India outlawed scores of plastic products. India, the world’s most populous country after China, has become the latest nation to ban some single-use plastics. 

Cups, straws and ice cream sticks are among 19 plastic items outlawed recently. This is a “good beginning”. More items are set to be added to the list in the coming years.

With a population of 1.4 billion people, the legislation could have a huge impact on plastic pollution in a country where it is a major problem. 

India’s ban is the latest sign of progress in tackling the scourge of plastic waste. In March, world leaders from 175 nations agreed to draw up a treaty to end plastic pollution by 2024. Here are four reasons to be optimistic about it. 

Podcast I loved this week. Rich Roll in conversation with Chip Conley. A hotelier and hospitality maverick, Chip is the founder of America’s second-largest boutique hotel company and former Strategic Advisor and Global Head of Hospitality for Airbnb, where he was instrumental in guiding the founders of this fast-growing start-up into the global hospitality brand it is today. In addition, Chip is a New York Times bestselling author and founder of Modern Elder Academy, the first midlife wisdom school dedicated to transforming aging. What if we reimagined aging not as something to fear—but rather as something aspirational?

Book am reading now. Hell Yeah or No by Derek Sivers. We say yes too often. By saying no to almost everything, you leave space and time in your life to throw yourself completely into the few things that matter most. His short article, Subtract is worth reading/listening.