Sustainability Archives

Plastic monster launched into Lake Erie to boost awareness of microplastics, pollution

By Collin Cunningham ● Sustainability ● December 7, 2025

The ironic sculpture was part of the “Rally for a Plastic-Free Cleveland” event.

Latest in Sustainability

Case Western grads clean up microplastics in the wash

By Grant Segall ● Sustainability ● December 3, 2025

Three young alumni of Case Western Reserve University have started a business on campus to make and market filters for microplastics.

Stitching a new life at Cleveland’s Open Threads

By Nicole Wloszek ● Entrepreneurs ● November 20, 2025

This Cleveland nonprofit wants to empower marginalized communities through fostering skills in the sewing trade.

Art House opens “Creative Garden” with ribbon-cutting and new sculpture by Brinsley Tyrell

By Kevin McLaughlin ● Arts & Culture ● November 4, 2025

For now, the Creative Garden is both a finish line and a beginning, a place where art, ecology, and community take root together.

Food Strong reactivates historic spaces to cultivate food justice for St. Clair-Superior

By Elizabeth Falco ● Communities ● October 16, 2025

The corner of Superior Avenue and East 67th Street bustled with celebration as dozens of community friends, partners, staff and volunteers cheered the official ribbon cutting of the Superior Farm. The once vacant farmland sits on a nearly three-acre property that boasts a 7,000-square-foot farmhouse and a 20,000-square-foot former church.

Critically endangered baby black rhino makes its debut at Cleveland zoo

By The Associated Press ● Communities ● October 12, 2025

A baby eastern black rhino has made its debut at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, giving a boost to efforts to conserve the endangered species. The 120-pound rhino, which made its public debut Friday, was born earlier this month to 22-year-old mother Kibibbi and 25-year-old father Forrest.

OpenAI announces plans for data center in Ohio, other sites in the US

By The Associated Press ● Development ● September 23, 2025

Residents in other data center towns are concerned about the demand on municipal water and energy.

‘We’re here to fix it’: FirstEnergy rep unveils plan to reduce power grid interruptions in Lakewood

By John Chacona ● Civic Engagement ● August 22, 2025

The rep laid out a plan that includes $12.5 million in investments that FirstEnergy believes will, in her words, “strengthen overall reliability, resiliency and redundancy into the grid now as well as into the future.”

Northeast Ohio Climate Action Plan open for comment

By Maureen Wise ● Sustainability ● August 20, 2025

Northeast Ohio leaders are trying to reduce climate pollution (greenhouse gas emissions) to net zero by 2050. They’re working on a plan to achieve this goal in the next 25 years.

Lower Shaker Lakes dam removal proposal sparks debate, confusion

By Grant Segall ● Government ● August 7, 2025

Three cities will decide the dam’s fate: Cleveland, which owns the two lakes and the surrounding parkland between North Park Boulevard, South Park Boulevard, Park Drive and Coventry Road; Shaker Heights, which governs, leases and maintains more than half the area; and Cleveland Heights, which does likewise with the rest.