The hottest Sustainability Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Climate & Environment Topics

At FixFest: Growing a Movement Post-Pandemic

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 03 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Sustainability
  1. Teaching repair skills in schools and establishing networks of Repair Cafes are key ideas discussed at FixFest to promote repairability and reuse.
  2. Advocates highlighted the need for a legal right to repair, pointing out the barriers individuals face when trying to repair items.
  3. Efforts to promote repair independently of regulations post-COVID were emphasized at FixFest, showcasing the resilience and growing interest in repair events.

Two guides for a healthy biosphere

Technology, Environment, and Art • 19 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Human happiness and contentment is tied to the health of the biosphere, including all life forms, not just humans
  2. We need more thinkers who ask basic, general questions without relying on specialized knowledge, encouraging a return to fundamental philosophy
  3. We should move beyond prioritizing profit and measurable variables to embrace a new philosophy emphasizing harmony with the biosphere and a shift towards empathetic and wise thinking

no. 51: not written down

let them eat cake • 119 implied HN points • 23 Mar 22
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability
  1. Andy's story highlights challenges in the food supply chain, like labor shortages, logistical issues, and the impact on small suppliers.
  2. Restaurants face pressures from both the supply side and consumer demands, leading to compromises in sourcing and menu offerings.
  3. There is a tension between the ideal of sustainable, ethically sourced food and the practical constraints faced by restaurants in meeting diners' expectations.
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A Hurdle for New Biobased Plastics

The Polymerist • 215 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🔬 Science Sustainability
  1. Creating biobased plastics that are both affordable and perform well is a major challenge.
  2. Price, performance, and convincing consumers are the three main hurdles to overcome in promoting biobased plastics.
  3. The success of biobased plastics hinges on their ability to compete with traditional plastics in terms of cost and performance, while also gaining consumer acceptance.

Europe's Fast-Closing Carbon Window

European Straits • 11 implied HN points • 10 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Europe is creating a unique carbon market that will charge importers for the carbon in goods like cement and steel. This could raise around €100 billion in its first years, encouraging other countries to reduce emissions.
  2. Carbon removal technologies can turn captured CO₂ into valuable products like concrete, fuels, and chemicals. This means companies can make money while helping the environment, which is vital for creating new industries.
  3. To succeed, European firms need to focus on scaling up their operations and capitalizing on new technologies. It's not enough to follow market rules; they need to invest in building strong companies that can compete globally.

#64 Why was beige all the rage?

Design Lobster • 219 implied HN points • 19 Apr 21
🪑 Design Sustainability
  1. Computers in the past were commonly beige due to practical reasons, offering a vintage look that did not look too new or old.
  2. Designing with longevity in mind, like the Centennial Lightbulb that has been shining for over a century, showcases the importance of durability and smart design choices.
  3. Great design is timeless and should focus on understanding the unchanging aspects of human nature to create lasting impact.

The three types of changes for a sustainable future

Technology, Environment, and Art • 19 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Type I changes are superficial changes that may sound good but do little to solve sustainability issues.
  2. Type II changes make a significant positive impact on the environment while still operating within current systems.
  3. Type III changes are radical, revolutionary changes that challenge the status quo and are essential for creating a truly sustainable future.

Your job as a CEO: Communicate a Vision

Tech Ramblings • 59 implied HN points • 05 Mar 23
💼 Business Sustainability
  1. As a CEO, one of your main jobs is to clearly communicate your vision. This helps inspire your team and attract customers who believe in your goals.
  2. A strong vision is important both inside your company and outside. It helps hire committed employees and serves as a marketing tool for your brand.
  3. Patagonia's founder, Yvon Chouinard, is a great example of someone who communicates a clear and responsible vision. His focus on sustainability has built a loyal customer base that values the brand's mission.

The Dirty Secret of Recycling

Polymathic Being • 104 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Only 10% of plastic put in recycling bins is actually recycled.
  2. Recycling can have high contamination rates and often leads to materials being shipped overseas or dumped in landfills.
  3. To improve recycling, focus on reducing and reusing materials, design products for better recycling, and address the psychological aspect of recycling habits.

