Category: Technical Assistance

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International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) is May 3-9, 2026

ICAW 2026 poster designed by Endurance Oye of Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria.

International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) is celebrated annually during the first full week of May and is a time to learn more about composting organic wastes (e.g., landscape wastes and food scraps) as part of fostering healthier soil and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A theme is chosen for ICAW in the US each year, and the theme becomes the focus of a poster contest, in which artists age 14 and older from around the world compete. The image above is the winning design for 2026, created by Endurance Oye of Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria.

This year’s theme is “Compost! Feed the Soil that Feeds Us.”As explained on the Compost Research & Education Foundation website, “Soil is the foundation of life. It grows the food we eat, filters the water we drink, and sustains the biodiversity that keeps our ecosystems in balance. Yet soil is also one of our most threatened resources, with erosion, top soil & nutrient depletion, and contamination endangering its health worldwide. Compost provides the simplest and most efficient means to maintaining and rebuilding soil organic matter, arguably humanity’s most important form of natural capital. Used effectively, compost can manage storm water, remove pollutants, make agricultural soils more resilient, reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and remediate contaminated soils.”

The Illinois Food Scrap and Composting Coalition (IFSCC) cites the following benefits of organic waste recycling and compost use for Illinois communities:

  • Composting reduces methane emissions through aerobic managed decomposition, providing for a more sustainable community.
  • Composting lowers greenhouse gases by improving carbon sequestration in the soil. Getting the carbon back into the soil serves as a “carbon bank,” helping to store carbon thereby removing it from the atmosphere.
  • Compost provides essential nutrients for plants, promoting vibrant gardens and farms. Healthier soil leads to healthier, more nutritious food for our communities.
  • Compost use increases the water-holding capacity of our soils. This is important as our communities are more and more often seeing drought and or intense rain events causing soil runoff and erosion.
  • Community Gardens and Green Spaces: Compost plays a vital role in community gardens, fostering green spaces that provide fresh produce, recreational opportunities, and community gathering places.

To see a full list of in-person and virtual events scheduled for ICAW in Illinois, and find registration information for those that are virtual, check out the IFSCC ICAW 2026 page at https://illinoiscomposts.org/international-compost-awareness-week-icaw-2026/.

If you’re interested in hosting your own ICAW event, check out the IFSCC’s ICAW Host Toolkit, which includes:

  • tabling signage,
  • resources for libraries,
  • a list of relevant children’s books,
  • resources for park districts,
  • social media resources,
  • activities for kids,
  • a guide for hosting a “compost giveback” event (aka a “compost giveaway” or a “bring your own bucket” event),
  • a link to a spreadsheet of food scrap municipal composting programs and drop-off locations, and
  • a link to IFSCC’s guide for where to buy finished compost in IL. (Note that this only includes IFSCC member organizations that are compost manufacturing facilities. If you don’t see a site near you, do an Internet search or consult your county solid waste agency or recycling coordinator for guidance.)

If you’d like to learn more about how to start composting at home, see https://illinoiscomposts.org/composting-at-home/. You can also check out resources from Illinois Extension at https://extension.illinois.edu/composting.

Happy composting!

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Cook County BRITE program receives MVP2 award

At the February 5, 2026, meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, the Cook County Department of Environmental Sustainability’s Businesses Reducing Impact on the Environment (BRITE) program formally received its 2025 P2 Multimedia Award. BRITE was bestowed this honor as part of the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR) Most Valuable Pollution Prevention (MVP2) Awards program.

Since 1995, the MVP2 Awards have recognized the pollution prevention efforts of local, state, and federal government, tribes, not-for-profit organizations, private industry, educators, and students. The P2 Multimedia Award celebrates work that most effectively reduces harmful impacts to all environmental media (land, air, and water) and reduces impacts to workers and consumers.

The BRITE program offers free technical assistance assessments and grant opportunities to help small businesses in suburban Cook County representing heavily polluting industries, such as dry cleaners, auto body and repair shops, food and beverage manufacturers, and metal finishers and fabricators. As of July 2025, the program had conducted over 65 assessments and offered $3,831,843.12 in grants to small businesses, achieving estimated reductions of 5,576,252 kWh of electrical energy use, 600,526 therms of heat energy, 6,906 metric tons of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 17,312 pounds of hazardous materials, and 6,664 gallons of fuel. These reductions translate to an estimated $1,075,337.42 of cost savings as well as reduced health and environmental risks in these workplaces and the neighborhoods where they are located.

