Economics

More people in the world own a mobile phone than own a toilet. We meet the Aussie loo paper pioneers on a mission not only to encourage people to use recycled paper, but to help build toilets [...]

We meet the 'mylk man', who delivers nut-based milks to people's doors – and whose business is strictly free from plastic bottles

Surfer and inventor Kevin Kamala founded his social enterprise in response to the alarming amount of plastic rubbish washing up on Bali's shoreline

A supermarket in Amsterdam now features a dedicated aisle of almost 700 plastic-free, organic products – and there are plans for it to go national

Nicola Eckersley and her husband, former professional footballer Richard Eckersley, run Earth.Food.Love, a zero-waste shop that stocks only ethical goods and where packaging is banned

Richard Eckersley, along with his wife Nicola, runs the UK’s first dedicated zero-waste shop. Before launching Earth.Food.Love he played football for Manchester United. What prompted the career switch?

Increasing demand for wild plants – as ingredients for food, cosmetics and wellbeing and medicinal products – can put species at risk, as well as the communities that depend on them. The FairWild [...]

A tax on sugary drinks comes into effect in the UK on Friday as part of a drive to reduce obesity. The levy has been welcomed by one soft drinks startup, which has tasked itself with turning one [...]

From shootings in the US to humanitarian crises, the first three months of 2018 have seen many challenges. But behind the headlines are inspiring stories of progress. Here are 20 of our favourites

Dariel Garner was once worth hundreds of millions of dollars, owning 40 companies on four continents during his career. One day 15 years ago, he decided to give it all up. He is now a social [...]

A social enterprise is transforming human waste into a clean, affordable fuel in Kenya. It smells like the future, discovers Oliver Balch

Cola isn’t usually associated with ethical business, but one brand is going back to the drink’s roots and reimagining what a cola company can look like. Karma Cola co-founder Simon Coley explains [...]

They aren’t your neurotypical consultants. An IT consultancy that only employs people on the autism spectrum has won a national award

Community groups will be supported to take over solar farms by a new partnership between independent trust Power to Change and social investment company Big Society Capital

UK shoppers are on course to buy more ethically than ever this December, according to new research

Inequality is a policy choice. Governments can close the gap between rich and poor, and some are already doing so

As UK shoppers are forecast to spend £10bn in Black Friday sales this week, we’re encouraging people to ‘give stories, not stuff’ with a Positive News gift subscription. Here are 10 other [...]

Though the co-operative model has been around for hundreds of years, it's still relevant today. Our pick of 5 co-operatives in today's digital, media and creative sectors

Co-operatives don't just work with small, independent businesses - they supply some big household names too

Could the student housing co-ops popping up across the UK challenge the frequently exploitative relationship between landlords and tenants? They're already inspiring young people to set up their [...]