The hottest Sustainability Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Climate & Environment Topics

What do people think about cultured meat?

The Counterfactual • 59 implied HN points • 17 Aug 22
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability
  1. Consumer acceptance of cultured meat varies widely. Some people are very open to trying it, while others are quite resistant and refuse even to consider it.
  2. Concerns about the unnaturalness and safety of cultured meat are significant barriers to its acceptance. Many people are worried about how it is made, even if it tastes similar to traditional meat.
  3. Economic factors are key in determining whether people will choose cultured meat over conventional options. If the price of cultured meat becomes competitive, it could lead to more widespread adoption.

Rethinking Returns: The Invisible Battleground of Modern Retail

Gad’s Newsletter • 29 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
💼 Business Sustainability
  1. Returns during the holiday season are rising, causing challenges for both shoppers and stores. Retailers are changing their return policies to manage costs and customer satisfaction better.
  2. Some companies are offering return-less refunds, where customers keep the items without returning them. This helps stores save money on shipping and processing, but it can create confusion about who benefits from these policies.
  3. Retailers are using new strategies to reduce returns, like providing customers with better information to help them make good choices. Companies need to balance easy returns while being mindful of costs and environmental impacts.

Why Techno-Optimism Alone Fails

Anima Mundi • 20 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. Techno-optimism believes technology alone can solve big problems, but real solutions need deep changes in how we think about society and progress. Simply having more tech doesn't guarantee a better future.
  2. Silicon Valley often looks for quick fixes to complicated issues, but many problems require a smarter, more thoughtful approach rather than just engineering solutions and fast growth.
  3. Technology should aim to help everyone, not just the wealthy. We need a fair system that shares resources and gives everyone access to the tools they need for a better life.

Target practice

let them eat cake • 279 implied HN points • 16 Aug 19
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability
  1. Consider the importance of paying restaurant staff enough to sustain a long-term career, not just a job.
  2. Running a regenerative restaurant that prioritizes staff, community, and environment over purely financial gains is a tantalizing idea with economic and social implications.
  3. The analysis of a hypothetical NYC restaurant suggests that to pay staff fair wages, pricing might need to increase, possibly by at least 20%, to sustain the business model.

With eye on sustainability, EU agrees to new battery regulations - Week in Repair

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 18 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. EU's new battery regulations aim to make devices more sustainable and durable by ensuring batteries are easier to remove and replace.
  2. Consumers will be educated on sustainability through carbon footprint declarations and information labels on batteries.
  3. Large companies will be held accountable for social and environmental risks associated with batteries, promoting reuse of materials and reducing negative impacts.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Hope is a Baby Orca

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 99 implied HN points • 24 Nov 21
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Baby orcas bring hope after a time of sadness. The story of a mother orca named Tahlequah, who mourned her lost calf, reminds us that new life can inspire hope.
  2. People are starting to care more about sustainability and the natural world. There’s a shift towards protecting the environment, which is helping to restore ecosystems like Puget Sound.
  3. Every action, no matter how small, can make a difference. Believing that what we do matters can empower us to take steps toward a better future.

Increasing NEV penetration in commercial vehicles

TP’s Substack • 21 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. Electric vehicles are becoming more popular in heavy-duty trucks, jumping from 7% to 21% market share in just a few months. This growth shows a big shift towards greener options in the trucking industry.
  2. Companies like XCMG and Sany are leading the way in electric trucks, mainly because they save a lot on operating costs. Switching to electric can cut costs significantly compared to traditional diesel vehicles.
  3. New battery technologies, like fast charging and battery swapping, make it easier for heavy-duty electric vehicles to operate efficiently. This means they can work in tough environments without long downtimes.

To Recycle A Shoe

The Polymerist • 116 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Dow's recycling program for shoes might not be as effective as it seems.
  2. Modern athletic shoes are complex to recycle due to specialized glue used in construction.
  3. The challenges of recycling highlight the need for sustainable material selection and consumer behavior changes.