By offering grant funding and training businesses on the upcoming federal regulations banning common chemicals like PERC and TCE, the BRITE program helped small businesses stay ahead of the regulatory curve while increasing safety. Because replacement can be a high-capital investment, the provision of grant money with the appropriate training and consultation helped overcome the often-insurmountable obstacles that such businesses face when considering transitioning to safer chemistries and practices. Much of the program is easy to replicate. The BRITE program works with the Green Business Engagement National Network (GBENN), the Midwest Climate Collaborative, the Chicago Sustainability Task Force, local governments, and private companies to foster similar activities. There are plans to expand the program to additional industries, such as large event facilities, grocery stores, medical facilities, and chemical manufacturers.

The BRITE program is an example of how local government can improve environmental sustainability and the local economy through technical assistance. ISTC’s technical assistance providers extend sincere congratulations to our colleagues in Cook County for this recognition and for their excellent work!

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March 30 is International Day of Zero Waste

Image of banana peels with the words "Zero Waste Day" superimposed in the upper right corner. Superimposed over the center of the image are the words "Food waste drives climate change."
Image by UNEP Zero Waste Day campaign

The International Day of Zero Waste, established by United Nations General Assembly resolution 77/161, is jointly facilitated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). Celebrated on March 30th annually, the event highlights the importance of sustainable materials management and responsible consumption and production. This year’s theme is food waste.

According to UNEP, in 2022, while 783 million people went hungry globally, 1.05 billion metric tons of food were wasted (nearly 19% of all food available to consumers). Most food waste occurs in households (60%), followed by food service (28%) and retail (12 %), proving that food waste is a global challenge that requires action everywhere. According to Feeding America, 48 million people in the United States face food insecurity–including 1 in 5 children.

UNEP states that food waste alone accounts for up to 14% of global methane emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas. The US EPA estimates that up to 40% of food is wasted nationally, and greenhouse gas emissions occur throughout the food production, distribution, and disposal process. Each year, the emissions caused by wasted food in the US are greater than the emissions from all domestic flights plus all international flights run by US airlines.

EPA also estimates that the average family of four spends almost $3,000 per year on food that does not get eaten.

Thus, fighting food waste is a cost-effective and achievable climate action that also supports human health and well-being.

So what can you do to fight food waste? Check out this ISTC blog post from October 2025 for several ideas and resources to help you with smart meal planning, proper food storage and safety to avoid spoilage, and resources to help you create meals with the ingredients you already have on hand.

Learn more

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Free assessments for small food businesses in DuPage & Kane Counties

Photo by Joshua Rodriguez on Unsplash

Uncover cost-saving and efficiency opportunities for your food-focused business! The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) and the EnergySense Resilience Center, units of the University of Illinois, are providing free technical assistance to 10 small for and/or non-profit entities, such as restaurants, grocers, food banks, lodging or institutional food service operations, and other food-focused businesses and organizations in DuPage and Kane Counties in Illinois. By getting assessed, businesses can lower operational costs, reduce wasted food & resources, and attract environmentally-conscious customers. 

Assessments will focus on helping entities reduce costs and/or reduce environmental impacts through pollution prevention, energy efficiency, water reduction, alternatives to hazardous chemicals, and waste reduction (including purchasing and disposal). 

How it works

Step 1: Initial conversation. This will take the form of a brief introductory phone call to discuss the assessment process and expectations. Utility data collection will also be discussed. (Participant time commitment: 30 minutes)

Step 2: Pre-Assessment Data Collection & Analysis. The participating business will share utility billing data as available. Providing this information helps our team quantify savings opportunities found on-site. (Participant time commitment: 30 minutes)

Step 3: Facility Walkthrough. On-site visit for review of current conditions, such as infrastructure and operational processes. Identify sustainability opportunities for cost and resource savings. (Participant time commitment: 1 hour)

Step 4: Providing Recommendations & Resources. ISTC and EnergySense will use data and information from previous steps to develop strategies to reduce costs and/or reduce environmental impact. Recommendations and resources will be shared with the participating business via a written report and presentation with Q&A.  (Participant time commitment: 1 hour)

Step 5: Implementation. ISTC and EnergySense will assist businesses that are interested in implementing recommended strategies. Implementation assistance includes further guidance on equipment and/or process upgrades, as well as connecting to incentive or funding opportunities. (Participant time commitment will vary.)

