pollution
A collage of images of Patagonia clothing, synthetic microfibers, microplastics, laundry and bodies of water. Our story looks at Patagonia's microplastics problem.

Patagonia’s Major Microplastic Problem

The outdoor gear brand has long been heralded as proof that a for-profit company can balance consumerism and environmentalism. Then the microfibers were found.

Potato chip

Forever Chemicals Lurk in Popular Foods, Study Suggests

The study features some surprising results

Mardi Gras beads

This Mardi Gras Tradition Has a Nasty Environmental Side Effect
Processing PFAS

EPA Announces Proposal to Classify Nine "Forever Chemicals" as Hazardous
Glass of water

California Has an Ambitious Plan to Make More Drinkable Water
Massive Attack performs during Electric Picnic 2018 at Stradbally Hall Estate on September 1, 2018 in Dublin, Ireland

Can Massive Attack’s New Plan Help Reduce Carbon Emissions in the Music Industry?

The group teamed up with the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research to figure out a better way forward for live music

Southampton trail

Does Southampton Have a Pollution Problem?

The alarming state of algae in Agawam Lake

A man drinking from a plastic bottle of water. We need to stop drinking bottled water to save the planet and ourselves.

Real Talk: There Is No Excuse for You to Casually Drink Bottled Water

Put down the plastic. It’s past time to stop.

Wind turbines on hills above green fields. What would happen if we switched to green energy and stopped emissions today?

What If We Cut Off All Greenhouse Gas Emissions Today?

If you take one thing away from the new IPCC report on climate change, let it be the promise behind drastic action

A white henley and grew sweatpants from Outerknown's Second Spin collection

Sustainability Is Dead. Can These Brands Replace It With Something Better?

From traceability to circularity, eco-conscious menswear companies are searching for a new way forward

The traceability tag on clothing from menswear company Asket

Can You Make Menswear That Does No Harm? We Asked the Guy Trying.

Asket co-founder Jakob Dworsky talks about the problem with "sustainability," recycled plastic fabrics and shopping our way out of problems

Wildfires in San Francisco create a layer of smoke

Concerned About Air Quality? Wildfire Expert Tom Scott Has Some Advice.

“Californians can no longer view wildfires as sad but distant events”

A map of NO2 emissions

Air Pollution Over Italy Has Declined Dramatically

Under other circumstances, less pollution would be good news — but not this way

Adidas Futurecraft Loop recyclable running shoes

Adidas Wants to End Plastic Waste by 2030. Here’s Their Plan.

Including fully recyclable running shoes and biodegradable gear

Nestlé Pure Life Bottled Water

How Switzerland’s Nestlé Is Trying to Privatize America’s Freshwater Supply

Should water be commodified or a basic human right?

The Caribbean Has the Highest Per Capita Plastic Pollution

The Caribbean Islands Have the World’s Biggest Per Capita Plastic Pollution Problem

Larger countries have higher absolute pollution rates, often overshadowing the massive per-capita impact of smaller communities

water app

War On Plastic: Hawaii, New Jersey Propose Toughest Bans in the Country

More states are saying no to single-use plastics.

(Getty Images)

Air Pollution Is Killing More People Than Smoking Tobacco: Study

Smoking killed about 2 million fewer people than air pollution in 2015.

China

The World’s 100 Most Polluted Cities In 2018

In the list, 22 of the top 30 cities are in India.

nurdles

“Mermaids Tears” Are Polluting Our Oceans. What Are Nurdles?

These insidious pellets are tiny pieces of plastic.

The InsideHook Newsletter.

News, advice and insights for the most interesting person in the room.

Arctic Sweden

Viruses Aren't the Only Scary Things Trapped in the Permafrost

Stored mercury is also emerging

Jet engines

Proposed Law Would Regulate Toxic Fumes on Airlines

There's no guarantee that it will pass, however

Veterans Stadium

Was Artificial Turf a Factor in the Deaths of Several Phillies?

Forever chemicals may have played a part here

Smog hovering over downtown Los Angeles. A new air pollution study shows only a tiny percentage of the global population is free from harmful fine particulate matter.

The New One Percent: People Who Breathe Clean Air

A new study finds only 0.001% of the global population is free from exposure to harmful levels of fine particulate matter

Water glass

Thousands More Military Service Members Drank Water With Forever Chemicals Than Previously Believed

An alarming analysis of a Department of Defense report

Wheat fields

Was a Pesticide's Manufacturer Aware of Its Connection to Parkinson's?

A high-profile investigation reveals more about this case

Spraying crops

Scientists Find Forever Chemicals in Multiple Insecticides

Worrying news from a new study

couple van camping in lake tahoe

Lake Tahoe Clean Up Efforts Are Being Negated by Careless Tourists

"You're part of the sustainable future of tourism. It’s just about being responsible with your trash.”

Thames

Inside the Decades-Long Revitalization of the Thames

It wasn't an easy process

Shark

More Shark Sightings Is Actually a Good Thing, Ecologically Speaking

More sharks mean cleaner waterways

A photo collage of a man biking, a sewing machine, the U.S. Capitol, a farmers market and solar panels in a field. We take a look at why you should give your time, not your money, to fight climate change.

Worried About Climate Change? Don’t Give Your Money, Give Your Time.

Allotting hours, even minutes, of your day to fighting for a liveable planet is worth much more than buying a metal straw

Fish on plate next to pile of plastic

FYI: You’re Eating an Insane Amount of Plastic Every Week

Your stomach problems might be thanks to microplastics

Fast food

There Are Dangerous Chemicals in Your Fast Food Wrappers — Even at the "Healthy" Joints

The return of "forever chemicals"

Cuts of beef tenderloin - a startup called Air Protein is attempting to create animal-free versions of meat by pulling CO2 from the air

California Startup Air Protein Is Turning Purified Carbon Dioxide Into Animal-Free Meat

The protein-packed product is created using a process similar to how yogurt, cheese and wine are made

Cattle

State Officials Find Forever Chemicals in Beef From Michigan

It's a cause for concern for many reasons

Is COVID to Thank for California’s Long-Overdue Leaf Blower Ban?

Is COVID to Thank for California’s Long-Overdue Leaf Blower Ban?

Small off-road engines have been polluting the air for decades. But it was all that noise, noise, noise, noise that finally made legislators pay attention.