Founded in 1947 by J.I. Rodale, Rodale Institute is a nonprofit dedicated to helping the regenerative organic agriculture movement grow through research, education and farmer training.
In his study of regenerative organic farming, Rodale — who came up with the term “organic” — studied Indigenous agricultural practices, including those of communities like the long-lived Hunza Peoples of Northern Pakistan.
“A lot of people credit him really with being the preeminent thinker and leader in this modern day organic movement. J.I. Rodale coined the term ‘organic’ as it’s used today. He started a nonprofit in 1947 and ironically the original name for our organization was the Soil and Health Foundation, which I find to be so profound that this man had the vision to connect soil health with human health,” CEO of Rodale Institute Jeff Tkach told EcoWatch in an interview. “Fast forward to today — 77 years later — I think we all know that there is a fundamental disconnect in our society that human beings are divorced and disconnected from their food system, from nature. And I think it’s what’s leading to a chronic health epidemic. I think that we all are recognizing that our health begins in the soil, and how we farm matters. And so J.I. Rodale was way out in front, you know, doing that work.”
Before founding the institute, Rodale was an entrepreneur who started a company with his brother in New York City.
“He came from poverty, but one of the challenges in his life was his health. He came from a lineage where his father and his uncles didn’t live past the age of 57. And when he and his brother began to accumulate enough wealth, they decided to move their business out of New York City to rural Pennsylvania and he bought a farm,” Tkach told EcoWatch. “He had never farmed a day in his life. And he just had this sense that if he could control his food and where his food came from and how his food was produced that it would have an impact on his longevity. So he bought a 40-acre farm in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, outside of Allentown, and started talking to all the experts in farming.”
J.I. Rodale. Photo courtesy of the Rodale family
After starting his farm in Pennsylvania, Rodale became curious about how the chemicals that were being used in agriculture after World War II were impacting the food people were eating.
“The representatives at the land grant universities like Penn State and Rutgers and Cornell… were all telling him about this amazing innovation in farming called chemical agriculture, [but] no one could really sufficiently answer his question around how those chemicals could yield healthy food. So he started looking to Indigenous populations,” Tkach told EcoWatch. “He was very concerned around where agriculture was headed if we stopped considering the power of nature… I think that was really his concern, that we were going to lose sight of the miracle of nature to heal us, to feed us, to nourish us in the name of innovation.”
Rodale Institute offers science programs and direct farmer support to facilitate change in food production and farming globally.
“As the birthplace of the modern Organic movement, Rodale Institute is filling the massive void of American land-grant institutions by revolutionizing farming and aiming to fix what is broken in our food system,” a press release from the institute said.
Rodale Institute co-founded the “regenerative organic” certification, which is the food industry’s highest standard. For 40 years, the institute’s farming educational and consulting programs — Farming Systems Trial — have been equipping thousands of farmers in the United States with the resources and knowledge they need to adopt regenerative organic agricultural practices.
U.S. consumer demand for certified organic products currently exceeds supply, which makes organic farming a potentially economically viable option for small and large farms.
Rodale Institute is planning to transition a million acres of farmland to regenerative organic agriculture in the next decade.
“We’ve just contracted with Organic Valley, and we’re working with a select number of their farmers to help them adopt organic practices and to do it more effectively, as well as to be able to help connect those farmers with more lucrative markets, so that they have a place to sell their crops at the highest value,” Tkach told EcoWatch.
Tkach said one of the roles Rodale Institute plays is assisting farmers with the barriers they face when transitioning to organic.
“‘Where am I going to sell my crop? How am I going to effectively embrace organic practices? How am I going to overcome pressures like weeds and pests?’ All these things that you and I don’t think about, but that farmers face every day,” Tkach said. “So Rodale is stepping in to help farmers. And in a lot of ways we’re acting as a land grant on a national scale for farmers, because our land grant system does not currently serve organic farmers. So the same challenge that J.I. Rodale faced 77 years ago, many of America’s farmers still face today.”
Rodale Institute’s philosophy is to always keep moving things forward through research and innovation.
“We pride ourselves in being an innovative organization, and even though we’re 77 years old, it feels like we’re a 77 year old startup right now because the world has finally embraced what Rodale has been espousing for a very long time,” Tkach told EcoWatch. “We see agriculture as a continuum, and we’re trying to help move farmers from conventional chemical farming down a path towards embracing better and better, healthier agricultural practices.”
