste. In reality, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that space heating and air conditioning alone account for 52% of an average home’s energy consumption. Add phantom loads, inefficient appliances, and old habits, and significant energy—and money—slips away unnoticed. The good news: homeowners who create…
Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last dollar. This week: a self-employed clinical mental health therapist who makes $50,000 per year and spends some of it on a…