172 | Emerging Food Safety Risks | Reduce Your Food Waste in 2025 |

The Rotten Apple • 21 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability
  1. The European Food Safety Authority has identified five emerging risks related to food safety that businesses should be aware of. It's important for food safety professionals to stay informed about these risks and their relevance.
  2. Reducing food waste is key for businesses looking to improve sustainability. Implementing strategies like setting targets, measuring waste, and taking action can lead to significant cost savings.
  3. A team approach involving various business functions can enhance food waste reduction efforts. Small changes across processes can make a big difference in minimizing waste and boosting profits.

Welcoming Liz Hart to Equal Ventures!

Equal Ventures • 59 implied HN points • 25 Jan 22
💼 Business Sustainability
  1. Bringing talented individuals together is crucial for a company's success. Each new hire is an opportunity to further strengthen the company's goals.
  2. Liz Hart, joining Equal Ventures, brings a diverse background in areas like private equity, entrepreneurship, and climate justice. Her valuable skills and passion make her a great addition to the team.
  3. Liz Hart's role at Equal Ventures will involve utilizing her research skills across multiple sectors such as climate, retail, supply chain, insurance, and care economies. She is expected to contribute significantly to the NYC venture community.

Homesteading 101: The Bee's Knees

Who is Robert Malone • 19 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Sustainability
  1. Winter can be tough for homesteaders, but it's important to have plans for the changing weather. They are preparing for colder weather while also looking forward to spring.
  2. Growing your own food, like fruits and vegetables, is rewarding. They are expanding their garden and starting indoor plants to enjoy fresh produce even in winter.
  3. Keeping bees is a new exciting project that can help with friends and the garden. They are looking into this as a way to produce honey and support their plants.

Cooling Servers Through Code

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 19 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. Generative AI can have a big environmental impact. For example, GPT-3 used a lot of energy, like driving 123 cars for a year.
  2. There is concern that generative AI may not just affect the environment but could also pose other risks in the future.
  3. Researchers are exploring ways to cool servers more efficiently through coding techniques to reduce their environmental footprint.

Our Great Opportunity

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 17 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Destruction can help us see a clearer path towards fixing our problems and taking better care of our planet. Sometimes, leaving behind old ideas and systems can lead to new and better ways of doing things.
  2. Moving towards a regenerative society needs big changes in how we think and how we do things together. Everyone needs to join in to create a powerful global effort that focuses on caring for the Earth.
  3. The current crisis isn't just about technology or politics; it's a deeper issue that involves our values and beliefs. We need to change the way we understand ourselves and our connection to nature to find real solutions.

Just how much battery is needed by China alone?

TP’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 25 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. China needs a huge amount of batteries for electric cars, with estimates suggesting around 1.3 terawatt-hours just for passenger vehicles. This shows a big shift towards electric cars in the country.
  2. The demand for batteries isn't just from cars; commercial vehicles also need a lot, with predictions of roughly 1 terawatt-hour for all types of trucks and other commercial vehicles. This means a lot of growth in the electric vehicle sector.
  3. To support a greener energy grid, China might need around 10 terawatt-hours of battery storage for renewable energy. This highlights that as they move to renewable energy, battery production has to increase significantly to meet these needs.

We need a new ecology of thought

storyvoyager • 6 implied HN points • 28 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. We are deeply connected to nature and must remember this bond to protect our planet. Understanding where we come from can help us appreciate and take care of our environment.
  2. Modern society often sees itself as separate from nature, which contributes to environmental harm. We need to change how we view our relationship with the Earth to make better choices.
  3. Every action we take affects the planet in some way. We must respect resources and think more about how our daily lives impact the natural world.