How to do International Food Aid and Succeed as an African Entrepreneur in One Day

Splattern • 1 HN point • 12 Aug 24
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability
  1. Food aid can significantly improve people's lives, as shown by the joy and gratitude of families receiving meals. Simple acts of giving can create strong connections and happiness in communities.
  2. Success stories of entrepreneurs can provide hope and insight into achieving personal goals. Learning from those who have succeeded, like Rocky, can inspire others, like Living, to understand and reach for their ambitions.
  3. Different cultures offer unique solutions for common problems. While the U.S. has its challenges, the close-knit, family-oriented lifestyle in Africa can teach lessons about connection, happiness, and health that can benefit everyone.

✅ Public relations: ESG management advisory or a communication function?

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 59 implied HN points • 09 Feb 23
💼 Business Sustainability
  1. Public relations should play a role in driving real change in businesses, not just focus on communication after decisions are made. It's important for PR to influence management to act responsibly.
  2. Many oil and gas companies report huge profits but do not address their negative impact on the environment. This gap can lead to greater issues in society and the economy.
  3. There's a shift towards considering environmental and social factors in business strategies. PR can help highlight these issues, but it must go beyond surface-level communication to truly make an impact.

Greed Counters Greed

Spud’s Substack • 2 HN points • 13 Jul 24
🌍 World Politics Sustainability
  1. Greed is seen as a primary force governing actions, like control of medical boards and warfare, including the existence of counterfeit currency.
  2. The human population's natural desire to grow conflicts with limited resources, resulting in poverty and societal challenges.
  3. The clash between the greed of powerful entities and the masses leads to societal inequalities and constant struggles.

Back on Tour and Dairy Farming

Splattern • 19 implied HN points • 30 Nov 23
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability
  1. Burlington, Vermont has a cool vibe with breweries, shops, and nature around Lake Champlain. It's interesting how a place so close to home can feel so new and unexplored.
  2. There's a 24/7 ferry that runs between New York and Vermont, providing a surprising service in an area that seems remote. It’s funded by taxpayers and has a long history.
  3. Organic dairy farming claims to help the environment, but there are concerns about cow emissions. A recent program is turning retired dairy cows into grass-fed meat, creating a new revenue stream for farmers.

Bamboo & Fungi in the Digital Age

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
🔬 Science Sustainability
  1. Bamboo, fungi, DNA, and organic molecules may play a vital role in our survival and growth in the digital age by being integrated into digital technologies.
  2. Using natural materials like bamboo and mycelium in digital technologies can lead to decreased reliance on rare earth materials and reduced environmental impact.
  3. The future of digital technologies may involve embedding information in molecules, utilizing the efficiency of nature, and integrating organic materials for innovative advancements.

Obsolescence Pays: The Epson Printer Saga Continues

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 19 Oct 22
💼 Business Sustainability
  1. Printer companies like Epson use software tactics to hinder repairability and push customers to buy new products, impacting consumer choice and environmental sustainability.
  2. Companies like Epson create narratives around complexity and danger to deter customers from repairing their devices, steering them towards buying new models or using authorized repair services.
  3. Advocating for longer-lasting, repairable products and changing the incentives for companies built on waste and obsolescence can help reduce e-waste and promote sustainable consumption in the electronics industry.

Nature doesn't need rights

storyvoyager • 11 implied HN points • 20 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Nature doesn’t need rights; instead, we need to change how we view our connection to it. We should stop trying to dominate it and start working with it.
  2. Our focus on accumulating wealth is harming the planet. We need to shift our mindset towards nurturing nature instead of consuming it.
  3. Real change can happen if we take inspiration from communities that are in touch with nature. When we listen to those who are connected to the land, we can rebuild ecosystems and create a better future.