Tkach said Rodale Institute helps farmers make the transition “by doing long-term science.”
“So I’m sitting today in my office, but my office is on a 400-acre farm. And when I walk out of my office, there’s research happening all over our farm,” Tkach said. “One study in particular is a 44-year study that is the longest running trial of its kind in the world, where we’re studying organic and conventional grain cropping systems, and we’re able to look at how these two ways of farming are very different and what their long-term implications are… I think the science is what sets us apart, because there’s really no other entity in North America that’s doing long-term research on organic agriculture.”
Tkach said the researchers are able to demonstrate that organic farming is not only “more ecologically sound” and better for the environment, but more profitable as well.
The Rodale Institute’s research team studies various weed management practices in their fields and in partnership with farmers. Photo courtesy of Rodale Institute
“If you want to heal the rural and the urban divide and begin investing in rural economies, our farmers are struggling in this country, they need to improve their bottom line. And organic agriculture is driving between three and six times more profits for farmers,” Tkach told EcoWatch. “Our science has proven that.”
Tkach said regenerative organic farming is not just for smaller family-owned farms, as larger farms are embracing the practices as well.
“Rodale has proven that organic regenerative organic agriculture can be scaled… Today, our national network of consultants that are Rodale employees have been called upon by some of the biggest food companies in the world,” Tkach said. “One example is General Mills. General Mills has recently hired Rodale Institute as a nonprofit to go out and work with 70 farmers in the upper Midwest that are producing oats and wheat — two of the biggest ingredients that General Mills grows.”
Tkach said the country’s need for certified organic products is outpacing its supply.
“So right now there is a greater demand for certified organic products in the United States than we can supply domestically. The U.S. is a net importer of organic food,” Tkach explained. “During this new administration I actually was in DC five weeks ago meeting with House and Senate leaders of the Ag Committee and, frankly, I received support from both sides of the aisle… So I always say that organic agriculture is for all of us. We all eat. We all want to live on a healthy planet. We all want to be healthy. And in order to do that, we need to come to grips that our current farming system is fundamentally broken. We have to transform agriculture in this country.”
“There’s something in organic that every one of us can be excited about. If you want to talk about onshoring our food system and creating a regional resilient food system, that’s what organic agriculture can do for us. If you want to talk about lowering our healthcare costs, well, it starts with what we’re eating. Food is medicine. And Rodale is saying that healthy food starts in healthy soil. And healthy soil is birthed on organic farms,” Tkach added.
Tkach said Rodale science has demonstrated that much of the world’s carbon emissions can be sequestered in the soil on organic farms.
“How we farm can actually become a carbon sink in agriculture,” Tkach said.
Rodale Institute was recently named one of the most innovative companies in the world for 2025 by the magazine Fast Company.
“I’ve actually been a reader of Fast Company for most of my adult life… It’s a magazine about innovation,” Tkach told EcoWatch. “My life was deeply touched by their content over the years… It was a huge honor… It’s kind of hilarious that a 77-year-old company is being named to that list, but it’s a testament to where we are in the world and how the innovation that we’ve been leading is finally getting recognized.”
Rodale is co-hosting the first Good Farmer Award in recognition and support of farmers who have been using organic practices for a decade or less.
“We are going to be co-hosting an award called the Good Farmer Award in partnership with our brand partner Davines… recognizing farmers that are at the early part of their journey and that are looking for some financial support,” Tkach told EcoWatch. “Some of the biggest barriers for young farmers is capital. Farming is a very capital-intensive business, and Rodale is going to be looking to honor and celebrate beginning farmers who are using organic and responsible practices, and we’re going to try to award them with some funding to help get them get their business off the ground. So we’re really excited about that.”
The first recipient of the award is Clarenda “Farmer Cee” Stanley.
“The award recognizes outstanding farmers making positive environmental and social contributions to agriculture through regenerative organic practices,” a press release from Rodale Institute and Davines Group said. “Clarenda Stanley, founder and CEO of Green Heffa Farms in North Carolina, stood out for her commitment to economic empowerment, education, equity, and ecological stewardship.”
I asked Tkach what individuals can do to support regenerative organic farming in the U.S.