Step 6: Case Study (Optional).  A case study will be developed to showcase opportunities uncovered and strategies implemented. (This step is optional. If you decide to share your experiences with peers and customers, your time commitment will be approximately 1 hour to review drafts and provide feedback/approval.)

How do I sign up?

Interested businesses should fill out the short form at https://go.illinois.edu/FoodBusiness.

Participants will be selected on a rolling basis. ISTC and EnergySense will work with facilities upon selection until December 2026. Questions can be directed to Zach Samaras at zsamaras@illinois.edu.

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Tri-state partnership offers free assistance to manufacturers

The Technology Acceleration Program (TAP), part of ISTC’s Center for Economic Impacts & Societal Benefits, along with partners at Iowa Department of Natural Resources Office of Pollution Prevention Services and Missouri State University, have been awarded grant funding to provide FREE sustainability assessments to manufacturing and processing facilities in their respective states. This project will assist businesses in making their operations more sustainable and competitive.

TAP is offering assistance to all Illinois manufacturers, regardless of industry sector.

How does it work?

  • Initial Meeting – either via email, conference call, or in person, to discuss needs and concerns
  • Opportunity Assessment – conducted on-site to uncover areas for potential change or improvement
  • Report on Findings – a document providing methods for reducing pollution and potential cost savings
  • Implementation Support – assistance for next steps, if needed
  • Project Review – document savings and benefits

What are the benefits?

  • Promotes sustainable manufacturing and growth
  • Improves profitability, productivity and competitiveness
  • Improves workplace safety through less exposure to hazardous materials
  • Reduces environmental impacts such as:
    • water use, energy and materials
    • waste volume and/or toxicity
  • Increases capacity to attract new business
  • Increases recyclability and/or diversion of by-product

How can companies sign up to participate?

Contact Owen McMahan at omcmahan@illinois.edu or fill out our online form to request assistance for your IL facility at GO.ILLINOIS.EDU/SCHEDULE-SITE-VISIT.

If your company is located in Iowa or Missouri and you’d like to participate, we can connect you to the proper contacts in your state.

Help spread the word

Download the project flyer or copy the link to this post to share on social media or email it to potential participants in your network.

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IL residents can now recycle paint and related products

Photo by Sven Brandsma on Unsplash
Illinois recently became the 11th state to launch a paint stewardship program. Beginning December 1, 2025, residents can recycle leftover paint (both latex and oil-based), primers, stains, sealers, and varnishes conveniently, keeping these materials out of landfills.

Similar programs exist in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Oregon, Vermont, Washington state, and the District of Columbia. Maryland anticipates rolling out its paint stewardship program in 2026. According to the Product Stewardship Institute, U.S. residents generate more than 80 million gallons of leftover latex and oil-based paint each year. When dumped in the trash or down the drain, leftover paint can contaminate our environment with hazardous materials, but most paint is recyclable. Since 2010, paint EPR programs have recycled over 72% of collected latex paint nationwide and saved governments and taxpayers nearly $300 million.

The Illinois program is operated by the nonprofit organization PaintCare, and a collection network of over 250 drop-off sites across IL is anticipated. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency oversees the program, while PaintCare handles the collection, logistics, and processing of materials, as well as public education. The program is partially funded by fees applied to the purchase price of containers of new paint sold within the state. Those fees range from $0 to $1.95, depending on the size of the container (containers that hold a half pint or less do not have a fee added).

There is no fee to drop off unused paint for recycling at participating locations. To find a drop-off location near you, visit https://www.paintcare.org/drop-off-sites/ and enter your zip code. All PaintCare sites accept up to 5 gallons per visit (some will accept more). Residents should call ahead to confirm business hours and whether the location can accept the type and amount of paint they would like to recycle. Sites do not accept aerosols (spray paint), leaking, unlabeled, or empty containers.

Aerosol paints are considered household hazardous wastes (HHW) and should be taken to HHW collection sites or events in your area. See https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/waste-management/waste-disposal/household-hazardous-waste/collections.html. An additional permanent HHW disposal facility is being planned for Champaign County.

To learn more about paint stewardship in Illinois, visit the Illinois Product Stewardship Council website. To learn more about paint stewardship efforts across the U.S., visit the Product Stewardship Institute website.
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IL battery recycling law goes into effect

Image courtesy of the Illinois Product Stewardship Council

Beginning January 1, 2026, Illinois law requires battery manufacturers to fund battery collection for recycling, with no cost to the consumer. Batteries can NOT be recycled in your home recycling bin. They may only be recycled through special drop-off collection locations.

