Articles about sustainability

Former Gates Foundation leader lands $1.8M for engineered bamboo building materials startup

Launching one’s first startup — maybe a domestic software company, for example — could certainly be daunting. But creating a… Read More

Microsoft tries to whittle down its carbon footprint by building data centers with engineered timber

Tech heavyweights are in hot pursuit of clean energy sources to power their data center operations while reining in climate… Read More

Environmental groups target Amazon’s climate efforts with Prime Day protest at Seattle HQ

Environmental protesters in Seattle seized on Amazon’s annual Prime Day sales event on Tuesday to once again call out the… Read More

Microsoft’s carbon footprint keeps growing as AI drives data center expansions

In 2020, Microsoft made an ambitious commitment to make its operations carbon negative within a decade, removing more carbon from… Read More

Atomo opens new roastery in Seattle to produce its beanless coffee for cafes around the U.S.

Atomo, the Seattle-based beanless coffee maker, is marking Earth Day with the grand opening of a new roastery in its… Read More

Carbon, weeds and toxics are in the crosshairs for GeekWire Awards sustainability finalists

Increasing numbers of Pacific Northwest entrepreneurs are turning their significant talents to addressing serious environmental and climate problems impacting planet… Read More

Irrigation tech startup led by farming experts blossoms with revenue growth and new cash

New name, new funding: CODA Farm Technologies, an agtech company founded by two brothers with farming roots, has changed its… Read More

PNW climate tech execs launch real estate investment firm focusing on mass timber projects

Three former executives of the climate friendly housing technology company Green Canopy NODE have left to create Cambia Capital, a… Read More

Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena is the first arena in the world to land Zero Carbon certification

Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena is the first in the world to receive Zero Carbon certification from an international nonprofit promoting… Read More

Artist’s giant troll sculptures bring whimsy to Seattle-area woods — and a message about waste

The giant trolls are here. A unique art project is leaving its big footprint on the Seattle area and the… Read More

In it for the long haul: These clean energy trucks are driving toward zero emissions

From a Tacoma, Wash., parking lot on Tuesday, the constant roar of big trucks could be heard passing on the… Read More

Boeing and NASA partner with Alaska and other airlines on eco-friendly X-66A aircraft

Boeing and NASA say they’ll collaborate with Seattle-based Alaska Airlines and four other major airlines on the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator… Read More

Amazon lowers annual carbon footprint for first time with 0.4% reduction in emissions

For the first time in the five years that Amazon has shared its carbon emissions, the cloud computing, online retail… Read More

Large graffiti painted on street outside Amazon’s Seattle HQ targets company as ‘Prime polluter’

Story updated with comment from Amazon. Amazon and CEO Andy Jassy were the targets of a large graffiti message painted… Read More

Ridwell starts collecting more difficult types of plastic as recycling startup grows to seven states

Ridwell, the Seattle startup that aims to keep more trash out of landfills, is adding more types of plastic to… Read More

Seattle seeking artist to create design elements for electric vehicle charging stations across city

The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS) and Seattle City Light are looking for an artist to help add… Read More

‘Circular economy’ event in Seattle draws attendees from around world working to cut waste

With a world population of more than 8 billion people, it’s increasingly important to make finite resources on the planet… Read More

Gov. Inslee makes his climate pitch in bid to attract business from Nordic countries

Gov. Jay Inslee made his sales pitch Thursday for Washington as the state for Nordic enterprises to do business in… Read More

Pie in the sky: Seattle pizza chain eyes drone delivery to bake sustainability into its future

In the near future, when a pizza gets tossed in the air at Pagliacci, it may not come down until… Read More

Microsoft makes tiny dent in annual carbon footprint but says ‘it’s not happening fast enough’

After its carbon footprint grew a shoe size or two in 2021, Microsoft notched a small decline in its carbon… Read More

Wood or would not? Earthquake test to study how 10-story timber building stands up to Seattle shake

If the idea of a Seattle earthquake gives you the shakes, this test might be right up your alley. Researchers… Read More

Former CEO of OfferUp launches nonprofit StuffTV to spark conversation about consumption

The average U.S. adult will produce 128,000 pounds of trash in their lifetime. Sure, it sounds like a big number.… Read More

Carbon removal startup Nori lays off 10 employees, citing market concerns

Nori, a Seattle startup that sells carbon credits to individuals and businesses to offset carbon emissions, laid off 10 employees… Read More

Universal Hydrogen plane at Moses Lake airport

Hydrogen-fueled plane begins taxi testing in preparation for first flight in Moses Lake

Universal Hydrogen says its hydrogen-fueled test aircraft has won a key certification from regulators and has completed its first taxi… Read More

Companies are making bold climate pledges – but where are the workers needed to reach them?

Some 3,900 companies worldwide have made pledges to cut their carbon emissions. But many, or perhaps most, lack the skilled… Read More

Group14 awarded $100M by Dept. of Energy as part of effort to expand U.S. battery manufacturing

Group14 Technologies, the Woodinville, Wash.-based maker of advanced silicon battery technology, has been awarded $100 million as part of President… Read More

Former 98point6 CEO goes from telemedicine to fried chicken — with recipe to fight climate change

Before co-founding Seattle telehealth startup 98point6 back in 2015, Robbie Cape was weighing whether to use his tech know-how to… Read More

Microsoft open-sources farm technologies, planting seeds for data-driven sustainable agriculture

Microsoft Research is releasing the underlying code for a series of agricultural technologies under open-source licenses, encouraging soil specialists, plant… Read More

Sustainability startups face off in the final episode of GeekWire’s Elevator Pitch

GeekWire’s Elevator Pitch startup competition is back with the final episode of the season, featuring three entrepreneurs pitching their sustainability-focused startups.… Read More

Microsoft Chief Environmental Officer Lucas Joppa departing to take role at private equity firm

Lucas Joppa, who became Microsoft’s first chief environmental officer in 2018 and led the company’s sustainability efforts, is stepping down.… Read More