“Right now, the word regenerative is being co-opted and greenwashed by the biggest food companies in the world. When we talk about regenerative farming in and of itself, that means everything and nothing,” Tkach told EcoWatch. “But Rodale helped to co-found the newest and highest bar certification in the food industry: regenorganic.org. That is what all consumers should be supporting. They should be looking for foods that have both the USDA organic and regenerative organic label on them, and supporting those farmers and those brands, because that’s the kind of food system we’re trying to usher in.”
“Robert Rodale, the founder of the Rodale Institute’s son, actually coined the term regenerative farming in the 1970s. And he believed that we regenerate when we begin to farm in a regenerative way. We start by healing the soil, but everything else in that system improves over time,” Tkach said. “And so we’re asking consumers to participate in a better food system.”
Tkach recommended that, in addition to supporting the certifications and brands, every consumer should “get to know a farmer.”
“We all should have a relationship with someone in our community that is growing healthy food and we should support them,” Tkach said. “If you’re even more courageous and adventurous, I always tell people they should try to plant something, you know, just grow one thing, whether it’s a potted plant on your windowsill or a raised bed garden… we all should become farmers and stewards of the earth.”
“The rhythm of nature changes you. It deepens your human experience, and it makes you a better human. And I think it starts with food,” he said.
Educational materials and resources on organic farming — including free webinars and courses — are available on Rodale Institute’s website.
“If we’re talking about a win that everyone can get behind, it’s organic farming. And it’s not a polarizing topic. It’s something that we can all agree on,” Tkach said.
The post ‘The Science Is What Sets Us Apart’: How the Rodale Institute Has Spent 77 Years Innovating Regenerative Organic Agriculture appeared first on EcoWatch.
https://www.ecowatch.com/rodale-institute-organic-agriculture-ecowatch.html
Last Updated on January 21, 2026
Picture this: Your laptop of three years decides it’s going to conk out. What’s the most sustainable solution? Seeing if you can get it repaired, of course.
Fighting planned obsolescence is a full time job, and it occurs with way more than just electronics.
But lets say you can’t repair your laptop for some unforeseeable reason…what then? You recycle it of course.
Computers don’t belong in landfills, nor do most conventional curbside recycling programs accept them. So how do you recycle computers? Here’s everything you need to know about computer recycling (and why we need to dispose of them properly).
why should you recycle computers?
First, lets tackle the reason we should bother to recycle computers. Computers are made up of several components – and when we dump them out, they become notorious for leaking toxins and carcinogens into the environment. This poses a risk for humans, wildlife, and soil quality alike.
However, if we recycle computers, all those components get a second shot at life. There are several valuable materials in our old computers that can be used to make new electronics, thus reducing waste and pollution.
According to the EPA, recycling 1 million laptops saves enough energy to power ~3,500 U.S. homes for a year.
And if that’s not reason enough – improperly disposed computers can put your personal or business files at risk of being recovered. And that can escalate to data breaches or reputation damage (yikes).
how do I get rid of my old computer?
To get rid of your old computer, you must first back up your data, sign out of all accounts, wipe & destroy the hard drive, then recycle the computer through local e-waste centers or retailers with take-back programs (Best Buy, Staples, etc.).
To wipe a hard drive, be sure to back up any important data first. Use built-in tools like ‘reset this PC’ or check with your computer’s manufacturer to see specific instructions. For example, here’s how to wipe a Dell hard drive and erase a Mac hard drive.
For absolutely no chance of your data being recovered, it’s always best to remove and destroy the hard drive, if possible. Here’s a guide to destroying a hard drive safely.
Once the hard drive is no longer an issue, you can recycle computers through a number of drop-off or mail-in options.
drop off:
- Local e-waste recycling events (make sure to ask if your specific computer will be accepted in advance). Check your local .gov to see when your next one will be!
- Best Buy accepts various desktops, laptops, and tablets, including some accessories. There’s a limit of 3 items per household per day. They charge a small fee for recycling monitors.
- Staples accepts computers & Macs. They charge a fee for monitors. When you recycle, you get rewards with their store!
- Use ERI’s recycle search and find recycling locations near you. Just type in “computer recycling” and your zip code to learn what your options are.
mail-in:
- Several manufacturers will accept mail-in recycling for their computer models. Dell and HP have trade-in programs for computers that meet certain standards, as well as recycling options for lesser functioning computers of any brand. Apple also accepts trade-in and recycling for several devices, including computers.
- Green Citizen offers free mail-in recycling for laptops, desktops, and tablets, but there may be fees for data destruction.