The 5 Levels of Sustainable Robotics

Robots & Startups • 19 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. Robots can contribute significantly to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals beyond just the application area.
  2. In the field of Sustainable Robotics, it is important to consider not just how robotics can enhance sustainability in various applications, but also the associated costs and benefits.
  3. Subscribing to Robots & Startups allows access to more insights and a 7-day free trial for exploring posts like 'The 5 Levels of Sustainable Robotics.'

Reforest Your Mind!

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 11 implied HN points • 12 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. The documentary 'We Are Guardians' highlights how indigenous communities in the Amazon are fighting to protect their forests from illegal logging. It shows the struggles of both the guardians and the loggers involved, providing a compassionate perspective.
  2. There's a growing push to think big and use new technology, like AI, to create alternatives to harmful corporate systems. People can work together to build platforms that give them more control and promote sharing without the need for money.
  3. The current environmental crisis, especially in places like the Amazon, is a serious issue. It's important to recognize how corporate greed is harming the planet and to find ways to stop it for future generations.

Oxfam names perp, Olympic-level surveillance, Boots on the ground...where?

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 40 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. The super-rich have a huge negative impact on the environment through their private jets and yachts. They emit more carbon in a short time than average people do in their whole lives.
  2. Oxfam's report shows that climate change hits the poorest the hardest, even though they contribute the least to the problem. It's unfair that those who do the least suffer the most.
  3. There is potential for governments to collect significant funds from wealth taxes on billionaires and corporations, which could help finance climate efforts. This suggests that the very wealthy need to be held accountable for their emissions.

portage

let them eat cake • 79 implied HN points • 11 May 22
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability
  1. Bringing your own containers for takeout food is a common practice in some cultures, reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
  2. Different regions have unique approaches to takeout packaging, with some prioritizing reusable and precious containers over resource-intensive options.
  3. Some restaurants are transitioning to supposedly reusable takeout containers, but lack of social contracts and infrastructure may lead to challenges in ensuring they are used as intended.

Food Fraud Incidents 2025 (Searchable List)

The Rotten Apple • 31 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability
  1. There is a searchable list of recent food fraud incidents from 2025. This can help people easily find information on specific cases.
  2. Incidents before September 2022 are stored in a database on Trello for reference. It's good to have a place to look for older information too.
  3. New insights about food vulnerabilities are still being added to this database, showing that the issue of food fraud is ongoing. Keeping up with this information is important for everyone's safety.

#81 Spores of design

Design Lobster • 139 implied HN points • 16 Aug 21
🪑 Design Sustainability
  1. Slime moulds like Physarum can exhibit learning and prediction abilities similar to animal brains, offering insights for creating more efficient networks.
  2. Using biological materials like fungus in design can lead to sustainable and unique outcomes, such as mycelium lamps that grow into strong structures without harmful adhesives.
  3. Designers can find inspiration in embracing chaos and disorder, as it often leads to hidden order and innovative solutions.

How China solves the renewable intermittency issue

TP’s Substack • 35 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. China is investing heavily in renewable energy sources like solar and wind, which have been growing rapidly. These types of energy are faster and cheaper to set up compared to nuclear power.
  2. To tackle the issue of renewable energy not being available at all times, China is using advanced battery storage systems and smart grids. These technologies help store energy when production is high and release it when demand peaks.
  3. Electric vehicles (EVs) in cities like Shenzhen are being used to help manage energy supply. During busy times, these EVs can return power to the grid, making the entire energy system more resilient.

Fight to Repair Daily: Friday, September 16 2022

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 17 Sep 22
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. Several Right to Repair bills are stalled in Congress, impacting access to repair information and options for consumers and independent repair providers.
  2. The New York Right to Repair Act aims to change the repair landscape by giving independent repair providers access to diagnostic and repair information previously limited to OEM-authorized providers.
  3. Reusing old phones and gadgets is more beneficial than recycling, as current methods do not efficiently recover all materials. Finding ways to repurpose old devices is encouraged for environmental sustainability.