Why battery recycling matters

Batteries are made from metals and minerals mined using processes that are often damaging to the environment. When batteries are recycled, these materials can be captured and reused. This reduces the need for newly mined materials. In addition, certain battery chemistries are dangerous in the waste and household recycling streams. Many contain material that is toxic to the environment or may become a fire or explosion hazard in waste collection vehicles or waste processing facilities.

How do I participate?

Visit https://www.call2recycle.org/illinois/ to find a drop-off location near you. Enter your city or postal code and select the type of battery (rechargeable, single-use, medium format, or damaged/defective) you need to recycle to obtain a list of locations accepting those items.

Screenshot of search functions at https://www.call2recycle.org/illinois/.

Be aware that some facilities may take your used batteries in bulk and mixed together. These facilities take the responsibility of packaging them safely for shipping to specialized recyclers. However, many facilities require residents to separate alkaline batteries from rechargeable batteries and will require you to properly protect battery terminals to reduce the risk of fire. This is done by covering battery terminals with clear packing tape (ideal), duct tape (acceptable), or electrical tape (acceptable), or by placing a single battery in very small, individual, clear plastic bag.

Image courtesy of the Illinois Product Stewardship Council

To learn more about batteries and their responsible use and disposal, visit the Illinois Product Stewardship Council website at www.illinoispsc.org/batteries.

To read the full text of the Illinois Portable and Medium-Format Battery Stewardship Act, visit https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/103/SB/10300SB3686enr.htm.

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Subscribe to “Sustainability in the News”

Screenshot of the Sustainability in the News feed, curated by ISTC’s CEISB.

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to keep abreast of trends in sustainability research, you should subscribe to the “Sustainability in the News” blog, curated by the ISTC Center for Economic Impacts & Societal Benefits.

Each morning, Monday through Friday, this blog provides an update on sustainability research and case studies from around the world, with a brief description and link to the source material. A wide variety of sustainability topics are covered, with an emphasis on areas of expertise and research interests of staff at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.

To clarify, the “Sustainability in the News” blog does not highlight research or projects conducted by ISTC; those types of updates are available via the ISTC Blog, the ISTC Newsletter (subscribe here), and the Technology Acceleration Program (TAP) Newsletter (subscribe here). Instead, the “Sustainability in the News” feed helps you learn about the issues that ISTC itself is monitoring. Consider it your daily dose of sustainability science inspiration!

To subscribe, visit https://blogs.illinois.edu/publicSubscribe?blogId=9341 and enter your email address. A confirmation email will be sent to you (there may be a short delay before you see it in your inbox). Click on the subscription confirmation link in that email, and you’re all set to receive daily email updates!

Questions or suggestions can be directed to Joy Scrogum.

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Energy efficiency funding for small businesses and nonprofits–applications due Feb. 2

Intuit energy efficiency grant program flyer
Program flyer, courtesy of the Illinois Green Business Association.

The Illinois Green Business Association (IGBA) has partnered with Intuit, the maker of Quickbooks, and the Green Business Engagement National Network (GBENN) to offer energy efficiency and electrification project rebates up to $1,000 for 30 businesses or non-profit organizations in Illinois. Applications are due February 2, 2026.

Qualifying projects include LED lighting upgrades, EV charging stations, HVAC maintenance, smart thermostat installation, electric hot water heater replacements, walk-in cooler maintenance and/or strip curtains, purchasing electric bikes or vehicles…and many more.

To be eligible for this funding, your IL business or non-profit must:

  • Have 100 or fewer employees or have an annual revenue equal to and less than $3.5M.
  • Enroll in the IGBA Green Business Baseline program or Certification program. Contact the EnergySense Resilience Center to get started.
  • Complete your energy efficiency or electrification project by May 31, 2026.
  • Provide project completion documents (proposal, invoice, etc.).
  • Be willing to have your story featured by IGBA, GBENN, and/or Intuit after project completion.

IGBA will also connect businesses with local utilities, where applicable, to stack funding opportunities and lower project costs.

Submit your application by February 2, 2026, at https://forms.gle/2LnAdjCjDnDdBsbF9.

More information can be found on the GBENN website at https://gbenn.org/green-business-grants/ or by contacting Cassie Carroll.

