IKEA Has Perfected Vegan Meatballs. Is Plant-Based Chicken Coming, Too?

Good News Notes: “Swedish furniture giant IKEA recently added plant-based chicken nuggets to its menu in the United States. The new option is part of a kids meal (recommended for children 12 and under) that includes broccoli and is priced at $3.49. While IKEA typically develops its own plant-based meats, these nuggets are made by…

Upcycled crops used to make new, surprising products in Japan

Good News Notes: “Upcycling crops that would have otherwise been thrown away is becoming more popular, from making denim out of sugarcane residue to cooking jam from concentrated banana skins. As there is a wide variety of upcycled products, such environmentally friendly brands are likely to catch the eye of consumers. Residue resulting from pressed…

Germany powering down three nuclear plants in shift to renewables

Good News Notes: “Germany will be shutting down three of its six remaining nuclear power stations on Friday as it moves away from nuclear power in favor of renewable energy. The nuclear reactors in the cities of Grohnde, Brokdorf and Gundremmingen will be shut down and disconnected on the evening of Dec. 31. According to S&P…

Tesco Launches Loop Recycle Program in Stores

Good News Notes: “As British grocery store chain Tesco continues to grow its sustainability program, it has implemented a zero-waste packaging system at 10 of its stores in England. The Tesco program offered by TerraCycle’s reusable packaging platform Loop will include 88 products. The grocer says if the program is successful with consumers, packaging could…

Australia: Black soldier flies to upcycle food waste

Good News Notes: “An Australian consortium proposes using black soldier flies to tackle the country’s food waste problem by 2030. The Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), waste management company Goterra and the University of Queensland utilises said flies in its infrastructure as a potential green solution to organic waste. According to Goterra founder…

Community Fridges Are Popping Up Worldwide As A Solution To Food Insecurity And Waste

Good News Notes: “Community fridges are where residents come together to share food supplies. They have become a meaningful and crucial resource worldwide during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. It’s based on the premise that community should be a means of survival during times of scarcity – particularly when the institutions we depend on fail to provide sufficient…

Tiny Bot Helps Clean Up the Sea

Good News Notes: “This tiny bot is helping to clean up the sea. The ‘Jellyfishbot’ is a robotic sea cleaning device. It is operated by a remote control, and its creators say it can turn corners and enter narrow spaces to collect trash like plastic bags, beverage bottles, and used surgical masks from areas of…

Arvin Goods calls BS on sustainable fashion, launches its own apparel line

Good News Notes: “I always felt there was a better way to do what we are doing,” says Dustin Winegardner, co-founder and managing director of local sustainable apparel brand Arvin Goods. “As I learned more and more about the impacts of the apparel industry, and then how easily adaptable alternative materials are, it seemed like a no-brainer,”…