The Disposable Economy

The Polymerist • 116 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
💼 Business Sustainability
  1. Tech companies rely on growth until they are profitable.
  2. Continuous cost cutting leads to disposable products in the economy.
  3. Startups can disrupt chemical industry by creating equivalent or substitute products.

More impressive BEV tech to come from BYD in 2025

TP’s Substack • 31 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. BYD is launching new electric vehicle technology in 2025, focusing on better battery efficiency and faster charging. This means you could charge your car much quicker than before.
  2. Their new SiC power modules will make vehicles lighter and more compact, leading to improved performance and energy efficiency. It will help in making electric cars cheaper and more powerful.
  3. BYD is also planning to expand its charging network to support high-voltage charging stations. This is crucial for supporting their upcoming models that require faster charging.

Homesteading 101: The Depths of Winter

Who is Robert Malone • 27 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Sustainability
  1. Preparing for winter storms is crucial. You need to take care of your animals, stock up on supplies, and make sure everything is ready to handle the cold.
  2. Taking care of animals during harsh weather can be really challenging, especially when it comes to keeping them warm and fed. It requires lots of hard work and planning.
  3. Caring for newborn animals, like foals, adds extra responsibility. It's important to make quick decisions to protect them during tough weather, even if it means putting in extra effort.

In Montenegro on the Adriatic,

Douglass’s Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 04 May 23
🏝 Travel Sustainability
  1. Montenegro on the Adriatic is experiencing hot weather and discussions on coping with climate change.
  2. People in Montenegro include a mix of refugees, retirees, young vacationers, and traders.
  3. Observations on the behavior of the wealthy in relation to climate change and high-end consumerism.

Want to teach repair to K-12 kids? There's a grant for that!

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
🚌 Education Sustainability
  1. The Culture of Repair Project is offering grants of up to $10,000 to create educational programs teaching sustainable repair to K-12 students.
  2. The projects funded by the grant focus on repair education as a way to address environmental and societal challenges through changing cultural relationships with material objects and social systems.
  3. Culture of Repair emphasizes the importance of repair in fostering a circular economy and encouraging active student engagement in choosing repair practices.

✅ Outputs from the European Communication Monitor and AI business models

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
💼 Business Sustainability
  1. Trust and alignment with management are key challenges in public relations. It's important for organizations to build trust to operate effectively in their markets.
  2. Data and digital tools can help improve public relations efforts. Professionals should focus on developing special skills to adapt to the fast-changing communication landscape.
  3. AI tools are becoming more powerful and cheaper, but it's important to be cautious. Ensure your budget accounts for new AI services because costs can quickly add up.

A Tentative Manifesto for the Future of Organizations—2

Pluriversal Planet • 19 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
💼 Business Sustainability
  1. The manifesto calls for organizations to slow down, pause, and reflect on their actions and impact.
  2. Wayfinders are organizations striving to move beyond human-centered designs towards life-affirming organization designs.
  3. Organizations should shift focus from processes and technology to relationships and communities, embracing pluriversality and interconnectedness.

Pitch Me: Real Advice from Climate Founders & Investors

The Green Techpreneur • 8 implied HN points • 25 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Investors care more about the team and the business plan than just the technology. It's better to show how your product helps customers and to tell a clear story.
  2. Avoid overloading your pitch with too much technical detail. Keep it simple and focus on how you will make money and solve problems for customers.
  3. Raising money for climate startups can be tough and emotional. It's important to build relationships with investors early and to lean on your team for support.

Rabbit Holes 🕳️ #98

Creative Destruction • 30 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Sustainability
  1. People today really want authentic experiences and connections because everything often feels fake. We are drawn to true human interactions more than ever.
  2. Sustainability and beauty should go hand in hand. When something is beautiful, people care for it better, and true beauty reflects love and harmony in nature.
  3. We're starting to see a shift from rigid communication styles like lectures to more engaging conversations. People prefer friendly chats that feel genuine over formal speeches.