167 | The Great Tuna Scam | Chemical Hazards in Paper Drinking Straws | Rescinded Recall (?) |

The Rotten Apple • 21 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability
  1. Seafood fraud is a big problem around the world, involving practices like mislabeling fish and using harmful drugs in aquaculture. There are even cases where cheap seafood is sold as more expensive types.
  2. Recent studies found that popular alternatives to plastic, like paper and bamboo straws, contain unhealthy chemicals called PFAS. This is surprising since these products are often marketed as eco-friendly.
  3. A recent food safety news story highlighted a rare situation where a recall was canceled due to a lab error. It reminds us that food safety investigations can sometimes lead to unexpected outcomes.

Right to Repair: McFlurries and Apples

Gad’s Newsletter • 23 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. The Right to Repair movement is gaining ground, challenging companies like Apple and Taylor that restrict repair access. People want the freedom to fix their own devices or use local repair shops without barriers.
  2. Consumers are increasingly frustrated with strict repair policies and prefer products that can be easily repaired. Studies show many people feel unhappy with brands that don’t support repair options.
  3. While the Right to Repair aims to help consumers and the environment, companies may respond by raising prices on new products. It's important to find a balance between access to repairs and fair pricing.

Buildings as Power Plants

Equal Ventures • 19 implied HN points • 03 Dec 22
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. The virtual power plant (VPP) opportunity exists in sub-scale, BTM assets.
  2. Storage is the keystone of the energy transition. With storage, you are the market maker, unlike solar, where you're the price taker.
  3. Higher volatility strengthens the business case for storage and VPPs. As the grid becomes more volatile, buildings will turn to decentralized energy sources. Combining storage and VPPs enables buildings to operate as power producers.

Homesteading 101: Regenerative Farming and the American Farmer.

Who is Robert Malone • 19 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability
  1. Regenerative farming focuses on improving soil health and biodiversity. This means farming in a way that restores and enriches the land instead of depleting it.
  2. Historically, farming practices have prioritized sustainability and self-sufficiency. Learning from past generations can guide modern farming efforts toward eco-friendliness.
  3. Homesteading encourages individuals to take responsibility for their food production. It's about being productive and connected to the land, which can also bring satisfaction and peace.

Balancing Speed and Sustainability: The Operational Dilemma of Reusable Cups in Drive-Thrus

Gad’s Newsletter • 50 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
💼 Business Sustainability
  1. Introducing reusable cups in drive-thrus can slow down the service, leading to longer wait times and potential inefficiencies.
  2. Starbucks' focus on operational efficiency conflicts with the introduction of reusable cups, impacting speed and customer satisfaction.
  3. Visible queues in drive-thrus make operational inefficiencies more apparent, potentially affecting customer decisions and perception.

Fight to Repair Daily: Monday October 24, 2022

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 24 Oct 22
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. Fight to Repair newsletter is transitioning from daily to weekly emails starting next week, with a new podcast season for premium subscribers.
  2. Lobbyists, including big tech companies like Apple and Microsoft, have influenced the NY 'right to repair' bill to be limited to devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
  3. Issues like eco double standards in hardware manufacturing and anti-features on products highlight the importance of legislation and policies supporting right to repair and consumer rights.

Surviving the unexpected

storyvoyager • 6 implied HN points • 11 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Climate change is causing unpredictable and extreme weather events, like sudden storms and heatwaves. These events can be very damaging and might happen more often in the future.
  2. Many communities are struggling to deal with the aftermath of these disasters, and rebuilding can take a long time. People need to be patient and help each other during these tough times.
  3. Human activities, like cutting down trees, are making the effects of climate change worse. It's important for everyone to recognize their role and work together to find solutions for a better future.

Homesteading: Preparing for Spring

Who is Robert Malone • 13 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability
  1. Start your seeds indoors to get a jump on the growing season. Using tools like indoor gardens can help you grow food like lettuce and herbs easily.
  2. Raised beds are great for gardening, especially if your soil isn't good or if you have pests. They make it easier to cover plants and protect them.
  3. Invest in good gardening tools that can last. Taking care of your tools is important, so they work when you need them most.

