3 things that caught our attention this week...
The Hidden Challenges of Lithium Recycling
A fire last week at a lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Fredericktown, Missouri, revealed hidden risks in recycling batteries that power our devices and EVs. With harmful smoke leading to local evacuations, the incident underscored the environmental and health hazards of current methods and highlights the urgent need for safer, more sustainable recycling approaches in our battery-dependent world. Lithium-ion batteries are not only prone to intense fires, but are also difficult to recycle to full efficiency; similar to plastics recycling, some material is inevitably lost...
Record Store Closures as Retail Giants Soar: A Growing Divide
In 2024, U.S. retailers are closing stores at record rates, with nearly 6,200 closures from chains like Family Dollar, Walgreens, and Big Lots. While retail giants like Amazon, Walmart, and Costco enjoy record stock prices and continued growth, smaller retailers are struggling under high interest rates and tightening consumer budgets. The big players are thriving through scale and digital capabilities, capturing market share as traditional chains downsize, leaving budget-friendly brands like TJ Maxx and Aldi to fill the gap in a shifting retail landscape.
YouTube is Overtaking Traditional TV—and Advertisers Are Following
YouTube’s ad revenue soared to $8.9 billion in Q3 2024, with a total of $25.7 billion so far this year, putting it on pace to overtake the entire broadcast television industry’s ad revenue. Traditional TV, grappling with cord-cutting and an aging audience, is losing ground as YouTube claims the coveted 18-49 demographic, drawing advertisers eager to reach a digital-first audience. This shift signals a seismic change in the advertising landscape, where YouTube is not just competing with TV but redefining the future of media consumption.