Here’s a number that should make you uncomfortable: the global economy is only 7.2% circular. That means that for every 100 pounds of steel, plastic, cotton, concrete, and food the world consumes, less than 8 pounds come from recycled or reused sources. The other 92-plus pounds? Freshly extracted from the earth, processed, used once or…
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…
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…
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…
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…
The U.S. electric grid loses roughly 5% of all electricity generated just moving it from power plants to homes and businesses. Multiply that inefficiency across aging infrastructure worldwide, and you start to see why clean energy generation alone won’t solve the climate crisis. These seven innovations are making smarter ways to store and deliver power….
Forests are vital for people everywhere. They cover about 4.14 billion hectares, roughly a third of the world’s land, and store 714 gigatons of carbon. They also support 80% of land-based biodiversity. However, we are losing 11 million hectares each year to deforestation, and the World Bank expects demand for forest-based products to rise by…
The circular economy grew 7.5% in the past year and now employs more than 2.2 million people globally, according to StartUs Insights’ 2025 Circular Economy Report. With the North American market projected to grow by 25.65% through 2031, investors are placing increasingly bold bets on startups that aim to close material loops across fashion, electronics,…
Turn back the clock with this classic interview that will get you ready for Spring yard care planning. A lawn may be beautiful but it can take a heavy toll on the environment, accounting for between 30% and 60% of residential water use in the United States. Rob Moir, Ph.D., is president and executive director…