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Celebrate the Yule Book Flood with these books on sustainability issues

Tabletop showing an open book, a string of lights, Christmas ornaments, an unlit candle, and a bowl of tangerines and candy.
Photo by Sabina Sturzu on Unsplash

Temperatures are dropping and many of us are once again doing our winter holiday shopping. Some people find generating gift ideas overwhelming in the best of times, and with rising costs, funding and workforce cuts, and other issues, this year may feel even more tumultuous. To help instill a sense of hygge (a Danish and Norwegian word related to comfort, content, and coziness), this post will focus on another northern tradition—the Icelandic Christmas Book Flood, also known as the Yule Book Flood or Jólabókaflóð.

Iceland has a rich literary history, and after World War II, like many other countries, it was rebuilding its economy and restricting imports. Paper was a commodity that remained relatively cheap, and there were fewer restrictions on paper-based products. So, books were more commonly imported items and thus became popular as Christmas gifts. The tradition of books as holiday gifts officially began in 1944 with the first publication of the Journal of Books (Bókatíðindi), an annual catalog of newly published books that is distributed to all Icelandic houses for free at the beginning of the holiday season (today it’s available online as well as being sent by post). The basic tradition includes the presentation of books as gifts on Christmas Eve, followed by settling down to read and enjoy drinks and snacks. According to Erika Ebsworth-Goold, “No matter how the books are doled out, once they’re opened, and favorites are selected, it’s time to settle and snuggle in for a nice, restful read that helps block out winter’s chill. There’s usually hot chocolate, jólabland (a curious Icelandic combination of brown ale and orange soda), other sweet treats, and a calming sense of quiet, reserved togetherness. It’s tough to imagine anything more peaceful or perfect.”

If you’d like to try out this cozy-sounding tradition, the following books related to sustainability issues might be suitable gifts for loved ones or additions to your own wish list. Both non-fiction and fiction titles are included. This list is by no means exhaustive, and additional resources are offered to guide further exploration of sustainability-related titles.

And while we’re on the subject of books, it should be noted that ISTC’s Sustainability Information Curator and librarian extraordinaire, Laura Barnes, is preparing to retire at the end of December 2025 after 34 years of service. If you’ve had the chance to work with Laura, you may want to contact her and wish her well. Cheers, Laura!

As always, links, companies, or products included in this post are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as endorsements by ISTC, the Prairie Research Institute, or the University of Illinois. Happy holidays!

Non-fiction

  • Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World by Katherine Hayhoe. This book can help readers learn how to talk about climate change with anyone, even those whose worldviews are very different from their own.
  • What if We Get it Right? Visions of Climate Futures by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. “Sometimes the bravest thing we can do while facing an existential crisis is imagine life on the other side…With clear-eyed essays, vibrant interviews, data, poetry, and art, Ayana guides us through solutions and possibilities at the nexus of science, policy, culture, and justice.”
  • The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late by Judith Enck and Adam Mahoney. “The Problem with Plastic critically examines the paradox of this material, first celebrated for its innovations and now recognized for its devastating environmental and public health impacts…the book reveals how plastic pollution contributes to poisoned oceans, polluted air, a warming planet, and overwhelming waste, disproportionately impacting marginalized communities who bear the brunt of petrochemical pollution.”
  • Composting for a New Generation: Latest Techniques for the Bin and Beyond by Michelle Balz explains the science behind compost, provides tips for using compost, and explores techniques including traditional bin composting (with DIY instructions for building your own bin), vermicomposting, using black soldier fly larvae, keyhole gardens, and trench composting.
  • The Zero-Waste Chef: Plant Forward Recipes and Tips for a Sustainable Kitchen and Planet by Anne-Marie Bonneau. The popular blogger turned author says ‘In my decade of living with as little plastic, food waste, and stuff as possible, I’ve learned that “zero-waste” is above all an intention, not a hard-and-fast rule. Because, while one person eliminating all their waste is great, if thousands of people do 20 percent better it will have a much bigger impact on the planet. The good news is you likely already have all the tools you need to begin to create your own change at home, especially in the kitchen.’
  • Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist by Kate Raworth. The author, an Oxford economist, explains a framework for creating a “safe and just space for humanity” between 12 social foundations (based upon the UN Sustainable Development Goals) and nine planetary boundaries which represent ecological limits beyond which the Earth’s environmental system may not be able to self-regulate. Her diagram of this framework resembles a doughnut, with an interior ring where humanity can thrive while maintaining planetary stability.