Most of these places will also accept computer accessories, like keyboards, mice, etc. But be sure to double check!
should you remove the hard drive from a computer before recycling?
Yes, always remove the hard drive before recycling. It’s best to wipe it, then remove it and destroy it. Because even a wiped hard drive can still be recovered, to an extent.
Even if you empty the recycling bin on your computer it doesn’t guarantee that the content is gone because the computer marks that data space to be overwritten with new data. So if the data hasn’t been overwritten, data recovery software can pick it up.
does best buy erase hard drives when recycling?
Best Buy offers tips and advice on wiping hard drives and data for Windows computers prior to drop off, but won’t actually do it for you. It’s best to go prepared by wiping/destroying your hard drive first.
So, what did you think of this guide to recycling computers? Let me know in the comments!
The post Can You Recycle Computers? appeared first on Going Zero Waste.
Green Living
Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Carbonfuture is Building the Trust Infrastructure for Carbon Removal
Read a transcript of this episode. Subscribe to receive transcripts: Learn more.
The carbon removal industry stands at a crucial crossroads. While cutting emissions remains essential, avoiding catastrophic warming now requires pulling billions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere permanently. But as this nascent field grapples with questions of legitimacy, scalability, and accountability, a critical challenge remains: How do we build the infrastructure needed to track, verify, and certify that carbon has actually been removed and stays removed? Meet Hannes Junginger-Gestrich, CEO of Carbonfuture, a company helping define the monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) infrastructure that could transform carbon removal from scattered efforts into a functioning ecosystem. Launched five years ago, Carbonfuture has emerged as what CDR.fyi describes as “the largest facilitator of durable carbon removal” by volume. The company’s digital platform integrates data across the carbon removal life cycle, connecting diverse approaches like biochar, enhanced rock weathering, and direct air capture with buyers seeking to meet climate commitments. “We are probably more the crowd, the ground keepers in a stadium that makes sure that everything is provided properly,” Hannes explains, using a sports analogy to describe their role: “We are the ground keepers in a stadium [who ensure] the players have a playing field that’s in shape and no one gets hurt, and the audience can come and they pay their tickets and have a good experience.”
The MRV infrastructure becomes crucial as corporate demand for verified carbon removal grows and trust becomes currency. One of the most interesting aspects of the conversation centers on balancing data confidentiality with transparency needs, particularly when collecting data along industrial value chains from agricultural residue producers to biochar processors to end users. Perhaps most telling is Junginger-Gestrich’s unwavering commitment to scientific rigor over short-term economic gains: “We never had to trade off between rigor and allowing a not so good project on our platform for economic reasons. We always lean to the scientific and rigorous side.” This philosophy has guided Carbonfuture’s work with leading buyers like Microsoft, helping develop increasingly sophisticated approaches to carbon removal verification. While Junginger-Gestrich expresses concern about delayed emission reductions globally, he remains optimistic about carbon removal scaling: “I think we will be on the path to the gigatons by 2040 for sure.” His vision emphasizes ecosystem thinking over vertical integration, aiming to drive down costs while creating network effects that could accelerate the entire field. As governments worldwide grapple with climate policy, the monitoring, reporting, and verification systems companies like Carbonfuture are developing now may well determine the success of our collective effort to reverse climate change. You can learn more about Carbonfuture at carbonfuture.earth.
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Editor’s Note: This episode originally aired on September 1, 2025.
The post Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Carbonfuture is Building the Trust Infrastructure for Carbon Removal appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/podcast/sustainability-in-your-ear-carbonfuture-is-building-the-trust-infrastructure-for-carbon-removal/
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1. Say ‘No’ to To-Go Waste
Even if you’re constantly on the run, it’s possible to reduce the amount of waste you generate by packing your own reusable mug, water bottle, food containers, and cutlery. The majority of restaurant to-go containers are still made from plastics that don’t recycle easily, so they’re used once and then thrown away. Each plastic cup, fork, straw, and clamshell box costs money, and you can be sure this cost is passed onto consumers — not to mention the environmental costs of all that plastic waste.
2. Water Well
Water is a precious resource, which is often a fact overlooked in developed countries where we can just turn on the tap and get clean, safe water. However, according to a 2025 WHO/UNICEF report, 2.1 billion people globally still lack access to safely managed drinking water, and the global potable water supply is under pressure from climate change and population growth. You can decrease your water consumption by following a few simple steps.