What (some) people think about cultured meat

The Counterfactual • 19 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability
  1. Disgust sensitivity and gender are important factors in whether people want to try cultured meat. Generally, men are more willing than women, and those who feel more disgusted are less likely to try it.
  2. How people feel about cultured meat really matters. If they express positive feelings, they're more likely to want to try it and even pay extra for it.
  3. Even with different factors considered, only about 25% of what makes people willing to try cultured meat can be explained. This shows there's still a lot to discover about what influences these decisions.

Fight to Repair Daily: Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 05 Oct 22
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. The WIRED GREEN conference highlighted the importance of the right-to-repair movement and the significance of fixing products to reduce waste.
  2. New York's Digital Fair Repair Act aims to make it easier for consumers to repair electronics and may pave the way for similar legislation in other states.
  3. Organizations like Repair Cafes are promoting a more sustainable, circular economy by emphasizing repair and reuse over recycling.

no. 41: random uses of uppercase

let them eat cake • 79 implied HN points • 25 Apr 21
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability
  1. The traditional hawker food industry in Singapore is facing challenges due to low prices and competition, leading to the emergence of 'hawkerpreneurs' who offer non-traditional dishes at higher prices.
  2. The government's efforts to incentivize young people to become hawkers may inadvertently promote a shift towards more commercialized and market-driven approaches in the hawker trade.
  3. There is a tension between the public's willingness to pay higher prices for 'modernized' hawker food from 'hawkerpreneurs' and their resistance to more traditional hawkers raising prices, highlighting societal perceptions and economic complexities within the hawker culture.

Would you pay up for climate pledges?

Klement on Investing • 1 implied HN point • 08 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Shoppers are willing to pay a noticeable premium for products with a climate pledge—about $7 more on a $25 gift card (roughly 30%).
  2. Explaining pledges with bullet points or a traffic‑light label makes people look at them more, but many still don’t understand differences like carbon neutral versus net zero.
  3. Because consumers are largely uninformed and show no higher willingness to pay for net zero versus carbon neutral, firms can capture the premium with weaker pledges, creating room for greenwashing.

Fight to Repair Daily: Friday September 9, 2022

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 09 Sep 22
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. iPhone 14 offers Emergency SOS service via satellite for 2 years, connecting users in emergencies when outside cell service.
  2. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advises automakers on cybersecurity, focusing on protecting vehicle sensors and OTA updates.
  3. eBay partners with Reskinned to sell repaired and resale clothing items, promoting sustainability and affordability for conscious shoppers.

The energy cost of AI, visually explained ⚡️💧

Year 2049 • 13 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. AI requires a lot of energy to function, and this is becoming a bigger concern as it grows. People are curious about why AI even uses water in its processes.
  2. There are new trends and solutions emerging to address the high energy costs associated with AI. It's important to stay informed about these developments.
  3. Understanding the impact of AI on energy consumption can help us find ways to make it more sustainable and efficient in the future. Being aware of these issues is crucial as technology advances.

What does a Trump presidency mean for climate tech startups?

The Green Techpreneur • 16 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. A Trump presidency could hurt climate tech by reversing regulations and funding, making it harder for startups to thrive. This includes potential cuts to clean energy investments and support.
  2. Despite a challenging political environment, many companies will likely continue pushing for sustainable practices because they've already invested in them. The demand for clean technologies is still strong.
  3. Startups should focus on developing solutions that don't rely on government incentives to be successful. Securing private investment and showing clear results will be key for survival in uncertain times.

A Crisis of Red Roses

Tessa Fights Robots • 35 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. The quality of fresh produce and flowers, especially red roses, has drastically decreased since 2020, raising questions about the impact of various factors like supply chain interruptions, climate change, and transportation methods.
  2. Imported cut flowers, like red roses, have a significant carbon footprint due to their long, emissions-intensive journey involving climate-controlled greenhouses, refrigerated trucks, and air travel.
  3. The post highlights concerns about consumerism, manipulation, and coercion in business models, emphasizing the importance of waking up to the lies and manipulation around us.