Fiction

  • All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall. “In the years after the glaciers melt, Nonie, her older sister and her parents and their researcher friends have stayed behind in an almost deserted New York City, creating a settlement on the roof of the American Museum of Natural History. The rule: Take from the exhibits only in dire need. They hunt and grow their food in Central Park as they work to save the collections of human history and science. When a superstorm breaches the city’s flood walls, Nonie and her family must escape north on the Hudson. They carry with them a book that holds their records of the lost collections…they encounter communities that have adapted in very different and sometimes frightening ways to the new reality. But they are determined to find a way to make a new world that honors all they’ve saved.” Note that this and the next book listed are examples of “climate fiction,” also known as “cli-fi.”
  • Memory of Water by Emmi Itäranta. “The world is a landscape of drought and risen seas. A military regime controls the remaining freshwater resources with an iron grip. In the far north, seventeen-year-old Noria Kaitio is the last in the long line of tea masters. She must soon take responsibility for a secret carefully guarded by her predecessors: her family has been caring for a hidden freshwater spring for generations. As the army turns its attention towards the tea master’s house, Noria learns that knowledge and power are irrevocably connected – and that her choices will determine the fate of everyone she loves.”
  • How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue. “Set in the fictional African village of Kosawa, it tells of a people living in fear amid environmental degradation wrought by an American oil company. Pipeline spills have rendered farmlands infertile. Children are dying from drinking toxic water. Promises of cleanup and financial reparations to the villagers are made—and ignored. The country’s government, led by a brazen dictator, exists to serve its own interests. Left with few choices, the people of Kosawa decide to fight back. Their struggle will last for decades and come at a steep price.”
  • Sunvault: Stories of Solarpunk and Eco-Speculation edited by Phoebe Wagner and Brontë Christopher Wieland is an anthology of short stories, artwork, and poetry from the “solarpunk” genre. According to Wikipedia, the genre “works to address how the future might look if humanity succeeded in solving major contemporary challenges with an emphasis on sustainability, human impact on the environment, and addressing climate change and pollution.” The publisher’s description says the book “focuses on the stories of those inhabiting the crucial moments when great change can be made by people with the right tools; stories of people living during tipping points, and the spaces before and after them; and stories of those who fight to effect change and seek solutions to ecological disruption.”
  • 108: An Eco-Thriller by Dheepa R. Maturi. “While working the night shift at a San Francisco news agency, Bayla Jeevan has a shocking out-of-body experience. Her consciousness is transported deep into an Indian forest, where she witnesses a noxious liquid spreading through the soil. At the same time, she receives a message from her father, presumed dead for fifteen years, warning her of imminent danger. Coincidence? Unlikely. Halfway around the world, agrochemical corporation ZedChem-led by billionaire Krakun Zed-tests its latest innovation, a product heralded as the solution to topsoil erosion. But the data reveals something else entirely…In this action-packed eco-thriller, the bonds of family-and the power to save Earth-are put to the test.”
  • Cast Away: Poems for Our Time by Naomi Shihab Nye. “Acclaimed poet and Young People’s Poet Laureate Naomi Shihab Nye shines a spotlight on the things we cast away, from plastic water bottles to those less fortunate, in this collection of more than eighty original and never-before-published poems…With poems about food wrappers, lost mittens, plastic straws, refugee children, trashy talk, the environment, connection, community, responsibility to the planet, politics, immigration, time, junk mail, trash collectors, garbage trucks, all that we carry and all that we discard, this is a rich, engaging, moving, and sometimes humorous collection for readers ages twelve to adult.”

Additional resources

  • Environmental Novels. This University of Illinois LibGuide compiled by Laura Barnes, Lauren Bordson Dodge, and Charlotte Roh serves as a guide to juvenile, young adult, and adult novels with environmental themes, generally focused on pollution and climate change. It also highlights environmental book awards to help you keep abreast of new and notable titles.
  • Dragonfly.eco. Curated by Mary Woodbury, this site ‘explores the wild, crazy, and breathtaking literary trail of eco-fiction, with a large book database, spotlights, interviews, and more. Our motto is “blowing your mind with wild words and worlds.”’
  • The Greatest Nonfiction Books of All Time on Sustainability. You may not agree with the rankings on this site, but it will certainly provide fodder for your “to read” list.
  • 25 Inspiring Climate Change Books to Read This Year written by Deena Robinson for Earth.org.

Other (non-book) gift ideas

These previous ISTC blog posts may provide some inspiration for the non-readers on your list. Please note that due to the age of these posts, some links included in them may no longer be available.