Flush and run sparingly: The average toilet uses between 1.6 and 5.5 gallons of water per flush. If you are already “letting it mellow,” save even more water by turning on the tap only when absolutely necessary. There’s no need for the water to run when brushing your teeth, washing your hands, or doing the dishes, for example.
Make sure it’s really dirty before washing: Clothing, dishes, and your body should undergo the wash and rinse cycle only when necessary. Use the same water glass all day, and wear those jeans more than once.
3. Hang It Out to Dry
Clothes dryers are among the most energy-intensive household appliances. Most of us are not willing to give up cold milk and crisp veggies from the fridge, but we can easily use the dryer less often, which can add up to significant savings of energy and money.
As an added bonus, letting your clothes air dry extends their usable lives (it is much less taxing on the stitching and fabric), it gives you a good excuse to get outside in nice weather, and line-dried laundry smells better too! If you live in a place where drying clothes outside right now would mean wearing duds that are cold and wet, consider using indoor drying racks to accomplish the same energy-free job.
4. Lights, Camera, Out!
Many electronic devices — such as phone and camera chargers, televisions, and computers — continue to draw energy even when in the “off” position. To avoid phantom power use, unplug such devices or plug everything into a power strip you can turn off when not in use. Encourage these same practices at your workplace. And no matter where you are, always turn off unnecessary lights.
5. Be a Wise Post-Consumer
In the digital age, many of us still rely on a steady stream of paper in our offices, kitchens, and bathrooms. Here are some easy suggestions for keeping more trees outside.
Print sparingly: When you do need to hold a document in your hand, be sure it has been printed and/or copied on both sides, and of course, be sure to recycle when done.
Buy the highest level of post-consumer, recycled paper: From toilet paper to notebooks, there is rarely a reason to use virgin paper. Look for the percentage on the packaging (such as products made with 100% recycled or 50% post-consumer materials), and also look for paper that is processed chlorine-free (PCF).
Class it up with cloth: Reusable napkins are not just for fancy dinner parties. They can be washed and reused indefinitely. The same goes for old T-shirts or towels, which can be repurposed as rags and used instead of disposable paper towels.
6. Resist the Urge to Splurge
A lack of excess cash can serve as a great excuse to reduce your consumption. Here are a few suggestions to help you consume less.
Take a consumption vacation: Consider taking the day or week off from making any new purchases, with the exception of necessities such as health products and food. By doing this, you’re not only saving money, but you’re also reducing the waste created throughout the life cycle of each new product, the packaging used, and the fuel consumed and produced in transporting products from the original resources to the manufacturer to your local store.
Buy nice, don’t buy twice: For necessities, make sure that you buy the highest quality, most energy-efficient, environmentally friendly model available within your budget. From appliances (Energy Star) to food (Local Harvest), there are low-impact alternatives for almost everything on the market.
7. Bid Your Car Adieu
We are a society that loves our cars, but there are many alternatives to a day spent solo in your gas-guzzling ride. Backing out of your car rut can also provide new opportunities to socialize and get some exercise.
Get on the bus: Many cities and towns have excellent public transportation systems that include buses, subways, and trains. You’ll be surprised at the new friends you make or the added reading time you find when not behind the wheel.
Carpool with friends or co-workers: Rideshare services now make it easier than ever to find a match. Uber’s UberX Share allows passengers traveling in the same direction to share a ride and reduce costs while cutting emissions. Lyft and Waze discontinued their shared rides programs in 2023.
Get on a bike or walk: While riding your bike or walking might take a little longer to reach your destination, the fresh air, reduced carbon emissions, and the exercise more than make up for the extra minutes.
Phone it in: Explore telecommuting or teleconferencing options with your employer to significantly reduce your daily commute. According to Global Workplace Analytics, a typical employer can save an average of $11,000 per half-time remote worker per year, while employees save between $2,000 and $6,500 annually from reduced commuting and related costs. Telecommuting just a few days a week will save you and your employer money.
8. Ban Planned Obsolescence
The more we view potential waste as building blocks for new products, the lower our overall impact will be. Granted, some products (“gum” comes to mind) are decidedly single-use items, but with a little creativity, many others can easily be creatively repurposed.
Originally published on April 6, 2009, article was most recently updated in January 2026.
The post 8 Ways to Reduce Your Impact Today appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/inspire/8-ways-to-reduce-your-impact-today/
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