Cultured meat and the problem of "naturalness"

The Counterfactual • 19 implied HN points • 16 Jan 23
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability
  1. People often think cultured meat is unnatural, which makes them hesitant to eat it. This feeling comes from a fear of trying new foods and being disgusted by the idea of lab-grown meat.
  2. Discussions around meat can shift when we point out that conventional meat production is also unnatural. Many people are surprised to learn how modern farming practices are much different from what might be considered natural.
  3. It helps to show cultured meat as food rather than as a lab product. When people see it served in a plate instead of in a lab, they tend to feel more positive about it.

From Vicious to Virtuous Cycle

Creative Destruction • 32 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Acknowledging the need for help and motivation are crucial in starting the rehabilitation process for humanity's addiction
  2. Current activist movements may need to shift focus from guilt and fear to understanding and addressing the deep-seated needs driving destructive behaviors
  3. Presenting enjoyable visions of a future that genuinely satisfies these deep-seated needs can motivate and guide people towards a virtuous cycle of healing and positive change

What are we waiting for?

WeBeGreen • 19 implied HN points • 18 Jul 22
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. The environmental and climate challenge is not just technical - it's also political and economical, with the need for drastic global climate efforts.
  2. Research presents roadmaps for achieving 100% renewable energy globally, which would require less land than currently used for power generation.
  3. There is a need to shift towards renewable energy, democratize energy production, and hold industries accountable for their environmental impact.

Pitch Me: Investors react to Trump's election win

The Green Techpreneur • 12 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Trump's return to the White House could mean less government support for climate tech, which might scare some investors away. Many worry this will hurt the growth of clean technologies.
  2. Private companies may step up to fill the funding gaps left by government cuts. Startups that have strong business models and scalable solutions could attract more venture capital.
  3. In other parts of the world, especially Europe, investment in climate tech is still growing. Countries there are pushing hard for cleaner technology, providing a bright spot amidst uncertainties in the U.S.

Rabbit Holes 🕳️ #68

Creative Destruction • 28 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Sustainability
  1. In today's age of information overload, our curiosity now distracts us, leading to intellectual obesity in the form of a flood of low-quality 'junk info'. This 'junk info' is like fast food for thought - cheap to produce, satisfying to consume, but low in nutrition.
  2. The sustainability movement needs to focus on internal sustainability, not just external factors like ecosystems and technology. Our mind plays a crucial role in the climate crisis as it determines our relationships with ourselves, others, and nature.
  3. Immediacy, or the collapse of mediation, is a powerful and destructive driver in the modern world. It eliminates the middle ground of reflection and personal connection, affecting how we perceive and engage with information and culture.

The best of The Green Techpreneur

The Green Techpreneur • 28 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
💼 Business Sustainability
  1. The Green Techpreneur platform achieved significant milestones in 2023, such as winning awards and helping startups secure funding.
  2. For 2024, the platform acquired Climate Marketplace to connect startups with a network of 2,000 climate investors.
  3. The newsletter also featured updates on innovative climate tech startups and insights from industry leaders to help readers succeed.

Little Red Fish of Lake Sammamish

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 39 implied HN points • 16 Dec 21
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Kokanee salmon, also known as little red fish, have returned to Lake Sammamish after facing serious population declines. It's exciting to see them swimming up streams where they have been going for thousands of years.
  2. Their comeback is thanks to local efforts to restore their habitat and educate the community. People have worked hard on projects like removing barriers for fish passage and building small hatcheries.
  3. A recent discovery shows that there may still be native kokanee salmon in Lake Washington, which scientists thought were gone. This opens up new possibilities for their conservation and health.