In our weekly good news round-up, we feature three positive stories from across the week that showcase incredible innovation, significant breakthroughs, and exciting progress within the realms of healthcare, climate and sustainability, equity and inclusion, workplace wellbeing, social impact and more.

Here are our favourite positive stories of the week, 15 to 21 July, 2024.

Aldi takes step to reduce plastic packaging for bananas

Supermarket chain Aldi is testing a new approach to eliminating plastic packaging for bananas in its UK stores. Instead of plastic, Aldi will use paper bands for its five-pack, midi bananas, and organic six-packs. The trial is due to take place in selected locations across the North East, Yorkshire, the South West, the South East, and the Midlands.

If successful, the trial could lead to a reduction of 234 tonnes of plastic packaging annually, according to the supermarket, which is the fourth largest in the UK. Read more of the story here.

>> Explore our programme: Manufacturing: Industry, Innovation and Impact

School builds cabin to support wellbeing 

A school community has dedicated two years to raising £40,000 for a new facility designed to enhance students’ health and wellbeing.

Educators at Elmbridge Primary School in Gloucestershire reported a significant need for mental health and emotional support among children, a demand that has intensified since the pandemic.

The new centre will offer therapeutic services, including creative arts and yoga activities, for both students and staff, according to school leaders.

Assistant Head Teacher Manda Holliday emphasised the urgent need for a dedicated space where children can speak with a trusted adult and unwind. Read more of the story here.

>> Explore our programme: Prioritising Children’s Health

Winners of The Global Shapers Innovation Prize announced

The 2024 Global Shapers Innovation Prize, a collaborative effort between the Global Shapers Community, Accenture, and The Global Alliance for YOUth, has been awarded to projects making impactful changes around the world.

Winners of the annual prize included initiatives tackling deforestation in Mexico, promoting financial literacy in Cambodia, and providing a career accelerator program for graduates in Ghana. Innovators in Amsterdam were awarded for their work in creating a navigation app to help individuals with reduced mobility find accessible routes, while another initiative aims to close the gender gap in education and professional opportunities in Tanzania. Learn more here.

More of what we liked…

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) reminded the world on World Emoji Day (17 July) to be mindful of not overusing emojis in social media posts, which can create significant barriers for blind and partially sighted people using a screen reader.

Screen readers interpret each emoji by reading out its description, which can interrupt the flow of information and make it difficult to understand the main content of the post.

Explore our programme launching on World Sight Day, October 10, 2024, ‘Global Action for Eye Health’.

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More than 60% of employers have observed a rise in job candidates asking about their company’s sustainability record and future plans during interviews. A survey has found that 75% of workers would avoid applying to companies that appear more environmentally friendly than they truly are.

Published by recruitment company Totaljobs in its latest Hiring Trends Index — which surveyed 3,000 employees and 1,000 HR leaders — the report highlights that “transparency is becoming crucial for attracting talent as greenwashing begins to discourage jobseekers.”