Monday

In today’s issue, we’ll take a look at:

• The college project that became a fashion brand

• Sunset of the day in Yosemite National Park

• An easy way to speed up payday

• The best places to plant trees

• Your one stop shop for all things relaxation

Did You Know

Your___ may be one of the biggest energy hogs in your home.

Scroll to the bottom for the answer.

The College Project That Became a Fashion Brand

Lauren Choi saw the piles of red Solo cups littering campus after parties and decided they didn’t have to go to waste. As an engineering student at Johns Hopkins, she invented a way to spin the cups into soft yarn and started turning them into 3D-knit beanies and sweaters.

Her company, The New Norm, collects used party cups and transforms them into filament yarn at textile centers in North Carolina and Virginia. The yarn is then knit on-demand into garments in Brooklyn, using a zero-waste process that sheds no microplastics and requires no water or added dyes.

Each sweater is made from upcycled plastic, but feels breathable and cozy thanks to years of collaboration and material testing. Since launching in 2023, the company has expanded production and now works with thousands of pounds of plastic at a time!

Sunset of the Day in Yosemite National Park

The Canopy reader, Rhett shared this photo from an early morning walk along the Merced River in Yosemite National Park. The sun cuts through the trees in soft, angled beams, turning an already beautiful scene into something quietly magical.

Thanks to Rhett for sending this in. If you’ve captured a sunlit moment that made you stop and breathe a little deeper, we’d love to see it too!

Make Your Paychecks Work for You

When you set up direct deposit with Cash App, you can get paid up to 2 days early. That means less planning around payday, more living on your own schedule.

And that’s just the start:

• Put a percentage of every paycheck toward savings, stocks, or bitcoin*

• Keep all of your money with no monthly or hidden fees

• Make your money go further with 4% interest** on savings and up to $200 in free overdraft coverage***

• Know your money is protected by 24/7 fraud monitoring and built-in security features

Speed up payday.

Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See Terms and Conditions. Direct deposit, savings and overdraft coverage provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Brokerage services provided by Cash App Investing LLC, member FINRA/SIPC, subsidiary of Block, Inc. Bitcoin services provided by Block, Inc. Bitcoin services are not licensable activity in all U.S. states and territories. Block, Inc. operates in New York as Block of Delaware and is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Investing and bitcoin are non-deposit, non-bank products that are not FDIC insured and involve risk, including monetary loss. Cash App Investing does not trade bitcoin and Block, Inc. is not a member of FINRA or SIPC. For additional information, see the Bitcoin and Cash App Investing disclosures. *To earn the highest interest rate on your Cash App savings balance, you need to be 18 or older, have a Cash App Card, and direct deposit at least $300 monthly into Cash App. Cash App will pass through a portion of the interest paid on your savings balance held in an account for the benefit of Cash App customers at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. Savings yield rate is subject to change. ***No fee overdraft coverage of up to $200 for Cash App Card transactions is available when you direct deposit at least $300 monthly into Cash App. Eligibility requirements apply, see terms for details.

Thank you to Cash App for sponsoring The Canopy.

The Best Places to Plant Trees

Planting trees can seriously help the climate when it’s done in the right places. A new global map from The Nature Conservancy highlights where tree planting is most likely to benefit the environment, wildlife, and local communities.

The map identifies 195 million hectares of land (roughly the size of Mexico) where trees can be restored without harming grasslands or disrupting livelihoods. These areas could collectively capture over 2.2 billion metric tons of CO₂ each year, if restored strategically.

More than 80% of the identified land lies near existing forests, boosting biodiversity and chances of natural regrowth. A separate long-term project in Panama showed that planting multiple native species (not just one) significantly increases carbon capture and resilience.

The takeaway? Tree planting can help when guided by careful planning, local conditions, and biodiversity goals. Tools like this map are helping make that happen!

Thank you to Mood for sponsoring The Canopy.

Reflections:

🌎 Did You Know: Your dryer may be one of the biggest energy hogs in your home. Air-drying clothes can cut that energy use by over 30%.

🌅 Sunset Of The Day: The sun can provide the most beautiful photography. That's why we're eager to see your favorite sunrise or sunset photos. Reply to this email with your best sun-based pictures for a chance to be featured!