It’s Earth Day in the year 2040—the world transformed into a utopia of zero-waste, where every package dissolves into the environment, leaving no trace of pollution. The air is fresher, the rivers clearer, and the streets are free from the clutter of single-use plastics. Companies across the globe have embraced this revolution, investing in technologies designed for biodegradability. Consumers no longer worry about their carbon footprint when shopping but instead, marvel at how they help the planet heal.

A world without bees would not be as sweet. Honey, wax, propolis, royal jelly, pollen, and even bee venom would not exist in the place we call home. Today, on World Bee Day, we celebrate and honor the tiny, but mighty workers who help to improve our environment and acknowledge how important it is to ensure they stay alive.

The time to support STEM education is now. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, but goes far beyond school subjects in the face of solving challenges worldwide. STEM fields lead innovation, sustain the growth of the economy, and raise social awareness — but it wouldn’t be possible without the people who study STEM, specifically researchers who are currently pursuing graduate and doctorate degrees.

The manufacturing industry contributes heavily to the ever-increasing emission of greenhouse gases. Throughout the years, green manufacturing gained traction by adopting sustainable practices and helping cut down on pollution.

Transforming the manufacturing industry is no small feat, but a critical part to lessen society’s footprint. With “sustainability” as a goal in business operations, manufacturers will reap the long-term benefits of implementing eco-friendly improvements.

Do you know where your clothes come from and the materials used in them? Fashion has long since used clothing labels to share important information about the product—information that usually just helps to decide whether to throw it in the wash or send it to a dry cleaner. But for environmentally-conscious shoppers, the materials listed on the label tell a much more important story.

If you’ve gone for takeout recently and received your food in cardboard-like takeout boxes, then you may have met “bagasse” in real life. Many eco-friendly restaurants and companies are prioritizing sustainability within their single-use containers, choosing packaging that is made from environmentally-friendly materials. While bamboo is well-known for eco-friendly packages, bagasse is a lesser-known material.

At-home meal prep services effectively did away with night after night of plastic utensils, straws, lids, and bags from delivery and takeout, but now meal prep services like Blue Apron are preparing to get even more sustainable. 

Imagine a shopping platform that directs consumers to products that are actually sustainable as they shop — Home Goods did just that with their new website called Shades of Green. 

According to Business Wire, Shades of Green uses a proprietary five-point evaluation system to screen products, only showcasing products that meet a minimum sustainability standard on their site. Each product is subject to evaluation based on sourcing, manufacturing, shipping, use and performance, and lifecycle.